…with the granny square.
There were a few questions yesterday so I thought I’d post some answers here. And then if there’s still time I’ll tell you more about that new blanket.
How to learn crochet basics?
Well, I learned twice. My mother is an avid crocheter; she could start and finish an entire blanket in one weekend, if given a steady supply of diet coke and mystery shows on tv. I was taught the basic stitches (chain, single and double), I made my obligatory little square, and then I didn’t think about crochet again until a few years ago. I picked up a copy of The Happy Hooker on a whim. And after practicing the basic stitches again by making a couple of scarves, Blanket Mania began.
In this, the Internet Age, one can find great free tutorials online. Consider this one at the Purl Bee. There are likely to be decent videos also. Take a moment to do a search.
How to learn the basic granny square?
Again, the Purl Bee has a great granny square tutorial. They guide you through each step with nice photos.
For other, sorta fancier granny squares, I use Jan Eaton’s 200 Crochet Blocks. That 200 is an extreme exaggeration, but the blocks that are in there are still really pretty. She gives some nice ideas for combining blocks and for choosing color combos. And I sometimes use her section on basic stitches as a reference. I highly recommend this book as a block resource.
Where to find granny square inspiration?
There is seemingly unending inspiration for blankets on Ravelry. It’s free to join the site and there you’ll find patterns, discussion groups, and tons of photos of completed blankets. I like to wander through the galleries of Afghans and Blankets and Granny Squares from time to time. Both of those groups have some interesting discussions on joining squares and about edgings.
Visit the Crochet Afghans group on Flickr for some nice eye-candy. My bloggy friend Ruth’s scrappy granny in-progress jumps right out from the first page this morning.
And there’s Babette, which is a lovely blanket pattern adapted from a Kaffe Fassett quilt pattern. I’ve made several versions of this one both in crochet and quilting. You can see many versions of it in its Flickr group. The pattern is quite well written. The block only requires chaining and double crochet; and you’ll need to know how to change colors.
Some pretty Babettes I have known and loved: by Pumpkinmama, by Monika, by Maryse, by Anne, and by Nova.
What about that new blanket?
Here’s a photo of the germ of the idea for the blanket. It has been transformed rather drastically.
Maybe I’ll save this story for next week.
i love a good granny. i’m a purest though. in my mind, there is only one kind of granny square which is what you’ve made here. other blocks are just crocheted blocks. anyway, thanks for the shout out. i’m looking forward to hearing the story about this great blanket.
Oh man that is tooooo cool! Thank you soooo much for the mention – I’m speechless! My blanket is nowhere near the standards of your fantastic knitted and crochet blanket creations though – I can only aspire!
I learned twice as well, maybe even 3 times. :) My grandma probably taught me as a young girl on summer holidays and I’d forgotten. In my teens I asked her to refresh my memory and she did. Then in my 20′s I asked an aunt to help me remember all the different stitches. In my early 30′s I was part of yahoo crochet groups, then I got bit by the quilting bug. Right now I remember enough to take up the hook and start hooking, if I were so inclined. But that quilting bug sure has bit hard and I’ve gotta use up what’s in that sewing room!
I feel a blanket in my future. I thought I would knit one but maybe it will be crochet. My grandmother taught me to crochet. The granny square was the first thing I learned. I am left handed so I sat across from her and mirrored what she did.
We also put crochet trim around washcloths for a beginner project.
Most helpful summary and links, thank you!
And now all is left is to wait patiently for the story of your new love :)
Yeah, I loved that Babette. Too bad I made it for someone else. I have leftover wool (tons of it) I should just make another one. I really like this new blanket of yours, the little pops of color, swimming around a sea of white, brilliant.
For whatever reason, I never learned to crochet. I am a knitter but knitting can be very slooooooowww. thanks for the links. may need to give crochet a try. I do love me a granny square. reminds me of the crocheted vests my mom made for me in the 70′s. that’s right ladies! wore me a crocheted vest at 14 in the 70s!!! lOL
I learned twice as well. The first time I was whacked out on an infection and allergic to the antibiotics, so I couldn’t count to three. I love the new blanket: limited colour range and lots of white space.
Man I love that blanket! Thanks for all the links. i’m going to bookmark this page and visit it often. Now to check out the links and get some books on my wishlist!
Granny squares are absolutely my favorite thing to crochet! There is something very satisfying about them for me. I’ve wanted to make a granny square blanket for a couple years now but am put off by all the seaming. Maybe I should just seam as you go like you do.
Bertha- I’m seaming as I go on my current blanket and it has changed my life! I keep thinking when I get to the last row it’s completely done except for the edging. Pretty awesome and not as intimidating as seaming together 100 squares at the end of the process.
I love you right now.
Seriously. ha.
My grandma is an avid crocheter as well, and taught me to make squares about 5 years ago. Of course I didn’t practice enough and then other projects got me distracted, but about a week ago, I found an old square and was bit by the bug again. Of course I have been having to scour the web for directions as I really couldn’t remember the pattern. I have accomplished about 15 squares so far, and so your post comes at a great time for me to find inspiration and more direction. Thank you so much for sharing this! ♥
You are making me want to try to hook! Just when my hexie madness has taken over my quilting life! Something else to occupy my hands while I wait for the child to finish whatever sporting event I’m not sitting idly at. Thank you for sharing!
I have no excuse other than time for not picking up a hook and giving it a go. I’ve never tried before, but I know I will eventually. I appreciate the links for when I finally sit down to do it!
Babette is a great one:: photographs so beautifully.
Its many different interpretations can be Klimt-y, Fimo-y, kaleidoscop-y. Beautiful. One day…
I am definitely bookmarking this post because I really want to make a granny square blanket! Thanks for listing all the info!
Fantastic! Thank you for all of the resources. It is great to have help narrowing it all down.
I have been thinking about this all day, and now I’m stumped. The Babbette or simple granny squares all the same size? Or the pretty rose labeled “beginner” in a new crochet book that just arrived at the library today?
And then there is the issue of color. I have been picturing my blanket spread over the back of my couch, but I’ve also been picturing patchwork pillows on the couch. Seems like a multi-colored crochet blanket and patchwork pillows might be a bit much . . .
Maybe I’ll just have to make the pillows first – they shouldn’t take too long – and then find a new home for them when the blanket is done!
But I still don’t know which blanket to choose.
Thanks for the great tips- I conquered my first granny square 2 weeks back and forsee many many many in my future…
it looks amazing! can’t wait to see it finished.
Granny squares are my favorite crochet. I learned crochet before knitting & while I love them equally, if I’m making a blanket, I’d crochet it before I knit one. Less boredom, somehow.
My aunt’s mother taught me to crochet(she was my aunt by marriage) when I was 10. I made a granny square vest(can you say OMG 1970!)
I’ve come back to it off and on over the years and Mrs. Kirk would be awed by all the wonderful resources we have now right at our fingertips. Ravelry, I can get lost there for hours and hours.
I love watching your squares become blankets!
My mom crocheted and I begged her to make me a granny afghan…even bought her yarn for it. She donated it to the church rummage sale.
;(
You are inspiring me to really learn to crochet. Just requested The Happy Hooker at the library!
Fabulous post – with so much useful information. Thanks. Love your work.
The siren song of Babette will have me one of these days. My long-term crochet afghan project is a giant rainbow-hued granny square that reminds me of Around the World quilts.