Granny Squared

It all started so innocently. There I was, planning the second lesson in the beginner's crochet class I'm teaching at Loop. I knew exactly what I wanted to cover: shaping, crocheting into chain spaces, slip stitches, working in the round. But we'd already spent the first week just working back and forth, practicing the basics. I needed something that would be finite, would involve all the elements I wanted to cover. Something easy, that could lead them into a full project if they chose. Something approachable, yet pretty. Something like...a granny square!

I confess, I'd never crocheted a granny square before. Honestly, the name doesn't sell it and I was always more of a lacy sort of girl. But it fit the bill and I knew the theory. So off to work I went, deciding I would spend the commute whipping up a granny square.

So I did. And then I made another one. And then I blacked out for a bit and woke up hours later under a mountain of granny squares with the train driver gently shaking my shoulder and telling me I had to get off the train now so that he could go home to his dinner, and what was with all the squares?

Ok, so not quite that bad, but there was a little bit of wild crocheting going on there. These things are utterly addictive and, I soon realised, the perfect solution to The Box.

Box, meet blog. Blog, meet Box.

The Box

 The Box contains all of the scrap pieces of leftover yarn from every project I've made. It lives under the bed with my stash, except pushed right to the back so I don't have to look at it every time I get some yarn out. But now I know how to get rid of it - a blanket of granny squares. I have a romantic notion of curling up under said blanket in front of a roaring fire (note to self: acquire fireplace and functional chimney) smiling fondly as a particular square catches my eye and I remember that sweater/shawl/sock that was such fun to knit. Or kept my fiance's feet warm. Or didn't fit properly. Or caught fire (this hasn't happened yet, but I suppose it is a possibility if I start playing around with working fireplaces).

Of course, this blanket is a long way off; for now, I am simply basking in the joy that is creating order out of chaos.

Rowan Bamboo! (Be warned - splits like a mo-fo)

Yellow!

Mohair!

The above is my favourite so far. I love the idea of playing around with texture and yarn weight. That's what is so great about granny squares. As long as they come out roughly the same shape, you try out anything. And they're so *fast*...

...I think I might have a problem.

The Ubiquitous and By No Means Original Granny Square

Begin by making a slip knot. Ch 6, then sl st in first ch to create lp.

Round 1: Ch 3, 2 tc, ch 2, (3 tc, ch 2) three times into lp, sl st in top of tch to close rnd.

Round 2: Sl st into next 3 sts to first corner, ch 3, (2 tc, ch 2, 3 tc) into ch sp for first corner, ch 2, *(3 tc, ch 2, 3 tc) into next ch sp, ch 2, rep from * to end, sl st in top of tch to close rnd.

Round 3: Sl st into next 3 sts to first corner, ch 3, (2 tc, ch 2, 3 tc) into ch sp, ch2, 3 tc into next ch sp, ch 2, *(3 tc, ch 2, 3 tc) in next ch sp, ch 2, 3 tc into next ch sp, ch 2, rep from * to end, sl st in top of tch to close rnd.

Round 4: Sl st into next 3 sts to first corner, ch 3, (2 tc, ch 2, 3 tc) into ch sp, ch 2, 3 tc into each ch sp to corner, ch 2, *(3 tc, ch 2, 3 tc) in next ch sp, ch 2, 3 tc into each ch sp to corner, ch2 rep from * to end, sl st in top of tch to close rnd.

You can continue to repeat Round 4 as many times as you like – making an increase in each corner by working two sets of treble crochets in the same chain space, then working one set in each chain space across the flat edge. 

Abbreviations used:

ch chain       sp space             tc treble crochet

lp loop          sl st slip stitch    tch turning chain

rnd round     st stitch

 
 Enjoy!
P.S. I feel I should include a quick public service announcement: You know how frogging knitted mohair is a pain, but doable? Frogging crocheted mohair? It. Is. Not. Doable. That is all.