HOW TO DO A GRANNY SQUARE

 

SUE PINNER'S VERSION OF THE GRANNY SQUARE:

There are several versions of the Granny Square on the internet, some good and some not so good. The design of a granny square has holes, that do not need to be made bigger bye adding chain stitches between granny shell, unless extra stitches are required.

Starting with the granny shell first then completing the second granny shell and corner chain stitches means the join on each round moves across the side of the square...not good practice.

If you use more chain stitches than pull throughs you will have a line through your square that is ugly to look at. And also means a different start to each round, not good for a beginner.

My version is beginner friendly, easy, neat and starts and finishes in the same place every round. I also prefer a slightly padded centre circle for neatness and look.

SUE'S BEGINNERS GRANNY: US Terms, USING ONE COLOUR CONTINUED.

A finger wrap of 6 wraps, slide off finger carefully and work all stitches into circle.

ROUND 1: ALWAYS Start with a corner, ch5 [2ch as a dc, and 3ch as the corner], 3dc into circle, ch3, 3dc, ch3, 3dc, ch3, 2dc, into circle, sl st, into the 2nd ch, of the first 5ch, this completes the first round.

ROUND 2: Sl st, into the corner sp, and repeat, ch5, 3dc into first corner sp, 3dc, ch3, 3dc, into next corner sp, 3dc, ch3, 3dc into the next 2 corners, complete the round with 2dc, sl st, into the 2nd ch of first 5ch. 

ROUND 3: Sl st, into the corner sp, and repeat, with 3dc, granny shell in the side sp, 

again start in the corner, ch5, 3dc into same corner sp, 3dc into side sp, 3dc, ch3, 3dc, 3dc in the side sp, repeat for remaining sides, complete with 2dc, sl st, into 2nd ch, of first 5ch.

ROUND 4+: REPEAT ROUND 3. Each round with have another side sp to add a granny shell of 3dc in that too.

IF YOU WANT A VERY LARGE GRANNY SQUARE THROW:

Change direction every round, so that it dopant start to 'spin', crochet has a tendency to spin when worked continuously in the same direction. So by changing the directions each round, it stays perfectly Square, and also becomes double sided, no right or wrong side. Win, win.

MAGIC EYE CAL: March lockdown pattern

Sue Pinner 

Slowly catching up with lots of free patterns swell as finishing my 3rd book fingers crossed out for November as a self published pdf on Ravelry 

Taken from the first few rounds of my Oval Mandala pattern, but simplified a little and done as a lockdown cal for my Facebook group.

The magic Eye is a simpler version of than the Oval Mandala. 

Finger wrap of 5 wraps

Round 1: 18dc into finger wrap 

Round 2: tr. Ch3 tr in point, ch1. 1tr, ch1 in next 8 spaces repeat for second side giving 10tr each side of eye. 

Round 3:  3tr cluster, ch3, 3tr cluster in point. Ch2, 3tr cluster in all side spaces, repeat giving 11 clusters each side. 

Round 4 &5:  3dc, ch3. 3dc in points, 3dc in each side sp. Repeat second side.

 

Round 6:  repeat round 5, but join as you go after completing the first eye motif, Join eyes together over 4 granny shell at sides 5th at points

This is the original pattern I've taken the first few rounds from to make the Magic Eye Pattern above

                                                           Original pattern The oval Mandala

First 2 rounds

                                                                          Infill options

                                           This was a tiny version, same pattern in sock wool

              Final pattern made into a blanket used was 6 rounds and a granny square infill below

                                                          Another version used for a scarf