Granny's Flower Patch

I have been enjoying the peace and quiet around these parts this week since my Little People and the Big Man went back to school/work. It's been quite delicious to walk back into a warm, quiet house after enduring the school run (which this week has been bitingly cold, with 3 inches of snow today too). I am appreciating my own quiet time very much after the noise and chaos that always descends on this house during school holidays. I am still not well :: I am very much better than I was last week been but my head still hurts a lot of the time, so the peace and quiet has been very welcome the past few days.

Yesterday afternoon I sat and quietly worked away on my Flower Patch cushion cover. This little project has taken a surprising amount of work, and now it's finally finished I have to say I am really rather pleased with it.

I've shown you some glimpses of it during the past month (see here, here and here), and am really excited to be giving this project it's Ta-dah moment today.

I had been pondering this design in my mind for a while, ever since I caught sight of an image on Hen's blog where she had placed a flower in the centre of one of her squares. Now I knew there was bound to be a pattern somewhere for making flowery granny squares, but to be honest, I was looking for an easy, low-concentration project that I could do without having to use too many brain cells. I figured I could simply make easy-peasy basic squares and easy-peasy little flowers and stitch the two together. Nothing complicated :: an easy crochet ride. And funnily enough, since starting my flower patch squares, I discovered Julia was also doing it, inspired by a pattern on the Rosehip blog. So there you have it, flower patches seem to be the way to go.

It was odd making the squares in those colours, it really felt strange to be using such a limited colour pallette. Yet I could see it all in my mind, could visualise how the colours would work and I knew that once the flowers went on, it would undergo a total transformation. And I was right, look......

....I love the way these cool colours suddenly ping into life when the flowers bloom across them, it's quite magical.

These are the squares once they've been joined together, it's in it's "blocking" stage in the above photo. I was too impatient to block each square individually, but really needed to block out the finished thing as it was very wobbly once I'd finished the joining. Blocking really does alter the feel and appearance of crochet (especially granny squares), it's quite amazing what a difference it makes and is definitely worth the effort (see here).

I like to join Granny squares by crocheting them together rather than stitching them. I do it with the right sides together so that the ridge of chain stitches ends up on the back, as in above photo.

Incidentally, I've been asked a number of times if I'd do a tutorial for making granny squares, and for the joining method, so of course I'm happy to oblige just as soon as I feel a bit better in the head department. Its amazing how snot-in-the-head can make one feel so sort of disconnected. I do feel most odd at the moment.

 

Over the weekend I was still feeling quite poorly, and in fact spent much of it in my pyjamas on the sofa. I was not able to concentrate for long periods, but did manage some sporadic sewing-of-flowers when I felt able. We had the fire lit and it was very warm and cosy being able to sit and sew and be quite still for long periods.

Of course it may have been warm and cosy, but it most certainly was not peaceful in our house whilst I was carrying out my Still Ill stuff on the sofa. The Little People were playing games all around me  :: Polly Pockets (with pets) for LL and a remote control helicopter for LM. At times it was down right rowdy, but hey-ho, that's family life eh. Quiet please, Mummy is Still Ill. What? Be quiet?? But we have games to play, games that most definitely involve a  huge amount of shouting and leaping about!

 

I did eventually finish the sewing of the flowers in between Polly Pocket parties and Helicopter crashes, and Granny's Patch finally came into full bloom.

It became everything I had imagined. And I can't tell you how magical that is, to see something come out of my imagination and materialise into reality.

Do you remember when I made my last cushion, using an old cotton jumper to make the backing? Well I still had the other sleeve and the back of the jumper left so that I could make a matching back for the granny patch cushion. I constructed it in exactly the same way, and I really enjoyed using those buttons again. That tin, those colours :: so brimful of buttony goodness! So joyful!

And now, at last Ta-Dah!!!!!

Granny's Flower Patch cushion is finished.

There is now rather a lot of colourful crochet invading our living room. And it's a good job we have two sofas and a chair to contain it all in.

Yes, we do enjoy a daily hooky homespun colour fest in the Attic24 house :: I can't imagine this room being any other way.

Comments

[Elfie Honner]

Hallo Lucy, ich habe schon die Dune-Decke und die Spingfrostdecke gemacht, bin gerade an der Sungold-Decke und würde gerne als nächstes dieses Kissen machen. Kann ich die Anleitung von dir bekommen?
Ich finde deine Arbeiten einfach wundervoll.
Liebe Grüße
Elfie aus Deutschland

[Lorraine Renvoize]

I absolutely love this cushion. Do you have a list of the colours you used please. And is there a pattern to that I could follow please? Lorraine

[Marlene Snell]

Your cat is georgeous. It's a Torti? right? Female. I did some of your tiny flowers to put on a blanket I crocheted for my Goddaughter. Perfect size for it. You live in a beautiful place, love the countryside. I would be out walking everyday also. Lots to see. You have alot of things to check on in here. By for now. Stay well.

[Klub Burung]

how to create a flowers pattern on chusion? you so amazing lucy!

http://toko-lovebird.blogspot.com/2015/01/karakteristik-si-gembul-kenari-gloster.html

[madeleine]

Hi Lucy

I just love this granny flower patch. Do you perhaps have the pattern pls xx

[Bev]

Just beautiful ♥ Please could you post a tutorial for the actually Granny Square? I know it's simple but it's terrible hard to see on the screen. Thank you!

[Fiona]

Loving this Lucy, what yarn did you use? Do you remember? Good luck at Yarndale as we are exhibiting at West Point stitch show in Exeter, hopefully next time.

[Vicky Cadby]

Lucy I love this cushion and have begun hooking away at the grannies...so very satisfying :-) I have been attempting to hook the little flowers though and am having difficulties getting them just right, and as nice as your look...don't spose you could enlighten me could you? Love your blog, you are a real inspiration, thanks a million. Vicky xxx

[Gill Ross]

Hi think your crocheting is wonderful. Went to bed with your crochet roses and woke up to find I had made quite a few and they were lovely. Your tutorials are very good. Long may you inspire me with your blog.

[marie]

very pretty wish i could make somethinglike that

[sal mie]

hai lucy...i'm so... lucky to visit your blog.crochet is my hobby and your crochet it looks so beutiful more interesting.your very talented lady.congrates and you wonderful Granny Pacths cusion.i hope you share whole the crochet have you done.okey...i want to finished my homework.bye lucy....see you soon...

[Nadine]

Hi Lucy - get better soon! I love your ideas and your colours. We are experiencing scorching (read - wilting, sweating, keep indoors, aircon pumping furiously..) summer heat here but nothing deters me from my crochet/knit/creativeness! It's rather strange to be crocheting afghans and throws or even planning them when winter is a faded memory and not even close on the horizon yet, but....that's what keeps me going. That, and the inspiration from blogs such as yours! Keep up the wonderful work.
lots of love, Nadine x

[Kim]

OMGosh, I have been drooling over all your lovlies, do you ever sell any of your hand mades???? Your flower afgan is amazing, your pillows are dreamy!! The pincushions are fabulous, that layerd flower piloow is over the top wonderful, the colors just make me smile and I am a primitive neutral girl!lol I love, love, love the wreath!!! You rock with the crochet hooks and color choices!!! xo Kim

[Julia]

These are so beautiful like the rest of your work. Where did you get the pattern for the flowers? I'd love to have a go at this.

Much love
Julia

[Nina Grant]

Hi Lucy, do you do patchwork? Your use of colour is awesome. I am sure your followers would love to see some

[maryethal cook]

absolutely positivily the best site i have ever seen on the internet ---- i am very very impressed!!! and i luv all your work and look forward to seeing more !

[Liz Wallis]

Hi Lucy!
I can only say, thank you, thank you, thank you! I am a crocheter, but one which doesn't do too well reading patterns - they always seem so technical! Your instructions are fabulous - and make it all seem a hundred times easier to follow. "Thank you"! Am totally inspired by your work - it is imaginative and exquisitely beautiful! Absolutely love your site - and will be here often!
warm regards,
Liz (South Africa)

[Wanda Thurston-Drews]

I found a pattern but lost the website...it is for a hexagon granny square that makes a flower. But how to I make an outside square from a hexagon?

[irene]

Your work is really wonderful and so inspiring. Several of my bookclub now crochet madly (and in my case, badly). Of all your beautiful things, this is the one I love the most. I am making a granny square blanket in the join as you go method. Can you tell me when I block it - once the blanket is finished or several times during the process? Really would appreciate your advice.

[yvette whittaker]

I just love what you have made, so beautiful, I am inspired to have a go at crochet, I did know how to do it and years ago made a baby jacket, will be interesting to see if I remember, thank you for the inspiration.

[Sioux McGee]

Hi Lucy , I've only just discovered your blog...and I have to say I am now 'hooked' :)
I feel so inspired i am going to attempt the ripple blanket......love your choice f colours.
Thank you for your wonderful words and inspirational items
Much love
Sioux

[Buy Viagra]

My neighbor got crazy when she knew and saw the different things she could make with that material,I think after that she is starting to make some them.

[Aishwarya]

I am doing a granny square cushion cover but I am confused about how to do the backside. Can you please advice? Thank you.

[ivonne araujo salinas]

soy de Peru mi nombre es ivonne, haces lindas cosas son una maravilla y adoro la mescals de colores que usas, felicitaciones

[Micki]

I love your crocheted cushions and everything you do. I am crocheting a throw now and I am loving doing it. I just joined your blog and your tutorials are wonderful!
Micki