The granny square is one of the most popular stitches in crocheting. The pattern was brought to America by the early European settlers who brought their delicate lace crocheting techniques with them.
The early American women carefully saved odds and ends of yarn--left-over colors, ravellings from sweaters and socks--all to be made into a blanket. The yarn was crocheted into small squares, and when enough squares were completed, they were sewn together to make a colorful blanket useful for many purposes--as a bedspread, for a shawl, as a leg and lap covering, for sleighing, for "bundling," as a throw over a rocking chair, or for colorful decoration around the house.
The variations and combinations of colors and patterns (or randomness) make each granny square afghan as individual as the person who made it.
My first crocheting project (at age 10) was granny squares. I used leftover yarn and made enough squares to make a full size afghan that I still have. I could never duplicate this one.
The early American women carefully saved odds and ends of yarn--left-over colors, ravellings from sweaters and socks--all to be made into a blanket. The yarn was crocheted into small squares, and when enough squares were completed, they were sewn together to make a colorful blanket useful for many purposes--as a bedspread, for a shawl, as a leg and lap covering, for sleighing, for "bundling," as a throw over a rocking chair, or for colorful decoration around the house.
The variations and combinations of colors and patterns (or randomness) make each granny square afghan as individual as the person who made it.
My first crocheting project (at age 10) was granny squares. I used leftover yarn and made enough squares to make a full size afghan that I still have. I could never duplicate this one.
The pattern below is for a generic granny square. The possibilities are endless.
· Choose your colors to follow a decorating scheme
· Arrange the squares in a certain pattern
· Or be completely spontaneous in color and pattern
Granny Squares are crocheted in “rounds”. I recommend that the last round you crochet on each square be the same color. This will frame each square and provide them all with something in common.
Round 1:
ch 8, sl st through first ch (forming a circle)
ch 3, dc 2 in circle (first side of square; ch 3 equals a dc)
ch 3 (corner), dc 3 in circle (one side) (rep 2)
ch3, sl st through third ch of ch3
Round 2:
ch 3, dc 2 in top of ch in round 1
ch 1, dc 3 in next sp
ch 3 (corner), dc 3 in same sp
ch 1, dc 3 in next sp
ch 3 (corner), dc 3 in same sp
ch 1, dc 3 in next sp
ch 3 (corner), dc 3 in same sp
ch 3, dc 3 in next sp
ch 3, sl st through third ch of ch3
Round 3 and up:
ch 3, dc 2 in top of ch in previous round
ch 1, dc 3 in next sp (repeat until corner is reached)
ch 3 (corner), dc 3 in same sp
ch 1, dc 3 in next sp (repeat until corner is reached)
ch 3 (corner), dc 3 in same sp
ch 1, dc 3 in next sp (repeat until corner is reached)
ch 3 (corner), dc 3 in same sp
ch 3, dc 3 in next sp (repeat until corner is reached)
ch 3, sl st through third ch of ch3
These are instructions for a "traditional" granny square. There are many variations; probably as many variations as there are grannies.
