Granny Game
Tacio Allaire
I used a mixture of mini skeins purchased from different hand dyers for my blanket. Some came from online purchases, some came from local yarn store visits, and some were purchased on my travels. Any combination of 20-gram mini skeins will do for this project. You do not need to buy all of your mini skeins from the same vendor.
If you want to mix things up, look for unique granny square patterns in books, magazines, and online. Crochet designers from around the world have shared plenty of free patterns for you to choose from. Look for a square pattern with double crochet stitches in multiples of 3 along each side to ensure the joining technique works.
If choosing a color palette for your granny square blanket is difficult, picking a layout for your precious squares is nearly impossible! There are many options for laying out your squares, and I encourage you to try them all before you make a final decision. With 80 squares, I made a blanket 8 squares wide and 10 squares tall. Once I had the dimensions, I tried a couple different layout options.
While this joining method worked best for my blanket, there are plenty of other options to choose from. If you want to connect your squares individually, you can try the slip stitch method, the whip stitch method, or the mattress stitch method. You can learn each of these techniques in my tutorial video here. There are also other continuous join-as-you-go methods with tutorials on YouTube, including this lacy one and this tight join-as-you-go seam.
NOTE: I have not added a border to my blanket yet, so I did not include yarn yardage for a specific border in the Materials section. Consider using an additional skein of your joining yarn, or choose a coordinating tonal skein from your stash to make the border.
I hope this granny square blanket tutorial inspires you to take on your own unique crochet blanket project. Remember to go at your own pace, take some risks, and the more colors, the merrier!
How many squares can you make from each mini skein? I used 20 gram mini skeins with about 80 yards of yarn each. I got 2 squares out of most of my mini skeins, using 40 yards in each square.
Did you block each square before joining them? No, I did not block my squares before joining them. Since I used wool yarn, I know it has a lot of stretch and flexibility. For those reasons, I will block my entire blanket after I add the border.
How did you connect the squares on your granny square blanket? I connected my squares using the continuous join-as-you-go method. To help, I watch this fantastic tutorial on YouTube.
How did you pick the colors that went into your blanket? I chose my colors based on the season I wanted to represent: spring. I looked on Pinterest for some spring-themed colors and found several photos with dusty pinks, purples, and greens. I looked in my stash and found a collection of colors that matched the theme, then added some transitional colors (yellow, brown, gray, and blue). When laying out the colors, I went in a rainbow order: pink-yellow-brown-green-blue-gray-purple.
Can I use an advent or holiday mystery box of yarn for my granny square blanket? Absolutely, YES! Yarn advents and mystery holiday boxes often come with 12-24 mini skeins each, so you must supplement with additional yarns. Consider finding scraps, leftovers, mini skeins, or full skeins in your stash to round out your color palette.
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Double Crochet 2 Together (DC2TOG): YO and insert your hook, YO and pull back through, YO and pull through two loops on the hook, YO and insert your hook into the next stitch, YO and pull back through, YO and pull through two loops, YO and pull through the remaining three loops.
Row 2: Chain 3 and turn. *DC2tog across the next 2 DC, the turning chain counts as the first DC. Chain 1. Repeat from * across the row. End with 1 DC into the top of the turning chain 3, also before finishing the last step of the stitch, pull through with the new color.
Row 3: Chain 4. Work 2 DC around the next chain space, skipping over the first DC2tog of the row below. Work 2 DC around each chain space across the row. Ch 1 and work 1 DC into the top of the turning chain.
Round 1: Weave in all the ends before starting the border. In any corner, pull up a loop and chain 3. Work 1 DC into the same space. Work 2 DC in between each mini granny. In the corners, work 2 DC, ch 1, 2 DC. Upon finishing the round, work 2 more DC in starting corner, ch 1 and join with a slip stitch to starting chains.
Round 2: Chain 3 and turn. DC around ch space. CH 1, DC2TOG across the next 2 DC from the row below. In the corners work DC2TOG around the ch 1 space. Upon completing the round, work DC2TOG, ch 1 into starting corner and slip stitch to starting chain. Tie off and weave in the ends.
The Agnes Sweater Vest is a fun and easy crochet project that is great for using up leftover yarn. This tutorial goes through every step of making this granny square sweater including tools and yarn used, and tips for adjusting the sweater design to fit your desired measurements. I hope that reading through my notes will inspire you and help give you a starting point to make your own!
The sweater was designed with oversized armholes and a slightly cropped length in order to layer easily over tops and dresses. The ribbing at the collar, armholes and hem are made by picking up and knitting in the round but this can be replaced with a crocheted finishing method of your choice.
These are the supplies that I used to make my Agnes Sweater Vest but feel free to use whatever you have on hand. You may want to experiment with a different yarn weight, needle size or bigger or smaller granny squares to make it your own.
In total, I made 25 granny squares and laid them out like the picture below. The back has one more row than the front and I have only one square to connect at the sides. If you want more ease on the sides, you can add another square, or even connect the sides with crochet rows.
Pick up 76 stitches (total) in each chain stitch around with 4 in each corner. I ended up adding 4 single crochet stitches at the corners to help round out the neckline and make it easier to pick up (see photo above). You may have to experiment here depending on how big or small you want your neckline circumference.
Pick up 124 stitches in each chain stitch around. Pick up about 3 stitches at each seam where the squares meet and 3 stitches in the corners. I also added 3 single crochet stitches in the corners like I did at the neckline.
Starting at the FRONT right, find the middle at the sides and pick up 71 stitches (or an ODD number of stitches) in each chain stitch. Turn work so the wrong side is facing you, then knit the hem as follows:
Repeat these steps for the BACK hem, start in the same stitch at the sides that you picked up at the front. This helps prevent a gap, but you can also add a few discreet stitches the top of the split.
I truly hope that this was helpful and that I laid it all out in a way that makes sense! Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments. And if you do make a version of the Agnes Sweater Vest, I would love to see it! You can use the hashtag #agnessweatervest or send me a pic through my Instagram, bethanylynne_makes. ?
Me encant la hechura, las preguntas y las respuestas. Con todo ello pienso tengo las respuestas para el acabado de la prenda que estoy tejiendo para mi hija. se detallito de levantar 3 puntos en la esquinas, fantstico para darle redondez. Gracias.
Podra ser que se pueda incluir para la prxima un linck en vivo ? Muchas gracias Betana y a todas !
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I've had this design in my head and drafted on my computer for a few years now. I've played with it a little here and a little there and I decided last fall that this would be the first Lo & Behold pattern of 2023. Better yet, we would officially release it on my Granny's birthday, March 15th. This cozy, vintage inspired quilt evokes all the warm nostalgic feelings and is probably one of my favorite recent Lo & Behold quilt patterns. :) It's a mix and match type pattern so you have lots of opportunity to create different combinations and have fun with it. You're going to love sewing this together!
One thing that I love about Granny Patch (if I do say so myself) is that the blocks are strip pieced, meaning you are NOT dealing with individual squares of fabric. Instead, you're sewing strips together in a certain order then cutting them apart to create the rows of your blocks. (Can I get an amen??) There are also nesting seams so you don't have to fuss or stress about everything perfectly lining up as you are sewing. It really is a fun block to assemble!
I don't know about you, but I always love seeing crocheted afghans and blankets folded up on the back of a chair or at the foot of a bed. I wish I could say that I had an heirloom afghan that inspired this quilt, but after watching all seasons of Parks & Rec about 10 times, seeing one on the back of Ann's couch over and over definitely made me fall in love with the granny square. Then when we moved to Black Mountain and started leasing studio space above the Black Mountain Yarn Shop, I found myself surrounded by even more granny squares, which got me that much more excited about having a "granny square" inspired quilt. Since I shared about this design, I've had several of you reach out to share about your own heirloom granny square blankets, which has been so sweet to see. This quilt has turned into a nod to tradition and a marriage of both crochet and quilting. I LOVE it!
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