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.

SPINNING TOP CAL 2019 PART 1 WITH PICTURES

ORIGINAL SPINNING TOP PATTERN WITH PICTURES 2019 rerun : 

US Terms, 

UK Terms in brackets

For the rerun of the Spinning Top CAL i have used just 2 yarns, Aran weight in an Aran colour from Pound Stretcher, 25% wool and a real bargain, and Hayfields Bonus Breeze in a Atlantis, a  space dyed yarn so quite a few colours covered in one yarn, less Ends to deal with.

The Colour inspiration was the wallpaper on the craft room wall 

Both yarns with a 5mm hook 

I've worked the 2 yarns alternate through out

 I was going to use this Robin Paintbox yarn but found it difficult to get hold of where as the HAYFIELD Breeze is slightly softer in colouring but very similar and easier to find, but bothe work really well 

PATTERN:

A finger wrap of 5 wraps

Round 1: 12 sc [12dc] into circle (12sts)

Round 2: cluster of 2dc [2tr], into each st with ch1 between (12 clusters)

Round 3: 3tr [3dtr], into each ch1 sp, (36sts)

Round 4: sc [dc], in 2nd and 3rd sts, of group of 3sts, sc [dc] spike st into clusters of 
round 2. (36sts)

Round 5: sc in first st, in any st, bobble st of 3tr [3dtr], in ext st, ch1, sc [dc], in next st repeat to end. (18bobbles, 18sc [dc])

PICTORIAL HOW TO DO BOBBLE ST.

att yarn in frost st

half make 3tr [3dtr]

drawn together with last part of st

ch1

 sc into next st

repeat

creating 18 bobble sts, and 18 sc [dc] between

Round 6: granny shells of 3dc [3tr] into sc sts, between bobbles (54sts)

Round 7: single 'v' st, tr [dtr], ch2, tr [dtr], into sp, between granny shells, repeat. (18 'v' sts)

Round 8: double 'v' st,  2tr [2dtr], ch2, 2tr [2dtr], into ch2 sp, repeat (18 double 'v' sts)

Round 9: 3dc, [3tr], ch2, 3dc [3tr], into ch2 sp, sc [dc] into sp between double 'v's 

(18 shell sts)

UPDATE: US TERMS

An additional 10th round, only required on the new Moroccan Spinning Top motif 

I WANTED TO FINISH WITH THE ARAN COLOUR

so added a 10 round

Round 10: att, yarn in the ch3 point, 2tr, ch3, 2tr, into the sc, sc at the next point, repeat to end sl st to complete.

DAY 1 CROCHET WIP'S ADVENT CALENDAR

CROCHET WIP's ADVENT CALENDAR 

DAY 1 

A Head Band/Ear warmers
Wanted a double version but not enough of the yarn i wanted to use so had to settle for a side layer

5mm hook

US Terms

to fit my head 21":

Base chain: 15sts

ROW 1: [14th and 15th ch, counts as first dc], 4dc, miss 2 sts, 3dc, ch1, 3dc in middle st, miss 2 sts, 4dc, turn,

repeat for as many rows as needed

join with a sl st, after each st, to join into a circle to fit.

Add a band to cover join

Base chain: 11sts

ROW 1: 2dc, miss 2sts, 3dc, ch2 3dc in middle sts, miss 2 sts, 2dc, turn and repeat for as many rows as needed

join around the main head band, with sl sts, after each st, to make into a circle.
sew off all ends

simple shell stitch centre decoration

colours aren't true as the light wasn't good but its soft aqua blue

Gerbera Octagon

OCTAGON DAISY MOTIF PATTERN
HERE

A bit like a Gerber flower 

Found this picture that I added to Pinterest many moons ago, I couldn't
find the pattern so i've re-written it link above.

I've used a random dyed yarn for this sample but you can use a plain yarn and  change colour each round

DK 4mm hook
or
Aran 5mm hook

Join as you go 2 points at sides and in the corners using a sl st. 
long trtr, petals, and infill pattern 

PONCHO WITH SLEEVES PATTERN LINK

PONCHO WITH SLEEVES PATTERN

HERE

This started life as a normal poncho and could be just that using the start of the pattern but i turned it 90deg, and added wrist warmer sleeves..wore it to death, still hanging in the wardrobe but not worn it for a couple of years now.