Summer Garden Granny Square

  

  I love making Granny Squares. There's just something about creating little stacks of them that is hugely satisfying. They are versatile, and easy for beginners to learn because the basic stitches and method of working "in the round" are simple to get to grips with. It's how I first learnt to crochet 18 months ago, and I still get a huge amount of pleasure from making granny squares.

This particular square, which I am calling my Summer Garden Granny Square, is my own pattern. It came about after I had an idea of making squares for a blanket, which when all assembled together would resemble a garden blooming with summer flowers. I couldn't find a pattern which was simple enough to make, or produced the effect I was after, so I experimented and created my own. And to be perfectly honest with you all, I am thrilled with how it turned out.

So :: For my blanket squares (pictured above) I'm using a DK weight pure wool, with a 4mm hook. I've also made them with Rowan DK cotton and they are equally lovely, they come out slightly larger when made with the cotton yarn.

I'm going to write the pattern in UK crochet terms where the main stitch is a UK Treble. For those in the US, this is the same as a dc stitch.

Stitches used are as follows:

 

 

sl st (slip stitch) :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then through the loop on your hook.

Bobble :: yarn over, insert hook through next stitch, yarn over, hook back through stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops left on hook). Then yarn over and insert hook through SAME STITCH, yarn over, hook back through stitch (4 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (3 loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

Bobble Stitch  is not a difficult stitch even though it may sound complicated. Try watching the little Bobble Stitch video I've linked to above, it might help if you see the stitch being made.

Tr :: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops on hook (two loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops. (NB this is equivalent to US dc stitch)

To Start ::

chain 4 and join to form a ring. The ring will be small, so wiggle it with your fingers to make sure you know where the centre of the ring is, because for the first round you will be working out of this hole.

ROUND 1 ::

chain 3 , then work 1 tr into the ring (this effectively counts as your first "bobble"), chain 1.

*Work 1 bobble stitch (as described above) into the ring, chain 1*

Repeat between ** 6 more times, until you have 8 "bobble spokes" in total.

It may feel as if you can't quite fit them all in towards the end because the hole in the central ring is small, but you want it to be tight so the hole almost disappears.

Make a sl st into the 3rd chain of your initial chain-3 to join, finish off (picture below)

ROUND 2 ::

You will be working out of the chain-1 spaces between the bobbles for this round.

Join in your new colour by making a secure knot close to the stitches. Insert hook through nearest chain-1 space of the previous round and draw the new colour yarn through to the front (picture below).

Chain 3 (counts as 1 tr), 2tr into the same space, chain 1. This forms a "tr cluster" (picture below).

 

Into the next space between bobbles, *work 3tr, chain 1*.

Repeat between ** 6 more times, working your way round the circle, making a total of 8 "tr clusters".

Make a sl st into the 3rd chain of your initial chain-3 to join, finish off (picture below)
 

And thats your flowery circle made! Was that fun and easy?

You can stitch a pretty button in the centre, attach them to whatever tickles your fancy.

Or you can carry on and turn the circles into squares....

ROUND 3 ::

You will be working out of the chain-1 spaces between the tr clusters of the previous round.

Join in new colour by knotting close to the work. Insert hook into the nearest space between clusters and pull the new colour yarn through to the front.

chain 4 (counts as 1 tr + chain-1 space)

Into the same space, work 3tr, chain-1 (picture below). This forms part of a corner cluster :: you will come back round to complete this corner at the end of the round.

Into the next space, work 3 tr, chain-1. This forms a side cluster.

Into the next space work 3 tr, chain-2, 3 tr, chain-1. This forms your second corner cluster.

Into the next space work 3 tr, chain-1. this forms your second side cluster.

Continue working your way round as follows ::

Into the next space work 3 tr, chain-2, 3 tr, chain-1. This forms your third corner cluster.

Into the next space work 3 tr, chain-1. this forms your third side cluster.

Into the next space work 3 tr, chain-2, 3 tr, chain-.1 This forms your fourth corner cluster.

Into the next space work 3 tr, chain-1. this forms your fourth side cluster.

Lastly, work 2 tr into the very first space you started out in.This effectively joins with your initial chain-3 to complete that part of the first corner cluster (picture below)

Make a sl st into the 3rd chain of your initial chain-3, finish off (picture below)

ROUND 4 ::

You will be working out of the chain-1 spaces between the tr clusters of the previous round.

Join in new colour by knotting close to the work. Insert hook into the  space between the corner clusters of the previous round  and pull the new colour yarn through to the front (picture below)

chain 4 (counts as 1 tr + chain-1 space)

Into the same space, work 3 tr, chain-1. This forms part of a corner cluster :: you will come back round to complete this corner at the end of the round.

*Into the next space, work 3 tr, chain-1. This forms a side cluster.

Into the next space, work 3 tr, chain-1. This forms an additional side cluster.

Into the next space work 3 tr, chain-2, 3 tr, chain-1. This forms your second corner cluster.*

Repeat between ** twice more.

Into the next space, work 3 tr, chain-1. This forms a side cluster.

Into the next space, work 3 tr, chain-1. This forms an additional side cluster.

Lastly, work 2t r into the very first space you started out in.This effectively joins with your initial chain-3 to complete that part of the first corner cluster.

Make a sl st into the 3rd chain of your initial chain-3, finish off (picture below)

 

And there you have it :: one Summer Garden Granny Square.

I always think that crochet patterns can sometimes come across as quite daunting and slightly off putting. My hope is that by using plenty of photos and by being more wordy than usual patterns, that you will be able to follow it successfully, even if you are relatively new to crochet.

Incidentally, you don't have to make 4 rounds if you don't want to (you can stick with 3 as in the top photo), or you can carry on making more rounds to produce bigger squares, it is up to you.

If you carry on adding more rounds, just keep an eye on the pattern and on where you're at as you work round. Remember that with each extra round you do, you will be increasing the number of tr clusters round each side. Each side cluster of 3tr's should be separated by a chain-1 space. And make sure that when you get to the corner space you make two lots of tr-clusters in the same hole, separated by a chain-2 space. Once you get going it'll be easy to get this and you'll find that very quickly you won't be needing to read the pattern at all, you'll just get what to do. Yes, honestly, it'll happen!

I tell you, these little squares are super-addictive. You will be treble-clustering in every spare moment of your day, sneaking them in, building little piles of them.

I know. Because I do it. And I love it.

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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

[Vasudha]

Hi. Could you please tell me what yarn have you used here and the hook size. I have been looking for cotton yarn but haven't found any. Many thanks x

[Sharon bradley]

Hi could you plz do a section on how to add a new colour properly as I knot mine and I know this is not right but a step by step guide by you would be great !!!

[ann Liggett]

dear lucy
teaching some people to granny stripe blanket, how many chains for foundation row (blanket for throw)

best wishes
Ann Liggett

[Fred]

Was directed to your blog by a friend of mine. I've made 5 granny squares in just a few hours thanks to your brilliant explanations. I am a total beginner so it was extremely gratifying to get a beautiful result from the start! I will make another five in order to keep practicing, then I'll go onto another pattern. I want to gather enough granny squares to make a decent sized blanket ^^

My thumb is sore from the crochetting now, but I must say that I desperately want to do more!

Many thanks :)

[Alexandra Dias]

Thank you so much

[Roos]

Thank you best information ever!!!

[Heather Jeffery]

Hi

I want to crochet a blanket for Mum to put across her knees which reaches the floor, and I have just seen your wonderful squares so I am going to crochet those, thank you.

Can you give me a rough idea of size/amount of squares needed for double knitting wool and I have no idea and can't find out anywhere? thank you from Heather x

[Daisy]

Thank you so much! I'm so excited to start my first blanket. This is such a beautiful and simple pattern. I'm not a beginner but I was always taught patterns by other people (mother/grandmother) and watched youtube videos since I never learned how to read written patterns but yours was so easy to follow! Maybe I won't be so intimidated to try reading other patterns now.

Thanks again!

[Carolina Guevara]

Hi! I love tour blanket, but is difficult for to read english. You have a written pattern crochet. So i can see with the universal sign. Thanks!

[crafrt mena]

2009--- but it helped me out with some donated flower circles

will make a small blanket and donate

crafty mema

[Nadia]

This is totally my favourite granny variation! It creates so much interest in such a basic pattern!

[Carmen Gonzalez]

I love this pattern,thank you so much for the tutorial
I am following your pattern,to make a lamp with the granny squares, I have include a post in my blog.
http://crochetbuddies.blogspot.com.es/
Many thanks for sharing

[Stephanie Donavan]

Just started this lovely project…I haven't crocheted since I was a young girl, with my grandmother teaching me to chain stitch. I so appreciate your clear instructions, so helpful! I also wondered what to do with the tails; do you hide them into the work as you crochet, or just trim and push them thru later?
Thank you so much…looking forward to completing this sunny quilt for my first grand baby, due in December. Stephanie

[Karen Kelly]

My Mum died in December. I was just starting to learn crochet and she was helping me. She really was a a whiz at crochet. Your blog has encouraged me to carry on learning . Thankyou Lucy x

[Stephanie]

Thanks so much! Just what I needed :)
I made a small donation.

[Gemma Madden]

Hi is the crochet terms in UK or USA version?

[Tracey Driver]

I have wanted to learn to crochet for a long time and came across this pattern on Pinterest ... I've made two squares from your brilliant instructions without hitch .. Thank you!

[Kris]

Karen Lee - the link worked to bobble worked for me. After the page comes up, you have to click on which version of video player you want to use. This video gave different bobble instructions from many I found on youtube, so you probably do want to use the one she gave.

[Kris]

Hi -- This is a gorgeous pattern. I'm in the middle of one now and am wondering, when you say "finish off" (such as when you're done with the pink yarn), do you mean sew it in with a needle?
Thanks so much!

[Eleanor]

Hi Lucy just wondered if you work the ends in or if you sew them all in after each round x also do u always knot to join?

[Rwan zakria]

How many balls needed to make baby granny square

[marianne]

I have trouble putting the squares together. Any ideas?
Thanks

[Terry]

Hi, just trying to find the pattern for the flower border baby blanket and gift set done in cream and pink and purple flower granny squares only around the outside. Do you have the pattern for it. Would love to make this beautiful blanket.

[karen lee]

Hi lucy,

the link to your bobble video doesn't work? what is it cause i'm confused about 1st round of 8 bobbles

thanks

[Tove Naustdal]

Thank you for your instructions and the very good photos. However you should know that in knitting and crochet, you NEVER join yarn by making a knot! You crochet/knit the new yarn in or sew it later, following stitches, with a darning needle :)