I have finally, after years of failed attempts, learned to crochet a granny square. Hurray!
I’ve been able to knit since I was a kid when my Nan taught me; no one in the family could crochet though, Nan had tried and failed many times and didn’t succeed until long after I’d left home. I learned to crochet a wire chain to make jewellery and I can turn those out like a machine but yarn does not behave in the same way. It tightens and refuses to let the hook back through, most frustrating. Then there was all the malarkey around how to hold the yarn, wrapping it around this finger and that one, I got in a right pickle with it.
However, I have always been determined to learn, and my recent fixation on blankets has made me sort it out once and for all.
I searched on youtube for beginner granny square tutorials and there are hundreds of them. I found some really slowed down, easy peasy, foolproof ones and after a couple of watch throughs I thought I could actually do it.
I did it.
My first square is a bit lumpy because I used an Aran weight yarn with a 5.5mm hook (because the video lady did basically). Also, if I’m making a blanket it needs to be warm right?
I’ve been able to knit since I was a kid when my Nan taught me; no one in the family could crochet though, Nan had tried and failed many times and didn’t succeed until long after I’d left home. I learned to crochet a wire chain to make jewellery and I can turn those out like a machine but yarn does not behave in the same way. It tightens and refuses to let the hook back through, most frustrating. Then there was all the malarkey around how to hold the yarn, wrapping it around this finger and that one, I got in a right pickle with it.
However, I have always been determined to learn, and my recent fixation on blankets has made me sort it out once and for all.
I searched on youtube for beginner granny square tutorials and there are hundreds of them. I found some really slowed down, easy peasy, foolproof ones and after a couple of watch throughs I thought I could actually do it.
I did it.
My first square is a bit lumpy because I used an Aran weight yarn with a 5.5mm hook (because the video lady did basically). Also, if I’m making a blanket it needs to be warm right?
There was some stopping and starting of video, and constant repetition of “yarn over, back through two” but when I’d got it I was so happy :D
I decided I didn’t want lumpy Aran squares so I switched to DK (light worsted) weight yarn and a 4mm hook.
I decided I didn’t want lumpy Aran squares so I switched to DK (light worsted) weight yarn and a 4mm hook.
My first thought was to carry on going round and round and make a giant granny square with different coloured rounds to make a striped blanket. But then I thought I might rather do separate squares with black edges, after to-ing and fro-ing I tossed a coin and it came down on the side of separate squares. Which is better for me on reflection as I’d get really bored by the time I was on the outer edges of a giant square and it would take a day to do one round. I gathered up a bunch of colours and now every spare moment is spent grannying.
I’ve seen a lot of granny hexagon blankets and I really like the look of those so, just to see if I could, I tried a hexagon.
I’m thinking of making lots of those with different pinks and reds in the centre, the same green round them to look (vaguely) like rosebuds (or something), it works in my head anyway :)
Whilst I’m here I’m running a promotion in my shop there’s 10% of everything throughout April with the code FLING10
Happy Tuesday! Hope you don’t get fooled ;)
Whilst I’m here I’m running a promotion in my shop there’s 10% of everything throughout April with the code FLING10
Happy Tuesday! Hope you don’t get fooled ;)