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Crochet How To: The Granny Square, Step By Step Guide

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How To Make The Granny Square

Definitely one of my favourite things to make, a Granny square can be used for all sorts of crochet projects, from blankets to cushions to table mats. I often use these on my Minecraft makes as they are perfect for creating the block effect needed.

A giant granny square is a perfect ‘quick make’ blanket – to make one just keep continuing the rounds, change the colour each round or every couple of rounds to add a bit of detail.

How To Make A Basic Granny Square:

To Start:

  • ch5, then slip stitch into the first ch to make a round.

Round 1:

  • ch3, then complete 2 trb into the round, *ch2, then complete 3trb into the round, repeat from * twice more, ch2 then slip stitch into the top of the ch3 at the start.

Round 2:

  • ch3, then complete 2 trb into the corner space, * ch2, then complete 3trb into the corner space, ch2 then 3trb into the same corner space. Repeat from * twice more.
  • Then ch2, 3trb into the corner space, ch2 then slip stitch to the top of the 3ch at the start.

Round 3:

  • ch3, then complete 2trb into the corner space.
  • *ch2, then complete 3trb into the ch2 space, ch2, then complete 3trb into the corner space, ch2 then complete 3trb into the same corner space. Repeat from *twice more.
  • Then ch2 3trb into the 2ch space, ch2 then complete 3trb into the corner space, ch2 then slip stitch into the top of the 3ch at the start.

Round 4:

  • ch3, then complete 2trb into the corner space.
  • *ch2, then complete 3trb into the ch2 space, ch2, then complete 3trb into the next ch2 space, then complete 3trb into the corner space, ch2 then complete 3trb into the same corner space. Repeat from *twice more.
  • Then ch2 3trb into the 2ch space, ch2, 3trb into next 2ch space, ch2 then complete 3trb into the corner space, ch2 then slip stitch into the top of the 3ch at the start.

Crochet How To: Solid Granny Square, Step By Step Guide

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A Bit Of Variation On A Traditional Granny Square: A Solid Granny Square

With a little bit of a twist on a traditional Granny square, these solid squares and perfect for when your wanting a more solid block of colour on a blanket/cushion. I find them perfect for my Minecraft makes as they really help each of the blocks stand out.

How To Make A Solid Granny Square:

To Start:

  • ch4 and slip stitch into first dc to make a round.

Round 1:

  • ch5, then 3trb into the round.
  • ch2 3trb into the round twice. ch2, 2trb into the round then slip stitch into the 3rd dc of the ch5 you started with.

Round 2:

  • ch5, 2trb into 2ch space, 3trb, 2trb into 2ch space.
  • *ch2, 2trb into 2ch space, 3trb 2trb into 2ch space, repeat from * once more.
  • ch2 2trb into 2ch space, 3trb, trb into 2ch space, then slip stitch into 3rd ch of the starting 5ch.

Round 3:

  • ch5, 2trb into 2ch space, 7trb, 2trb into 2ch space.
  • *ch2, 2trb into 2ch space, 7trb 2trb into 2ch space, repeat from * once more.
  • ch2 2trb into 2ch space, 7trb, trb into 2ch space, then slip stitch into 3rd ch of the starting 5ch.

Round 4:

  • ch5, 2trb into 2ch space, 7trb, 2trb into 2ch space.
  • *ch2, 2trb into 2ch space, 7trb 2trb into 2ch space, repeat from * once more.
  • ch2 2trb into 2ch space, 7trb, trb into 2ch space, then slip stitch into 3rd ch of the starting 5ch.
  • Fasten off

Sewing Tutorial: Quick And Easy Harry Potter Drawstring Bag

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Making bags seems to have taken over at bit here at the moment and following on from my last minute quick make drawstring bag I focussed on making this quick and easy drawstring bag using some amazing Harry Potter fabric which was gifted to me by The Craft Cotton Company.

I wanted to add a little detail to the bag and knew I had to add a little golden snitch to the front of the bag. Luckily I had some golden and white felt in my stash and some matching embroidery threads – isn’t often I manage to have the right shades and normally have to rush out and by some to match!.

I love how this bag has turned out – I will definitely be making some more for gifting this Christmas.

The tutorial to make one is available over on The Craft Cotton Company’s blog.

Quick Sewing Project: Sewing A Fabric Drawstring Gift Bag

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I had a gift ready to be gifted and had it mind to make a fabric drawstring bag to pop it in before gifting, but then the problems started….. I forgot about the making part until the day before I needed to pass the gift over!

Slight panic stations occurred and I rapidly looked through my fabric stash to see if I had anything suitable. I’ve been on a bit of a fabric scraps use up mission lately so wanted to try and keep this going and luckily I had some fabric pieces that were perfect.

This fabric was from the Craft Cotton Company’s London Town fat quarter set which was gifted by The Craft Cotton Company.

Tutorial to make the bag

  • For the front and back of the bag you will need two pieces of fabric that measure 26x30cm. They can be made up from patchwork pieces or be a single piece.
  • For the top drawstring parts of the bag you need two pieces of fabric 28×10. This gives you a front and back piece.
  • Take the two top drawstring parts of the bag and fold in the edges by 1cm and then fold in half (wrong sides together) so you have two pieces 26x5cm.
  • Take one of the top drawstring parts of the bag and the front piece of the bag and place right sides together with the top raw edge of the front piece and the bottom raw edge of the drawstring part aligned. Sew along the top edge to secure.
  • Take the front and back piece and place right sides together, sew down both the sides starting 3cm from the top edge and sewing diagonally inwards for 1cm and then down the rest of the side. Sew along the bottom edge. Turn out the right way.
  • Take a piece of ribbon 50cm long and thread through the top drawstring part of the bag, tie the two ends together to secure.

Sewing Tutorial: Cute And Cosy Whale Shark And Narwhal Teddy Soft Toys

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I received some gorgeous blue themed fabrics from The Craft Cotton Company and the different shades of blues reminded me of the ocean so I decided to make something sea themed!

The first two sea creatures that came to mind where a whale shark and a narwhal, and so that is what I went with! very glad I stuck with them as I love how they have turned out.

The tutorials to make these cute little sea creatures are available over on The Craft Cotton Company blog, along with loads of other amazing tutorials.

How To: Half Treble(UK)/Half Double(US) Corner To Corner Crochet

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Following on from a few queries on my Minecraft TNT block make and the use of Half Treble(UK)/Half Double(US) Corner To Corner Crochet to make it I decided to put together a little ‘how to’ on completing a project using Half Treble(UK)/Half Double(US) Corner To Corner Crochet.

Row 1:

ch5 (picture 1), htr(UK)/hdc(US) into 3rd ch from the hook (picture 2), htr(UK)/hdc(US) into last two ch (picture 3).  Turn.

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Row 2

ch5 (picture 1), htr(UK)/hdc(US) into 3rd ch from the hook (picture 2), htr(UK)/hdc(US) into the last two stitches (picture 3), slip stitch into ch gap to join (picture 4), ch2 (picture 5), 3htr(UK)/hdc(US) into ch gap (picture 6). Turn.

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Row 3

ch5, htr(UK)/hdc(US) into 3rd ch from the hook, htr(UK)/hdc(US) into the last two stitches (picture 1), *slip stitch into ch gap to join (picture 2), ch2, 3htr(UK)/hdc(US) into ch gap (picture 3).  Repeat from * one more time to complete the row (picture 4). Turn.

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Rows 4+

ch5, htr(UK)/hdc(US) into 3rd ch from the hook, htr(UK)/hdc(US) into the last two stitches, *slip stitch into ch gap to join, ch2, 3htr(UK)/hdc(US) into ch gap.  Repeat from * along the row. Turn.

Decreasing rows

To decrease at the edges (top edge and left hand side of the pattern):

To decrease at the start of a row complete 3 slip stitches (one into each of the 3 htr(UK)/hdc(US) ends)(picture 1) and a slip stitch into the ch gap (picture 2).   Next complete a ch2 (picture 3) and 3htr(UK)/hdc(US) into the ch gap (picture 4) and then continue the row in the same way as row 2 (picture 4).

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When you have a decrease at the end of a row, do not complete a slip stitch and ch2 htr(UK)/hdc(US) into the last ch gap, instead only complete a slip stitch into the ch gap and turn (picture 1).

When starting the next row complete 3 slip stitches (one into each of the 3 htr(UK)/hdc(US) ends) (pictures 2 and 3) and a slip stitch into the ch gap (picture 4).   Next complete a ch2 (picture 5) and 3htr(UK)/hdc(US) into the ch gap (picture 6) and then continue the row in the same way as row 2 (picture 7).

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Continue decreasing the rows until the end of the pattern.