Rectangle Granny - joining two squares

In this method, you make two small regular grannies, join them and then work around them. I did two, one with a one-round granny, and one with a two round granny. I should have chosen a better join method as I found this one showed up too much, but you get the idea. It IS rectangular and that was the point. (P.S. If you don't know how to make a regular granny, go see the tutorial on the granny. Basically you ch 5, join, work four (dc, ch3) for one round. Additional rounds are just like the first method of the rectangle. (Shell, ch 3, shell) for corners. (ch 1 shell) for sides.)

1) first step is to make two 2-round grannies and then join them together, IFO

2) Round 1: holding squares as pictured, join yarn in lower right corner, work (shell, ch 3, shell) for first corner, (ch 1, shell) across for first side, (shell, ch 3, shell) for second corner, ch 1, shell begins the second side

note: It is perfectly okay to join your yarn in a different corner. Just note that if you joined at a different place, the specifics of the tutorial will be different, though the method stays the same. Corners will still be (shell, ch 3, shell). Sides will still be (ch 1, shell) with a ch 1 before corners.

3) to continue the second side work (ch 1, shell) across. This includes the space before and after the joining. (note: If you used a different joining, you may have to adjust here, depending on if you have more or less space at that point)

In corner ch-3 space work (ch 1, shell, ch 3, shell) for third corner

4) ch 1, shell for third side, then work (ch 1, shell, ch 3, shell) for fourth and last corner, (ch 1, shell) in each space across for last side, join with preferred method - I joined with a sc in this instance

5) Since I joined with a sc, my first shell of the next round will be in the same space - making it the last shell of the last round

Round two will be worked much as round one - (shell, ch 3, shell) for corners, and (ch 1, shell) along sides. Don't forget the ch 1 before the corner shells as well.

Specifically, in a pattern, this round would look something like this:
ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, (shell, ch 3, shell) in next ch-3 space for first corner

[(ch 1, shell) across to next corner space, (shell, ch 3, shell) in next ch-3 space for corner] three times

(ch 1, shell) across to beg ch-3, ch 1, join

6) Completed square with two rounds

The white #1 shows the first round of the original granny square. The yellow #2 shows the second round of the original square.

The white "round one" shows the first round that goes around both grannies

The yellow "round two" shows the second round that goes around both grannies.

Continue rounds until piece is desired size

1) make two one round grannies

2) join them together, IFO

3) in this case I joined yarn in upper right corner, just to show you that you can join in any corner, work (shell, ch 3, shell) for first corner, (ch 1, shell) across for first side, ch 1, (shell, ch 3, shell) for second corner,

4) Because there is only one round on that granny, your next stitches will be another corner rather than a side. So work (ch 1, shell, ch 3, shell) for third corner.

(ch 1, shell) across for side, ch 1, (shell, ch 3, shell) for fourth corner. Join with preferred method to top chain of beg ch-3, completing round one

5) for round two I used the single crochet join, so I begin on a side. What is a side? (ch 1, shell), then work a corner (shell, ch 3, shell), then (ch 1, shell) across for side two

continue in pattern working (shell, ch 3, shell) for corners, and (ch 1, shell) for sides, remembering to add that ch 1 before the corner shells

6) Here's the completed round two

The white #1 shows the first round of the original granny square.

The white "round one" shows the first round that goes around both grannies

The yellow "round two" shows the second round that goes around both grannies.

Continue rounds until piece is desired size