Daisy Granny Square Blanket

International Free Form Crochet Guild – 2011 Guild Show Exhibition.

Unfortunately this year I ran out of time to complete my exhibition piece however the exhibition is excellent as ever.

To view the 2011 exhibition online please click here.

This is one of my pieces made for Inside Crochet magazine to see more of my work at Flickr please click here.

Prudence Mapstone's work - Click here to see more.

Antique Crochet Patterns

This site is a really great resource of many wonderful old free crochet patterns. Look at these wonderful vintage and retro style afghans/blankets.

Click here to visit Antiquecrochetpatterns.com

Pyramid Afghan

 

Click here for the free pattern.

Highland Home Afghan/Blanket

Click here for the free pattern.

American Afghan – Blanket

Click here for the free pattern.

Siesta Afghan – Blanket

Click here for the free pattern.

Tutti Frutti Granny Blanket has left home.

Tutti Frutti has found a new home where I’m sure she will be treasured and loved. I have relisted the blanket as a custom order in both my Etsy shop Click Here  or my Folksy shop Click Here.

The History of The Granny Square

 

Have you ever wondered about the history of where the humble granny square? I have and do – I would also like to know where in the world it originates from. In my quest to find answers I haven’t found too many – but here are some things I did learn along the way. If you know anything else please do leave a comment.
 

Granny Square

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A granny square worked in two colors and seven rounds. Cotton, 4mm crochet hook.
A granny square is a crochet technique for producing square fabric by working in rounds from the center outward. Granny squares are traditionally handmade. They resemble coarse lace. Although there is no theoretical limit to the maximum size of a granny square, crocheters usually create multiple small squares (called "motifs") and assemble the pieces to make clothing, purses, Afghan blankets, and other household textiles.
Granny square apparel is a cyclical fashion that peaked in the 1970s. As Stitch 'n Bitch series author Debbie Stoller describes:

If you grew up in the seventies, as I did, you might fear the granny square--if only because, for a while, clothing was made of nothing else. Granny square vests, granny square shorts, granny square hats. Heck, I bet there was some kid out there who was forced to go to school wearing granny square underwear.^[1]

Although particular color and pattern schemes for granny squares change with time, this class of motif is a staple among crocheters. Multicolor granny squares are an effective way to use up small amounts of yarn left over from other projects and basic granny square motifs do not require advanced skills to execute.

  Click here to read the rest of the article at Wikipedia.

 I was looking through a book I've got which is a reproduction of a number of crochet newsletters stuffed full of patterns from a company called Weldons from the mid 1800s. Right at the back, there's a pattern for "Patchwork Squares", which has a little blurb at the top describing how useful these are for using up scraps of yarn you might have, and how they're great for rugs, baby's blankets and the like. Breathless I turned the page to see if I could find an illustration and there, on the next page, was a handsome black and white engraving of... a granny square!
I'm so happy! Granny squares date back to at least Victorian times!

Click here to read more at sayraphimlothian.com

I had an email from Sayraphim a couple of days ago she said

“The book I found the info from is an English book and it's the earliest reference to the granny square I've found in print. But I found it weird that no one really has any info on it either.
I suspect people have been doing them for far longer, the same as no one really knows how long crochet has been around. The earliest references to it in books, again from Victorian England, were quite complicated published patterns which suggests that people already knew how to do the basics.”
So does the humble granny square originate from Europe? It would be great to hear what any of you may know about the history of the granny square.
 

 

Granny Squares are a crocheter's passport to 1970s boho-chic!
It turns out that making granny squares can be a little addictive. They're fast and fun to crochet -- so the squares start to pile up quickly. There are endless color and yarn weight combinations -- so they can be simple or complex, and can incorporate easy or challenging color combinations. And crocheting is very portable -- so it's easy to throw a project in a bag and head out the door.
Tonight, I'm meeting a crafting buddy at a coffeehouse for some public crocheting. It's a good way to spend a Friday night if you've retired from your disco days. I have, but now that I've rediscovered granny squares, I'm making all kinds of cool stuff for people to wear if they're looking for a touch of 70s bohemian. My current project is a shrug that utilizes space-dyed yarn to create color changes in your squares without switching yarns. The blocks are really gorgeous and I'll post a photo of the completed shrug shortly.

  Source - Denver Library click here to read more.

Dolly is about to Depart.

                                      SOLD
Yes it was inevitable but ‘Dolly’ has found a new home. I’m sure she will be loved, cherished and treasured. I’m sure she will become as much a part of the family as the faithful dog, the tatty old slippers and the ticking clock. I will miss her though I spent many hours creating her and loved working with this colour combination.

From humble beginnings………

I would still make Dolly again despite the hours and hours of work involved, by private commission or custom order, contact me for further details.
If you fancy making Dolly yourself then the pattern is available  on ravelry and in my Etsy store.

Petit’ Peony Granny Blanket

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The blanket is available in my Etsy store click here.

Peonies have long been touted as some of the most beautiful flowers on earth. They were practically revered by the ancient Chinese and were a favorite in Victorian English gardens. They’re still one of the most preferred specimens for floral arrangements because of their color and their delicate petals and scent.
You can read more at Peonypassions.

Introducing ‘Tutti Frutti Daisy’ Granny Square Blanket.

Well as promised I’m delighted to be able to introduce and show you my newest creation. Tutii Frutti Daisy blanket – I so love the colour combination here, and hope you do to.

The blanket is constructed from 7 rows of 7 squares across and 7 rows of 7 square down. A total of 49 squares. Each square has a pink central daisy flower and is then surrounded by 7 different colours.
I think the colour work in this pattern is gorgeous and so very pretty and cheerful. The pattern contains explicit colour guidance for each and every square – so 49 different colour combinations.
The finished blanket measures 54“ x 54“. The blanket could be made larger or smaller by increasing or decreasing the amount of squares used.

The pattern  is now available in my Etsy store click here

or in my Ravelry store click here.

A Basket Full of Biscuits

They do look so cute don’t they? I love it when they are at this stage all neat and tidy with their ends sewn in and ready to be transformed into a blanket or a cushion or some other item. My technology problems persisted yesterday with a power cut so I was unable to down or upload photos, unable to blog etc. However this focussed me on getting one of my new blankets finshed.
Sneak preview below. All will be revealed tomorrow – technology allowing I’m just doing the final border.

A pile of granny squares all needing their ends sewn in.

A sneaky sepia preview.

A black & white view.

My Vintage Granny Blanket Featured in Let’s Knit June 2011

Learn more or subscribe here.

To get the pattern click here.

A special thank you to Sue - AKA Mrs Twins for letting me know that my work was included in this month’s issue. You can learn more about the Sue the queen of  SIBOL -Sunshine International Blankets of Love by clicking here.

Baby’s Ribbed Beret Crochet Pattern

Skill Level: Easy
Materials: 5mm hook, 25g of DK yarn, tapestry needle, crochet stitch marker.

Notes: In order to complete this pattern you must be able to complete fdpc – front post double crochet.  Work 1 front post double crochet (FP dc) around the post of the next double crochet.
Measurements: 16” (0-3mths)
Pattern:
Rnd 1: ch 2, work 9 dc into ring, join with sl st,
Rnd 2: ch 2, work fpdc around post of ch 2 of rnd below, *dc in and work fpdc around next dc (increase made). Repeat from * around, end with a sl st to top of ch 3: 20 sts, 10 dc and 10 fpdc
Rnd 3: ch 2, , dc in and work fpdc around post of next dc, * [dc in next dc], dc in and work fpdc around post of next dc. Repeat from * around, end with a sl st to top of ch 2: 30 sts.
Rnd 4: ch 2, dc in next dc, dc in and work fpdc around post of next dc, *dc in each of next 2 dc, dc in and work fpdc around post of next dc. Repeat from * around, end with a sl st to top of ch 2: 40 sts.
Rnd 5: ch 2, dc in next dc, dc in and work fpdc around post of next dc, *dc in each of next 3 dc, dc in and work fpdc around post of next dc. Repeat from * around, end with a sl st to top of ch 2: 50sts.
Rnd 6: ch 2, dc in next dc, dc in and work fpdc around post of next dc, *dc in each of next 4 dc, dc in and work fpdc around post of next dc. Repeat from * around, end with a sl st to top of ch 2: 60sts.
Decreasing
Rnd 7: ch 2, sk next dc, dc in and work fpdc around post of next dc, *dc in each of next 3 dc, dc in and work fpdc around post of next dc. Repeat from * around, end with a sl st to top of ch 2: 60sts.
Rnd 8: ch 2, sk next dc, dc in and work fpdc around post of next dc, *dc in each of next 3 dc, dc in and work fpdc around post of next dc. Repeat from * around, end with a sl st to top of ch 2: 50sts
Rnd 9: ch 1, loosely sc into each st join with sl st fasten off yarn and darn all ends in.
This pattern is written using UK British terminology. Please refer to the conversion chart here to make changes for US crochet.
I hope you enjoy using this pattern and if you are looking for other free patterns please visit Crochet Pattern Central

Blanket Busy

It seems like a while since I did much blogging so thought I would have a quick update. The weather here in Scotland has definitely turned as we head through autumn and towards the chilly months. Consequently I’ve had lots and lots of requests for blankets and am busy working on about five different blankets.
This one is going to be a rather large granny square blanket for number three son. He wanted a blanket that wasn’t girly so despite the pink I’m just stash busting but using black in between each colour. I quite like the effect but there is still much work to be done and I’m almost out of black yarn :-(
I’m also busy working on a very thick chunky granny blanket for number two son who is more interested in practicalities (warmth) than appearance. I haven’t managed to photograph his blanket yet but it’s thick, red, bright and grows ridiculously quickly.
I’m also busy working on a floral vintage style granny square blanket – now you can see why I’m almost out of black yarn.
Lots done but still lots to be completed.
My Mirasol blanket which I began in April has been consigned to the WIP (work in progress) pile for way too long. I will turn my hand to that in the next couple of weeks and the weather no doubt becomes harsher. Pictures to follow.

And finally Happy Birthday to number one son :-) The photograph is somewhat dodgy but pinched from his facebook profile pics.

Summer Daze Crochet Pattern & pictures of the garden

PDF pattern available at Ravelry and Etsy.


A few pictures from the garden.