Joining Squares as-you-go

I've been making granny squares for eighteen months now and in that time I've made a great many for blankets and cushions, all of which have been joined together after the squares themselves have been made.

Then a few weeks ago when I had an idea to make a throw out of small three-round granny squares, I decided to test out a join-as-you go method. Quite honestly, the thought of sitting down with a huuuuuuuuge stack of small squares and attempting to crochet them all together actually filled me with alarm. So I was really THRILLED when this joining-on-the-go method did indeed work out. It has really made a big difference to the way I feel about tackling a project composed of many small parts, because lets face it, the joining procedure is the least favourite part of blanket-making, and if that can be eliminated, well then, thats what I would call a REsUlt. Big time.

This method is not difficult my friends, but it helps if at first you can sit quietly with no distractions and concentrate hard on how you are forming the round. It would help if you are already familiar with making granny squares, familiar with the pattern of side clusters and corner clusters. Because all you are doing is replacing chain-spaces with what I call Joining Slipstitches, the rest is exactly the same.

So if you'd like to learn how to do it (and it's eeeaaaasy!) then read on.....

I'm showing you my current project, which as I say is made up of small three-round squares. But this method can equally be applied to large squares.

The first stage is to complete one side of the round first. So in this case, as you can see above, I have chained 4, then made 3 tr's into the first corner space of the green circle followed by a chain-1 space. Then 3 more tr's into the next space on the green circle (a side cluster), chain 1 to space. Then 3 tr's into the next space of the green circle (the first part of the second corner cluster) and chain 1...you are now at the point where you will make your first join.

If your squares are bigger than mine, simply work as many side clusters as necessary, stopping at the point where you are mid-way through your second corner cluster, as above.

Now when you are making a corner, you would normally separate the two lots of treble clusters with a chain-2 space right? Well all you do when joining-on-the-go is replace those chain spaces with one or two slip stitches. I'm calling these Joining Slipstitches.

So to make your first Joining Slipstitch, insert your hook through the corner space of the ajoining square (in the above photo look, it's the pink coloured square)....

....yarn over, then bring the yarn/hook back through the corner space.....

....and through the loop on your hook. That's your Joining Slipstitch (see above pic)

Now complete the next bit of your corner cluster by working 3 trebles into the same space as the previous cluster. Remember you are basically working exactly the same granny square pattern as usual, so the formation of the treble clusters (sides and corners) will be the same, as described here.

When that corner is complete, in a normal square you would now be making a chain-1 space, right? So instead of chaining a space, simply replace this with a Joining Slipstitch into the next space of the pink square....see in the above pic, I've inserted the hook into the space? So yarn over, then pull the yarn back through the space and through the loop on the hook. That's your second Joining Slipstitch made.

Now you'll need to make a side cluster, so work 3 trebles into the next space along on the green circle. Then make another Joining Slipstitch into the next space along on the pink square.

And now you will be working the next corner cluster, so first make 3 trebles into the next space along on the green circle, then in place of your chain-2 corner space, you'll be making another Joining Slipstitch into the corner space of the pink square (as in pic above), followed by a chain-1.

And that my lovelies is your first side joined, huzzaaahhhh!!! See, told you it was easy!

So continue onwards, remembering to finish off your corner cluster there by making three tr's into that same space, then chain 1.

 

Now move around to make the third side cluster (see above pic) and so on....you just now need to continue finishing the round as you normally would do (fourth corner, fourth side, then finally a group of 2tr's back in the first space you started out from, to join with your initial chain-3 and completing the first corner cluster).

See.......not so hard :o)

Now if you've got all that, I'm just going to quickly show you how to join a square in when there is a corner involved, when you will need to join two sides instead of just one.

 

Start out in exactly the same way as described above....work your first side up to the point where you are half way through the corner cluster, then make your first joining slip stitch as pictured above.

 

Work the second half of the corner cluster into the same space....

 

....then continue along that side making 2 more joining slipstitches on either side of the side cluster.

And now you will be working the next corner cluster, so first make 3 trebles into the next space along on the red circle first, then in place of your chain-2 corner space, you'll be making 2 Joining Slipstitches look....

....in above picture you can see I made the first Joining Slipstitch into the corner of the teal blue square, then the second Joining Slipstitch is being made into the corner of the red square.....are you still with me? Can you see how it's working?

Continue making the third side of your granny square, remembering to make a Joining Slipstitch between each treble cluster where you would normally be making a chain-space. Your last Joining Slipstitch will be in the middle of your last corner cluster (above pic). You then need to chain 1 before continuing to finish the corner with another treble cluster in the same space, and working your way down around the last side.

As with a normal granny square, you should end the round by making 2 trebles into the very first space you worked out of, joining with the initial chain-3 to complete that corner cluster.

And that's IT. Pretty cool huh??

As ever, if you need any further help, please leave me a comment and I'll do my best to help out.

Oh, and happy hooking too!!!!!!

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Comments

[Haze]

Great description.
Excellent, thank you
Hazel Parker [email protected]

[Sheila OMarah]

Hi Lucy. I have just started a blanket using my leftover yarns. I’m doing your solid granny square. Will the join as you go instructions work the same for this square. Many thanks for all your hard work I love all your designs.

[Mei Lei Lee]

Hi Lucy,

I started with your flower garden granny squares 4 years ago and i am happy to say I have made 120 of them now, each one different ( I have used 5 colours for my 4 round squares) I am not joining them with this technique, which I love. Is there a way of joining them one at a time like this without cutting the yarn ( I am using 1 colour)

Thanks,
Mei

[BC]

Hello! Thank you so much for your blog. I am in the midst of making a patchwork granny square blanket and following your pattern from this page:
https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2013/02/granny-patchwork-blanket-ta-dah.html

As there are no chains along the sides, can I still use this method?

Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[michelle hamilton]

love your tutorial but have a quick question. when you join the green square to the teal blue square it looks like you then joined to the red square. do yo not join to the lavender/purple square first or just skip that one?

[Antje]

Thank you so very much for this tutorial!
Did you notice that you solved a mystery generations of nerds and brightheads couldn' t conquer? This is the squaring of the circle. sensation!
Will they ever notice that it has been done?
Congratulation. Well done!

[Samira Trad]

Thank you so much i am glad to do some blanket like this ,and the same colour. God bless you.

[Rosemary Wilson]

Oh my goodness I have just read your tutorial on join as you go and even though I am new to crochet, am going to try it. Have just completed your mandala pattern with the puff stitches, you make the instructions so clear that it was easy, now am ready to make a dream catcher from it. Thank you for your wonderful patterns anl love your color choices. Rosemary New Zealand

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[Rowena Corlett]

Hi Lucy I have been crocheting for 2 years now but never felt brave enough to attempt this jayg method. I am ready to try now! I usually don't chain 1 between my clusters so I want to ask do I need to with this method or can I do the joining slip stitch into the gap without having a ch 1 space. Really appreciate your help. I will go over and 'buy you a coffee 'as I haven't bought you one recently! Rowena x

[Charlotte Westbury]

Anyone know the dimensions of the completed square?

Also, do y'all wait to block the squares at the very end, or block them as you go? I'm new to blocking, & heard the squares won't stay flat after blocking until they are joined....????

Thanks,
Charlotte

[Jacqui]

What does it look like on the reverse, as the joining slip stitches on mine look a bit uneven, especially where I'm joining onto two squares.

[Sherrie Tarpley]

I am trying to join as I go but have two sizes of squares... 4 round and 8 round squares. Any tips?

[Judy Grivas]

I want to thank you for sharing your joining method. I'm enjoying using it as I make my many colorful squares made up of scraps. I'm just sorry I waited so long to learn it!

[Patricia Howe]

Yeah, you from the Sunny Southern United States!!!! This is terrific ... Love your Blog, want to live there!!!!!!
Pat from Flowery Branch, Ga

[Sandra]

Can you please tell me the starting first rows of you square before you join them as it's different than the normal granny sandra

[Lisa]

Hello! AWESOME tutorial & I'm going to 'Donate' b/c I really think all of these tutorials are SO amazingly inspiring & of great practical help, Thank you! Crazy QUESTION-What kind of camera do you use? I can never get my colors to photograph correctly :( I have a Canon Elph Digital & use 'Vivid' setting - but have to jump thru CRAZY hoops to try & be faithful to my actual colors. Any help greatly appreciated! -Lisa

[Elisabeth Strachan]

Hi Lucy, don't know if you've figured this out already but I've devised a way of joining blocks if you want to do it all in the same colour without breaking the yarn. Here is my project with notes if its of any help:http://www.ravelry.com/projects/lizzypink/sunburst-granny-square-blanket-tutorial-2

[Janette Meehan]

Thankyou Lucy, can't wait to try using join as you go. Janette from Australia.

[Lillian Husband]

Is it possible to make the square larger before you do the joining row?

[Teresa]

What a fabulous way to join granny squares thanks for sharing X

[Mary Pugh]

Thanks! I think I've got that. 😀 Mary. 🌸

[Shobhana]

Hi Lucy, can I join my granny squares (circles at present) , using 1 color throughout? Would I still need to break off yarn and begin on the next round ? if yes, how do I get the yarn across to the next circle? I am stuck at this point
Please help thanks

[Isabella]

Hi Lucy, love your site! Question, On my granny square in the corners I separated the three by three chains so when I join 1 square to the next square would I do anything different than stated in your tutorial? Like chain 1, ss into next granny corner and ch 1 again?

[Ktoo]

I love ur work <3 thx for sharing