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!!!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

All my tutorials are created for you to use and enjoy for free. However, if you would like to make a donation you can do so using the button below (all donations are gratefully received and will be used to fund future projects).

 

xx Thank you xx

Comments

[June]

Thank yo so much for the instruction on joining granny squares as you go.

[Tracy]

Hello! I have a quick question regarding finishing with this method. How do you block when you're done? I have only ever blocked my squares before I've joined them, and I feel like I might be overwhelmed trying to block a huge blanket! Any suggestions welcomed :)

[marianne]

GENIUS! I can't wait to finish the beast I'm currently joining with sc and start a NEW, EASY one!

You have made the world a better place.

Thank you, from Arizona, USA. <3

[Michaela]

Thank you, very helpful! :-D

[Giada]

You are a Genius!!! I hate to sew all the squares one by one. Thank you so much

Giada from Rome (Italy)

[Carmen]

Buen día Lucy. Hace tiempo que quiero suscribirme a tu bloc, pero no lo consigo. ¿Cómo lo puedo hacer?
Por favor, dime algo.
Un saludo,

Carmen

[Vicki Milam]

I love to try new patterns and make lots and lots of "samples". I was thinking of how neat it would be to figure out a way to "join" all these different parts into one big crazy quilt of sorts. This might just be the way. Thanks for sharing!

[Amy Mason]

I just tried this for the first time, it worked great and looks fabulous! Thanks so much!

[Cheryl]

Thank you very much for your tutorial. Have a great day!!!

[Lynne McCombie]

Lucy do you have a tutorial for a continuous join as you go? There are a couple on the internet but when you join the 4 corners together, it is not very neat..

[sonia soares]

adorei,ficou lindo,maravilhoso.Vou fazer.

[Val Stanford]

How do u it from 4 rnd square to 8 rnd square? I got 16 of them to do on the 8 round square center.

[Christine Michalczuk]

Dear Lucy,

I was curious, what kind of yarn have you used in these photos? They colors are lovely and I'd like to get some for my stash. :-)

Thank you!
Christine

[SENYUM SOKMO]

THANK YOU FOR INFORMATION .

[krossenarchery.com]

How To Trade A Car Online and ace hardware. How To Trade A Car Online

[Frances schluter]

Thanks for the instructions that were easy to understand and easy to see in the pictures :-)!I enjoy your website. Frances

[Sarah]

This is beautiful Lucy! Do you happen to have a pattern for these granny squares?

[Liza]

I do accept as true with all of the concepts you've offered in your post. They are really convincing and will definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are very quick for starters. Could you please prolong them a bit from subsequent time? Thanks for the post.

[Goodmorning Beautyful]

Beautiful, i love it.

[Pilar]

Me encantan sus tutoriales, la felicito por sus trabajos.

Mis atentos saludos

[Eve]

This is brilliant - I am a total beginner and I can follow this very easily. I love the simplicity and clean look of the join. Thanks so much for posting this!

[fiona]

Hi Lucy, thanks so much for showing us how to do this. I am trying it now with my granny square scarf, so far so good. Hope you don;t mind me posting a link (credit) to your site, as I thought it helpful for others to know.

Have fun
Fiona

[nora]

Hi lucy
this looks great ,in fact your site is excellent so inspiring and cosy!
i just wondered if i'm understanding right from the above tutorial than when you use the join as you go method you only join at the spaces after you've joined the 2 squares at the corner ..so i mean you don't join the side clusters together only a stitch at the spaces.
if this is the case does that leave a gap between the squares at the side clusters and does that look a bit funny in a finished blanket?
i hope you understand my question and i'm sorry if i've miss understood your tutorial.
thank you
nora

[HG]

you can just use a yarn needle after completing the granny squares. It's looks lopsided.

[Dorothy]

Hi Lucy I do mine slightly different I put the first chain loop (off the hook)under the next block..just seems neater some how..
I have done this with my hexagon African flower
pattern,and the granny squares..love your site
I live near Bolton Lancs,,