Crochet Big-Eyed Bird Granny Square

This whimsical granny square features a colorful, round bird nestled inside a contrasting square background.

By layering different shades of the same color family, you create a beautiful gradient effect for the bird’s body, which is finished with dimensional wings, a cute triangular beak, and little stitched feet.

Materials Needed

Medium Weight Yarn (Size 4): 3 shades of your primary color (Light/Background, Medium/Center, and Dark/Accent), plus White (for the frame) and Yellow (for the beak and feet).
Hook Size: H/8 (5.00 mm)
Tools: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and assembling.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. The Bird Body (Circle to Square)

Using your Medium Shade yarn:

Round 1: Form a magic ring. Chain 2, work 10 double crochets (DC) into the ring. Slip stitch to join, chain 2. (10 sts)
Round 2: Work 2 DC into every stitch around. Slip stitch to join, chain 2. (20 sts)
Round 3: Work 2 DC into every stitch around. Slip stitch to join, chain 2. (40 sts)
Round 4: Work 2 DC in the first stitch, then 1 DC in the next. Repeat this pattern all the way around.

Switch to your Dark Shade yarn:

Round 5: Chain 1. Single crochet (SC) in every stitch around.

Switch to your Light Shade (Background) yarn:

Round 6: Chain 1. SC in every stitch around. Slip stitch to join, chain 2. (60 sts)

Squaring It Off

Round 7 (The Corners): In the first stitch, work (2 DC, chain 2, 2 DC) to create your first corner. DC in the next 14 stitches. Repeat this sequence (Corner, then 14 DC) three more times around. Slip stitch to join, chain 2.
Rounds 8–10: DC in each stitch along the sides. When you reach a corner chain-space, work (2 DC, chain 2, 2 DC) directly into it. Slip stitch to join and chain 2 at the end of each round.

Switch to White yarn for the final border:

Round 11: Chain 1. SC in each stitch along the sides. In each corner chain-space, work (2 SC, chain 2, 2 SC). Slip stitch to join, fasten off, and weave in your ends.

2. The Beak

Using Yellow yarn:

Row 1: Chain 7. Starting in the second chain from your hook, SC across. Chain 1, turn. (6 sts)
Row 2: Decrease (SC2tog) over the first two stitches, SC in the next 2 stitches, then decrease over the final two stitches. Chain 1, turn. (4 sts)
Row 3: SC in each stitch across. Chain 1, turn.
Row 4: Work two SC decreases back-to-back. Chain 1, turn. (2 sts)
Row 5: Decrease over the remaining two stitches to form the point. Chain 1, then evenly SC all the way around the edges of your finished triangle, placing 2 SC in the top two corners for a clean shape. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

3. The Wings

Using your Dark Shade yarn, work directly onto the Round 5 circle edge.

Left Wing

Count roughly 6 stitches up from the bottom-left corner of the background square to find your starting point on the circle. You will use 3 stitches total:

Stitch 1: Attach yarn, chain 3, work 2 treble crochets (TC), chain 3, and slip stitch back into the same space.
Stitch 2: Slip stitch into the next space. Chain 2, work 2 DC, chain 2, and slip stitch into the same space.
Stitch 3: Slip stitch into the next space. Chain 2, work 2 half double crochets (HDC), chain 2, and slip stitch into the same space. Fasten off.

Right Wing

Count roughly 3 stitches up from the bottom-right corner of the background square. You will reverse the order to keep the wings symmetrical:

Stitch 1: Attach yarn, chain 2, work 2 HDC, chain 2, and slip stitch into the same space.
Stitch 2: Slip stitch into the next space. Chain 2, work 2 DC, chain 2, and slip stitch into the same space.
Stitch 3: Slip stitch into the next space. Chain 3, work 2 TC, chain 3, and slip stitch into the same space. Fasten off.

4. The Feet & Assembly