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!
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!
ReplyDeleteDo check out her website
DeleteYour 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!
ReplyDeleteI 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...🧶 🧶
DeleteI can crochet but haven't done so for a few years. I like the idea of a tote bag, I made one once from crochet and lined it with an old pillow case, it was great for carrying books to and from the library. I also like the cushion covers. It looks an interesting book. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteIt's a 'borrow' book, not a 'keeper' imho., Check out your library
DeleteI can crochet and used to do many squares in both double and treble. I had an eclectic array of cushion covers and bedspreads on my bed as a teenager, but I have never actually crocheted a Granny Square.
ReplyDeleteThe book has five basic squares, only one is a "proper" granny. But full of clever ideas for mixing and matching
DeleteKnitting is my thing-I cannot get to grips with crochet! Catriona
ReplyDeleteI can DO it, but I don't enjoy it. Much prefer two needles!!
DeleteI now love to knit and crochet being rather a latecomer to those skills. Great that your granddaughter now can hook. My feeling is that these gentle, mindful crafts should be taught in schools - so good for all sorts of reasons.
ReplyDeleteI’m not very patient with individual granny squares but occasionally make a continuous granny square blanket. My next crochet project will be an attempt at a Hexi granny cardi - apparently so simple……. I’ll let you know!
Alison in Devon.
Better late than never.!! Schools don't seem to have time or resources for many of these practical skills. I'm glad many after-school clubs are now including craft sessions
DeleteI can hardly wait to see with what you come up with, I know it will be good. JanF
ReplyDeleteIt will definitely be after Christmas
DeleteThe Jabez Blanket Ministry collects blankets to ship to orphans around the world along with backpacks, notebooks, teddy bears, pencil cases and so on. Most of the blankets are granny squares and groups meet to crochet or sew together the squares. For your North American readers: https://www.jabezblanketministry.org
ReplyDeleteThank you for that link Bushlady. Maybe some of my transatlantic blogfriends will contribute
DeleteI prefer to knit, could never quite grasp crochet, although Iris is quite proficient and prefers it to knitting. I think all the home skills should be taught in school, cooking, finance, easy diy jobs etc. Xx
ReplyDeleteRosie hooks, but doesn't knit. Yes, schools should do budgetting lessons!
DeleteI feel like I want to learn to crochet but I didn't get on with knitting at all.
ReplyDeleteThe Yes You Cardican pattern from The Pigeon's Nest is a great project to turn Granny Squares into a cardigan!
I shall check it out
DeleteI never got the hang of crochet, but my late mother did blanket after blanket. We scoured charity shops for oddments for them, and then she'd donate them to charity. Rather than re-sell them in a charity shop, where they'd never fetch the cost of the yarn, she'd raffle them off with a 'guess how long it took to make' or 'guess how much yarn in the blanket' as a fund raiser. She got such a lot of satisfaction from them.
ReplyDeleteA creative use of her talents, and a blessing to others
DeleteI would love to be able to crochet. I wonder if it has something to do with the name, as the other Gill can't crochet either?
ReplyDeletePlease comment if you know a Gill who CAN crochet!!!
DeleteLOL!!
DeleteWhen I look back at my Ravelry projects and see the amount of crochetiing (and knitting) I'm amazed! I taught the girls to crochet chains too.Lovely pastime to share with them on all the sleepovers they had here.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had photos of all the projects I did BEFORE we could take a picture [or 6] of every project we did - all that dressmaking in my teens and twenties, then the babyknits, and household items. Not to mention cross stitch cards and gifts for other people. It is amazing to think of how much we have made over the years...
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