The Flora Granny Square

There is nothing like a stash of yarn arranged in a pleasing colour order to lift my spirits, it's honestly such a beautifully simple visual thing that delivers a huge dose of feel-good. As you might expect, I was always that child who obsessively arranged her pens and pencils in rainbow order, in fact I've been pretty obsessed with colour all of my life.

I've been sitting on this yarn since the spring, well not literally sitting on it, more like stroking it, playing with it, arranging it and rearranging it, as you do. You might remember the little spring blossom twiggy project I made in March using this yarn? It's Stylecraft Naturals Organic Cotton which I'd describe as a fine DK weight. It really is lovely to work with, it's a soft, matt yarn, smooth without being slippery is that makes sense and it hooks like a dream. I really love it and the fact that it's a natural and organic product makes it something extra special.

Something else to share with you is my new set of organic cotton yarn pegs which are almost as divine as the yarn balls. This is not my handy work (I'm way more haphazard with my winding skills), they were made by the lovely Jane who runs a great little yarn peg business on Etsy. Her shop is called Bauhinia Crafts and I can highly recommend her yarn pegs which are gorgeous. They come in their own storage box and are so neatly wound and labelled - she has quite a few different Stylecraft yarn ranges as well as some other popular brands.

I continue to find yarn pegs amazingly useful little tools-of-the-trade, in fact I would say they are one thing that I couldn't be without when it comes to designing and planning crochet projects.

The Flora Granny Square is a new design which has a flower as it's central motif. You might recognise the flower as it's an adaptation of a pattern I created years ago called Flora's Flower. It took a fair bit of messing about creative design work to figure out how to go from a flower shape to a square shape, but after a whole afternoon spent hunched over the table with my hook and yarn, I managed to create something I was very happy with.....

....ta-dah!!! I love how it turned out, I think it's a really sweet little variation of a granny square and I could quite easily see it multiplied and turned into a beautiful blanket or throw. 

The Flora Granny Square uses six colours, and I had loooooooads of fun coming up with pretty mini colour palettes for each square.

I think if I was making a larger project I would be inclined to make all the flowers first, just for the giddy pleasure of having them to play with. A whole pile of colourful hooky flowers, just imagine how insanely satisfying that would be?! 

I designed and made these squares to tie in with Granny Square Day which is an annual celebration hosted by Simply Crochet magazine. As such, the main aim of these squares is to provide beautiful photographs for Instagram - it might seem a bit odd to those of you not familiar with Instagram, but trust me, there is a very vibrant and engaging crochet community within the little squares of that app and I really enjoy contributing to it. 

My granny squares will become part of a giant granny square collage created on Instagram under the hashtag #grannysquareday2021, it's such a unique and clever idea and every year it never fails to blow my mind just a little. 

The majority of the visual beauty will happen today over on Instagram. Simply Crochet have also put together lots of inspiration and free patterns on their website if you want to have a look ((here)). It's all good, square fun!

Of course, I can never just make something new and keep it all to myself, that would never do. I love to share my ideas and inspire you to get creative, so yes, yes, I've made a photo heavy step-by-step tutorial for you.

You can find the tutorial for the Flora Granny Square over in my left hand sidebar, or click on the following link >>

❤️ FLORA GRANNY SQUARE TUTORIAL ❤️

There is also a PDF version of the pattern for you to download/print free of charge, click on the following link >>

❤️ DOWNLOAD FLORA GRANNY SQUARE PATTERN ❤️

I wanted to show you the above photo for reference - the square on the left is made using the organic cotton and measures 10cm. The one on the right is made using Special DK acrylic yarn and measures a slightly larger 11cm. Both are lovely, although they do feel very different. I used a 4mm hook for both.

I'm debating now what to do with my little pile of squares and how many more to make - I have a few ideas, of course I do. I thought about making a cushion cover, or perhaps something like a mini table runner or table mat? What would you make with these 4 inch squares? Maybe I'll just keep making flowers until I have a whole bouquet, then square them up and see what comes of it. It's been ages since I've had an open ended therapy-project on the go - pure hooky pleasure.

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Comments

[June hodson]

Please can I have a list of the colours you used please. Stylecraft natural organic cotton, thank you. June Hodson.

[Hester Erasmus]

Many thanks for posting your beautiful work. I am not very good at following patterns do you perhaps have a video tutorial on how to do this Fora Granny Square. Would really appreciate it, thank you..

[Kelly Slater]

Hi Lucy!

I'm new to crochet, and think your page and ideas are so lovely!!!!

I saw this, and thought instantly of my friend who loves Tudor history. I was thinking of making her a blanket of Tudor Roses! ❤ 🌹

Thank you for the inspiration!

[Lynn Dee Butler]

Hello Lucy! Glad you are feeling better. Like so many others I also take HRT and vitamin D gummies. I need both right now to be balanced be me. HRT is not something I plan to take forever. I just need it for right now. You’ll find your balance and I really appreciate you talking about it. I didn’t realize how many others suffered with this. So Thank You!
On your beautiful cotton granny squares…I think a boxy jacket or a shawl would be just amazing. I’ve been pinning all sorts of inspiration on Pinterest. I think your colors and pattern are the best out there. Can’t wait to read what you plan to do. I gotta go and put an order in for that yarn!

[Sonja]

These are beautiful. Maybe you could design a skirt with them. I saw some granny square skirt ideas on Pinterest but the patterns are hard to find so I for one would be keen to make a skirt or a jumper version maybe? Maybe it would be too heavy in cotton but the acrylic could work? In cotton a table runner would probably be my choice. I’ve followed you for years and your patterns were the first ones I learnt to crochet following. Keep up the good work. It’s so appreciated by so many 😊

[Marylin Ollivier]

Hi Lucy! I think I will make a table runner. I need a new splash of color going into autumn. I will be using the Special DK acrylic from the stash of left overs I have. I just found out I will be an Auntie again to a little girl come December...so some fast and furious baby crochet is flying off my hood these days. Also looking forward to seeing how the Cmas Blanket is coming along. Take care, Hugs MO

[Beverley]

Such pretty floral granny squares Lucy. Looking forward to seeing what you make with them. I need to pick up my hook again!
Hope you have found the right HRT for you, I'm certainly very grateful for mine. Sending bloggy hugs x

[Jacky Dandelion]

Lovely little floral jewel of a granny square. Never made one before as always done stripey blankies but think I’m going to do many more little squishy squares.

🥰 Just started a ‘what we love about attic24’ post on Facebook. Thought you could probably do with hearing some lovely stuff from all over the world 🥰

Jacky ♥️

[Val]

Hello Lucy, I'm hoping this will bring a smile to you. We had a Zoom get-together with the family, and our only-just 15-yr-old granddaughter showed me that she has taken up crochet with an attempt at creating a round - it looked like a piece of coral - all frilly at the edge, so I linked her to your crochet bag, as the base is in rounds. Then she told me she wanted to make Granny squares - again I linked her to this current post, she's raring to go ! She told me that she finds crochet very therapeutic. Who would have thought? But I'm thrilled that she enjoys it.
Glad to hear you're feeling so much better. Virtual hugs, Val

[Crafty Cath]

Amazing! Thank you for the pattern download. A coffee on it's way :) Oh golly I have so many projects but I really want to do this one!!! I need to retire now!
p.s. hope you're feeling a bit better x

[Lucy J]

Ahh I love your floral granny square and it's wonderful that you have so enjoyed creating it with your beautiful colours, I wish I had this ability.
All your creations are on my to do list, I just need more time!
Thank you for sharing with us all it is very much appreciated.

[Kim]

Beautiful. I just wish I had more time to crochet, I have about 3 projects on the go and still keep buying yarn for new projects. This floral granny square I just have to have a play with..... you are so inspirational. Many thanks for sharing

[Kim]

How lovely to hear sunshine in your words again. I do hope you realise that you don't owe any of us anything, but you do bring so much joy and light (not to mention colour) into the blogosphere and I miss your voice when it is absent for a while. My problem, not yours, ever. Take care Lucy.

[Shirley Ann]

Such gorgeous colours!

[Eily]

I love those colours. Bummer that the Stylecraft Naturals Organic Cotton is so hard to come by in Central Europe. Ordering in the U.K. is not a thing anymore after Brexit. Taxes are too high. 😕

[Rosalie J Cronin]

Lovely to have a memory quilt on the go using The Flora Granny square in memory of my beautiful mother Flora,who was a keen gardener and adored her flowers every kind..
Thank you for providing the scape for a memory in every stitch..Reflection is essential for self growth.
I am a ever loving fan of Attic24 and Bloglovin' and pinterest by the way always discovering more from the hands of other keen artists.THANKYOU..
Rosalie Cronin

[Kate Buckley]

I love your blogs so much and I'm so glad you're feeling up to writing again.

[Annalisa]

Dear Lucy,
I love so much your Yuletide blanket, could you please write a dedicated post that explain how to do it?
Thank you very much!
annalisa

[Christine]

The color combos are exquisite!!! What a magnificent Afghan it will be!! I always look forward to your beautiful masterpieces!!

[Simon]

I really like this! And the yarn looks great too! I much prefer the cotton square to the acrylic one - it just looks so much nicer. I've never tried using a cotton yarn before, so I may have to treat myself at some point!

I gave up on my own design. It soon became apparent that it was not going to look how I imagined, and there really wasn't enough time to spend on it. My bad, maybe next year though. Take care:)

[Victoria Margerison]

Lovely colours as always Lucy.

I have only just seen your post about HRT and like you I resisted it but when eventually I tried it I became me again.
I was a Ward Sister at the time and from being outgoing, decisive and confident I became anxious, withdrawn and couldn't decide anything! Then of course were physical symptoms flushes, sweats, joint pain, insomnia. You may find it takes time to find the best HRT for you, it is as individual as your hormones are but when you do oh my you feel feel alive again! Everything is crossed for you.

[Susan]

Lovely Lucy & I think I'll have to dive into some scraps & try one, which may lead to more.(giggle). Glad the mojo has come back to pick up your hook & look forward to seeing more beautiful crochet by you. Take care, stay safe & hugs.

[sharon amanda amanda ann goodyer]

I think a smallish blanket for a small child to drag around and cuddle up to would suit these innocent flowers.

[susana giavarini]

Wonderful!!!!!I d like to make a table runner please!!! Kisses from Argentina.

[Shasta]

These are gorgeous! Love the fun colors and square grannies.