Lullaby Lodge: Granny Squares

Showing posts with label Granny Squares. Show all posts

Wednesday 22 January 2020

Crochet Along With Me... January

Hello everyone, well hasn't this month been a busy one. We have started not one but two CAL's, and another one is on the way. I will post more details about the next CAL in a later post. I have also been trying to finish up last year's temperature blanket and been taking part in other CAL's and KAL's over at Ravelry, and not only that but also working on new pattern designs. I have something coming up very soon for Valentine's too...

Useful links...

Hot & Cold Blanket Pattern & CAL

2020 Stashdown, Gorgeous Grannies CAL

Dishcloth Weekly Knitalong Ravelry Group

Facebook Crochet & Crafts Group

Lullaby Lodge Facebook Page

Crochet Along With Me... (January edition)

So January started off with a bang and with a new temperature blanket pattern. I must say, I am really enjoying crocheting these teeny, tiny, squares each day. So far I am managing to stay on track, let's hope it stays that way.

First few squares

Mostly the weather has been very mild here. Only over the last few days has the temperature dropped a little and I have the addition of some blue rounds to my squares.

Slowly getting bigger. What I have loved the most is seeing everyone's progress in the Facebook group. So many different colour pallets and styles of blankets, can't wait to see them all develope.

We also had the start of the Gorgeous Grannies Crochet Along, which can you believe it is almost over. Only a few days left to go. It has been so much fun making these granny squares every day.

The pile is getting bigger. I will be posting joining and border ideas and the finished blanket next month.

I have also joined a dishcloth knit along and crochet along group on Ravelry. They have new patterns each week to either knit or crochet and the group is very friendly. If you like to make dishcloths or want to learn new stitch patterns then this is a great way to do it.

Here are my cloths for the first two weeks

This week's pattern is a Mystery Kal, with a new part of the pattern released each day. Here's mine after clue one...

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I have linked all the patterns and groups up top to make it easy for you to find everything, should you wish to join in. I do hope you will. Make sure you are subscribed, we have a new cal starting very soon and you won't want you to miss it.

See you soon...

Catherine

Sunday 8 December 2019

2020 New Year Stashdown Gorgeous Grannies Cal - Crochet a granny a day all through January...

Hello lovely people. Is it too soon to be thinking of the new year? I don't think so. All the festivities of Christmas will be over before you know it and then we can all chill out with a little downtime and some nice relaxing crochet. I always like to tackle my ever growing stash at this time of year and thought what better way to do it than with a good old crochet along. If you are like me and your stash has taken on a life of its own, then why not join me all through January as I crochet a granny square a day. By the end of the month we will have enough squares for a small blanket and will have made a nice dent in that stash pile.

I will be running the cal through my Facebook Group, where you will be able to share all your lovely photos. I will post a link to that day's pattern each day and don't worry if you don't use Facebook, I will add links here too, so make sure to bookmark this page. I am planning on using solid colours for all my squares, so the finished blanket will have a patchwork look to it. You can use any colours you like, that's the beauty of granny squares. Just use up that stash and make something pretty.

How To Join In

Check either here or on the Facebook Group each day for the pattern link.
Choose what weight of yarn you would like to use and correct hook for that yarn ie. 4mm hook for DK, 5mm hook for Aran / worsted. Use this for EVERY square.
Follow daily instructions (each pattern may need to be altered slightly to give the correct size).
Feel free to post photos.
Once all squares are complete, check back here for finishing instructions.

Daily Pattern Links

The New Year Stashdown is here!  Happy New Year everyone.  Our first square is the Cosmos granny square.  Remember choose either DK with 4mm hook or Aran / worsted with 5mm hook for your entire project.  All equalising instructions in US terms.

Cosmos Granny Square

Follow pattern for square as written. There are no equalizing rounds for this square.

24 sts across each side +4 corner sps

The Floral Square

Work rounds 1-3 as pattern, then continue as follows to equalise your square.

Round 4 Dc in each st and sp and [2dc, ch2, 2dc] in corners.

Round 5 Dc in each st and [2dc, ch2, 2dc] in corners.

Round 6 Sc in each st, dec 1st evenly along each side (crochet 2sts together in the centre of row), [sc, ch2, sc] in each corner, fasten off.

24 sts across each side +4 corner sps.

Lilly Pad Granny Square

Rounds 1-7 as pattern then equalise as follows
Round 8 [3dc, ch1] in each sp, [3dc, ch3, 3dc, ch1] in corners
Round 9 hdc in each st and sp, [2hdc, ch2, 2hdc] in each corner
Round 10 sc in each st, [sc, ch2, sc] in each corner, at the same time dec 1 st across each side (crochet 2 sts together in the centre of row).

24 sts across each side +4 corner sps

Tiptoe Through The Tulips

Work all rounds for flower centre
Work rounds 1-5 of square
Final round sc in each dc and ch2 sp, sc in top of each cl, [sc, ch2, sc] in each corner
24 sts across each side +4 corner sps

Primula Square

Rounds 1-6 as pattern
Round 7 dc in each st, in corners [dc, ch2, dc]
Round 8 sc in each st, in corners [sc, ch2, sc]
24 sts across each side +4 corner sps

Umkomaas Square

Rounds 1-5 as pattern.
Round 6 sc in each st and [sc, ch2, sc] in each corner.
24 sts across each side and 4 corner sps.

One Love Granny Square

Rounds 1-6 as pattern
Round 7 sl st into next sp, 3dc in same sp, dc in next 3sts, in each corner [2dc, ch2, 2dc], across sides [3dc in 1st sp, 2dc in next sp, 2sc in next sp, 2dc in next sp, 3dc in last sp], join.
Round 8 sc in each st and sc, ch2, sc in corners.
24 sts across each side and 4 corner sps.

The Diane Rachael Square

Rounds 1-6 as pattern.

Round 7 repeat round 6.

Round 8 sc in each st around and [sc, ch2, sc] in each corner, at the same time inc 1 st evenly across each side (2sc in 1 st in centre of side).

24 sts across each side and 4 corner sps.

Eight Petal Flower wheel

Rounds 1-6 as pattern.
Round 7 replace all dc with hdc.
Round 8 sc in each st and sp (apart from centre sp in each side, skip this one) and [sc, ch2, sc] in each corner.
24 sts across each side +4 corner sps.

Cecilia Square

Rounds 1-7 as pattern.
Round 8 hdc in each st and [2hdc, ch2, 2hdc] in each corner.
Round 9 sc in each st and [sc, ch2, sc] in each corner.
24 st across each side and 4 corner sps.

Rett's Flower Square

Rounds 1-6 as pattern
Round 7 sc in each st around and [2sc, ch2, 2sc] in each corner
24 sts across each side and 4 corner sps

Enchanted Garden

Rounds 1-6 as pattern
Round 7 sc in each st in corners [sc, ch2, sc], at same time dec 1 st across each side (sc2tog in centre of each side).
24 sts across each side +4 corner sps.

Crystal Square

Rounds 1-4 as pattern.
Round 5 2dc in each ch2 sp, 4dc in each ch3 sp, in corners [2dc, ch3, 2dc].
Round 6 sc in each st and [2sc, ch2, 2sc] in corners.
24 sts across each side and 4 corner sps.

Popcorn 3D Flower Square

Rounds 1-6 as pattern.
Round 7 sc in each st, inc 1 st along each side, in corners sc, ch2, sc.
24 sts across each side.

Dreamcatcher Square

Rounds 1-6 as pattern.
Round 7 sc in each st, inc 1 st along each side, in corners [sc, ch2, sc].
24 sts across each side

Raised Rose Square

Rounds 1-8 as pattern.
Round 9 sc in each st and [sc, ch2, sc] in each corner.
24 sts across each side.

Queen Anne's Lace

Rounds 1-8 as pattern.
Round 9 sc in each st, dec 1 st in middle of each side, in corners [sc, ch2, sc].
24 sts across each side

Floral Palisade Square

Rounds 1-7 as pattern.
Round 8 sc in each st, dec 2 sts evenly across each side, in corners [sc, ch2, sc].
24 sts across each side.

Sofia Square

Rounds 1-6 as pattern.

Round 7 sc in each st and in corners 3sc.

Round 8 sc in each st, at same time dec 1 st across each side, [sc, ch2, sc] in each corner.

24 sts across each side.

Sublime Light Granny Square

Rounds 1-8 as pattern.
Round 9 sc in each st and sp, dec 1 st across each side by skipping 1 dc in the centre of each side, in corners [sc, ch2, sc].
24 sts across each side.

Blossom Square

Rounds 1-6 as pattern.
Round 6 has a number of errors, each corner should be [3dc, ch2, 3dc] and after the last cluster st there should be a ch2.
Round 7 sc in each st, at same time dec 1 st in centre of each side, in corners [sc, ch2, sc].
24 sts across each side.

Daisy Wheel Granny Square

Rounds 1-6 as pattern.
Round 7 dc in each st, 2dc in each sp and [2dc, ch2, 2dc] in each corner.
Round 8 sc in each st around and [sc, ch2, sc] in each corner.
24 sts across each side

Dahlia Pinnata

Rounds 1-6 as pattern.
Round 7 sc in each st and 2sc in each sp, [sc, ch2, sc] in each corner.
Round 8 sc in each st and [sc, ch2, sc] in corners.
24 sts across each side.

Granny Square With A Flower

Rounds 1-6 as pattern
Round 7 sc in each st and sp (sk centre sp on each side), in corners sc, ch2, sc.
24 sts across each side.

Mangrove Square

Rounds 1-6 as pattern.
Round 7 dc in every st, [2dc, ch2, 2dc] in corners.
Round 8 sc in every st, dec 1 st across each side, in corners [sc, ch2, sc].
24 sts across each side.

Blanket Motif

Rounds 1-6 as pattern.
Round 7-8 sc in each st, in corners [sc, ch2, sc].
24 sts across each side.

Motif 2

Rounds 1-3 as pattern. 
Rounds 3-6 3dc in each sp, in corners [3dc, ch2, 3dc]. 
Round 7 hdc in every st, in corners [2hdc, ch2, 2hdc]. 
Round 8 sc in every st in corners [sc, ch2, sc]. 
24 sts across each side.

Autumn Flower Granny Square

Rounds 1-8 as pattern.
Round 9 dc in each st, in corners [2dc, ch2, 2dc].
Round 10 hdc in each st, in corners [hdc, ch2, hdc].
Round 11 sc in each st, in corners [sc, ch2, sc].
24 sts across each side.

Sunflower Granny Square

Rounds 1-6 as pattern.

Round 7 sc in every st, inc 1 st in centre of each side, in corners [sc, ch2, sc].

24 sts across each side.

Mayan CAL Mini Taster
Rounds 1-7 as pattern. 
Round 8 hdc in every st and [2hdc, ch2, 2hdc] in corners. 
Round 9 sc in every st, inc 1 st across each side, in corners [sc, ch2, sc]. 
24 sts across each side.

Don't forget to share your finished squares, either on the Facebook Group, or use #lullabylodge on Instagram...

Joining Your Granny SquaresYou should now have 30 granny squares and these can be joined 5 x 6 to make a small rectangular lap blanket or baby blanket.  You can use any method you prefer to join your motifs.  If you would like some joining ideas or are a beginner, you can read my tutorial on joining granny squares.  There are 3 methods of joining, all suitable for beginners.  I will be using method 3 to join my squares.

Iris Stitch Crochet Edging
Well, all the squares are finished and joined and it's now time for the border.  I wanted something pretty but simple to go with all the floral themed squares.  So I thought the Iris Stitch would make a wonderful edging to the finished blanket.  The link above will take you to the border pattern.

Blocking

To block or not to block? Everyone has their own preferences so I am not going to tell you what to do, I will just tell you what I do. Some people like to block each square individually before joining, this will probably give you the most professional result. I'm afraid I tend to be a bit lazy when it comes to blocking, however this type of blanket really does benefit from something.

For those of you who have never blocked anything or are not sure what it is, I will give a brief explanation. Blocking is the process of setting the yarn into shape after finishing your piece. This is done usually by two methods, wet blocking or steam blocking. For wet blocking you would complete soak your finished crochet, gently squeeze out the excess water (usually wrapped in a towel so as not to ruin your work), pin into shape on a flat surface and leave to dry. For steam blocking you pin out your dry finished piece and hover over it with a steam iron (do not touch your yarn with the iron) and leave to dry. Both of these methods will give you a beautiful finish and drape to your blankets or whatever it is you are blocking. The stitches get relaxed and softened during the process, which is why this type of blanket in particular really benefits from this procedure.

If I have any particular squares that are not quite sitting right, I will pin these out and steam them, but usually I just throw the whole blanket over the ironing board and hover over it with the steam iron. The steam allows the stitches to relax and you can pull and ease the blanket into shape. So for anyone that feels that blocking out 30 individual squares is a bit of a chore, you can try this option.

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I can't wait to get started, I do love to bust through my stash. I hope you will join me. Oh and don't forget to subscribe...

Have a great day!

Catherine

Monday 28 October 2019

The Beginners Blanket - Just learned to crochet and ready to make your first blanket? This is the pattern for you...

Everyone loves a granny square and if you know me, you know, they are my favourite things to crochet. I just love granny square blankets. Whether they are lots of squares joined together, or one giant granny square. Crochet squares are also great for beginners too and if you have learned the basic stitches and would like to make your first blanket, then this is the one for you. This granny square blanket was one of the first patterns that I wrote and was previously only available to buy in my Etsy store. I hope you enjoy this free version.

As a Lovecrafts affiliate I may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases...

The Beginners Blanket

Materials

1 ball each Stylecraft Special DK in colours, Cream, Mocha, Duck Egg, Soft Peach, Pale Rose & Parchment

Darning needle

Hook

4mm (G) hook

Size

Approx 70 x 70 cm

Abbreviations / (UK conversion)

US terms used throughout

sc - single crochet (double crochet)

dc - double crochet (treble crochet)

sl st - slip stitch

ch - chain

st - stitch

sp - space

Other notes: US terminology is used throughout. The beginners blanket is worked in rounds. Finish every round by joining with a slip stitch to the top of chain 3 from beginning of round. You will start each round with a new colour (unless otherwise stated), working in the following colour sequence Cream - Mocha - Duck Egg - Soft Peach - Pale Rose – Parchment. Work is turned over after each round. This ensures no twisting of the corners as the blanket gets larger, it also gives a lovely texture. This pattern is designed for babies but the blanket can be easily adapted to make any size.

Ch4 and join with sl st to form ring

Round 1 (right side) ch3, 2dc into ring, ch2, [ 3dc into ring, ch2] 3 times, join. Turn.

Round 2 join new colour in any corner sp, ch3, 2dc into same sp, ch2, 3dc into same sp (corner formed), [ 3dc into next sp, ch2, 3dc into same sp] x3, join. Turn.

Round 3 join new colour in any corner sp, chain 3, 2dc in same sp, ch2, 3dc in same sp, [3dc in next sp, 3dc in next sp, ch2, 3dc in same sp] x 3, 3dc in next sp, join. Turn.

Rounds 4-30 continue working 3dc in each sp and [3dc, ch2, 3dc] in each corner.

Rounds 31-36 continue as before using cream only.

Shell Edging

Round 1 sl st in corner sp, ch3, 8dc in same sp, *[sc in next sp, 7dc in next sp] repeat until next corner ending with sc**. In corner 9 dc.* Repeat from *to* twice and from *to** once, join. Weave in ends

Optional – divide ribbon into 4 equal pieces and thread in between the stitches along the side of blanket and tie with a bow in each corner.

If you would like to help support my work, you can purchase an ad free pdf version of this pattern in my Etsy Store.

The pdf version also contains a second colourway and alternate border...

You can make this blanket bigger, just simply keep adding more rounds until you reach your desired size. The Shell Edging must be made on an odd numbered round. You can also easily substitute yarn too, just use the hook size recommended on the ball band. Giant granny square blankets look fabulous crocheted in chunky yarn and make a great quick and easy project.

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