Granny Square Flair UK Terms Edition: 50 Fresh, Modern Variations of the Classic Crochet Square
4/5
()
About this ebook
Granny Square Flair is a collection of 50 variations on the classic crochet square. With innovative techniques and inventive combinations of basic stitches, Granny Square Flair is an essential addition to every crochet reference library.
Inside you’ll find...
~ 50 crochet square patterns in both chart and written fo
Shelley Husband
Shelley Husband is a prolific crochet pattern designer, publishing 8 books bursting with modern takes on the traditional granny square. Her first book, Granny Square Flair, won the best crochet book of 2019 in the UK.Shelley has a real passion for designing seamless crochet patterns with the aim of teaching others through encouragingly supported patterns to create timeless, classic crochet heirlooms.Based on Gunditjmara country also known as Narrawong in South West Victoria, Australia, when not designing and publishing new patterns, Shelley teaches crochet in person around Australia, and throughout the world via her online presence.You can find Shelley online on most social media channels as spincushions.
Read more from Shelley Husband
Granny Square Flair US Terms Edition: 50 Fresh, Modern Variations of the Classic Crochet Square Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Siren's Atlas US Terms Edition: An Ocean of Granny Squares to Crochet Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Nimue Crochet Blanket: A crochet quest of epic proportions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDotty Spotty Crochet Blankets: Classic Circle-to-Square Granny Square Fun Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGranny Square Academy 2: Cracking the granny square crochet code Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Cove Crochet Blanket US terms: A pick your path pattern inspired by coastal adventures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeneath the Surface US Terms Edition: Crochet Blanket Pattern Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGranny Square Academy: Take your beginner crochet skills to the next level Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCorners and Curves US Terms Edition: 45 Granny Square patterns for crocheters ready to play with colours, corners, and curves. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSiren's Atlas UK Terms Edition: An Ocean of Granny Squares to Crochet Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Cove Crochet Blanket UK Terms: A pick your path pattern inspired by coastal adventures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeneath the Surface UK Terms Edition: Crochet Blanket Pattern Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCorners and Curves UK Terms Edition: 45 Granny Square patterns for crocheters ready to play with colours, corners, and curves. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Granny Square Flair UK Terms Edition
Related ebooks
Mayan Crochet Blanket Pattern US Terms Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tunisian Crochet Workshop: The Complete Guide to Modern Tunisian Crochet Stitches, Techniques and Patterns Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Supersize Crochet: 20 Quick Crochet Projects Using Super Chunky Yarn Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Crochet Pattern Books: The Ultimate Complete Guide to Learning How to Crochet Fast Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ultimate Crochet Bible Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary: 125 Essential Stitches to Crochet in Three Ways Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Crochet Wraps Every Which Way: 18 Original Patterns in 6 Techniques Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Crochet Hacking: Repair and Refashion Clothes with Crochet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beginner's Guide to Crochet: 20 Crochet Projects for Beginners Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Crochet Hats and Beanies for Beginners. Learn How to Crochet and Make Hats and Beanies for the Entire Family Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Extreme Crochet with Chunky Yarn: 8 Quick Crochet Projects for Home & Accessories Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Coastal Crochet Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A Garden Of Shawls Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Mix and Match Modern Crochet Blankets: 100 patterned and textured strips for 1000s of unique throws Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Modern Granny Stitch Crochet: Make clothes and accessories using the granny stitch Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Siren's Atlas UK Terms Edition: An Ocean of Granny Squares to Crochet Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGranny Square Academy: Take your beginner crochet skills to the next level Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsModern Crochet Style: 15 Colourful Crochet Patterns For You and Your Home Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Timeless Textured Baby Crochet: 20 heirloom crochet patterns for babies and toddlers Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Crochet Secrets From The Knotty Boss: Over 100 tips & tricks to improve your crochet Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCrochet 101: Master Basic Skills and Techniques Easily through Step-by-Step Instruction Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Learn How to Crochet a Granny Square Throw. Learn How to Crochet Granny Squares, Plan a Project, and Put it All Together Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLearn How To Make Crochet Placemats and Potholders. Learn The Basic Stitches Needed to Create Cute Placemats and Potholders Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSimply Baby Blankets: Simply Series, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMore than a Granny: 20 Versatile Crochet Square Patterns UK Version Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Flowers Abound: 20 Floral Crochet Patterns US Version Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Japanese Wonder Crochet: A Creative Approach to Classic Stitches Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5More than a Granny: 20 Versatile Crochet Square Patterns US Version Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Crochet Market Bags: 10 Fresh Fun Handbags & Totes Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Crafts & Hobbies For You
The Big Book of Maker Skills: Tools & Techniques for Building Great Tech Projects Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kawaii Crochet: 40 Super Cute Crochet Patterns for Adorable Amigurumi Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The CIA Lockpicking Manual Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rockhounding for Beginners: Your Comprehensive Guide to Finding and Collecting Precious Minerals, Gems, Geodes, & More Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSharpie Art Workshop: Techniques & Ideas for Transforming Your World Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Navy SEALs Bug In Guide: A Comprehensive Manual for Defense and Resilience in Times of Crisis Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCalligraphy Workbook for Beginners Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/540+ Stash-Busting Projects to Crochet! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Modern Crochet Bible: Over 100 Contemporary Crochet Techniques and Stitches Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Macramé for Beginners and Beyond: 24 Easy Macramé Projects for Home and Garden Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Crochet Impkins: Over a million possible combinations! Yes, really! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Little House Living: The Make-Your-Own Guide to a Frugal, Simple, and Self-Sufficient Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Crochet in a Day: 42 Fast & Fun Projects Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary: 125 Essential Stitches to Crochet in Three Ways Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary of Dr. Julie Holland's Moody Bitches Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFloriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beginner's Guide to Crochet: 20 Crochet Projects for Beginners Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sewing For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5100 Micro Amigurumi: Crochet patterns and charts for tiny amigurumi Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Crocheting in Plain English: The Only Book any Crocheter Will Ever Need Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Melissa Leapman's Indispensable Stitch Collection for Crocheters: 200 Stitch Patterns in Words and Symbols Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Crochet: Fun & Easy Patterns For Beginners Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Building a Deck - For Beginners Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related categories
Reviews for Granny Square Flair UK Terms Edition
1 rating0 reviews
Book preview
Granny Square Flair UK Terms Edition - Shelley Husband
Copyright © 2018 by Shelley Husband
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, photocopying or otherwise without prior written permission of the author.
ISBN-13: 978-0-6483497-0-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-6483497-4-7 (e-book)
Charts made by Amy Gunderson
Email: [email protected]
Ravelry ID: AmyGunderson
Graphic Design by Michelle Lorimer
Email: [email protected]
Project Photography by Jo O’Keefe
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: missfarmerjojo
Other Photography by Shelley Husband
Technical Editing by SiewBee Pond
Email: [email protected]
First edition 2018
Published by Shelley Husband
PO Box 11
Narrawong VIC 3285
Australia
www.shelleyhusbandcrochet.com
0822
Contents
Welcome to Granny Square Flair
Get Ready to Crochet
What you need to have
What you need to know
Patterns
Pattern index
Patterns
Projects
Project index
Radius Coasters
Hot Shot Pot Holder
Sunshine Cowl
Dahlia Scarf
Killarney Cushion Topper
Deco Cushion
Melbourne Wrap
Cirque Baby Blanket
Prism Lap Blanket
Blossoming Flowers Blanket
Heirloom Sampler Blanket
Design your own projects
Glossary
Yarn Information
Yarns Used
Alternative Yarn Colour Contributors
Useful Links
Acknowledgements
The Dahlia Scarf, page 85.
The Heirloom Sampler Blanket, page 97.
Welcome to Granny Square Flair!
I love nothing more than sitting down with some yarn and my hook to design new granny squares. I love the problem solving, the Eureka! moment when an idea comes to life, trying out new yarns and colours. It’s all so much fun. Granny Square Flair was born from this joyful exploration. I’ve gathered fifty of my original designs in this book, taking the humble granny square in exciting new directions.
The textbook definition of a granny square is a square piece of fabric textile crocheted while working in rounds from the centre outwards. I prefer to describe them as bite-sized adventures in yarn where you get to play with lots of different stitches and techniques to create little bits of joy. You can then combine them to make all manner of wonderful things.
Making crochet squares is gratifying in so many ways. They give you a sense of achievement, since you can complete a square easily in one sitting. You get to do a little happy dance every time you finish one. There’s no boredom caused by working endless rows all the same. Plus, you’ll reap the many benefits of keeping your mind and your hands happily occupied creating something beautiful.
If all that isn’t enough, granny squares are the perfect portable project. They’re great for the daily commute, or for when you’re in the passenger seat on road trips. Treat them as a break in your busy day, your relax and forget about the world
time. If you make a granny square every day or so, you’ll have enough for a whole project in no time at all!
The patterns in this book run the gamut from quick and easy to those requiring a little more concentration. I’ve assumed that you have basic crochet skills. This is not a learn to crochet book, but rather a resource to create your own projects, expanding your skills and confidence as you play with the patterns.
In addition to the patterns for the fifty squares, you’ll find complete instructions for eleven beautiful projects you can make with them. But don’t limit yourself to these projects. My hope is that you use these patterns in ways that mean something to you, to make what you want. To that end, I’ve provided guidance on designing your own projects as well.
I hope my book will inspire you to try new techniques, expand your crochet skills and create some crochet wonders you and your loved ones will cherish for years to come.
Now go swing that hook!
xx Shelley
Get ready to crochet
What you need to have
Let’s have a look at the supplies you’ll need to have on hand.
Hooks
While the business end of crochet hooks is fairly standard, their design and construction vary greatly. Some are a simple shaft and hook but others have handles of many shapes and sizes. They can be made of many different materials too, from metals to woods to plastics and combinations of all of these.
If you’re going to spend a lot of time crocheting, investing in a good set of hooks can make the experience so much more pleasurable, allowing you to crochet for long periods of time comfortably. The hook you choose will depend on your personal preferences and crochet style. Some suit the overhand/knife hold, while others are best for the underhand/pen hold.
Regardless of hook style, the size I recommend for the patterns in this book is 4 mm/G if you’re using 8 ply/DK/light worsted yarn.
Of course you’re not bound by this! Experiment!
If you want to use a thicker 10 ply/aran/worsted yarn or a thinner yarn like a 2 or 4 ply/fingering, go for it. Begin with the hook size recommended on the yarn label. If you like the density and drape of the pattern, great! Continue on. If you want a firmer, stiffer fabric, use a smaller hook. Conversely, if you want a lacier fabric with more drape, use a larger hook.
Changing the yarn and hook from what I’ve recommended can result in squares of a different size. That doesn’t matter unless you’re making garments or matching my patterns with those from other sources. A blanket is a blanket no matter the size. If you use a heavier weight yarn and larger hook, your end product will be larger, and it will be smaller with a lighter yarn and smaller hook. The amount of yarn required will change a little as well as the size. Do your calculations at the beginning of your project and all will be well.
Yarn
Ah yarn. So much to choose from! There are many factors that will influence your yarn choice.
Fibre
Yarns are constructed from many different fibres; cotton, wool (sheep, alpaca, angora, cashmere, yak), linen, bamboo and man-made fibres like acrylic and nylon. Allergies may exclude some fibres from your selection. Man-made fibres and some yarn processing methods may conflict with your environmental values, excluding others.
Construction
How each yarn is constructed can also impact your choice. A yarn with a low twist may be prone to split making it difficult to crochet with. A more tightly twisted yarn may produce a stiffer, less flexible fabric. A fluffy yarn will hide intricate stitches, whereas a cotton yarn will show each stitch clearly.
Cost
Cost can be a big part of your yarn decision, especially when you consider the quantities of yarn needed for larger projects. It’s a good idea to think about the time and love you’ll be investing in your project. Investing in a lovely yarn as well will mean loving the end result so much more.
Project
The purpose of your project should influence your yarn choice. If you’re making a pet blanket, then an easy-care acrylic may be your go-to yarn. A baby blanket needs to be soft and easy to wash, so a blend may work best. If you’re making a bag, you may want to use a mercerised cotton yarn for added durability. What is best for you and your project will depend on your personal preferences. Personally, I love soft, non-mercerised 8 ply/DK/light worsted cotton yarns because I make mostly blankets and I love the soft drape and stitch definition this yarn yields. No one wants to snuggle under a scratchy, stiff blanket!
You’ll need to decide what yarn best suits your personal preferences, budget and purpose.
Other useful things to have
• A nice sharp pair of scissors
• A tapestry needle
• A tape measure
• Stitch markers (scraps of yarn work just fine)
• Blocking board and pins
What you need to know
Now let’s have a look at the technical how-to’s
with a bit of an explanation of how to begin, my seamless crochet tips and tricks, notes about size, playing with colour and how to read my patterns and charts.
How to begin a square
There are many ways to begin a Granny Square. Most of the time, I recommend you begin with chain 1 and work all round 1 stitches into that 1 chain. After finishing, use the tail to pull the hole in the centre closed as you weave the end in.
However, due to the large number of stitches in the first round of some patterns, it’s necessary to make a loop to work the first round stitches into. You can either make a length of chain stitches and join them with a slip stitch to make a loop or use a magic circle. If you do choose to use a magic circle, ensure you weave in the tail very securely as magic circles may come undone with use or washing.
Each pattern states which method to use.
Chain 1
Chain loop
Magic circle
My Seamless Crochet Tips
To help make your crochet look the best it possibly can, use my tips to create seamless joins and easy transitions between colours and rounds. Each of these tips by itself doesn’t make much of a difference, but in combination, they go a long way to help create the illusion of seamless crochet.
Starting chain alternative
The traditional way to begin a round of crochet is to start with a number of chain stitches that generally take the place of the first stitch. For example, if a treble crochet stitch is needed at the start of a round, it’s traditional to chain 3 to take the place of the first stitch. This matches the height of a treble stitch and you’re at the right place to begin the next stitch i.e. from the top down.
This starting chain can really stand out as different from other stitches when worked in the round, so to make that first stitch blend in I make a false stitch instead.
Here’s how to do it.
Pull up a long loop, a little taller than a treble crochet stitch (A). Place a finger on the loop on the hook and hold it firmly while moving the hook under, and wrapping the long loop around the hook (B). Yarn over and pull that strand under the wrapped long loop (C), yarn over again and pull through all remaining loops on the hook (D). It may look a little strange, but once you work the next stitches of the round, it will blend in nicely. At the end of the round, when it’s time to join, you can join under 2 loops, just as if you were working into a regular stitch (E).
The false stitch is not limited to a treble crochet. You can also create a false double treble crochet by pulling up a longer loop and wrapping it twice around the hook before finishing the stitch as normal.
It does take some practice to perfect, but the result is well worth the effort.
However, there are times when a starting chain is still the best option. When it’s necessary to finish a round with an invisible join, a starting chain is best as the top of the invisible join and the starting chain together create a stitch that looks very much like a normal stitch.
When a half treble is required at the beginning of a round, a starting chain of 2 is the easiest option. It’s possible to create a false half treble, but it’s very fiddly to do and not really necessary as the stitch is so short, you can’t really notice the difference using a starting chain.
All patterns in this book indicate starting chains, but you have the option to use the false stitch alternative if you wish.
Changing colours
When starting a new colour, it’s generally best to attach your new colour to a different stitch or space to where you ended the last round.
Joining methods
I recommend a mix of the following methods to join a new colour.
Slip Stitch
The first is to attach the new colour with a slip stitch, then