Diagonal Square

Corner-to-corner crochet, also known as diagonal crochet, diagonal box stitch and c2c, is a method of starting crochet in one corner of a square, growing it row by row on the diagonal until you reach the desired size and then decreasing back down to the opposite corner. The stitches, made with double crochet, look very similar to the granny stitch, but the way that the rows are turned and worked on the diagonal give it a slightly different, more interesting, texture.

• Create a starting chain: Ch 5.
  
  
  Diagonal Crochet: Row 1:
  
  Work into the fifth chain from hook.
  Make 3 dc stitches into that chain.
  The first group of chains counts as the first dc, so you will now have one corner block consisting of four dc stitches.
  All of your blocks are going to be made from four dc stitches. This is what gives it the appearance similar to granny stitch (which is typically sets of 3 double crochet stitches). Diagonal Square Row 1
  
  
• Diagonal Crochet: Row 2, Parts A & B:
  
  

  Diagonal Crochet: Row 2 Part A

  Diagonal Crochet: Row 2 Part B

  
  (A) Turn your work and chain five. This will be the start of diagonal row 2.
  
  (B) Working into the fourth chain from the make, make 3 dc stitches. Similar to Row 1, this is going to create a total of 4 double crochet stitches to make the first block of Row 2.
  
  
• Diagonal Crochet: Row 2, Parts C & D:
  

  Diagonal Crochet: Row 2 Part C

  Diagonal Crochet: Row 2 Part D

  
  (C) Now, locate the third and fourth dc stitches from the block in Row 1. Slip stitch into the space between those two dc stitches.
  
  (D) Chain three. This is going to count as the first double crochet of the second block of row 2.
  
  
  
  
• Diagonal Crochet: Row 2, Part E
  
  
  Diagonal Crochet: Row 2, Part E:
  
  Make 3 dc in the same space between the two dc stitches of the block in the previous row, right next to the chain three. This will give you four dc stitches in that space. This creates the second block of row 2. You now have your first corner block as row 1 and then two more blocks in row 2.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Diagonal Crochet: Row 3, Part A
  
  
  
  Diagonal Crochet: Row 3, Part A
  Turn your work and chain 5. This is the same thing that you did to begin Row 2 and it will be the same thing that you do to begin all of the rows while you continue to increase the size of your c2c crochet blanket.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Diagonal Crochet: Row 3, Part B
  
  
  
  Diagonal Crochet: Row 3 Part B
  You already know what to do, but we'll refresh your memory with a few more practice steps. So, you're working the first block of row 3. You have already done your chain 5, so now you make 3 dc stitches into the fourth chain from the hook. This gives you your first block of 4 dc stitches.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Diagonal Crochet: Row 3, Part C
  
  
  
  Diagonal Crochet: Row 3, Part C
  Next, you will slip stitch into the space between the third and fourth dc stitches of the block in the row below. Then you will chain 3 to create the first double crochet and then 3 dc into the same space. This creates your second block of Row 3.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Diagonal Crochet: Row 3 complete
  
  
  
  Diagonal Crochet: Row 3 Complete
  Continue working the pattern that you have established. At the end of diagonal crochet row 3, you will have three blocks.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Continue Diagonal Crochet
  
  
  
  Continue Diagonal Crochet
  You will keep growing your work in the same manner, row by row. You add one new block at the beginning of each row. Each row will have the same number of blocks as the row number. (So here we are in row 5 and there are five blocks.)
  
  Proceed in this same manner until you are satisfied with the size of your diagonal crochet blanket. When your row is as long as you want the midline of your blanket to be, you will be ready to decrease.
  
  
• Decreasing Diagonal Crochet
  
  
  
  Continue Diagonal Crochet
  Slip stitch in each of first 3 double crochet stitches. This is how you decrease the row by one block. That's because instead of adding a block to this corner like you normally would, you are slip stitching over to the next corner in, effectively skipping a block.
  
  Then slip stitch into the space between the third and fourth double crochet stitches to begin your first box of the row. Working as usual, chain three and then three dc into that space. Continue across the row as normal. You are making boxes the same way as before.
  
  However, when you get to the very last block, don't make the final block. Instead, make your slip stitch as you normally do. But don't proceed with the "chain 3 and three dc" that would normally go here. Instead, leave off with the slip stitch. This decreases the row by one block.
  
  You will then turn the work and repeat all of the steps from this section. Each row will have one less block than the previous row until you finally get to the opposite corner of where you started and have only one block in that last row!