Monday, March 26, 2012

A Crochet Basic: Granny Square Afghan

The Granny Square is one of the fundamental designs in crocheting.  Since I got back into crocheting I've been staying away from them--working on scarves, broaches, belts, and various other projects.  Way back when I made a few granny square blankets, but to my complete and utter frustration they weren't exactly what you'd call square.  The shape they most resembled was a butterfly.  Yeah, not exactly what one wants in a blanket.  They are nice to cozy up with, but don't present themselves as well as they should.

The biggest project (that I've completed) is a bed-sized afghan for my hubby.  It turned out fairly nicely--but still had quite a bit of the butterfly effect.

Well, now that I am back in the crocheting zone I decided to take a look at actual granny square patterns.  In the past I was working from a pattern given to me at a 4-H craft camp day.  Back then I was afraid of reading patterns so I worked primarily from oral instructions or pictures from library books.  What struck me immediately was that I had been using more chains between shells and in corners than any of the online patterns indicated.  (You have to check out this page of patterns--it's almost overwhelming and not in English, but there are so many cool things that I want to try!) Maybe the extra chains were helping to cause my "butterfly" shape?

With some of the yarn I picked up from Michael's I made this blue and cream afghan.  It could work as a baby blanket or a lap afghan.  I am pretty happy with how it turned out--it's a square!  I did cut down the number of chains--corners only had two and between each shell only had one.

It is a granny SQUARE!
There is the slightest bit of  "butterflying" but not much.
(By the way, it is very difficult in a small apartment to find a place to photgraph  an entire blanket laid flat.)

This is a close-up of the center of the afghan.  I do really like how the colors work together. 
For the edging I did two rows of single crochet all around.
The finished product!


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10 comments:

  1. It's very pretty. One of these days I'm going to learn to crochet.

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  2. This is beautiful! Love the colors!!

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  3. I'm with Rose, I wish you lived close and could teach me! Great detail, you are obviously pro.

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  4. Beautiful blanket! Great work!


    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  5. Very pretty. Remind me of my mother that used to crochet all her life

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  6. Lovely! These take a lot of work. The beginning goes so fast, but the bigger the round the longer it takes. The lasts rounds are torture, aren't they? But well worth it!!

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  7. That looks so cozy and I love the colors. It looks perfect for a little babies room!

    Thanks for linking it up @ Creatively Living!
    --Katie

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  8. this is something i've always wanted to do. makes me wish i'd paid more attention when my gram was trying to teach me how. thanks for linking up to tip-toe thru tuesday!

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  9. I think it turned out great! I love the colors. Thanks for sharing at Terrific Tuesdays.
    Rachel
    adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com

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  10. Thank you so much for being a part of the creative sharing at Rook No. 17! I hope we'll have the pleasure of your company and creativity at tomorrow's "A Little Birdie Told Me..."

    Warmest wishes,
    Jenn

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I love reading each and every one!