Facebook. Granny-squaring. There I was, basket in hand, late for Knit and Natter, about to rush out the front door when I caught sight of the hallway and my bags and scarves hanging on the hooks.
Nothing extraordinary about hallway hooks, bags or scarves, but this morning the sight of them absolutely thrilled me to bits. Don't you just love it when that happens? When you unexpectedly catch a glimpse of something about the house that you see every day, but occasionally it's very ordinariness just has the power to stop you in your tracks? Loved that moment, it was wonderful. Yeah, I was late for Knit and Natter, you want to know why?
I have to say, I was/am so very delighted with your response to my textile pictures. Knit and Natter, as ever, was a delight this morning, yet another Thrill on today's ride. I just LOVE granny-squaring, so so much! So when I join in a new colour, I knot the two yarns tightly together first, leaving tails about 2 inches long. ...does that make sense? Granny Blanket Edging. When I made my Summer Garden granny square throw (pictured above), I felt it needed a good edging to finish it off.
Something that would pull the whole thing together and give it that final flourish. And as is quite often the case, I ended up designing my own edging after being unable to find anything suitable in books or on the internet. This edging is made in three rounds :: two rounds of chain loops, followed by a final round of shell/scallops, and is very easily worked around any size of granny square. I'm writing the pattern in UK terms, the stitches as follows :: sl st :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then straight through the loop on your hook. dc:: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops on hook. htr :: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook. For US peeps: Summer Garden Granny Square. 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. So :: For my blanket squares (pictured above) I'm using a DK weight pure wool, with a 4mm hook.