granny square | poppyandbliss

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You may remember me showing you this pattern that I was working on way back here.

Well that was January and now it’s almost the end of April! Once again time has flown out the door and this almost finished pattern has sat glaring at me ever since. Mainly because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with it …. hexi or square …. cushion or blanket … this or that …

So enough with the muddled over-thinking! I give it to you as is and you can choose what you would like to make. Hexi or Square it’s up to you (or you could even make just the circle and use it as a pretty little embellishment or even a garland…)

OK let’s make stuff!

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Merry-Go-Round Pattern:

I’ve written out the patterns in both US terms and UK/AUS terms. Find the version you’re familiar with and lets get hookin…

Also – I haven’t had this pattern tested externally so please do let me know if you spot any errors. Edit – 3/5/16: there was a small error in round 2 which has now been fixed.

Size: 9 cm

What You’ll Need:

4mm hook
8ply/DK yarn: I’ve used Cascade Ultra Pima cotton in Sunshine, Honeysuckle, China Pink and Cool Mint but any yarn will do.

Colour Combinations:

With just 4 colours you can get at least 24 different colour combinations. I’ve used the same colour in Rounds 1 & 6 giving you even more (don’t ask me to do the math – too hard! 😉 . Check out this site for a great formula for creating unique colour combo’s.

Abbreviations:

US Terms used (UK in brackets)

ch chain

dc (tr) double crochet (treble crochet)

sc (dc) single crochet (double crochet)

sl st slip stitch

sp/s space/s

yo yarn over

Special Stitches:

US Terms / (UK/AUS in brackets)

2-dc (tr) Cluster stitch: Work first half of a dc (tr) as normal but before the last yo (2 loops on hook), yo and insert back into same st, yo, pull loop through (4 loops on hook), yo, pull through first 2 loops on hook (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through all 3 loops (stitch made)

Note : the first cluster st in a round will be worked differently. Instructions are given within the pattern for this first st then follow the above instructions for all subsequent stitches

Long DC (tr): Worked the same as a regular dc (tr) but into a stitch further down in the previous round. Keep your tension on the looser side and draw the stitch up so that it is even with the rest of the stitches in current round.

Popcorn: Work 3 dc (tr) into same stitch, drop the loop off your hook and re-insert hook under the top 2 loops of the first dc (tr) in the group, grab the dropped loop with your hook and pull back through the stitch, ch 1 to secure.

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Pattern – US TERMS:

SQUARE

Start: Make a magic circle or ch 4 and join with a sl st to form a ring

Round 1: Using Colour A, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 11 dc into ring. Join with a sl st and into top of beginning ch-3. Fasten off (12 dc)

Round 2: Join Colour B, ch 2 (counts as 1^st partial dc), yo and insert hook back into same st, yo, pull loop through (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through first 2 loops on hook (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through 2 loops (first 2-dc Cluster stitch made), ch 1, * 2-dc cluster, ch 1. Repeat from * into each st to end. Join with a sl st into top of first cluster and fasten off (12 x 2-dc clusters)

Round 3: Join Colour C into top of first cluster st of previous round, ch 1, sc into same st, make a long dc into the base of the same cluster st, *sc into top of next cluster st, long dc into base of same cluster st . Repeat from * to end Join with a sl st into top of first sc and fasten off.

Round 4: Join Colour D into top of first long dc from previous round, ch 1, sc into same st, make a popcorn in the next st , * sc in next st, popcorn in next st. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st into first sc and fasten off.

Round 5: Join Colour A into the first sc between popcorns of previous round, ch 1, sc into same st, ch 3, * sc into next st between popcorns, ch 3. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st into first sc. Don’t break off yarn. * if you’re making a hexi scroll down to Hexi instructions for Round 6.

Round 6: Sl st into first ch space, [ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] into same sp, 3 dc into next two spaces, * [3 dc, ch 2 , 3 dc] into next sp, 3 dc into next two spaces. Repeat from * to end (4 corners & 2 sets of 3 dc between). Join with a sl st into top of beginning ch-3 and fasten off.

Round 7: Join White into any corner sp, [ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc] into same sp, dc into next 12 sts, * [2dc, ch 1, 2 dc] into corner sp, dc into next 12 sts. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st into beginning ch-3. Fasten off and weave in ends.

HEXI:

Rounds 1 – 5: Work as for square

Round 6: Sl st into first ch space, [ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc, ch 2 , 3 dc] into same sp, 3 dc into next sp, * [3 dc, ch 2 , 3 dc] into next sp, 3 dc into next sp. Repeat from * to end (6 corners & 1 set of 3 dc between). Join with a sl st into top of beginning ch-3 and fasten off.

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Pattern – UK/AUS TERMS:

SQUARE

Start: Make a magic circle or ch 4 and join with a sl st to form a ring

Round 1: Using Colour A, ch 3 (counts as first tr), 11 tr into ring. Join with a sl st and into top of beginning ch-3. Fasten off (12 tr)

Round 2: Join Colour B, ch 2 (counts as 1^st partial tr), yo and insert hook back into same st, yo, pull loop through (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through first 2 loops on hook (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through 2 loops (first 2-tr Cluster stitch made), ch 1, * 2-tr cluster, ch 1. Repeat from * into each st to end. Join with a sl st into top of first cluster and fasten off (12 x 2-tr clusters)

Round 3: Join Colour C into top of first cluster st of previous round, ch 1, dc into same st, make a long tr into the base of the same cluster st, * dc into top of next cluster st, long tr into base of same cluster st . Repeat from * to end Join with a sl st into top of first dc and fasten off.

Round 4: Join Colour D into top of first long tr from previous round, ch 1, dc into same st, make a popcorn in the next st , * dc in next st, popcorn in next st. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st into first dc and fasten off.

Round 5: Join Colour A into the first dc between popcorns of previous round, ch 1, dc into same st, ch 3, * dc into next st between popcorns, ch 3. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st into first dc. Don’t break off yarn.* if you’re making a hexi scroll down to Hexi instructions for Round 6.

Round 6: Sl st into first ch space, [ch 3 (counts as first tr), 2 tr, ch 2 , 3 tr] into same sp, 3 tr into next two spaces, * [3 tr, ch 2 , 3 tr] into next sp, 3 tr into next two spaces. Repeat from * to end (4 corners & 2 sets of 3 tr between). Join with a sl st into top of beginning ch-3 and fasten off.

Round 7: Join White into any corner sp, [ch 3 (counts as first tr), 1 tr, ch 1, 2 tr] into same sp, tr into next 12 sts, * [2tr, ch 1, 2 tr] into corner sp, tr into next 12 sts. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st into beginning ch-3. Fasten off and weave in ends.

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HEXI:

Rounds 1 – 5: Work as for square

Round 6: Sl st into first ch space, [ch 3 (counts as first tr), 2 tr, ch 2 , 3 tr] into same sp, 3 tr into next sp, * [3 tr, ch 2 , 3 tr] into next sp, 3 tr into next sp. Repeat from * to end (6 corners & 1 set of 3 tr between). Join with a sl st into top of beginning ch-3 and fasten off.

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I hope you’ll enjoy making these sweet motifs.

Until next time

Michelle x

Hi there

As promised last week, I’m back with a creative challenge and a ‘pattern of sorts’, or as I prefer to think of it, a ‘recipe’. I’m calling it a recipe rather than a new pattern as it’s nothing new, just a standard solid granny square to which I’ve added other elements (also nothing new) to give it a little twist.

Here’s where the creative challenge comes in; I’ve written out the instructions for just the square but I want to encourage you to then make it your own by adding your own special touches.

Let your imagination run wild with this. Use up all your scraps, play with colours, make it a riot of colour or monochromatic, make it smaller or bigger, try out a new border, use your favourite joining method to make a blanket, a bag, a cushion, a coat or even a thingy-ma-jig.

This is not a competition but a fun exercise to get your creative juices flowing. Let go of all expectations, try something you normally wouldn’t and see where it takes you. Sometimes the most pleasant surprises come from not overthinking a project, not worrying about using exactly the same yarn as the designer or not fussing about colour placement.

I’ve deliberately not thought too much about mine and the whole point of starting my project was to use up all my scrappy bits of yarn (didn’t work btw – I seem to have just as many, if not more now :). I didn’t worry about colours going together but just used whatever I happened to pick up next. Admittedly, I’m not fond of some of the colour combo’s but in the whole scheme of things it all just works so I’m letting go of my usual fussiness here.

Ok, let’s get started!

What you’ll need (for one square) :

Small amounts of yarn in 4-5 different colours. It doesn’t matter what type of yarn you use as long as it’s all the same weight. I’ve used 8ply/Dk for mine
Yarn for main colour. I’ve used off-white
4mm hook (or size suitable for your yarn)

Abbreviations – US Terms Used (UK/AUS terms in brackets)

ch: Chain

dc (tr): Double crochet (treble crochet)

sc (dc): Single crochet (double crochet)

sl st: Slip stitch

sp: Space

Instructions:

Start: Using Colour 1, make a magic circle or ch 3 and join with a sl st to form a circle

Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as first dc (tr) + 2 ch throughout). [3 dc (tr) into ring, ch 2] 3 times. 2 dc (tr) into ring, join with a sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch. Break off yarn.

Round 2: Join Colour 2 into any corner sp with a sl st. Ch 5, 2 dc (tr) into same sp. *Dc (tr) into next 3 sts, [2 dc (tr), ch 2, 2 dc (tr)] into corner sp. Repeat from * twice, dc (tr) into next 3 sts, 1 dc (tr) into first sp. Join with a sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch. Break off yarn.

Round 3: Join Colour 3 into any corner sp with a sl st. Ch 5, 2 dc (tr) into same sp. *Dc (tr) into next 7 sts, [2 dc (tr), ch 2, 2 dc (tr)] into corner sp. Repeat from * twice, dc (tr) into next 7 sts, 1 dc (tr) into first sp. Join with a sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch. Break off yarn.

Round 4: Join Colour 4 into any corner sp with a sl st Ch 5, 2 dc (tr) into same sp. *Dc (tr) into next 11 sts, [2 dc (tr), ch 2, 2 dc (tr)] into corner sp. Repeat from * twice, dc (tr) into next 11 sts, 1 dc(tr) into first sp. Join with a sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch. Break off yarn.

Round 5: Join new colour (can be a new colour or one already used ) into any corner sp. [1 sc (dc), ch 3, 1 sc (dc)] into same space, *ch 2, skip one st, sc (dc) into next st. Repeat from * to next corner sp, [1 sc (dc), ch 3, 1 sc (dc)] into corner sp. Repeat this sequence to end. Join with a sl st into top of first sc (dc). Break off yarn.

Round 6: Join Main colour into any corner loop, Ch 5, 2 dc (tr) into same sp * 2 dc (tr) into each loop space up to next corner, [2 dc (tr), ch 2, 2 dc (tr)] into corner sp. Repeat from * twice, 2 dc (tr) into each loop space up to starting corner (first sp), 1 dc (tr) into first sp. Join with a sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch. Break off yarn.

** On a side note, although they are perfectly fine for this square, I don’t use Ch3 as my first st or sl st at the end, but replace these with a faux st or invisible join. I’ll be back soon with a tute for both of these techniques.

Now let the fun times roll, here’s where you get to put your special touch to this square. Use your favourite joining method and border to make it your own.

I’ve joined mine with the join-as-you-go method for my blanket but I’m making some more squares for a cushion and will be joining them with different coloured rows of sc (dc).

and carried on the block st pattern (rounds 5 & 6) in the border and added a picot edge. I’m very tempted to add pom poms too!

and because it’s impossible to take a good photo on this dark and dreary day today, here’s a crap photo of my finished Festiva blanket trying to look casually styled on the couch …

I hope you enjoy making Festiva. I’d love to see your fab creations so be sure to tag them with #festivasquare on instagram or pop a pic up in my Ravelry group if you prefer. I’d love to see them!

Until next time

Michelle x