Strawberry Waffle Granny Square: Free Crochet Pattern
A golden waffle, a little cream, and a tiny strawberry make this crochet square look like a sweet breakfast treat. The beige center has deep waffle pockets, while a pale mint border keeps the whole design soft and fresh.
This waffle granny square is a small project with several useful techniques to practice. You will crochet a textured panel in rows, add a border in rounds, and sew on two small decorations. The raised topping sits near one corner so most of the waffle texture stays visible.
The English instructions below give you a complete way to make the design shown, including the strawberry and its green leaves. Check the panel measurements before adding the border, then use the stitch totals to keep each side even.
About This Waffle Granny Square
The center is worked in waffle stitch. Ordinary double crochet stitches and front post double crochet stitches form the raised lines and small recessed pockets. A plain border gives the textured center a tidy frame.
The white topping is a small shallow crochet cap with a softly scalloped edge. A separate red berry is sewn onto it, with three little green leaves at the top. These pieces are made separately so you can arrange them before sewing.
Skill Level
Confident beginner to intermediate. You should be comfortable with double crochet, turning rows, simple increases and decreases, and sewing small pieces. Front post stitches may feel slow at first, but the center uses only two repeating rows.
Size and Yarn
A useful design target is a finished square about 13–16 cm (5–6.3 inches) across. This is a size guide; your yarn, hook, and tension will decide the actual measurement. The waffle center should be roughly square before you add the mint border.
Use smooth DK cotton in biscuit beige, pale mint, white, red, and green. Start with a 3–3.5 mm hook for the panel and border. Use a slightly smaller hook for the cream and strawberry if their stitches look loose.
The center should feel flexible, with clear pockets. Avoid very fluffy yarn because it can hide the waffle pattern. Keep the beige and mint yarns the same thickness so the border does not overpower the center.
Materials
- Beige DK yarn for the waffle center
- Pale mint DK yarn for the border
- Small amounts of white, red, and green yarn
- 3–3.5 mm crochet hook, adjusted to your yarn
- A smaller hook for the decorations, if needed
- Yarn needle and scissors
- Four stitch markers and a ruler
- Rust-resistant pins and a blocking mat or towel
- A tiny pinch of stuffing for the strawberry, optional
The cream does not need stuffing. Its shallow shape and edging give it enough lift when sewn down. Keep all pieces small and use sewing stitches to secure them.
US Crochet Terms
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- FPdc: front post double crochet
- inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
- dec: single crochet 2 stitches together
- MR: magic ring
- st/sts: stitch/stitches
- RS: right side, the side you want facing out
How to Work a Front Post Double Crochet
Yarn over. Insert your hook from front to back and back to front around the upright post of the next stitch. Pull up a loop, then finish as a normal double crochet. Work around the post instead of into its top loops; do not also crochet into the top of that same stitch.
For a visual lesson in the basic texture, see Winding Road Crochet’s waffle-stitch tutorial. Use the project counts below for this square.
Pattern Notes
- Turn after every beige row. Do not turn the border rounds.
- The ch 2 at the start of beige rows does not count as a stitch.
- The ch 3 at the start of mint dc rounds counts as one dc.
- A ch 1 never counts as a stitch in this pattern.
- The cream uses joined rounds; the strawberry uses continuous rounds.
- Do not crochet into joining slip stitches unless the instructions say to.
- Count ordinary dc and FPdc together when checking the panel width.
- Leave 20–25 cm (8–10 inch) tails for attaching the decorations.
Part 1: Beige Waffle Center
Use beige yarn. Chain 20 loosely.
Row 1
Starting in the third chain from the hook, dc in each chain across. The skipped chains do not count. (18 dc)
Row 2
Ch 2 and turn. Dc in the first stitch, FPdc around the next stitch, and dc in the next stitch. Repeat (FPdc around each of the next 2 stitches, dc in the next stitch) five times. (18 stitches)
Row 3
Ch 2 and turn. Dc in each of the first 3 stitches. Repeat (FPdc around the next stitch, dc in each of the next 2 stitches) five times. (18 stitches)
Rows 4–11
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 four more times. Every row has 18 stitches. Row 11 is a repeat of Row 3.
After several rows, look at both sides. Mark the face with the clearer recessed waffle pockets as the RS. Keep this side facing you when you later add the border and toppings.
Check the Shape Before Fastening Off
Lay the panel down without stretching it. Measure the width and height inside the outer edges. The center should be close to square; the border will frame that shape rather than correct a long rectangle.
If Row 11 leaves the panel too short, add another Row 2 and Row 3 pair. If it is too tall, undo the last pair and finish after Row 9. Always finish after a Row 3 repeat. The width stays at 18 stitches; only the number of rows changes.
Once the panel is close to square, fasten off. Weave in the starting tail on the back without pulling the lower edge inward.
Part 2: Beige Foundation Edge
This edge gives the mint border the same number of stitches on all four sides. It is worked around the outside of the panel, with the RS facing you.
Use one corner at each end of the top row and one corner at each end of the foundation row. The 16 stitches between the first and last stitch form the top and bottom straight edges.
- Join beige yarn at the top-right corner. Ch 1 and work 3 sc in that corner stitch. Mark the middle sc.
- Sc in the next 16 stitches across the top. Work 3 sc in the top-left corner stitch and mark the middle sc.
- Work 16 sc evenly down the left side, excluding both corners. Work 3 sc in the bottom-left corner and mark the middle sc.
- Work 16 sc across the underside of the foundation, one at the base of each interior dc. Work 3 sc in the bottom-right corner and mark the middle sc.
- Work 16 sc evenly up the right side, excluding both corners. Join to the first sc and fasten off.
Count: 76 sc. There are 18 unmarked stitches between each pair of marked corner stitches. Leave all four markers in place.
Along the row ends, distribute the 16 stitches over the full side. Do not automatically put two sc into every row end. Pin or mark the halfway point and place eight stitches in each half. Check that both sides lie flat before moving on.
Part 3: Pale Mint Border
Round 1
Join mint yarn in any marked corner stitch. Ch 3, then work (1 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into that same corner. The starting chain and dc stitches make four dc in this corner.
Dc in each of the next 18 stitches. Work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next marked corner. Repeat this side-and-corner sequence twice more. Dc in the remaining 18 stitches and join to the top of the starting ch 3.
Count: 88 dc and four ch-2 spaces. Each side has 22 dc between corner spaces. Remove the old markers.
Round 2
Sl st into the next dc, 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 22 stitches. Work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next corner space. Repeat this side-and-corner sequence twice more, then dc in the last 22 stitches. Join to the top of the starting ch 3.
Count: 104 dc and four ch-2 spaces. Each side has 26 dc.
Round 3
Repeat Round 2, working across 26 stitches on each old side. Keep the same four corner groups.
Count: 120 dc and four ch-2 spaces. Each finished side has 30 dc between corner spaces. Fasten off and weave in the mint ends.
Part 4: White Cream Topping
Use white yarn. Make a magic ring. Join each round to its first sc and begin the next with ch 1.
- Round 1: 6 sc in the ring. Join. (6)
- Round 2: Inc in every stitch. Join. (12)
- Round 3: (1 sc, inc) six times. Join. (18)
- Round 4: (2 sc, inc) six times. Join. (24)
- Round 5: Sc in every stitch. Join. (24)
For the scalloped rim, ch 1, then repeat (sl st in the next stitch, 3 hdc in the next stitch, sl st in the next stitch) eight times, beginning in the same stitch as the Round 5 join. Join to the first edging sl st and fasten off with a sewing tail.
Edging check: Eight repeats use all 24 base stitches. There are eight small scallops, with 24 hdc and 16 worked slip stitches in the edging.
Shape the cream into a shallow cap with the center slightly raised. Keep the opening underneath. Do not fill it firmly; it should sit lightly on the waffle.
Part 5: Tiny Strawberry
Use red yarn and a small hook that makes close stitches. Start at the pointed bottom and work upward in continuous rounds. Mark the first stitch of each round.
- Round 1: 3 sc in a magic ring. (3)
- Round 2: Inc in each stitch. (6)
- Round 3: (1 sc, inc) three times. (9)
- Rounds 4–5: Sc in every stitch. (9 each round)
- Round 6: (1 sc, dec) three times. (6)
Use a tiny pinch of stuffing if needed. The berry should remain soft enough to sit neatly against the cream.
- Round 7: Dec three times. (3)
Cut the yarn with a long tail. Thread it through the front loops of the remaining three stitches, draw the opening closed, and secure. Keep the tail for sewing.
Green Strawberry Leaves
Use green yarn. Make a loose magic ring.
For one leaf, ch 3, sl st in the second chain from the hook, sc in the next chain, then sl st into the ring. Repeat this leaf sequence two more times.
Pull the ring closed to bring the three leaves together. Fasten off with a sewing tail. Sew the center over the closed top of the strawberry, spreading the leaves slightly across its shoulders. Secure each leaf with a small stitch if it lifts too far.
Part 6: Block and Assemble
Block the main square before adding the decorations. Follow the yarn label, gently shape the four sides, and let the piece dry fully. Keep the waffle pockets raised; do not press them flat with an iron.
- Lay the square RS up and choose its upper-left corner.
- Place the cream near that corner of the beige center. A little overlap onto the mint border matches the pictured arrangement.
- Pin the cream in place and sew around its base with white yarn, just inside the scalloped rim. Leave the scallop tips free.
- Position the berry on the cream with its green top pointing toward the upper edge and its red tip pointing down.
- Sew the back of the strawberry to the cream with several small red stitches. Anchor it at both the top and lower body.
- Hide all tails on the back and remove every pin.
Use short stitches so the sewing does not show through the waffle pockets. Check the back as you work. A few small secure stitches look neater than one long strand crossing the entire square.
Stitch-Count Check
| Part | Count |
|---|---|
| Waffle rows | 18 stitches in every row |
| Beige edge | 4 × 16 side stitches + 4 × 3 corner stitches = 76 sc |
| Mint Round 1 | 72 non-corner stitches + 16 corner dc = 88 dc |
| Mint Rounds 2–3 | 104 dc, then 120 dc; four corner spaces in each round |
| Cream base | 6 → 12 → 18 → 24 → 24 sc |
| Cream edging | 8 repeats × 3 base stitches = 24 base stitches |
| Strawberry | 3 → 6 → 9 → 9 → 9 → 6 → 3 sc |
Tips for a Neat Finish
Keep the First and Last Stitches Visible
Place a marker in each end stitch of the beige rows if needed. The turning chain does not count, so work the first dc into the first actual stitch. This prevents the panel from getting narrower.
Give Post Stitches Enough Height
Draw the new loop up gently before finishing each FPdc. Very short loops can pull the rows together and make the fabric hard to work. Aim for steady tension rather than tight stitches.
Check the Border After Every Round
Lay the square on a table. If one edge ripples or pulls inward, check its stitch count and the foundation edge before adding more rounds. Gentle blocking helps small tension differences, but it will not remove extra stitches.
Keep the Topping Small
The cream should decorate one corner without covering most of the waffle. If it looks too large, use a smaller hook or thinner yarn for both the cream and berry. Keep their proportions balanced.
Ways to Use Your Waffle Square
Sew it onto a project bag, add it to a breakfast-themed cushion, or join several squares for a small wall hanging. Alternate waffle squares with plain mint or cream squares to give each decoration space.
The raised strawberry makes this version best for decorative projects. Choose a plain, undecorated square for a surface that needs to stay level. Keep small sewn decorations away from babies and anyone likely to pull or chew them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a traditional granny square?
It is a decorative crochet square with a textured center and a border. The waffle panel is worked back and forth, rather than from a center ring in granny clusters.
Why does my waffle look different on the back?
The post stitches create different textures on the two sides. Choose the side with the clear waffle pockets as the front and add the toppings there.
Can I use thicker yarn?
Yes, with a suitable hook. The square and toppings will be larger. Check the panel shape and decoration size before sewing them together.
Do I have to use stuffing?
No stuffing is needed in the square or cream. The tiny strawberry can also be left unstuffed if its crochet fabric holds the shape you want.
Can I change the border color?
Yes. Soft pink, cream, or pale yellow work well with the beige center. Use pale mint to keep the look shown in the reference.
Can I join several of these squares?
Yes. Block them to the same size first. This border ends with 30 dc between corner spaces on each side, plus four ch-2 corners.
Why does my center need more or fewer rows?
Post stitches affect row height, and everyone’s tension is different. Use the width as your guide and add or remove a complete two-row repeat before working the foundation edge.
Care and Final Check
Follow the care instructions for all yarns used. Wash gently, reshape while damp, and dry flat. Avoid crushing the waffle pockets or pulling the strawberry when handling the square.
Check the corners, weave in any loose ends, and gently test the topping stitches. Your waffle granny square is ready for a handmade project with a sweet breakfast theme.
