I love making Granny Squares. There’s just something about creating little stacks of them that is hugely satisfying. They are versatile, and easy for beginners to learn because the basic stitches and method of working “in the round” are simple to get to grips with. It’s how I first learnt to crochet 18 months ago, and I still get a huge amount of pleasure from making granny squares.
This particular square, which I am calling my Summer Garden Granny Square, is my own pattern. It came about after I had an idea of making squares for a blanket, which when all assembled together would resemble a garden blooming with summer flowers. I couldn’t find a pattern which was simple enough to make, or produced the effect I was after, so I experimented and created my own. And to be perfectly honest with you all, I am thrilled with how it turned out.
So :: For my blanket squares (pictured above) I’m using a DK weight pure wool, with a 4mm hook. I’ve also made them with Rowan DK cotton and they are equally lovely, they come out slightly larger when made with the cotton yarn.
I’m going to write the pattern in UK crochet terms where the main stitch is a UK Treble. For those in the US, this is the same as a dc stitch.
sl st (slip stitch) :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then through the loop on your hook.
Bobble :: yarn over, insert hook through next stitch, yarn over, hook back through stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops left on hook). Then yarn over and insert hook through SAME STITCH, yarn over, hook back through stitch (4 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (3 loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.
Bobble Stitch is not a difficult stitch even though it may sound complicated. Try watching the little Bobble Stitch video I’ve linked to above, it might help if you see the stitch being made.
Tr :: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops on hook (two loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops. (NB this is equivalent to US dc stitch)
To Start ::
chain 4 and join to form a ring. The ring will be small, so wiggle it with your fingers to make sure you know where the centre of the ring is, because for the first round you will be working out of this hole.
ROUND 1 ::
chain 3 , then work 1 tr into the ring (this effectively counts as your first “bobble”), chain 1Repeat between ** 6 more times, until you have 8 “bobble spokes” in total.It may feel as if you can’t quite fit them all in towards the end because the hole in the central ring is small, but you want it to be tight so the hole almost disappears.Make a sl st into the 3rd chain of your initial chain-3 to join, finish off (picture below)
ROUND 2 ::
Join in your new colour by making a secure knot close to the stitches. Insert hook through nearest chain-1 space of the previous round and draw the new colour yarn through to the front (picture below).Chain 3 (counts as 1 tr), 2tr into the same space, chain 1. This forms a “tr cluster” (picture below).Repeat between ** 6 more times, working your way round the circle, making a total of 8 “tr clusters”.You can stitch a pretty button in the centre, attach them to whatever tickles your fancy.Or you can carry on and turn the circles into squares….
ROUND 3 ::
You will be working out of the chain-1 spaces between the tr clusters of the previous round.Join in new colour by knotting close to the work. Insert hook into the nearest space between clusters and pull the new colour yarn through to the front.