Grannified

I've just spent a wonderful time here in the Attic24 house with old friends. The sort of friends who will willingly drive 40miles over the hills to come and spend a few hours with me, because they have a few hours to spare. The sort of friends who are such good company because they  know me so well. We could easily chatter the day away over cups of tea and homemade caramel shortbread (now remind me to give you this recipe, it's fantastic), and I am so very  thankful for such friendship.

We used to spend so much time together when we were first friends, when our first babies were little scraps and as first time Mums we were desperate to find others in the same wibbly-wobbly boat of early Motherhood. Those weekly Mums-n-Babies meetings were life savers at a time when life could be quite challenging. And now 6.5 years later, each of us with two children, we don't get chance to meet very often, especially as I upped sticks and moved across the hills to a new town. So it's always a happy time when we can get together and do pretty much what we did back then (we are expert tea drinkers and chatterers), only minus the extra noise, mess and distraction of babies/toddlers.

Two of these friends are also my original crochet buddies. We learnt to make Granny squares together at the end of the Summer in 2007, and as we bought the same yarn from the same little local shop, our respective Granny blankets started out looking remarkably similar. As D took a little more time to complete hers than me (er, that will be a year longer will it D?), she is just now completing the edging and bought it with her to show me today. Oh how lovely to see these two Grannified blankets together! It was quite a moment when my green-edged creation met D's purple-edged creation. One hundred and seventy six squares between them, and I couldn't resist a photo to share with you all.

Granny Squares do something to me that I can't quite explain :: they make me feel nostalgic, happy, cosy, warm and fuzzy. They are so simple yet so totally captivating, the perfect example of homespun, handmade creativity and beauty. They form a reminder of childhood days and family homeliness.

Granny Square Blankets, I like them new, I like them old. I like modern versions and vintage versions, although I don't own any vintage granny blankets, not for want of trying to find them I might add. I've just never been lucky enough (yet) to stumble across one, except for a very garish acrylic one that i couldn't bring myself to purchase.

Yes, I pretty much like them any which way they come, and every time I catch sight of one it's like an electric spark goes shooting through my consciousness.

The above image is a snap taken from the Saturday Guardian a month or two ago. I had a lovely heart-skippy  moment as I immediately zoomed in on the pink granny square cushion to the left of the sofa there. I loved the whole room because of the delicious colour of the painted plant stand and that pink crocheted cushion.

This is a snap of a magazine page, think it's Country Homes and Interiors, a winter issue obviously. It was a spread about making food for a winter picnic. I did quite enjoy reading about the food, but it was the "Vintage Accessories" which really pleased me the most here. How wonderful that Granny Blanket looks against old wood and snow!

If like me you love the humble Granny Square, either modern or vintage, there are oooodles of images over in Fabulous Flickrville to ooh and ahh at. In fact I am just about to while away an unfeasibly long time I expect trawling through on your behalf.....excuse me just a moment while I toddle off and go get us some Grannified Inspiration.....

Oh yes, what about this for starters? Isn't that just WOW??!!

Then there's your genuine vintage ones here and here....

....and your modern day beauties here and here and here.

All so inspirational and desirable, can't you feel yourself itching to go churn a few out? Like Right Now???

 

Just need to mention that yesterday afternoon when the sun came out briefly, I spent some time hooking and photographing and beginning to write out a tutorial for my method of joining granny squares together. Thank you for being patient on this one, I know a few of you have been waiting for it. I haven't quite finished yet, but am hoping to get it done to post up tomorrow. 

In the meantime, can I just say, as always, how much I continue to love having you visit with me in the Attic. Your comments of late have been awesome, and I read every single word of what you all have to say with true heartfelt delight. I'm only sorry there aren't enough hours in the day to enable me to send replies back to thank you you all individually, but please know that I am so thankful for your words.

Enjoy the rest of your day, see you tomorrow...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Edited to add :: Thought you might like to see the Granny blanket from my own childhood, made by my Mum many years ago from odd scraps of wool...

 

...much of the wool came from little jumpers and baby blankets Mum knitted for me and my younger brother, which were later unraveled when they were outgrown and the wool re-used to make this blanket. So many memories lie within those stitches. This is  a large blanket, it covers the little single bed in her spare room right down to the floor, and is quite hard to photograph as there is usually one hundred and one things on top of it and no room to manoeuvre! xxxx

Comments

[Chrissy]

The blanket that little boy is sitting on, on the winter picnic page, is the IDENTICAL TWIN of one I made for my baby's pram. It had a lovely life with us: first the pram, then the sofa, then to line our gorgeous cat's basket, then, very sadly, to wrap her when she died. Greens and blues and greys. I loved that blanket.

And I love clicking to your colourful pages, hoping there'll be a new entry every day. There almost always is and I thank you for them.

[Karen]

Lucy, your blog is one of the best things about my mornings--so uplifting!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Karen

[giulia]

I love so much your blog, i love every post you do, but i love very very very much your pics with wonderfull fantastic color granny.
I want to do lots and lots as you!!!!!!!!!!!
Such lovelies!!

[Lace hearts]

I definitely agree with you about granny squares - I find it so relaxing doing mine, and I join as I go along, so the blanket I'm making seems to grow so quickly (though not as quickly as your crochet!). Those blankets look very good together... perhaps she forgot to take it when she left?! LOL. xxx

[Stacy]

Oh, you make me want to learn to crochet granny squares! I tried to teach myself how from a book, but that didn't quite work out. Must find someone to teach me.

Your post was lovely, as usual. Love the picture of the sled with the picnic box and granny blanket.

[Bairbre Aine]

Oh I love this Ode to granny squares post!
I've been a fan of the multi-colour blankets for years. Presently working on a tri-colour blanket.
I'm excited to view your tutorial, once complete.
:)

[Nicola/smilernpb]

Awww, Lucy....I love your blog so much! I really, really, REALLY want to learn to crochet! Can you recommend where I can get started? Nobody I knows can crochet so unfortunately I cannot ask anyone to help me. Any help would be gratefully appreciated xx

[ThatLoganChick]

Such lovelies! Not only do you choose terrific colour combinations and designs, but you finish your projects gorgeously.

Are you on Ravelry yet? If so, I imagine you've had great fun looking at the hundreds of pages of granny square projects. If not, may I entice you with a few of my favorite photos? Your projects deserve to be in there with the best of them!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26130728@N04/2510979855

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29278394@N00/1573298828

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14338477@N03/2271958516

[Kar]

I forgot one thing. :} You mentioned the blankies made from acrylics. The best way that I have found to make them scrummy is to wash them a couple of times and put softener in the rinse cycle each time. They come out very soft and fluffy warm. You can't help but cuddle with them then.

xxxxx

[Kar]

Well, first the two blankies from two friends are simply stunning together. WOW !!!!! What else is there to say. How lovely it is to get with one another and just be in the same room. That is worth the travel time indeed. Glad you had a FAB day with everyone.

I'm starting to gather different colors that catch my eye for whatever may come up next in my list to crochet. The wheels are turning upstairs. And thanks for taking the time to share you joining secret with us all.

FAB day to you Luce!

toodles! xxxxxx

[Shelley in SC]

It was lovely and inspiring to look at all the grannies, but can I just say, Lucy, that your color choices outshine them all!! Give me a modern-day Lucy granny any day.

[jenny]

20+ years ago, I gave my grandmother some yarn that was leftover from a blanket that I crocheted for my daughter, and she proceeded to make granny sguares. I have those squares still, because we never did anything with them , and she is long gone now. I have often taken them out and looked at them, and wondered what to do with them. I love them.
I also have a granny square blanket and there is a pillow cover, that her mother made. They are treasures,indeed.
I am so interested in trying your tote bag, but I was wondering how many skeins I might need to make one following your directions??
It's been a while since I followed a pattern, so I am really starting from scratch! Thanks!
jenny

[simone]

Wow! Those two blankets certainly zing together! I must dash off now to check out all the links you have provided. Looking forward to the tutorial. Very excited actually!

[Nina - Tabiboo]

Hi Lucy,

everso beautiful and lovely, Granny squares that is, though I'm sure you are too judging from your blog! It is a daily treat to visit and I wish I could crochet! I'm going to nag my mother to sit down and show me - one day, oh one day...

take care,

Nina x

[Arianwen]

Oh you are lucky! Best friends who share the love. The grannies look lovely together it seems your friend is equally talented with her colour choices.

[Pantha]

Thank you so much for all you share with us. I can feel almost there. I am rippling a cushion cover and I am quite delighted the way it is going. I am off on long haul flights to OZ/NZ in less than two weeks. Have bought the bamboo hook and worked out how many yards the first and second 'rounds' of grannies garden take and fully intend grannying while flying. I hate flying so I am hoping the crochet will be calming!!

[Lydia]

Glad to see you had a lovely day - true friends are to be treasured, thats for sure! - My oldest friend is 4 junctions 3/4hr down the motorway, & with the little ones at school our get togethers are no longer weekly - more like monthly - but still worth it! Lx

[Marisa]

Did i read right you have on being making granny squares since 2007 - you are just so talented, keep showing us your crochet thngs, as the more i see them the more i really want to learn, i just need that one big push and i to eventually will be able to snuggle up with my own granny blanket or ripple rug!!

[susan hall]

lovely lovely granny blankets, how the make me sigh with longing for one of my own.... I will learn the crochet art !
Also loved the Heysham day out. We used to holiday near there at Silverdale in a cottage near the Lindeth tower- Mrs Gaskell's (of Cranford fame) favorite summer holiday home for her and her children. You were in good company Lucy!