Granny Wheel Square

Well hello my lovelies, so good to have your company today. Yes, especially today as I am almost popping my socks off with excitement and need desperately to share it with someone who gets it. Husband is most certainly not one of those people, he does try I think, but he isn't very convincing. He indulges me in the same way that you would indulge an over excited child who is a teensy bit irritating with their over excitement.

So what am I going on about, shall I come to the point? Well last night just after I had finally settled Little B to sleep, I took up my hook and yarn in an attempt to work through a design idea that had popped into my head whilst I was milk tankering. It was a design for a square that I've been pondering over for a few weeks now, even though it was all quite vague up until last night. Yes, last night, the Vague Idea suddenly went POP!! And there it was, all very clear and exciting and inspiring and no longer vague at all. Ahhh, it was a great moment!

Do you remember when I wrote this post a few weeks ago and I showed you the Wagon Wheel square that I'd made from a pattern in the oh-so-dated granny square book? Well...I really wanted to try and design my own version of this kind of square. I felt sure that with a little effort I could do it, could make a granny circle fit neatly within a granny square. I wanted my version to be a bit denser too, without so many holes and gaps as the one in the book. But more than anything, I wanted to design a square that would be simple to make. I wanted to create an easy pattern to work but one which would still have great visual impact and loads of possibility for colour-play.

And do you know what?

I think I've managed it!!!! I've really gone and done it!!!!!!

Yay for me!!!!

I can't tell you how excited I am about this new design. Yes I am, really, really, really, really, really pleased with it. Really I am! Jeez, I was sooooooooooo excited last night I could hardly get to sleep, my mind was buzzing and quite honestly if I didn't have a needy seven week old baby to care for, I think I would've sat up all night and made dozens of these squares just for the absolute pleasure of it.

 

So what do you think?? Do you like them?? Oh I do hope so, please tell me you like them?!

The above photo shows the Wagon Wheel square from the book on the left, and on the right is my own "Granny Wheel" square. See how mine is less spokey and holey? I also got rid of the rather irritating 4th round of chain-loops which I didn't much care for in the wagon wheel.

 

And here is a reminder of the delightfully frightful Hostess Apron which is the inspiration for my next blanket. I'm going to be joining my Granny Wheel squares into rows and linking them with stripes. But in blankety format of course. And in beeeaaauuutiful colours too.

I tell you, I am waaaaaaay beyond excited about all this (hmmm can you tell?) I am fizzing and popping and bursting to get started, but I am still deliberating on which yarn to go for. Can't rush that decision cos it's so important to get it right. Plus I'm also still working slowly but surely on my little zigzaggy StashBuster blankie......but soon it'll be time.

Yes, soon it'll be time for a New Blanket to begin.

Oh Happy DAys!!!!!!!!

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ps Will I be sharing this pattern? Why Yes of course! I do intend to make a full tutorial for my new Granny Wheel square, but not for a little while yet. I'll keep you posted xx

Edited to add :: thank you all so very VERY much for your wonderful and enthusiastic response to my sock-popping hooky excitement! I'm really pleased you like my new creation and I can't wait to get my greedy mitts on a new yarn stash and begin churning these out. It's going to be huge fun, I can just tell :o) xx

((thank you )) again, you lot are the best xx

Comments

[KD]

Your square is gorgeous, and your blog is as inspirational as always! I totally GET the feeling of being too excited by a craft idea to fall asleep! Don't you love when inspiration strikes?

[Joanne]

Oh yes oh yes oh yes, i think you've given me the inspiration for the blanket i'm going to make DD. I made a stripey wavey blanket for my DS who loves it to peices and everyone knows, you can't give to one, you have to give to the other child too hee hee, I'd love to incorporate your wheels design! Cant wait! XO

[MonikaRose]

wow, that is really fantastic, i can not wait till you share the pattern, as i was reading i said i am going to crochet one, but i guess i can wait. I love your ripple blanket pattern, easy simple and relaxing to crochet, i am in process of making one...check out my blog to see...http://monikarosecrochets.blogspot.com/

[Lorraine Tarr]

Perfect square, great colours as always - well done you! Your enthusiasm is infectious... This could be the Granny for me (hopefully when you do the tut:-) - Thanks so much for sharing xx

[Tiffany]

That Square looks really COOL!!! I can't wait to try it when you post on how to make it!!! Please keep us posted!!! :-)

[Marilyn]

Lucy, I like your square much better. I made a couple of the original wagon wheels, from the photo you posted and agree that there are too many holes. I have just made a small square, again from the photo,with what I had infront of me at the time, which was some embroidery floss! It was easy, fast and it turned out rather pretty!

[Anneke Nanninga]

Love-love-loving the new granny squares... I'm looking forward to see what kind of yarn in which colors you're going to use.
Succes,
Anneke, Holland.

[Jacqui]

Yes Lucy, I much prefer your lovely square design with less holes and it will be firmer for a blanket. I'm looking forward to finding out how you made it :o)

[Clare Powell]

Oooooh is lurrverly!

[Jayne]

Love the new granny wheel squares!

[Kim]

I do like your version better.

Not sure How I found you - possibly from Ravelry, but I love your work. I am so sick of doing cable crochet that I want to bury myself in Grannies. YOU are proof of why grannies are not the boring things we all grew up with. Yay!

[florence]

Love love LOVE your new square! much nicer than the previous one from the book in my opinion!
and the allusion to "someone who gets it" made me really smile because I get exactly the same treatment at home :)

[Alicia]

Gorgeous. Have you seen this yarn?http://www.woolaballoo.com/knitting-yarns/biggan-design/64-shades-of-dk-8-ply-merino-first-cross.html

I haven't seen it in the flesh yet but there are so many gorgeous colours - it makes me think of you when I look at all those shades. May be worth considering for your new blanket.

Alicia

[Carla (from Alabama)]

I think your square is pretty and looks easy to make. I think it will make a beautiful blanket. I love the choice of colors that you used for your squares (I like the colors on all your projects that you have shared).

The Wagon Wheel Granny square seems to need some work on the square part to leave the holes out. If one is wanting to make a square with a wagon wheel design inside - the wagon wheel looks good. I like the spokes and center of the wheel but I do not like the big holes for the rows that form the square either.

[Nicole]

I love the way you said you'd stay up all night if you could, it would have taken me taken me all night just to do those! Absolutely lovely :-)

[Lisa Dozier]

OOh !!!!!!! LOve it!!!!!! Woo hoo! I have the book that the original came from and LOVE your version- I hated the holes in the corner! I cant wait for the tutorial! thanks!

[Anne]

Hi, how amazing, I like your version very much better, and your use of colour, inspiring! Thanks for sharing glad everything is going well with you and the family. Love your blog!Anne

[maryannlucy]

Love your new square! Looking forward to the pattern :)

[Katrina]

Wow, Lucy, that is SUCH a good job! This is exactly what I was looking for in a blanket I have been dreaming about lately. Very very clever, and I admire your desire to create new, simplified patterns for "old" favorites!
I'm excited to see the tutorial, woohoo!

[The cramped hand]

Love the new square!It's just right for granny place mats I have been wanting to make.
My husband doesn't get the crafty excitement either.
He just gives me the your a dumb flounder look.Can't wait to see more of your good work.

[Debbie]

Wow Lucy you've done it again! I have crocheted the wagon wheel squares before but yours are so much nicer. I can't wait to have a go when you get the instructions posted.
By the way,I can't believe Baby B is seven weeks old already.

Debbie x

[Godi 4]

Love the new wagon wheel.Well done when your under pressure the brain steps up and look at the result11111

[Elena, Moscow]

I love your easy to make patterns!
I am selfishly glad you've come up with another one! ;-)
Beautiful!

[Erika]

As always I just love what and how you make things. With every entry on your blog, you have a way of inspiring me anew. For that reason and because you are so full of sunshine and delight, I am awarding you the Sunshine Award! You are always so sweet and cheerful!

Come to my site and pick it up if you dare! ;o) Not as easy as it looks - but fun, and a good way to get to know others!!!

Thank you for sharing your talent with all the rest of Us.

[Denise]

I've just found your blog and I think the new design is fab! Go you !