I have made three of these Granny Square blankets, and enjoy doing the simple pattern. The directions (below) seem daunting until you are a few rounds in, and then you just go round and round and round until the blanket is done. I copied and pasted these directions off something way back when, but can't remember where it originated. The Granny Square is a pretty basic crochet design, though.
Ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 2 dc in ring, ch 1, (3 dc in ring, ch 1) 3 times; join with sl st in top of beg ch - 12 dc and 4 ch-1 sps.
Rnd 2: Sl st in each of next 2 dc, (sl st, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in first ch-1 sp (first corner made), *(3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp (corner made); rep from * 2 more times; join with sl st in top of beg ch.
Rnd 3: Sl st in each of next 2 dc, (sl st, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in first ch-1 sp, *3 dc in sp between next 2 dc-groups, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp; rep from * 2 more times, 3 dc in sp between next 2 dc-groups; join with sl st in top of beg ch.
Rnd 4: Sl st in each of next 2 dc, (sl st, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in first ch-1 sp, *(3 dc in sp between next 2 dc-groups) twice, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp; rep from * 2 more times, (3 dc in sp between next 2 dc-groups) twice; join with sl st in top of beg ch.
Rnd 5: Sl st in each of next 2 dc, (sl st, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in first ch-1 sp, *(3 dc in sp between next 2 dc-groups) across to next ch-1 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp; rep from * 2 more times, (3 dc in sp between next 2 dc-groups) around; join with sl st in top of beg ch.
Rep Rnd 5 until piece measures desired size. Fasten off.
FINISHING
Weave in ends.
