Skein Passion

Luscious 'fioro' hand died merino-silk yarn skeins from The Yarn Bowl in the shades sepia rose, abalone and plum purple As Valentines day approaches sprinklings of pink hearts and cutesy romance sayings start popping up all over the place. Yarn sales are overflowing with red and pink colourways and patterns are dotted with love knots.  But I want to talk about Passion. That deep intense desire you experience when you touch that divine squishy yarn skein, you know the one I'm talking about, that skein that makes your heart sing. It's a magic colour, squishing it is like touching a cloud with the lustre of angels. The yarn of your dreams. Where were you when you had that experience the first time? In a specialty yarn store looking at the silk-alpaca blends? I'm willing to bet it wasn't, more likely it was at the discount store passing the bargain aisle and this little ball of fluff caught your eye and you sighed and squished it and wished you had the skill to turn

How To Crochet a Granny Square 2 Ways - with images

Pink Granny Squares


 This pattern is for granny squares worked continuously in the same colour by turning the work rather then cutting the yarn and adding a new colour when starting a new row. I have added a mini tutorial at the bottom of this post on how to turn the work.

US Crochet Terminology

Stitches
chain = ch
single crochet = sc
half double crochet = hdc
double crochet = dc

Notes
  • corner = 3 dc, 3 ch, 3 dc
  • When starting a row a single crochet and 2 chain take the place of a double crochet
  • Double crochet stitches are worked in sets of 3

loop

chain 5, slip stitch into first chain (or whichever loop method you prefer)

round 1

sc 1  into loop, ch 2 (in place of a double cr), dc 2, ch 3 (this is your first corner), *dc 3, ch 3 (corner), repeat from * 3 times

first corner and ch 3 for second corner
ch 3 for final corner

to finish the round slip stitch into second chain of first ch 2, turn work


slip stitch to finish

round 2

sc into corner space (the corner is the chain 3 of previous row), ch 2 ( sc and ch 2 take the place of a dc), dc 2, chain 3 (corner), dc 3 into same chain 3 space of previous row completing the corner, *dc 3 into the next corner space, ch 3, dc 3 into same chain 3, repeat from * x 2

single crochet into ch 3 space
single crochet into ch 3 space
first corner complete
first corner complete
second corner complete
second corner complete
ready to finish with a slip stitch
ready to finish with a slip stitch

to finish the round slip stitch into second chain of first ch 2, turn work

round 3

sc into space between dc clusters of previous row, ch 2, dc 2 into same space, *dc 3 into ch 3 space of corner, ch 3, dc 3 into same space, dc 3 cr into next space,  repeat from *

sc into space between dc clusters of previous row
sc into space between dc clusters of previous row
ch 2, dc 2 into same space
ch 2, dc 2 into same space
dc 3 cr into next space
dc 3 cr into next space
finish round
finish round

to finish the round slip stitch into second chain of first ch 2, turn work

round 4 

sc, ch 2, dc 2, *dc 3 into corner, ch 3, dc 3 into same corner, dc 3 into next space of previous row, dc 3 into next space, repeat from * to end, slip stitch into second chain of first ch 2. Do not turn work.

slip stitch to finish round 4
slip stitch to finish round 4

Crochet Granny square finished with 2 rows single crochet

Crochet Granny square finished with 2 rows single crochet

round 5 

sc 5 (to corner) between posts of previous round, *sc 4 into corner space, sc 11 (between posts to next corner), repeat to end, slip stitch into first sc, Do not turn work. 

sc between posts

round 6 

sc 5 (to corner) into double loops, *sc 1 into corner stitch, sc 2 into next corner stitch, sc into next 2 corner stitches, sc into double loops of stitches to next corner, repeat form * to end, slip stitch into first single crochet, cut yarn and pull end through to finish.

NB: the previous round has 4 sc to a corner, round 6 has 5 sc to a corner.

sc into double loops
sc into double loops
2 sc into 2nd corner stitch
2 sc into 2nd corner stitch


Crochet Granny square finished with 1 row of half double crochet
Granny square finished with a row of half double crochet


rounds 1-4 

Crochet rounds 1-4 as per above instructions.

round 5 

hdc 5 (to corner) between posts of previous round, *hdc 4 into corner space, hdc 11 (between posts to next corner), repeat form * to end, slip stitch into first hdc,  cut yarn and pull end through to finish.

Granny Squares 2 ways


Turning to start a new row


When working crochet Granny Squares in a single colour when I want a reversible finish I like to turn my work to start a new row rather then cutting the yarn and adding a new piece of yarn. 

a completed row leaves the chain space behind the hook

When a row is finished and joined the crochet hook ends up positioned just after the chain space I want to work into to start the next row, but I want this space in front of the hook. In the above picture I'm using a silver crochet hook to show the chain space I'm referring too.

turn the square from left to right

I turn my work from left to right. 

turned crochet square puts the chain space in front of the crochet hook

The chain space is now in front of my hook instead of behind it and I can work a single crochet into the chain space to begin the next row.

These squares are worked in 100% acrylic.


This tutorial was featured at Mommy Crusader