I’ve been having fun today making a little tutorial for those of you out there who may have never made a Granny Square before but would like to have a go. I have recently started on my own Granny Square adventures and I’m loving how quick and easy they are to make. The perfect wind down after a busy or stressful day. For this project, which is slowly turning into a super snug blanket,  I chose 12 of  my favorite colors, wound off some yarn cakes and just combined them randomly as I went along. Variety is the spice of life so far as these vibrant squares are concerned.  I might try experimenting with a more limited color palette in subsequent projects, but at the moment I’m enjoying a major color festival as you can see below! Keeping the cats off this project has been a challenge too. As far as they’re concerned any area of soft and cuddly crochet is fair game for a spot of napping, It does look rather inviting though!

Here’s how I made the Granny Squares for this particular project. I’ve included some photos to help out too.

Materials: Light Worsted Weight yarns in all your favorite colors, 4.5 mm crochet hook, Scissors, Yarn needle.

US Terminology: Sl st/slip stitch, dc/double crochet, ch/chain, ch sp/chain space.

UK terminology, replace dc/double crochet with tr/treble crochet

Round brackets ( ) indicate a group of stitches to be worked into the same ch sp. Square brackets [ ] indicate a group of stitches to  be worked the amount of times stated after the brackets.

Pattern:

With color 1 make 4 ch, join with a Sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1) 3 ch (counts as first dc), 2 dc into ring, [2 ch, 3 dc into ring] 3 times, 2 ch, Sl st into top of 3 ch to close the round. Cut Color 1.

Rnd 2)  Join color 2 in any ch sp, 3 ch (counts as first dc), 2 dc into same ch sp, [1 ch, (3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) into next ch sp] 3 times, 1 ch, 3 dc into next ch sp, 2 ch, Sl st into top of 3 ch to close the round. Cut color 2.

Rnd 3) Join color 3 in any corner ch sp, 3 ch (counts as first dc), 2 dc in same ch sp, [1 ch, 3 dc into next ch sp, 1 ch, (3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) into next ch sp] 3 times, 1 ch, 3 dc into next ch sp, 1 ch, 3 dc into next ch sp, 2 ch, Sl st into top of 3 ch to close round. Cut color 3.

Rnd 4) Join color 4 in any corner ch sp, 3 ch (counts as first dc), 2 dc in same ch sp,  [(1 ch, 3 dc into next ch sp) 2 times, 1 ch, (3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) into next ch sp] 3 times, (1 ch, 3 dc into next ch sp) 2 times, 1 ch, 3 dc into next ch sp, 2 ch, Sl st into top of 3 ch to close the round. Cut color 4.

At this stage you will have a square motif. Each corner will have 2 blocks of 3 dc separated by 2 ch. Along each side there will be 2 blocks of 3 dc separated by 1 ch. (17 stitches per side)

You’ve probably got the hang of it by now! To make your blocks bigger just keep increasing the rounds putting (3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) in each corner chain space and single groups of 3 dc separated by 1 ch in each chain space along the edges. Here are a few photos of the various stages to help give some visual clues.

Now to darn in all those ends!

To join all the squares I used a slip stitch on the back of the work and by crocheting in only the two outside loops I got a lovely neat finish on the front.

Now I just have to join the squares at right angles to close all the gaps and crochet a pretty border for the finishing touch. I’ll post a photo when it’s finally done.

I’m really pleased with it so far. I love the randomness of the color blocks. I can’t wait to show it off when it’s finished! However, I’ve got my gardening squirrel  to get ready for a book due out this spring so I think my Granny Blanket might have to take a back seat over the next week or so while I focus on some pattern testing and other half finished stuff. I’m currently working through a Beaver pattern by Ildikko Struning that will also be in the book. He’s looking very nice so far but is going to look even better when he has his legs, hat and tail finished off. I’m also keen to finish off a new set of monster patterns I’ve been working on, a badger pattern and some Easter bunnies, as well as a scarf for a present and a pair of cable gloves, just for me. Hmm, I seem to remember a New Years Resolution about only having three projects on the go at any one time. Oh well, what the heck, everyone knows New Years Resolutions are there to be broken! A bit of creative rebellion is good sometimes. I’ll be making sure I finish all these back boilers off before I start anything else though, or things are just going to get plain silly around here!