A Granny Square? Your reaction might be: Oh no! It is so boring to crochet a granny square!

But let me tell you one thing: I LOVE Granny Squares. It is my favorite motif to crochet. The granny square is 139 years old since it was designed by a Mrs. Phelps. It was published in the Prairie Farmer edition of 5 April 1885. For me, there is something about the granny square. There is nostalgia and elegance about it – always a winner for any crochet item. For a blanket, hat, jacket, mittens, socks, handbag, slippers and many more. You can do SO much with a granny square. It is an amazing square, and it can be crocheted with 1 round up to how many you want it to be. Isn’t it awesome? It is a beautiful motif to crochet of all times. I use it for Pianna Yarns’ community project which I will tell you more at a later stage.

Mrs Phelps was trying to crochet a pattern for an Afghan. I found the following explanation from Wikipedia:
Mrs Phelps has been “trying a new crocheted pattern for an Afghan, which is on the principle of the crazy work so popular now. It is made in strips of the desired length, and with two of the blocks, which I have brought, forming the width (fig. 2). The long strips are crocheted together with a double chain stitch which is twisted, and of any two desirable colors. The small blocks can be sewn or drawn together, to make a perfect square, this joining being done on the wrong side. The idea is to have the blocks appear as one straight strip. Use Germantown wool, the colors of the block being bright and varied to one’s taste, but the outer edge of each is black.

The “crazy work” she refers to is crazy quilting, which was a popular trend at the time. During this era, it was traditional for women to use black ribbon on the borders between crazy quilt square – much like the black borders of a traditional granny square. The granny square motif reappeared in the 1930s, and the pattern was featured in publications such as Fleisher’s Afghans.”

Although there are many forms of granny squares, the most popular and well-known granny square is made with double crochet (US term) and chains. You work in the round and has the image of basically filet crochet work.

I would like to share my free granny square pattern with you which you can find . In the pattern I share with you how to work the beginning corner without sl sts. This way you do not have skew granny squares. Another way to avoid a skew granny square, which I do not share in the pattern, is to turn your work around, work on the wrong side, turn around and work on the right side again. This you do with every alternative round.

I would like to share my granny square pattern with you. Please follow the link to download the Charity Granny Square free pattern.

Please share your granny tips and tricks with us in the comments.

Annamarie