March – Square Five
March’s first square is actually the same pattern as January’s Square One. This shows just how different you can make the same square look just by using different colors, or by changing your progression of colors. This time I used three colors instead of just two.
Filed under The Granny Square Project
St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Garland
$7 on Etsy! Decorate your front door, kid’s bedroom, or even your cubicle at work for St. Patrick’s Day with this delightful strand of festive shamrock garland. Seven lucky shamrock’s adorn this 48″ hand crocheted strand of garland. Click on the picture to purchase on Etsy!
This garland is made with variegated yarn therefore each strand will be completely unique.
Price INCLUDES first class shipping via USPS to the United States.
Need something longer with more shamrocks? Contact me and we can talk!
Filed under For Sale on Etsy
February – Square Four
February’s second square is quite a bit more complicated and includes an Extended Double Crochet Cluster (EDCC) which I had never done before. The heart is crocheted first and then the granny clusters must be worked around it and built up to make the piece square. The heart ends up slightly off center in order to accomplish this. The pattern for this square can be found here. I made a few small modifications for mine including changing color back to red at the half double crochet round and then changing back to white again and crocheting another double crochet row followed by a single crochet edging. Happy Valentines Day!
Filed under The Granny Square Project
I almost forgot! For the nieces and nephews this year we were lazy and gave them gift cards. But I dressed them up a little bit and crocheted gift card holders.
I made these holding two strands of size 10 thread and added a sparkly red button.
They turned out even cuter than I expected and I thought about making these to sell on Etsy. What do you think? Would you pay $5 for one of these?
Filed under Gifts
Finally, here are the Christmas presents that I made for the family this past year. I’ve been wanting to make these as Christmas gifts for several years now.
I made a set of 5 starched snowflake ornaments for each of my and my Husband’s Parents and each of our siblings’ families. I made the same snowflake for everyone rather than using a different pattern for each set. I had it memorized very shortly and was turning them out in 30 minutes each by the time I got them all done.
I used different thread from size 5 to 20, including one set of gold thread and two different sets of red thread – all of which I already had on hand. I did have to buy some ribbon for the hangers and I also sprayed each set with glitter spray once they were starched to add a little sparkle. (That was a lot of fun in the freezing cold temperatures we had this December.)
I picked up old Christmas tins at the thrift store to put these in instead of boxing and wrapping. I lined the tins with tissue paper to which I added a few drops of scented oil so that you got a nice whiff of Christmas when you opened the them. In the end it took me a lot of time to make, starch and finish these, but everyone seemed to enjoy them.
Starching and pinning to shape.
This is scented oil from Bath and Bodyworks. I added just a few drops to the tissue paper before putting the ornaments in their tins.
One of the tins I picked up at the thrift store.
This is the gold snowflake which I gave to my Mom.
This is my favorite. I love how delicate it came out using the smaller thread. My Mother-in-law got this one.
I plan to make a bunch of snowflakes for myself to put on a second tree in our home eventually. I’m talking about making a few dozen different snowflakes. That sure will be a project!
February – Square Three
February’s first square is another very basic Granny. As a matter of fact, the first three rounds are worked exactly the same as the basic Granny I did for January’s first square. However, starting with round four, instead of working clusters (3 dcs) in chains spaces, double crochets are worked in the previous row’s double crochets – with the exception of the corners of course. I completed this square in a single variegated yarn instead of finishing off and changing colors after each round. I prefer January’s basic Granny over this one.
Round 1: Sl st in a magic ring, ch 3, 2 dc in ring, ch 2, (3 dc, ch 2 in ring) 3 times, join with sl st in top ch of beg ch 3, pull tail of magic ring tight to close ring to complete round.
Round 2: Sl st across to corner ch 2 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 1) 3 times, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3.
Round 3: Sl st across to corner ch 2 sp, ch 3 2 dc in same sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1) across to corner, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner ch 2 sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1) across to corner, repeat from * around and join with sl st in top of beg ch 3.
Round 4: Sl st across to corner ch 2 sp, ch 3 2 dc in same sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same sp, ch 1, 2 dc in next ch 1 sp, dc in next dc and in each across to next ch 1 sp, 2 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner ch 2 sp, ch 1, 2 dc in next ch 1 sp, dc in next dc and in each across to next ch 1 sp, 2 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, repeat from * around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3.
Repeat round 4 until desired size has been reached. Finish off.
Filed under Patterns, The Granny Square Project
January – Square Two
January’s second square is a bit more complicated. I continued with the cold winter blue and white and added a snowflake. This pattern requires a bit of knowledge in shaping in order to transform the piece from round as it starts out, to square by the last round.
The FREE pattern for this square can be found here on Ravelry. The original picture there is in red and white and the center is done in the contrasting color rather than making the inside all the same color. But it looked like a snowflake to me so I did the center all in white. Just another example of the different results you can get by changing colors. I also skipped the last round of single crochets on this one as I had already reached my seven inches by the round of double crochets.
I do like how this one turned out. The snowflake is very pretty. I didn’t find the pattern to be completely clear though. I had to do a bit of experimenting to figure out the shaping. But it all turned out well in the end.
Filed under The Granny Square Project
So I am a little behind in starting out the Granny Square Project. The new baby decided to come a few weeks early in December rather than wait till the middle of January so I’ve been a bit busy. But, we went to visit the in-laws this past weekend and I was able to get caught up while they played with the kids. So I will be posting both January and February’s squares here shortly.
January – Square One
January’s first Granny Square is the most basic of Grannies. I completed it in blue and white to go with all the cold temperatures and snow we’ve been having this winter. Each of the squares in the project will be seven inches square.
The basic pattern is as follows. As a note for all my Grannies, I start them all out using the “magic ring.” There is a good tutorial here if you need it.
Round 1: Sl st in a magic ring, ch 3, 2 dc in ring, ch 2, (3 dc, ch 2 in ring) 3 times, join with sl st in top ch of beg ch 3, pull tail of magic ring tight to close ring to complete round. Finish off.
Round 2: Join new color with sl st in any ch 2 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 1) 3 times, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. Finish off.
Round 3: Join new color with sl st in any corner ch 2 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1) across to corner, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner ch 2 sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1) across to corner, repeat from * around and join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. Finish off.
Repeat round 3 until the desired size is reached. I also added a row of single crochet for edging with 3 sc being completed in each corner. This is completely optional.
The nice thing about this is you can finish off on each round and add a new color, or you can continue in the same color. Each square can look completely different, yet be completed from the same pattern. You can also make it as large or as small as small as you like. Usually the fewest rows completed is 3. (See, I’m trying to appreciate the Granny here.) January’s square two coming up shortly!
Filed under Patterns, The Granny Square Project
This was my first Granny Square project. (Stock photo from pattern book.)
Like many crocheters, one of my very first projects was made up of Granny Squares. The basic Granny Square is very simple and you can connect and combine them in a variety of ways to make endless different projects. There are also countless variations on the basic Granny Square allowing crocheters an infinite variety of options in creating works of art.
But I have a confession to make… I always hated making Granny Squares. By the time I finished the above project I was so bored with it! When I crochet, I generally like to sit back and relax and crochet continuously, row after row. But with a Granny Square you are usually creating one round and finishing off to change colors for the next round. I disliked not being able to just sit back and relax and simply crochet.
In an effort to increase my appreciation for the Granny Square, I have decided to do a year-long project focused on these little gems. So here’s the plan: I will make 2 Granny Squares a month, for 12 months in 2014. Each square will be a different variation on the Granny Square. At the end of the year I will join them all together into a 4×6 square afghan. Each square should only take me an evening or two to make so I won’t have to spend all my time on the project, but will still get to create a variety of squares. Probably the biggest challenge will be to modify my gauge and get all the squares to be the same size.
I’m starting my research for different squares to use on Pinterest so feel free to follow my board. Also, feel free to send in your own Granny Square variation pattern suggestions either by email or on Facebook. I’ll take pictures and post each month’s squares as we go too!
Filed under The Granny Square Project
The pattern for this afghan is now available for sale on Ravelry! I’ve set the price for it at $5.00. I would love to hear from anyone who purchases the pattern and see pictures of your completed afghan! I may even post your picture on the site here! Click on the picture to see the Ravelry listing, or just the “buy now” link. Enjoy!
Filed under For Sale On Ravelry, Patterns
Stitched In Love Crocheting 