The Birth of a Granny Square Afghan

I finished a major project folks--you have no idea how huge that is for a distracted crafter like me!  The project only took a little over a year to finish. 

It's my very first granny square afghan!  This afghan is a true representation of what the granny square is meant to be--a scrap buster.  Not one skein of yarn (other than the binding color) was purchased with this project in mind.  It's made strictly from pieces of yarn left over from other various projects and some yarn that I inherited from others.

It all started like this...

Here are my stacks upon stacks of squares, millions of ends just waiting to be woven in.

Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE weaving ends in?  Well, I do.  Hate.  Ughh.  But one at a time, I got it done.

Here's some proof:

I edged all of the squares in a turquoise color (Pound of Love by Lion Brand--only $4.00 with an awesome coupon deal!).

It seems like it took forever. 

You know you're spending too much time crocheting when this is the only way your dog can get your attention...

I spent some time laying them out to evenly distribute the colors.

I used Attic 24's guide to joining granny squares...

It came together beautifully (keeping in mind that beauty is in the eye of the beholder).  I realize not everyone shares my love of granny squares, bold colors, and funkiness in general.  If you leave a comment telling me how ugly this is, I will delete it so please don't waste your time.  Granny love only, please.  I know there will be some haters.  Keep it to yourself and go and comment on something you do like.  Even if it's elsewhere.  This is how you should handle all of your blog comments. Thanks. (Whoa, someone just got a little soapboxy!  Yeah, you don't want to mess with me today. Or any day for that matter.)

And here she is, in all her crazy glory:

I'm in love!

Granny Square Sweater Vest

After yesterday's Granny Square Poncho tutorial, I feel the need to share yet another granny square project I just completed.  I ran across some simple instructions on how to make a granny square sweater vest over at Creative Jewish Mom.  What?! How awesome is that concept?

I LOVE sweater vests and granny squares (obviously) so I grabbed some yarn I had on hand and got to work making one for Junebug.  Less than 12 hours later (not consecutive hours, by the way, just stolen moments here and there) I had this finished product:

Here's to hoping Junebug doesn't hate this one, too.

Granny Square Poncho for a Toddler

Hey crafty gals!   Believe it or not, this very post was a guest post on Prudent Baby today!  (We're stoked!) Sharon and I think that if you're not regularly checking out the Prudent Baby site, you are missing out--so go give it a whirl!

After working on the group granny square afghan, I swore off making granny squares for a while.  But I couldn't stay away, and only days after our group completed the afghan I started a new granny square project--a poncho for Junebug.

Initially I wanted to crochet a poncho for Junebug to wear in cold weather because she strongly dislikes wearing long-sleeves (she's a Florida girl, through and through--if it were up to her, clothing and shoes would always be optional).  Anyhow, after looking all over the web for free toddler poncho patterns ('cause I'm cheap like that) with very depressing results, I decided I'd just have to come up with my own design.

I was inspired by running across this retro concept for an adult granny square poncho.

Sure, it's a pretty old pattern, and I'd never wear it--but putting the concept into a more modern design suited for a kiddo worked like a charm.

I used 4 colors of yarn for Junebug's poncho--all from the Caron Simply Soft collection.

Off White
Soft Pink
Pistachio
Camel

Round 1: Off White
Round 2: Soft Pink
Round 3: Pistachio
(Rows 1-3 are made using a basic granny square method.  For super-awesome instructions on granny square making, check out the Purl Bee's step-by-step tutorial.)
Round 4: One round of sc in each stitch using Off White
Round 5&6: 1 sc in each st using Camel

In total, you'll need 16 squares to make a toddler-sized poncho.  My squares were about 4" each when finished. 

I estimate that this would fit a toddler from 12 months to a 2T size--and obviously the pattern is totally adjustable based on the size you desire.  If it's for an older child, just add an extra row or two when creating your granny squares.   Junebug is a teeny toddler--she's 19 months old and still wearing 12 month sized clothing.  I'm sure this poncho will fit her next winter, too.




I used a version of the slipstitch method (using Caron Simply Soft in Camel) to join the squares in this layout:

Once they're joined in the "seven" shape, use this schematic to join the poncho into its final shape.

Once the poncho has the structure in place, I crocheted one row of single crochet around the neck opening to make it stronger and more cohesive.

I finished the bottom of the poncho by single crocheting two rows around (again, to make it stronger and more cohesive) and then used a basic shell stitch for some girly flair. 

The shell edging pattern I used goes a little something like this:

1 sc *skip 1 st, 5dc into next st, skip 1st, 1sc into next st; rep from * to end.

Then, of course, I tucked in all the loose strands.  That's never the fun part of the project, but alas, it's necessary for true "completion".

In hindsight I wish I had used different colors.  You know, something brighter and bolder, and a bit more fun.  I think the poncho came out very sweet and baby-like, and very un-toddlerish (don't you like my technical terms?).  Well, live and learn! 

So, do you want to make a granny square poncho now?  Any thoughts, comments or questions?

And in case you were wondering, Junebug doesn't actually like to wear the poncho I made her.  In fact, she pretty much hates to wear anything I make for her.  Some of you may recall the ladybug costume I made her for Halloween and her, umm, less than grateful reaction.  The first dozen reactions to the poncho were pretty similar.

Persistance paid off and on one super-cold day, I finally got Junebug to leave the poncho on.  My will just had to be a little bit stonger than her will of iron. 

We're "Sew" Excited!

Hey fellow crafty gals!

Sharon and I are super-excited to announce that we have our first guest post with Jessica over at Sew Homegrown!

If you're interested in knowing more about our involvement in a BIG crochet project, check out our guest post at Sew Homegrown.

Here's a tantalizing tidbit:

 

Thanks, Jessica, for having us!

Granny Square Stocking

Ok, so I might have stolen this idea from the creative minds at Prudent Baby. But when I first laid eyes on the adorableness that is their crocheted granny square stockings, I knew I had to make them. :) You can find their full tutorial here.

I didn't stray from their design hardly at all. (Jeez, how lame am I? Do people still say "jeez"?) I even used traditional Christmas greens like they did, but now looking back, I wish I had tried something out of the ordinary like a brilliantly bright turquoise and a bold red. Darn you, hindsight. Some of the differences I did make were that I rounded out the "heel" and "toe" parts of the stocking to make them look more stocking-like. I also brushed out the pom poms with a bristle brush to make them fluffy and full. The word on the street is that wire brushes work the best for this. I don't have a wire brush, so there.

Your cozy homemade stocking is ready for those coals stocking stuffers!