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.

Running Bear blanket spin off design...it works

Spin off sample, from the new Running Bear Blanket......

I have a pattern that works, now to play with colours.

 Burnt orange to strong and the yellow needs softening i think, just for starters..

update: it's grown but still not speaking to me yet!

NEW DESIGNS FROM THE RUNNING BEAR BLANKET

RUNNING BEAR BLANKET PATTERN HERE

Click the above link for the original pattern

I'm making Phil a Runing Bear Blanket for Christmas...my son snaffled the original.

As the original was made from left overs I can't make an exact copy. So it won't be exactly the same but a version of it.

There have also been a couple of new designs come from repeating a section on the new Running Bear....oh! to have another 12 hours a day!

 I need to crochet 4 of the daisy motif and do the shaded infill to check that the design works ok...but I'm 99.9% sure it will with the modified Daisy of the Running bear.

 Start of the Running Bear for Phil 

My Interlocking 'v' stitch from March 2014...

Back in 2013, i bought a book about interlocking stitches, they are quite complicated to do and if you know me i don't do complicated. After studying the book for some time i developed an interlocking stitch using 'v' stitch and granny shells...nice and easy.

I also tried out different combinations of the stitch over the following years, 'v' stitch and sc, mixing aran and chunky, dc and aran and its been copied several times and called all sorts but this is a stitch i created originally.

This is the original picture from March 2014 when i first published this stitch 
US Terms always used.

Several Versions followed over the years..

 above is done with 'v'stitch and sc..just a hint of colour

 This is a cotton version.... with a different colour for each granny shell row

and a space dyed yarn version

 mixing aran and marble chunky yarn..by using a thicker yarn for the granny shells they blackberry effect pops a bit more

 A bag in interlocking 'v' stitch...

 more sc versions, mixing cotton and wool yarns together...a more subtle colour addition

 I also did a number of patterns in the pattern club in 2016 cowls and cushion..brilliant stitch for a cushion..less stretch

RAVELRY SINGLE PATTERNS FOR SALE...

With lots of help i have mastered adding single patterns to Ravelry for sale...

2 done and working on lots more...just double checking and adding things required for single patterns 

Thanks for all the support 

 Kaleidoscope motif wrap or blanket

 Long Block Wrap

Adult Crochet Hexagon Jacket

I've made 2 adult version of the Hexagon Jacket this last week and have started a 3rd but in a plain cotton mix yarn.

 This pattern has been around since the 60's and was originally a Knitted childs jacket. 

Many have made their version in crochet since then but the link below is to the original pattern link from Elizabeth Zimmermann

Its called a

Baby Surprise Jacket and was first published in 1968 by Elizabeth Zimmermann

added to Ravelry in April 2007

I made my Adult version in Robin Paintbox [red/coral] and Hayfield Bonus Breeze yarn [blue/green]

Both are quite a thick dk and to give the floppy feel to the cardy, i've used a 5mm and 6 mm hook and used an extended stitch, this stitch uses slightly less yarn and I've finished the edges with hdc.

Both cardies are made with different combinations of panels and have had the stitches reduced on the sleeve section to create a narrower sleeve, not keen on the very wide sleeve you get by making just 2 basic hexagons.

There is also an additional narrow back panel to give a neck shape. 

Its a very adaptable pattern that can be made to fit everyone from a baby to a large adult..a n awesome pattern to be able to do that.

i've made both mine quite wide, with one longer than the other by using lengthening rows 

the sleeve is made narrower by reducing the stitch count on the section that becomes the sleeve.

REDUCTION TO SLEEVE

No chain stitches between granny shells, and remove one granny shell every odd number row after the first 5 rows, on the sleeve section only other wise the basic granny shell and chain one between for all other sides.

Made with an approximate 18-20 round Hexagon 

ALL ABOUT ELIZABETH ZIMMERMANN