Pizza Granny Square: Free Crochet Pattern

This pizza granny square is full of small details: golden yellow cheese, a rounded beige crust, red tomato slices, and curved green peppers. A clean white border frames the pizza and makes the bright colors stand out.

The pizza is worked as a flat circle, with a separate round of crust along its front edge. The white square grows from loops left behind the crust. Six orange stitched lines divide the center into slices, while the small toppings are sewn on at the end.

This complete English pattern includes the pizza center, rolled crust, square border, tomatoes, peppers, and finishing steps. The construction keeps the pizza attached to its background, so you do not need to sew a whole round patch onto a separate square.

Crochet pizza granny square with yellow cheese, red tomatoes, green peppers and a white border on a blue table

About This Pizza Granny Square

The main shape starts with four rounds of double crochet in yellow. Beige stitches are added to the front loops of the last round, leaving the back loops free for the white background. Folding and sewing the beige strip creates a soft raised crust.

The toppings use very small amounts of yarn. Make three bright red or orange-red tomato circles and three darker red circles, then add three green pepper pieces. Their exact placement can vary, just as toppings vary on a real pizza.

Skill Level

Confident beginner to intermediate. You will use basic stitches, front and back loops, joined rounds, and small sewing stitches. The first white round has several stitch heights, so read it through and mark the four corners before starting.

Size and Yarn Choice

A useful target is a finished square about 15–18 cm (6–7 inches) across. This is a size guide; your finished measurements depend on the yarn, hook, and tension. Keep the yellow center flat and leave a clear white frame outside the crust.

Use smooth DK or light worsted yarn with a 3.5–4 mm hook as a starting point. Use matching yarn weights for the yellow center, beige crust, and white border. Cotton shows the stitches clearly, while acrylic also works for decorative projects.

Use a slightly smaller hook for the toppings if they look too large. The tomatoes should leave plenty of yellow visible, and the peppers should look like small curved strips rather than large leaves.

Materials

Yellow yarn for the cheese center
Biscuit beige yarn for the crust
White yarn for the square
Bright red or orange-red yarn for three tomatoes
Dark red or burgundy yarn for three tomatoes
Deep green yarn for three pepper pieces
A small amount of orange yarn for the slice lines
3.5–4 mm crochet hook and a smaller hook if needed for toppings
Yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers, and a ruler
Rust-resistant pins and a blocking mat or towel

No stuffing, glue, cardboard, or wire is needed. The folded crochet fabric gives the crust its rounded shape.

US Crochet Abbreviations

ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
dc: double crochet
tr: treble crochet
inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
MR: magic ring
FLO: front loop only
BLO: back loop only
st/sts: stitch/stitches
RS: right side, the decorated front

Important Pattern Notes

Work the pizza and square in joined rounds without turning.
A starting ch 3 counts as one dc. A starting ch 4 counts as one tr.
Ch 1 and ch 2 do not count as stitches in the crust or topping instructions.
Do not work into joining slip stitches unless the pattern tells you to.
Count corner chain spaces separately from the stitches.
Only the first beige round uses FLO. The first white round uses the matching unused back loops of the yellow round.
Work later rounds through both loops.
Keep the pizza facing the same way while identifying its unused loops.

Part 1: Yellow Pizza Center

Use yellow yarn. Make a magic ring.

Round 1

Ch 3 and work 11 dc into the ring. Pull the center closed and join to the top of the starting ch 3. (12 dc)

Round 2

Ch 3 and dc in the same stitch as the join. Work 2 dc in each of the remaining 11 stitches. Join to the top of the starting ch 3. (24 dc)

Round 3

Ch 3, counting as the first dc. Work 2 dc in the next stitch. Repeat (1 dc in the next stitch, 2 dc in the following stitch) eleven times. Join to the top of the starting ch 3. (36 dc)

Round 4

Ch 3, counting as the first dc. Dc in the next stitch, then work 2 dc in the following stitch. Repeat (1 dc in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 dc in the following stitch) eleven times. Join to the top of the starting ch 3. (48 dc)

Fasten off and secure the center tail. Lay the circle on a flat surface. It should spread into a disc without being stretched. Check for a missed or extra increase if it cups or waves strongly.

Part 2: Beige Crust Strip

Hold the yellow circle RS toward you. The front loop is the loop nearest you along the top of each yellow stitch.

Crust Round 1

Join beige yarn to the front loop of any stitch from Yellow Round 4. Ch 2, then hdc in that same front loop. Hdc in each remaining front loop around. Join to the first hdc. (48 hdc)

The starting ch 2 does not count. Leave all 48 yellow back loops unused behind this beige round.

Crust Round 2

Ch 2. Working through both loops, hdc in the same stitch as the join and in every remaining stitch around. Join to the first hdc. (48 hdc)

Fasten off with a long beige tail for sewing. Leave the strip standing for now. You will make the white square before rolling and securing the crust, so the unused yellow loops stay easy to reach.

Angled view of a crochet pizza square showing its raised beige crust on a pale blue kitchen table

Part 3: White Square Background

Fold the beige strip gently toward the yellow center while you find the unused back loops of Yellow Round 4. There are 48 loops. The white yarn attaches here, not to the upper edge of the beige crust.

Choose one loop as stitch 1 and mark loops 1, 13, 25, and 37. These become the four corners. Each pair of corner markers has eleven unmarked loops between them.

White Round 1: Shape the Corners

Join white yarn in the first marked loop. Ch 4 and work (1 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in that same loop. Counting the starting chain, the corner has four tr.

Across the next eleven loops, work 1 dc in each of the next 2 loops, 1 hdc in each of the next 2 loops, 1 sc in each of the next 3 loops, 1 hdc in each of the next 2 loops, and 1 dc in each of the next 2 loops.

In the next marked loop, work (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr). Repeat the eleven-stitch side and next corner twice more. Work the last eleven-stitch side and join to the top of the starting ch 4.

Count: 60 stitches and four ch-2 spaces. Each side has 15 stitches between corner spaces: two corner trebles, eleven side stitches, and two trebles from the next corner.

Remove the old markers. You may move them into the four new corner spaces.

White Round 2

Sl st into the next tr and then into the corner space. Ch 3 and work (1 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into the same space.

Dc in each of the next 15 stitches, working once into each stitch regardless of its height. Work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next corner space. Repeat this side-and-corner sequence twice more, then dc across the last 15 stitches. Join to the top of the starting ch 3.

Count: 76 dc and four ch-2 spaces. Each side has 19 dc.

White Round 3

Sl st into the next dc and into the corner space. Ch 3 and work (1 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in that corner. Dc across each 19-stitch side, placing (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each remaining corner. Join to the top of the starting ch 3.

Count: 92 dc and four ch-2 spaces. Each side has 23 dc.

White Round 4

Repeat White Round 3, working across 23 stitches on each old side and keeping the same corner groups.

Count: 108 dc and four ch-2 spaces. Each side has 27 dc.

White Round 5: Finishing Edge

Ch 1. Sc in the same stitch as the join, then sc in each remaining dc around. Work (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in each corner space. Join to the first sc and fasten off.

Count: 116 sc and four ch-2 spaces. Each finished side has 29 sc between corner spaces. Weave in the white ends on the back.

Part 4: Roll and Sew the Crust

With the decorated side facing up, fold the top of the beige strip inward toward the yellow center. Roll it gently so it forms a small rounded rim instead of a flat flap.

Using the beige tail, sew the upper beige edge to the front surface of Yellow Round 4, just inside the point where the crust began. Catch small sections of yellow stitch posts, keeping the seam hidden beneath the roll.

Work around slowly, securing about one beige edge stitch to each corresponding section of the yellow circle. Keep the seam relaxed so it does not shrink the pizza. Avoid catching or pulling the white background.

No stuffing is needed. Adjust the roll with your fingers, close the final gap, and secure the tail. The crust should sit above the yellow surface while the white square remains flat.

Part 5: Stitch Six Pizza Slices

Use orange yarn and a yarn needle. Mark six points around the inner crust, spaced evenly. As a guide, each point is eight stitches farther around the 48-stitch yellow edge.

Secure the orange yarn on the back and bring it up at the center of the pizza.
Lay a straight strand from the center to the first marked point. Take the needle down just inside the crust.
Return to the center through the back, catching the yarn through stitches so the back strand is not loose.
Repeat for the other five marked points.
Add one or two tiny holding stitches over each long front strand to keep it close to the yellow fabric.
Secure and weave in the orange ends.

Keep the lines gently resting on the surface. Pulling them tightly can turn the pizza into a bowl or wrinkle the white border. These are decorative lines; the pizza stays in one piece.

Part 6: Six Tomato Toppings

Make three in bright red or orange-red and three in dark red or burgundy.

Round 1: Make 6 sc in a magic ring. Join to the first sc. (6)
Round 2: Ch 1 and inc in every stitch, beginning in the same stitch as the join. Join to the first sc. (12)

Fasten off with a sewing tail. Close the center firmly and secure the starting tail on the back. Shape each piece into a flat little circle.

For smaller toppings, stop after Round 1 or use thinner yarn. Keep enough yellow space between the circles so the pizza does not look crowded.

Part 7: Three Green Pepper Pieces

Use green yarn. Chain 5.

Row 1: Starting in the second chain from the hook, work 2 sc in each chain across. (8 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1 and turn. Sl st in the first stitch, sc in each of the next 6 stitches, and sl st in the last stitch. (8 worked stitches)

Fasten off with a sewing tail. The increases make a curved strip. Shape it into a small crescent, keeping its two ends apart. Make two more.

Close-up of crochet tomato slices, curved green peppers, orange slice lines and a rolled pizza crust

Part 8: Arrange and Attach the Toppings

Lay the square flat and place all nine toppings before sewing. Spread the six tomato circles around the pizza, mixing the two red shades. Place the three green pieces in open yellow areas between them.

Leave the center and some of the orange lines visible. Turn the pepper pieces in different directions so the layout feels natural. Keep the toppings inside the crust.

Sew each tomato around its outer edge with its matching tail. Attach each pepper at both ends and through its middle. Keep the sewing small enough to hide beside the existing stitches.

Weave the tails through nearby stitches on the back instead of carrying long loose strands across the square. Remove all pins and gently check each topping to make sure it is secure.

Stitch-Count Check

Section	Count
Yellow center	12 → 24 → 36 → 48 dc
Beige crust	48 hdc in each of two rounds
Unused yellow loops	48 back loops for the white square
First white round	4 corner loops + 4 × 11 side loops used; 60 stitches made
White dc rounds	76 → 92 → 108 dc, with four corner spaces each
White sc edge	108 + 8 corner sc = 116 sc, plus four ch-2 spaces
Tomatoes	6 sc, then 12 sc per circle
Pepper strips	8 worked stitches in each row

Tips for a Neat Pizza Square

Save the Correct Loops

The beige strip uses the front loops of Yellow Round 4. The white square uses the back loops of that same yellow round. Mark a few unused loops as you work if they are hard to see.

Keep the Crust Seam Loose

The crust should rise above the cheese without pulling its edge inward. Sew a short section, lay the square down, and check it before continuing around.

Count the First White Side

The side sequence uses eleven loops: two dc, two hdc, three sc, two hdc, and two dc. Placing a marker at every corner keeps you from accidentally using a corner loop as part of a side.

Block Gently

Follow the yarn label and shape the white border into a square while damp. Let it dry flat. Avoid pressing the raised crust and toppings with a hot iron.

Ways to Use Your Pizza Granny Square

Add it to a food-themed wall hanging, project bag, or cushion cover. Combine pizza squares with plain white squares so each colorful center has room to stand out.

For a larger joined project, block the squares to the same size and compare the final edge counts. This version has 29 sc on each side between corner spaces.

The raised crust and toppings make this version best for decoration. Keep the small sewn pieces away from babies and anyone likely to pull or chew them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the pizza sewn onto a separate square?

No. The white background is worked into the unused back loops of the yellow circle. Only the crust seam, slice lines, and toppings need sewing.

Does the crust need stuffing?

No. The folded beige strip makes a small rounded edge by itself. Keep its seam relaxed and shape it with your fingers.

Can I leave out the orange slice lines?

Yes. They are decorative and do not affect the stitch counts. Add them for the six-slice look shown here.

Can I use different toppings?

Yes. Change the colors or number of the small circles and pepper strips. Check the whole arrangement before sewing so the yellow center stays visible.

Why is my white border pulling inward?

Check the first white round and the crust seam. A missed side stitch or tight seam can distort the square. Correct the cause before adding more rounds.

Can I make it larger?

Yes. Add another white dc round before the sc edge, using the same corner groups. That extra round has 124 dc, followed by an edge of 132 sc and four ch-2 spaces.

Can I use thicker yarn?

Yes, with a matching hook. The whole square will become larger. Keep the yellow, beige, and white yarns close in thickness so the pieces work together.

Care and Final Check

Wash according to the care label of the least washable yarn used. Dry flat and reshape the white corners, crust, and toppings while damp.

Check every sewn topping, smooth the six slice lines, and weave in any loose tails. Your pizza granny square is ready for a colorful handmade project.