Tag Archives: granny squares

August 18, 2014 · 3:06 pm

August – Square Fifteen

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August – Square Fifteen

I know that I said I would start in on the parasol once I got the July squares done, but time just keeps getting away from me and I’ve had to re-prioritize my projects.  If I want to get The Granny Square Project done in time to give it as a Christmas present, I’ve got to go ahead and see if I can finish the squares in the next month here.  I’m not sure how long it is going to take me to join them all.

I have a couple of small birthday presents that I want to see if I can whip up real quick this week.  I’ve also been working on the dress I wanted to make for my daughter.  Unfortunately I ran out of yarn and had to order the color online because I can’t find it in the stores and the dress is sitting in the cupboard waiting to be finished.  And finally, I’ve got something that I need to crochet for the four of us for my son’s 1 year pictures.  I won’t say more than that because it’s going to be a very fun surprise.  But I need to get started on that too!

In the mean time, I’m afraid the parasol will just have to wait till this winter, likely after little man’s birthday party.  I did however, find a pattern that I like for it and I really can’t wait to get started.

As a result, here is August’s first square.  The pattern can be found here.  This is another one I’ve got mixed feelings on.  Instead of working the granny clusters in a chain space, it calls for just working them between the previous row’s clusters.  That always feels very clumsy and tight to me.  There were also some instructions missing in the first round that I had to figure out, and each round starts unnecessarily (to me anyway) in the middle of the corner cluster instead of at the beginning  of it.  Normally you would slip stitch over to the corner space to start the next round, where as here you’ve often created the corner space by completing an hdc in the top of  beginning chain 3/dc.  I always hated joining that way, but it’s probably just a personal preference.  I had to leave off the last row to stay within my seven inches.  And my last row is worked with half-double crochets instead of dc’s.  I don’t really like the rounded off corners and I think I might go back and change that.  It would probably fit better with the rest of the squares anyway.  But this one also has the front post stitches that I love again to give the 3-d appearance of red ribbon behind the black frame.  I really like how that looks.

I have to actually buy some yarn for the next square I have planned because I don’t have the color I need.   I need some dark burnt orange and that’s not a color I typically work with.  I do believe this will be the first yarn I’ve bought for this project.

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August 15, 2014 · 3:55 pm

July – Square Fourteen

July 1

July – Square Fourteen

I think this is one of my favorite squares so far!  The pattern can be found here.  It made me think of fireworks and I just had to do it in red, white, and blue.  I love how it turned out.  Though if I did it again I’d probably just do the white either at the center or on the edging. It kind of breaks up the lines and makes their continuity hard to see.

I love working with cable stitches or post stitches.  This square is made with front post double treble crochets.

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August 7, 2014 · 3:17 pm

July – Square Thirteen

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July – Square Thirteen

I have some mixed feelings about this square; the pattern for which can be found here.  I have done several squares this year with a central motif themed for that particular month.  Those squares were started with the motif, and then the square was created by working into it.

With this square however, the star is worked completely separate from the square.  That is to say, the square could exist without the star, whereas the other squares would not be complete without their motifs.

The star is crocheted separately and then connected by single crochets thorough picots at each point on round 5.  Somehow this just seamed like cheating to me.  But, then I thought about it again.  This project is about gaining appreciation for the vast variety possible with Granny Squares and I guess this is one of those possibilities.  I do really like the 3D effect it gives the square.

I also really like how the granny square clusters in this square are not actually clusters, but v-stitches. ((dc, ch 1, dc) all in one stitch.) It keeps with the granny square tradition, but gives it a slightly different look that I found refreshing.

I did depart from the patter at row 10.  Instead of completing the last rows in double crochets and single crochets respectively, I continued with the v-stitches and liked this much better. I had to do a second row of v-stitches instead of single crochets in the last color so that I would reach my seven inches.

One thing that I was worried about when I started this project was that I would find it difficult to make all my squares the same size.  I was concerned that I would have problems with patterns designed to be larger or smaller squares than the seven inches I had decided on.  However, this has proven to be a non issue.  It has been relatively easy for me to decide if and how I need to modify squares, whether by changing gauge with my hook size, or by adding or omitting rows.

Well we’re half way through the project now!  I have so many other projects that I want to do right now.  After I finish the next square I hope to do that parasol that I mentioned.  Then I want to make a dress for my daughter.  Then I would like to see if I can get most of the rest of my squares done this fall because I’d like to get them connected before Christmas.  I have a surprise recipient in mind for the project and would like it to be a Christmas present!

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August 5, 2014 · 2:55 pm

June – Square Twelve

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June – Square Twelve

This square makes me think of the ’90s blue and white country cottage style with things like goose canisters and dishes.

It’s a simple daisy with the basic granny square following.  I’ll put the pattern for this out on Ravelry and it will be free for one week!  Use the following code to redeem for the free pattern through Tuesday August 12, 2014.   FREEDAISYGRANNY

After that the pattern will be $1.50 here:

geese

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July 31, 2014 · 2:50 pm

June – Square Eleven

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June – Square Eleven

I really like this square.  It turned out very pretty.  The 3-d effect is accomplished by working behind every other petal on the flower, and then picking the tip of the flower back up after a few rows to anchor it.  I got the pattern for this square here.

If you look at the pictures on Ravelry, you can see how much you can change the look of this pattern by changing not only the colors, but the progression of color changes and even what rows you change the colors on.

I did not follow the pattern’s instruction on when to change colors and I really like how it came out.  Also, the pattern is for nine-inch and twelve-inch squares.  It provides additional rows for the twelve-inch.  Since I only needed seven inches I used a smaller hook.  I completed the rounds for a nine-inch square and still needed a little more width.  I did not really like what the pattern called for so I just completed two more rounds of half-double crochets.

That reminds me of another note on this square.  After the flower is completed, rounds are stitched in half-double crochets.  Hdcs are not my favorite stitch.  The rhythm of making the stitch just doesn’t flow quite as well as a double-crochet for me.  That being said, I really like the look of the hdc rows instead of double-crochets.

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July 18, 2014 · 1:51 pm

May – Square Ten

May – Square Ten

Here is another great square using the yarn I mentioned previously from my Grandmother’s stash. It was a bit difficult to work with. I’m not sure if that’s because it’s a wool blend, or due to it’s age, but I often had a hard time catching the yarn with my hook.

I found the neat pattern for this stand-out star here.  The effect is created with Front Post Double Crochet stitches.  I modified the edging a little to stay within my 7 inches.  My star doesn’t stand out quite as well and I think that is also due to the yarn I used and it’s weight and age.

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June 30, 2014 · 12:59 pm

Loose Ends…

Well, I have been remiss and failed to keep up with the 30 days of blog since last Tuesday.  I have totally bombed the final week of 30 Days of Blog.  Every day just seemed to be too much for me this year so I’ll have to see if I can do better next year.

I do have to say, however, as a working mother of two, 19 posts in 30 days is pretty good, and I believe it is more than I have ever done in a month.  I’ve gotten more crocheting done in the last month than I probably have in the last year.  I certainly do need to make more time for myself to crochet.  I can’t normally do it every day, but at least a few times a week should be possible.  I think I’ve proven that to myself this month at least.

That’s one of those things about Motherhood that you just don’t understand until your there yourself – complete lack of time.  It’s amazing how fast you can get things done that used to take you the whole evening  once you got home from work, because you have so many other things that have to get done too.  On the other hand, something that used to take you 5 minutes takes you an hour because you have to stop and put a binki back in the baby’s mouth every 30 seconds, and tell the toddler for the 50th time to stop drinking out of the dog’s water dish (pretending to be a dog herself.)

I have gotten behind in keeping up with the dishes, (including the darn baby bottles and pump parts) and the laundry in order to do my posts this month.  There have been a few times I was pulling diaper liners out of the dryer to stuff so that I could put them on a kid.  But the traffic on my site has increased dramatically and I think a short-term intense campaign has been worth it.  Now I just have to find the balance I need to keep up with both.  One or two posts a week should do the trick.

CAM01209_1I had hoped to get caught up on the Granny Square Project and didn’t get that done.  But I am a lot closer to being on track than I was at the beginning of the month.  This green yarn will be May’s second square.  It’s actually a skein from my Grandma Townsend’s old stash that my Dad had given to me and I had previously started another project with.  I honestly don’t even remember what it was going to be – maybe a Prayer Shawl.  But didn’t like where it was going so it ended up in a bag with my yarn stash.  I frogged it this morning and now have this nice pile ready to start Square Ten.

Thanks so much to my friend for inviting me to join the insanity for this year’s 30 Days of Blog.  It has been great for me.  See you next year!

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June 24, 2014 · 4:59 pm

Design Submission

AfghanI’ve mentioned previously that I’d submitted the pattern for the afghan I made for Greyson’s Baby Blessing for publication.  It was not accepted and I’ve been meaning to get the pattern uploaded to sell on Ravelry myself like I did for Persephone’s Ribbon and Pearls afghan.  Somehow I just haven’t gotten that done and now I’m glad.

I got an email the other day from Crochet World calling for design submissions for their Spring 2015 Special issue “Blue Ribbon Crochet.”

The issue will “showcase a variety of award-worthy projects that reflect some of the most popular fairy-entry categories for crochet designs.”

The email said, “We want fabulous, prize-worthy designs that are exceptional in style but not difficult or intimidating to make.”

My design goes perfectly with what they’re looking for both with its simplicity and coincidentally with the blue ribbon.  I’ve submitted the design and I’m anxious to find out if they’ll use it.

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June 22, 2014 · 9:52 pm

May – Square Nine

May – Square Nine

If you haven’t noticed, I have been using yarn from my stash to make each of my squares and not buying any new.  As a result, I’ve been using different yarn types together where I normally never would.  The most common example of this has been using worsted weight Red Heart yarn with the lighter Caron Simply Soft.  But this is more of a sampler piece, so that rule is temporarily suspended.  Because the weights and textures are different, I often have to change the size of the crochet hook I’m using in order to maintain the same gauge after changing yarns.

May’s first square is another extremely simple Granny, however I found a lovely variegated cotton yarn in my stash that I used to make my family dish cloths for Christmas a few years back.  The color just said “May” to me and the cotton texture will definitely stand out in the finished afghan.

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June 21, 2014 · 11:53 pm

April – Square Eight

April – Square Eight

April’s second square is blessedly more simple than the daffodil debacle.  Yellow isn’t normally my color.  Maybe I’m just not the bright and cheery personality that it implies, but it’s normally not the first color I would select.  But I figured an April square for spring time would be yellow.  And I was surprised to find myself refreshed by this little gem.  The square is a little more than basic with an offset diamond in the center which requires a bit of shaping, and two chain-2 spaces at the center of each side to mix things up a little bit.

The original inspiration for the square can be found here but I’ve modified it and written my own pattern again.  My pattern can be found on Ravelry, here.  Additionally, I have added an optional replacement to round 5  to close the chain-2 spaces on each side and make solid rows instead.  I think I like the open spaces however.

I have also added this to my Ravelry store as a downloadable PDF.  Download here!

Required Materials:

  • Yarn Color A – Yellow for diamond
  • Yarn Color B – White

Square:

Round 1: With Color A, 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 (counts as beg dc), (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same space) ch 2 [3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2] 3 times, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3.

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in same st, and next 2 dc, [3 sc in corner ch-3 sp, sc in each of next 3 dc, ch 2, skip next ch-2 sp, sc in each of next 3 dc] 3 times, 3 sc in corner ch-2 sp, sc in each of next 3 dc, ch 2, join with sl st in beg sc. Finish off.

Round 4: Join Color B with sc in the second sc of any corner, ch 2,  (4 dc, ch 2, 4 dc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 2  (this will be the new corner);  [sc in the second sc of the next corner, ch 2, (4 dc, ch 2, 4 dc) in the next ch-2 sp, ch 2] 3 times, join with sl st in beg sc.

Round 5: Ch 4 (beg dc plus ch-2), skip next ch-2 sp, dc in next dc and in each across to corner ch-2 sp, [ (2dc, ch 2, 2 d) in corner, dc in each dc across to next ch-2 sp, ch 2, skip ch-2 sp, dc in next st, ch 2, skip next ch-2 sp, dc in next dc and in each across to corner ch-2 sp] repeat from [ to ] twice more, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner, dc in each dc across to next ch-2 sp, ch 2, join with sl st to beg dc.  Finish off.

Optional Round 5: Ch 2, 2 dc in next ch2 space and in each dc across to corner ch-2 sp, [ (2dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner, dc in each dc across to next ch-2 sp, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, dc in next st, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, dc in next dc and in each across to corner ch-2 sp] repeat from [ to ] twice more, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner, dc in each dc across to next ch-2 sp, 2 dc in ch-2 sp,  join with sl st to beg dc.  Finish off.  Continue each round going forward by double crocheting straight across each row instead of completing the chain 2 spaces.

Round 6: Join color A with sl st in any corner ch-2 sp, ch 2 (counts as beg dc now and throughout) (dc, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp) [dc in each dc across to next ch-2 sp, ch 2, skip ch-2 sp, dc in next st, ch 2, skip next ch-2 sp, dc in next dc and in each across to corner ch-2 sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner] repeat from [ to ] twice more, dc in each dc across to next ch-2 sp, ch 2, skip ch-2 sp, dc in next st, ch 2, skip next ch-2 sp, dc in next dc and in each across to beg dc, join with sl st to beg dc

Round 7: ch 2, dc in next dc, [ (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner, dc in each dc across to next ch-2 sp, ch 2, skip ch-2 sp, dc in next st, ch 2, skip next ch-2 sp, dc in next dc and in each across to corner ch-2 sp] 3 times (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner, dc in each dc across to next ch-2 sp, ch 2, skip ch-2 sp, dc in next st, ch 2, skip next ch-2 sp, dc in next dc and in each across to beg dc, join with sl st to beg dc. Finish off.

Repeat rounds 6 and 7 changing colors until desired size is reached.  Weave all yarn ends and block your work.

*Note: I only repeated round 6 once in white and then completed an edging round of single crochet to remain within the 7 inches for the squares that I am completing for the Granny Square Project.

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