Free Pattern Step-by-Step Crochet

Little Navy Sailboat Granny Square — A Beginner-Friendly Applique

A beginner-friendly granny square with a little navy sailboat applique, worked in 5 rounds plus a border in cream, navy, and red — about 7x7 inches.

Level BeginnerTime 1-1.5 HoursHook 5.0 mmYarn Worsted

About This Pattern

This one is a favorite of mine because it isn't just a square, it's a tiny scene. A cream-and-navy background builds up in classic granny rounds, and then a little navy sailboat, its hull, its main sail, and its small sail, gets stitched separately and sewn on top, so the boat sits up proud against the background like it's caught mid-glide across calm water.

You'll work the background with a magic ring start, standard corner increases, and simple double crochet rounds, so if you've made a traditional granny square before, the base will feel instantly familiar. The applique pieces add a little something new, sewing shapes onto a finished background, which makes this a lovely first project for anyone ready to move past a plain granny square without jumping into anything complicated.

Finished, it comes in at about 7 by 7 inches, with the sailboat sitting neatly inside its cream field and a tidy border framing the whole thing. I love using it as a one-off accent square tucked into a bigger afghan, propped on a shelf as a little mat, or stitched up in multiples for a whole nautical-themed throw.

Variations

This square is easy to make your own. Swap the navy for a deep teal or slate blue if you want a softer, more weathered look, or try the sailboat in a bright color like coral or mustard for a cheerful, playful version. The background works beautifully in any two neutral or pastel shades too, think soft gray and white, or sand and sky blue, if you want the boat to be the clear star. You can also size things up by adding another round or two in a fresh color before the border, which gives you a bigger square for a pillow front or a blanket that needs fewer motifs. And if worsted weight isn't your thing, this pattern adapts nicely to a lighter DK yarn with a smaller hook for a more delicate, refined finish.

I keep coming back to this square because it makes me smile every time I finish one. There's something so satisfying about building a plain, tidy background and then watching a little boat appear on top of it, like it sailed in while you weren't looking. It's a wonderful project for using up small amounts of yarn in three colors, and it's forgiving too, since the applique pieces are small and sewing them on gives you a chance to adjust placement until it looks just right. I also love that it teaches a new skill, working a shape separately and attaching it, without asking you to learn anything intimidating. By the time you finish your first one, you'll want to make a whole little fleet.

Common mistakes

Losing track of corner spaces: It's easy to stitch into the chain itself instead of the space beneath it. Keep your ch-2 corners a little loose so you can always see and find the space clearly.
Skipping a snug magic ring cinch: A loose center ring leaves a gap right where the boat's hull will eventually sit. Pull the tail firmly before you close Round 1 so the center stays neat.
Miscounting stitches across the border: The border round has a lot going on, with groups of stitches and spaces to track. Count each side as you go rather than waiting until the end to check your total.
Sewing the applique off-center: Rushing the placement can leave the boat looking crooked on the background. Pin or baste the hull and sails in place first, step back to check the balance, and only then stitch them down for good.

Nora

More Patterns

Beginner

Materials

Worsted-weight yarn in 3 colors (cream, navy, red) — about 25–40 g total per square
5.0 mm crochet hook
Yarn needle for weaving in ends
Scissors

The Background Square

Work the plain background square first — the little navy sailboat pieces are sewn on at the end. Every count below is math-verified.

Round 1With cream, in a magic ring: ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, [3 dc, ch 2] 3 times; sl st to top of ch-3 to join (12)Step by step Step by step: Using cream yarn, in a magic ring: make 3 chain stitches, 2 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, [3 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches] 3 times; slip stitch to top of ch-3 to join.
Round 2sl st to corner sp, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sp, ch 1, ] 3 times; sl st to join (24)Step by step Step by step: Slip stitch to corner space, make 3 chain stitches, 2 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet in same corner, make 1 chain stitch, [(3 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in corner space, make 1 chain stitch, ] 3 times; slip stitch to join.
Round 3With navy, sl st to corner sp, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, ] 3 times; sl st to join (36)Step by step Step by step: Using navy yarn, slip stitch to corner space, make 3 chain stitches, 2 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet in same corner, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, [(3 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in corner space, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, ] 3 times; slip stitch to join.
Round 4sl st to corner sp, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, ] 3 times; sl st to join (48)

Step by step Step by step: Slip stitch to corner space, make 3 chain stitches, 2 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet in same corner, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, [(3 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in corner space, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, ] 3 times; slip stitch to join.

Round 5With cream, sl st to corner sp, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, ] 3 times; sl st to join (60)

Step by step Step by step: Using cream yarn, slip stitch to corner space, make 3 chain stitches, 2 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet in same corner, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, [(3 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in corner space, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, ] 3 times; slip stitch to join.

Bordersl st into the corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, [3 sc in the corner sp, (sc in next 3 sts, sc in next sp) 4 times, sc in next 3 sts] 4 times; sl st to the first sc (88)Step by step Step by step: Slip stitch into the corner ch-2 space, make 1 chain stitch, [3 single crochet in the corner space, (single crochet in next 3 stitches, single crochet in next space) 4 times, single crochet in next 3 stitches] 4 times; slip stitch to the first single crochet.

The Hull

Worked in navy. Leave a long tail for sewing.

Round 1ch 10, sc in 2nd ch from hook, 7 sc, 3 sc in last ch, working back along the underside, 7 sc, 2 sc in last (20)

The Main Sail

Worked in cream. Leave a long tail for sewing.

Round 1ch 2, 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook (2)
Round 2ch 1, turn, [inc] repeat 2 times (4)
Round 3ch 1, turn, inc, 2 sc, inc (6)
Round 4ch 1, turn, inc, 4 sc, inc (8)
Round 5ch 1, turn, inc, 6 sc, inc (10)

The Small Sail

Worked in red. Leave a long tail for sewing.

Round 1ch 2, 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook (2)
Round 2ch 1, turn, [inc] repeat 2 times (4)
Round 3ch 1, turn, inc, 2 sc, inc (6)

Assembly — Bringing It Together

Step 1 Pin the Hull just below center on the background square, curved/pointed edge running side to side so its two tips point left and right.

Step 2 Whipstitch the Hull down around its entire outer edge using navy thread.

Step 3 Pin the Main Sail directly above the right half of the Hull, its wide bottom row resting on the Hull's top edge and angled slightly right.

Step 4 Pin the Small Sail so its bottom row also rests on the Hull's top edge just left of the Main Sail, angled slightly left so the two sails form a gentle V at the mast.

Step 5 Sew both sails down around their edges with thread matching each piece's color.

Step 6 Add the mast and wave embroidery last, stitching through all layers to anchor the sails to the Hull.

Embroidery Work one straight stitch in navy from the center top of the Hull up to where the sail bases meet, to form the mast.

Embroidery Work 2-3 short horizontal straight stitches in cream just below the Hull's pointed bottom edge to suggest gentle waves.

Embroidery Optional: work a tiny red V-shaped straight stitch at the top of the mast for a pennant flag.

Important notes

💡 Gauge: the finished square is about 7 x 7 inches in Worsted weight yarn with a 5.0 mm hook. Tight crocheters can go up half a hook size; loose ones down half.

💡 Color plan: the sample uses cream, navy, red in round order — change colors with a slip-stitch join in the first stitch of the new round.

💡 Block your background square before sewing on the sailboat pieces, a flat, evenly shaped base makes the applique sit much straighter.

💡 Use a yarn needle and matching thread-weight strands to whipstitch the boat pieces down invisibly, keeping stitches small and close together along the edges.

FAQ

Do I need any special skills to make this square?

Not at all, if you can chain, double crochet, and slip stitch, you have everything you need for the background. The only new skill is sewing the small applique pieces on afterward, which just takes a needle and a little patience.

How do the sailboat pieces attach to the background?

The hull, main sail, and small sail are worked as their own small pieces and then whipstitched onto the finished cream background using a yarn needle. Pinning them in place first makes it easy to get the positioning just right before you stitch.

What size hook and yarn does this square use?

This pattern is written for worsted weight yarn with a 5.0 mm hook, which keeps the stitches nice and defined. The finished square measures about 7 by 7 inches.

Can I use different colors than cream, navy, and red?

Absolutely, the three-color structure is really flexible. Just keep enough contrast between the background and the boat so the sailboat still reads clearly against the sea.

Is this square good for combining with other granny squares?

Yes, its finished size and classic round construction make it easy to mix into a larger blanket alongside plain or simple textured granny squares, especially if you carry the same color palette through.

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