Thursday, 24 September 2026

Is This Granny Square?

Back in 1885, in Prairie Farmer magazine, a lady called Annie Phelps released a crochet pattern for "A Crazy Afghan" [Afghan here meaning a blanket, not a hound, nor a person from that country near Iran]
It was so easy to do, it became really popular, and was revived in the 1930's. 

Over the years it came to be known as a Granny Square. [Because it was easy, even if you had failing eyesight, and thrifty Grannies like to use up odd bits of yarn] In 1967 I was 12, and the Beatles released "Magical Mystery Tour" - and Paul McCartney was wearing a Granny Square Waistcoat [or 'vest' as they say in the USA]

I did learn to crochet in Girl's Brigade, but never enjoyed it as much as knitting. Fifteen years ago, I visited Mags in Ireland, and the women at her library crochet group [Hookery in the Bookery] rekindled my interest.
This summer, Rosie has learned to hook, and is happily making friendship bracelets. She spent all summer in her charity crochet sunflower hat

I've just got this book from the library, by the exuberant and colourful Katie Jones. Not because I intend to crochet anything, but because her book is full of projects with Granny Squares. She turns them into vests, jumpers, hats, bags and more. This may help me decide what to do with all my knitted squares from the Double-Knit Collaboration

Katie loves mixing and matching her squares and her bright colours.

Maybe I could reinterpret one of her jumper patterns with my knitted squares [they tend to be sightly more muted colours, I am not really into dayglo greens, luminous lemons and eye-popping pinks!

4 comments:

  1. I have been mulling over adapting my current faux patchwork knitted cardigan to make a patchwork jumper from the squares for a month or so; I must get my hands on that book!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your knitted squares will make a lovely vest or a tote bag or a scarf, depending on how many squares you have. Granny squares are about the only thing I can crochet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can knit a square faster than I can crochet one. According to the book, with 6" squares I probably need around 50 for a long sleeved sweater. That's a long way to go...🧶 🧶

      Delete

Always glad to hear from you - thanks for stopping by!
I am blocking anonymous comments now, due to excessive spam!