Category Archives: The Granny Square Project

June 1, 2014 · 11:00 pm

30 Days of Blog

10257575_10203950491468669_9028171033787255028_oSo a friend of mine does a daily blog challenge in June every year and invited me to join this time around.  Which really is good because I am ser-i-ous-ly behind in the Granny Square Project.  I probably won’t get a post in EVERY day, but I’ll try.

So to start off with, here is what I am working on.  I had planned to make this baby doll and basket to give to Sephy when Greyson was born.  It is a kit from Mary Maxim Babyand if interested you can find it on their website by clicking on the picture.  I was going to start it right after Christmas last year so that I would have it done in time to give her at the hospital when she came to meet him.  He was due January 18th so I had plenty of time, right?  Yeah, not so much.  Since he decided to join us in time for Christmas Eve I didn’t even get this thing started.  And of course life with a newborn doesn’t leave much time for crocheting (hence being behind with the Granny Square Project too.)  But I finally started it the other night.  I’ve got the blanket and the pillow done and hope to finish the rest of it up this week.  I’ll post progress pictures starting tomorrow.

In addition to this, I have to get caught up on March’s second Granny Square as well as both squares from each of April and May.  I should have plenty to keep me in the blog posts so hopefully I’ll actually start getting some stuff done.  I also have some plans that I have been working on with my Sister over at Vintage Wedding Gems in the pipeline, but we’ll get to that a bit later.

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March 18, 2014 · 2:00 pm

March – Square Five

March A

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.

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February 26, 2014 · 3:30 pm

February – Square Four

February - Square Four

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!

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February 18, 2014 · 2:44 pm

February – Square Three

February - Square Three

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.

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February 17, 2014 · 10:01 pm

January – Square Two

January - Square Two

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.

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February 17, 2014 · 9:12 pm

January – Square One

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 – 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!

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November 15, 2013 · 2:10 pm

The Granny Square Project

This was my first 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!

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