granny squares (& other motifs)

Happy Granny Square Day!

Granny squares were the next thing I learned to crochet after perfecting miles of chains. When I was 7, my mother was still working on my baby blanket and I wanted to make the cute little squares too. I made at least one square for the blanket. Unfortunately I can’t find my photos or the blanket (it’s somewhere). Please picture granny squares with each round either pastel pink, blue, or yellow and finished in white. I have some vague recollection that she also tasked me with weaving in many of the ends — at the time I thought it was fun!

5 reasons why I love crochet motifs

stack of multicolorful motifs in progress on a black background. in front are 6 centers, the stack includes the first 3 rounds for the "literary fragments blanket"

They use up yarn from other projects.
They are quick, so you can crochet one and feel accomplished.
They are portable, so you can bring them when travelling.
They are forgiving, if you messed up because you were distract, you didn’t mess up the entire project.
They are small, nice for when it’s hot and humid outside.

They’re one of my favorite techniques and part of my toolkit when when I swatch a new-to-me yarn.

Granny squares don’t have to be squares. They can be circles, triangles, hexagons, and any other shape too. In addition to my chaotic chai granny hexagon blanket, there’s always several other crochet motif projects I’m working on. One is my Literary Fragments Blanket; we bought new seating for our library room and I wanted a new blanket. I’m slowly making progress on the 400 of these tiny motifs I’ll need! They’re worked in various scrap sock yarns, most from my stash and a few from friends. You can read the notes added to my notebook. I wish I’d started matching them to book covers as I’ve seen some on social media do, but I’m sure they match something I’ve read at one point or another. Another is a blanket destined for Project Linus that I started last year. M has gifted me lots of leftover bits of yarn over the years, many are superwash sock yarns when combined with my stash will help create many blankets.

Northern Lights Wrap

If traditional granny squares aren’t your thing, perhaps this design might catch your eye. This wrap, was commissioned for the July 2021 Artyarns Inspirations Club. It begins with a motif on a large scale that I could have kept as a circle or a square shawl. However, I wanted to play with shapes and this is the result. The mesh lace is open and I believe helpful as we shift into a transition season with cool mornings and humid days. I need to work up another sample however there are so many Inspiration Club colours to choose from, I doubt I’ll be able to ever decide!

Northern Lights Wrap

Buy Pattern Now

If you prefer just mesh lace, VLSI might catch your eye. I tag my crochet patterns so they’re easy to find.

Granny Square Resources

There are many books and resources to help you create successful crochet motifs.

Edie Eckman has a great Granny Square Guide. I enjoy all of her books including, Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs which I reviewed in 2009 at my personal site, Penguin Girl. I also recommend her book Connect the Shapes Crochet Motifs which helped me expand beyond the simple joining I knew from my childhood. She also has a new fun pattern which shows the versatility of this amazing motif: Chromatic Granny Square Placemats.

Margaret Hubert’s books are useful resources that I often turn to for inspiration: The Granny Square Book (2011) shares 75 different motifs and Granny Square Flowers (2013) includes 50 botanical themed granny squares.

Shelley Husband offers several ebooks through my library system via the hoopa ebook system. Granny Square Flair (US Terms Edition) was my gateway to her work. I found her approach novel, motifs are first presented in a solid – the same color is used throughout. This makes a striking visual. I also appreciate how she shows how different color options can completely change the look of many squares. The photos are clear and she includes charts, written instructions, how approximate yardage to work the square with 8ply/DK/light worsted and a 4mm/G hook. Further she includes an infinity symbol with a crochet hook if it’s a square that can be increased endlessly into a really big granny square.

You can find some of my very brief thoughts on granny squares in this 2014 post technique tuesday: weaving in ends.

Are you working on a granny square project? Grab some tools to help! Track your thoughts in a notebook or print out a planning grid. A spare crochet hook is always useful. If you like me and can never find them when you need one, order a needle to weave in all those pesky ends or a ruler that is always with your keys! And I think granny squares are beautiful in handspun. You can also add a tote bag to store everything.

Please note: sketch items are printed and shipped by a third party at this time.