Thursday, July 5, 2012

Granny Square talk...

How we love her. The Granny Square. The Queen of crochet. So simple. So colorful. So full of diversity. You can mix her, match her, make her big or small, join her, make her square, make her rectangle, make her stripy, make her solid, make her plain... But today I am talking Granny Square pattern. As you can see in this picture above I have made an experiment. This is Madame Granny Square in 3 different ways.

Granny Square No 1 is made of groups of 3 treble crochet stitches (U.K) and with 3 chains in the corners. It is simple, quick and smooth. Often you can skip the blocking phase as it squares out perfectly anyway. From the most patterns of Granny Squares I've seen, this is probably the most common one. Correct  me if I am wrong... I love to make her this way. And I will continue to make My Granny Squares this way.
 
Granny Square No 2 is made of groups of 3 treble crochet stitches (U.K) and with 2 chains in the corners. Many of you use this way of making a Granny Square. This makes for a bit more snug version I would say. I guess the joining is tighter. From what I can tell it does curl up a bit in the corners. Blocking the squares can help giving them a flat shape.

Granny Square No 3 is a version I found on a very popular Swedish blog and it actually confused me. This version was the trigger for this experiment. I just had to try it as I was sure the stitches must have been mixed up... This Granny Square is made of groups with 3 half treble crochet stitches (U.K)
and 2 chains in the corners...

The square is small. Only 1,5 x 1,5 inches/ 4 x 4 cm. It is darn cute, snug and flat. But I found it incredibly fiddly to make. I am not sure... Does anyone of you make Granny Squares like this? I still think they must have gotten the stitches wrong... Or is it just me thinking that?

Imagine making a blanket with squares as small as in Granny Square No 3's pattern... Granny Square No 1 that I am making for my Gypsy blanket is measuring 2,5 x 2,5 inches/ 6 x 6 cm. And I think those squares are small... And many... And more is needed... A never ending project... A very much loved never ending project...

All the squares were crocheted on a 3 mm hook (EUR), the yarn is a DK weight yarn (50g/125m).
I know, this is a technical post, maybe not so interesting for everyone, but I just had to do this experiment and share it with you. Just because I am curious to know if there are more ways of making a Granny Square and if so, how?

And I would love to know which way you make her... And of course you input on the Granny Square No 3... Somehow I just can't let it go as I just think it is completely "far out"... But maybe it is me being "far out"???

Now I am busy ironing dresses and a button down shirt for schools Grande Finale tomorrow. I want to take my chance to thank you all for all your sweet comments on Nelly's Stripy Crochet Bag. She is over the moon and very proud of herself and I am a very proud Mama. Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Every comment below is a blessing to read. ♥♥♥

Kärlek
Annette

22 comments :

  1. Hi Annette,
    I don't put chains in the sides of my squares these days as I prefer the closer finish. I've never seen a half treble crochet used for granny squares...seems like it would be too thick ?
    Half treble U.S. might work ....???
    What I need to say though is that your granny blanket is looking AMAZING !!I can't stop looking at it , it's so gorgeous .
    Jacquie x

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jacquie!
      Interesting thought about the half treble U.S which would be a treble U.K... Maybe they have mixed it up in some type of translation... All I know is that I would not make a blanket with half trebles U.K... That would even take longer than a life time. :D

      Thanks for your comment on my blanket. 3 squares from finishing and starting the edging. And then I realize I need just one more row. Back to making squares... Enjoying it. Have a lovely day.
      ♥ Annette ♥

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  2. Que colorido mais lindo.
    Parabéns.

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  3. Hej! Har nyligen fått klart min mormorsfilt med stolpar, 2 lm emellan och 3 lm i hörnen. Den är inte blockad. Att virka hst har jag aldrig sett förut.
    Här finns en bild på min filt http://wivispyssel.blogspot.se/2012/06/mormorsfilten-pa-vift.html
    Kram

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    Replies
    1. Tittade in! Fantastisk Wivi. Helt underbar. Tack för att du lämnade länken.
      Annette

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  4. Ja... härliga mormorsrutan! Den gär verkligen att variera i alla oändligthet. Det var länge sen jag gav mig på ett mormorsruteprojekt, men nu blev jag sugen när jag såg detta. :-)

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    1. Hej Petra. Gör en filt till bebin. I gult o orange. Var det inte så? En gul-orange bebis på väg?
      Annette

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  5. I Love being so beautiful! and the colors are well combined! congratulations on your work!

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  6. I am using granny square number 2 at the moment. I don't know why I only to two joining chains in the corners, maybe because I did the same in my massive blanket from cute and easy crochet by nicki trench. I love your gypsy blanket the colours are gorgeous so rich and bright.

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  7. I make mine using a 4mm hook and dk yarn. I don't add extra stitches to the sides and I do 2 chains in the corners. They always seem to work out fine. I guess different people have different tensions. They all look cute. x

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  8. Your blanket is so beautiful, Annette, I love the colour combinations! I make a granny square without chains at the side to keep it firmer...perhaps everyone has their favourite depending on their own particular tension? I haven't been crocheting for long but I love it!
    Have a happy weekend.
    Helen x

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  9. Mmmm interesting. I use nr 2 method. The nr 3 might work with something like the Vinnis cotton/bamboo yarn we have in Southe Africa, which feels a bit loose when you do a granny with DK and nr 4 hook. I shitched from 4.5 to 4 when doing a cushion cover. Might make a sample! But I do not want to make a blanket with tose tiny squares :-)

    (PS...am walking! Downloaded Map my Walk on the phone and did 2.4, 2.4 and 3.8 km already this week. Yeay for me :-D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeay for you!!! I am not that modern. No apps on my phone. Have decided on walking hard core this week as hubby and I are gonna kick the love handles and some piggy habits by doing a 2 day fast... Wish me luck as I ahve never done a fast before. :0
      Annette

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  10. I love your beautiful Gypsy Blanket! The colours are wonderful like a field of flowers! I favour Granny no 2 with 2 chain in the corners. I find it gives a nice snug finish, especially when you are doing the join-as-you go method for joining the squares. It looks as though you have used this method on your blanket.
    As for baby square no 3... rather fiddly to do, but that could look sweet by combining several to form a doily and done in finer cotton or lightweight yarn. Maybe too small to make a whole blanket though!

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  11. I usually make the 2nd square but chain 1 in between each side treble cluster. Love your blog, I'm making a daisy square cushion similar to yours xxx

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    Replies
    1. Hi Emma. Nice! I'll pop over and have a look. Thanks for visiting!
      Annette

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  12. I guess this has been very hard work and this will has been very nice to you.
    A hug.
    Anna

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  13. Another way I have tried was doing a row and then turning. I read about it on Ravelry. It looks really nice, just a subtle difference. Unfortunately I didn't try it until I started my blanket and it's too late to change now. I do 2 chains in the corners and 1 chain in between trebles along the sides. I prefer no chains along the sides but again I found that out too late. I tried 3 chains in the corners and I found it made the squarest square until joining when it looked floppy for some reason.

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  14. Hi Annette I am half way through a granny blanket using the method number 1. I am using a 4mm hook and dk wool and I am finding this an easy peasy project to do - I can watch tv at the same time - very relaxing! And as you say, the squares turn out so perfectly they do not need blocking. I am going to join them in rows using a dc (uk) method.

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  15. Thank you for clarifying the different methods. Not beeing a great crocheter, I didn't know which one to chose among the different expalantions.
    Seen your results, I think that Number 1 will work for me just fine. How would I love to make a blanket like the one you have done!

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  16. Did you chain 1 in between each side DC cluster for your gypsy blanket?

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Thank you so much for visiting my world. I love reading your comments and I do my utterly best to respond to questions and sweet messages. Thank you again for popping by.

Kärlek
Annette

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