Quest Complete: Granny Square Blanket
Hooray! My blanket is done! Actually, it was done a couple of weeks ago, but I've been working on writing down the pattern to share. I'm so pleased with my wonderful new blanket, I was giddy and giggling the night I finished it. The colors make me so very happy!
Here's the construction. This is also the first pattern I've written down, so please let me know if there are problems!
The basic granny square I used is:
ch 5, sl st in 1st ch to form a ring
Round 1: ch 3, 2 dc in ring, (ch 1, 3 dc in ring) x 3, ch 1, sl st in top of ch3.
Round 2: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; (ch 1, 3 dc in next side space, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 3: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x2, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 4: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 5: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x4, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 6: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x5, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 7: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x6, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 8: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x7, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 9: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x8, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
I used 2 skeins (actually closer to one and a half, since there's a good bit left over) of each color, at 180 yards / skein. The yarn is a cotton medium/4 weight worked with a 4.5 mm hook.
A) magenta
B) medium purple
C) dark purple
D) light blue
E) medium blue
F) dark blue
G) light green
H) medium green
I) dark green
Squares 1-6: make 2 of each.
Square 1: Round 1 color A; 2 B; 3 C; 4 F; 5 E; 6 D; 7 G; 8 H; 9 I
Square 2: R1-9 A
Square 3: R1-3 D; 4-6 E; 7-9 F
Square 4: R1 C; 2 B; 3 A; 4 D; 5 E; 6 F; 7 I; 8 H; 9 G
Square 5: R1-9 C
Square 6: R1-3 F; 4-6 E; 7-9 D
Squares 7-18: make 1 of each.
Square 7: R1-3 C; 4-6 B; 7-9 A
Square 8: R1 G; 2 H; 3 I; 4 C; 5 B; 6 A; 7 D; 8 E; 9 F
Square 9: R1-9 G
Square 10: R1-3 A; 4-6 B; 7-9 C
Square 11: R1 I; 2 H; 3 G; 4 A; 5 B; 6 C; 7 F; 8 E; 9 D
Square 12: R1-9 I
Square 13: R 1-9 F
Square 14: R1-3 I; 4-6 H; 7-9 G
Square 15: R1 D; 2 E; 3 F; 4 I; 5 H; 6 G; 7 A; 8 B; 9 C
Square 16: R1-9 D
Square 17: R1-3 G; 4-6 H; 7-9 I
Square 18: R1 F; 2 E; 3 D; 4 G; 5 H; 6 I; 7 C; 8 B; 9 A
The layout of the squares is this: (I stuck mine together with safety pins while working to keep them in place)
What you wind up with this way is a pattern that moves diagonally in both directions - going diagonally one way (i.e. jumping from square 4 to 14 to 9 to 4) the number of colors used and the width of the stripes will match; going the other way (square 3 to 17 to 10 to 3) the color used in the outermost row will match.
The join technique is one I learned last summer from The Crochet Crowd, and modified a bit.
With Square 1, using color H:
Attach in corner space. (Ch 3, sk st, sc in next st) across to the next corner. Ch 3 and sc in corner again to create a loop.
Repeat on each side until you get back to your starting corner - sc in the corner, ch 3, and instead of making another sc in the corner, just sl st into your first sc and fasten off.
Now Square 1 has a border all the way around.
For Square 2, using color B:
Attach in corner space. (Ch 3, sk st, sc in next st) across to the next corner. Ch 3 and sc in corner again to create a loop.
Repeat on the next two sides but when you chain 3 in the third corner, don't attach it. Measure off a length of yarn that's around 10 times the length of the side of the granny square and cut it from the skein.
Stretch your loop on the hook so it won't start unraveling, and drop the loop. Put the hook through one of the corner ch3 loops on Square 1, pick up your loop of yarn that you were just working with, and pull it through, bringing the whole yarn tail along. Sc in the corner of Square 2.
Ch 3, and again drop the loop, put the hook through the next ch3 space of Square 1 and pull your chain through. Sk st, sc in next st of Square 2. Repeat to the corner.
Ch 3, drop the loop, put the hook through the last corner loop of Square 1 and pull your chain through. Sl st in the first sc of Square 2 and fasten off.
Repeat this for Squares 3 through 6, using the following border colors and adding 3 next to 2, 4 next to 3, etc. in a straight line:
Square 3: E
Square 4: H
Square 5: B
Square 6: E
If you're interested in the concept behind the border colors, it's looking at the outermost color of the square and then using the medium shade of the same color to make the border. Squares ending in light or dark green are bordered with medium green, squares ending in light or dark blue are bordered with medium blue, squares ending in magenta or dark purple are bordered with medium purple.
Now you should have a straight row of 6 joined squares.
Repeat the join again, setting Square 7 to the next side of Square 1, using color B. When you reach the corner shared between Square 1 and Square 2, ch 3, drop your loop and put the hook through both of the two chain loops already joined to pull the chain through.
Square 8 is going to have to join on two sides - to Squares 2 & 7.
For Square 8, using color E:
Attach in corner space. (Ch 3, sk st, sc in next st) across to the next corner. Ch 3 and sc in corner again to create a loop.
Repeat on the next side but when you chain 3 in the second corner, don't attach it. Measure off a length of yarn that's around 20 times the length of the side of the granny square and cut it from the skein.
Stretch your loop on the hook so it won't start unraveling, and drop the loop. Put the hook through the inside corner ch3 loop on Square 7, pick up your loop of yarn that you were just working with, and pull it through, bringing the whole yarn tail along. Sc in the corner of Square 8.
Ch 3, and again drop the loop, put the hook through the next ch3 space of Square 7 and pull your chain through. Sk st, sc in next st of Square 8. Repeat to the third corner.
This time when you ch 3 and drop the loop, put the hook through the two purple chain loops from Squares 2 & 7 and pull your chain through. Sc in the corner of Square 8 and continue to repeat the (ch 3, sk st, sc in next st) along the remaining side.
Ch 3, drop the loop, put the hook through the two corner chain loops joining 7 & 13, and pull your chain through. Sl st in the first sc of Square 8 and fasten off.
Finish out the row in the same way, and then continue to add the last two rows of squares with these borders:
Square 9: H
Square 10: B
Square 11: E
Square 12: H
Row 3:
Square 13: E
Square 14: H
Square 15: B
Square 16: E
Square 17: H
Square 18: B
Row 4:
Square 4: H
Square 5: B
Square 6: E
Square 1: H
Square 2: B
Square 3: E
For the border, I wanted to use all of the colors of the blanket.
Round 1: G:
Attach yarn in any of the ch3 spaces on a side. Ch 3, 2dctog across to the next ch3 space. (Basically: yo, pull up a loop in the starting ch3 space; yo, pull through 2 loops on hook; yo, pull up a loop in the next ch3 space; yo, pull through 2 loops on hook; yo, pull through remaining 3 loops on hook to finish the stitch.)
(Dc, 2dctog) repeating to the corner ch3 space. Instead of 1 dc, work 3 in the corner space, continue with the next 2dctog and repeat the whole thing around the rest of the blanket. Sl st into your starting ch3 and fasten off.
Round 2: H:
Attach yarn in the center dc of a corner and ch4. Sk st, dc in next dc. (Ch1, sk st, dc in next dc) and repeat across the side. In the corner: dc, ch1 and dc again in the same st. Repeat around the rest of the blanket. In the last corner: dc, ch 1 and sl st into the 3rd st of your starting chain and fasten off.
Round 3: I:
Attach yarn in any st and ch1. Sc in each st to the corner, 3sc in the corner ch1 st. Repeat all the way around. Sl st into the starting ch1 and fasten off.
Round 4: C:
Attach yarn in center sc of a corner. Ch3, dc in same st, ch1, dc in same st. (Sk st, dc in next st, ch1, dc in same st) until you've worked (dc, ch 1, dc) in the next corner sc. 2 dc, ch1, dc again in the same st so that you have a total of 5 dc in the same center sc. (Sk st, dc in next st, ch1, dc in same st) all the way around with (dc, ch1, 3dc, ch1, dc) in each corner until you get back to the first corner. Dc in corner, ch1, dc in same st, sl st into the top of your starting ch3 and fasten off.
Round 5: B:
Attach yarn in any st and ch1. Sc in each st to the corner, 3sc in the central corner dc. Repeat all the way around. Sl st into the starting ch1 and fasten off.
Round 6 A:
Attach yarn in any st and ch3. Dc in each st to the corner, 3dc in the central corner sc. Repeat all the way around. Sl st into the starting ch3 and fasten off.
Round 7 D:
Attach yarn in the third dc of a corner 3dc cluster, ch 1, sc in same st. (Sk 2 stitches, 5 dc in next st, sk 2, sc in next st : shell made) and repeat until you make your last sc 2 stitches before the next corner. Fasten off. Repeat on each side.
Round 8: E:
Attach yarn in central dc of a shell, ch1, sc in same st. (5dc in next sc, sk 2dc, sc in next dc) and repeat until you reach the last shell of round 7 on that side. 3trc in the next st of Round 6 (the same place as the last sc of round 7 on that side), trc in next st, 3 trc in central corner st, trc in next st, 3trc in next st (should be the same place as the first sc of round 7 on the next side). Repeat for each side until you get back to your starting sc; sl st in sc and fasten off.
Round 9: F:
Attach yarn in central dc of a shell,
Attach yarn in central dc of a shell, ch1, sc in same st. (5dc in next sc, sk 2dc, sc in next dc) and repeat until you reach the last shell of round 8 on that side. Work your last shell of that side in the sc on top of the last shell of round 7, sk 2 trc, sc in each of the next 2 st, 3 sc in central corner trc, sc in each of the next 2 st, 5dc in next sc of round 8 to continue making shells. Repeat for each side until you get back to your starting sc; sl st in sc and fasten off.
And that's it! It sounds a little more complicated than it actually is - understanding the pattern was a lot easier than writing it down. :-p If anyone has feedback please let me know as this is my first written pattern and I'd love to make sure it's as easy as possible to follow!
Here's the construction. This is also the first pattern I've written down, so please let me know if there are problems!
The basic granny square I used is:
ch 5, sl st in 1st ch to form a ring
Round 1: ch 3, 2 dc in ring, (ch 1, 3 dc in ring) x 3, ch 1, sl st in top of ch3.
Round 2: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; (ch 1, 3 dc in next side space, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 3: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x2, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 4: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 5: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x4, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 6: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x5, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 7: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x6, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 8: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x7, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 9: ch 3, 2 dc in same ch1 space; {(ch 1, 3 dc in next side space) x8, ch 1, 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in same corner space) x3, ch 1, 3 dc in last corner space, ch 1, sl st in top of ch 3.
I used 2 skeins (actually closer to one and a half, since there's a good bit left over) of each color, at 180 yards / skein. The yarn is a cotton medium/4 weight worked with a 4.5 mm hook.
A) magenta
B) medium purple
C) dark purple
D) light blue
E) medium blue
F) dark blue
G) light green
H) medium green
I) dark green
Squares 1-6: make 2 of each.
Square 1: Round 1 color A; 2 B; 3 C; 4 F; 5 E; 6 D; 7 G; 8 H; 9 I
Square 2: R1-9 A
Square 3: R1-3 D; 4-6 E; 7-9 F
Square 4: R1 C; 2 B; 3 A; 4 D; 5 E; 6 F; 7 I; 8 H; 9 G
Square 5: R1-9 C
Square 6: R1-3 F; 4-6 E; 7-9 D
Squares 7-18: make 1 of each.
Square 7: R1-3 C; 4-6 B; 7-9 A
Square 8: R1 G; 2 H; 3 I; 4 C; 5 B; 6 A; 7 D; 8 E; 9 F
Square 9: R1-9 G
Square 10: R1-3 A; 4-6 B; 7-9 C
Square 11: R1 I; 2 H; 3 G; 4 A; 5 B; 6 C; 7 F; 8 E; 9 D
Square 12: R1-9 I
Square 13: R 1-9 F
Square 14: R1-3 I; 4-6 H; 7-9 G
Square 15: R1 D; 2 E; 3 F; 4 I; 5 H; 6 G; 7 A; 8 B; 9 C
Square 16: R1-9 D
Square 17: R1-3 G; 4-6 H; 7-9 I
Square 18: R1 F; 2 E; 3 D; 4 G; 5 H; 6 I; 7 C; 8 B; 9 A
The layout of the squares is this: (I stuck mine together with safety pins while working to keep them in place)
What you wind up with this way is a pattern that moves diagonally in both directions - going diagonally one way (i.e. jumping from square 4 to 14 to 9 to 4) the number of colors used and the width of the stripes will match; going the other way (square 3 to 17 to 10 to 3) the color used in the outermost row will match.
The join technique is one I learned last summer from The Crochet Crowd, and modified a bit.
With Square 1, using color H:
Attach in corner space. (Ch 3, sk st, sc in next st) across to the next corner. Ch 3 and sc in corner again to create a loop.
Repeat on each side until you get back to your starting corner - sc in the corner, ch 3, and instead of making another sc in the corner, just sl st into your first sc and fasten off.
Now Square 1 has a border all the way around.
For Square 2, using color B:
Attach in corner space. (Ch 3, sk st, sc in next st) across to the next corner. Ch 3 and sc in corner again to create a loop.
Repeat on the next two sides but when you chain 3 in the third corner, don't attach it. Measure off a length of yarn that's around 10 times the length of the side of the granny square and cut it from the skein.
Stretch your loop on the hook so it won't start unraveling, and drop the loop. Put the hook through one of the corner ch3 loops on Square 1, pick up your loop of yarn that you were just working with, and pull it through, bringing the whole yarn tail along. Sc in the corner of Square 2.
Ch 3, and again drop the loop, put the hook through the next ch3 space of Square 1 and pull your chain through. Sk st, sc in next st of Square 2. Repeat to the corner.
Ch 3, drop the loop, put the hook through the last corner loop of Square 1 and pull your chain through. Sl st in the first sc of Square 2 and fasten off.
Repeat this for Squares 3 through 6, using the following border colors and adding 3 next to 2, 4 next to 3, etc. in a straight line:
Square 3: E
Square 4: H
Square 5: B
Square 6: E
If you're interested in the concept behind the border colors, it's looking at the outermost color of the square and then using the medium shade of the same color to make the border. Squares ending in light or dark green are bordered with medium green, squares ending in light or dark blue are bordered with medium blue, squares ending in magenta or dark purple are bordered with medium purple.
Now you should have a straight row of 6 joined squares.
Repeat the join again, setting Square 7 to the next side of Square 1, using color B. When you reach the corner shared between Square 1 and Square 2, ch 3, drop your loop and put the hook through both of the two chain loops already joined to pull the chain through.
Square 8 is going to have to join on two sides - to Squares 2 & 7.
For Square 8, using color E:
Attach in corner space. (Ch 3, sk st, sc in next st) across to the next corner. Ch 3 and sc in corner again to create a loop.
Repeat on the next side but when you chain 3 in the second corner, don't attach it. Measure off a length of yarn that's around 20 times the length of the side of the granny square and cut it from the skein.
Stretch your loop on the hook so it won't start unraveling, and drop the loop. Put the hook through the inside corner ch3 loop on Square 7, pick up your loop of yarn that you were just working with, and pull it through, bringing the whole yarn tail along. Sc in the corner of Square 8.
Ch 3, and again drop the loop, put the hook through the next ch3 space of Square 7 and pull your chain through. Sk st, sc in next st of Square 8. Repeat to the third corner.
This time when you ch 3 and drop the loop, put the hook through the two purple chain loops from Squares 2 & 7 and pull your chain through. Sc in the corner of Square 8 and continue to repeat the (ch 3, sk st, sc in next st) along the remaining side.
Ch 3, drop the loop, put the hook through the two corner chain loops joining 7 & 13, and pull your chain through. Sl st in the first sc of Square 8 and fasten off.
Finish out the row in the same way, and then continue to add the last two rows of squares with these borders:
Square 9: H
Square 10: B
Square 11: E
Square 12: H
Row 3:
Square 13: E
Square 14: H
Square 15: B
Square 16: E
Square 17: H
Square 18: B
Row 4:
Square 4: H
Square 5: B
Square 6: E
Square 1: H
Square 2: B
Square 3: E
For the border, I wanted to use all of the colors of the blanket.
Round 1: G:
Attach yarn in any of the ch3 spaces on a side. Ch 3, 2dctog across to the next ch3 space. (Basically: yo, pull up a loop in the starting ch3 space; yo, pull through 2 loops on hook; yo, pull up a loop in the next ch3 space; yo, pull through 2 loops on hook; yo, pull through remaining 3 loops on hook to finish the stitch.)
(Dc, 2dctog) repeating to the corner ch3 space. Instead of 1 dc, work 3 in the corner space, continue with the next 2dctog and repeat the whole thing around the rest of the blanket. Sl st into your starting ch3 and fasten off.
Round 2: H:
Attach yarn in the center dc of a corner and ch4. Sk st, dc in next dc. (Ch1, sk st, dc in next dc) and repeat across the side. In the corner: dc, ch1 and dc again in the same st. Repeat around the rest of the blanket. In the last corner: dc, ch 1 and sl st into the 3rd st of your starting chain and fasten off.
Round 3: I:
Attach yarn in any st and ch1. Sc in each st to the corner, 3sc in the corner ch1 st. Repeat all the way around. Sl st into the starting ch1 and fasten off.
Round 4: C:
Attach yarn in center sc of a corner. Ch3, dc in same st, ch1, dc in same st. (Sk st, dc in next st, ch1, dc in same st) until you've worked (dc, ch 1, dc) in the next corner sc. 2 dc, ch1, dc again in the same st so that you have a total of 5 dc in the same center sc. (Sk st, dc in next st, ch1, dc in same st) all the way around with (dc, ch1, 3dc, ch1, dc) in each corner until you get back to the first corner. Dc in corner, ch1, dc in same st, sl st into the top of your starting ch3 and fasten off.
Round 5: B:
Attach yarn in any st and ch1. Sc in each st to the corner, 3sc in the central corner dc. Repeat all the way around. Sl st into the starting ch1 and fasten off.
Round 6 A:
Attach yarn in any st and ch3. Dc in each st to the corner, 3dc in the central corner sc. Repeat all the way around. Sl st into the starting ch3 and fasten off.
Round 7 D:
Attach yarn in the third dc of a corner 3dc cluster, ch 1, sc in same st. (Sk 2 stitches, 5 dc in next st, sk 2, sc in next st : shell made) and repeat until you make your last sc 2 stitches before the next corner. Fasten off. Repeat on each side.
Round 8: E:
Attach yarn in central dc of a shell, ch1, sc in same st. (5dc in next sc, sk 2dc, sc in next dc) and repeat until you reach the last shell of round 7 on that side. 3trc in the next st of Round 6 (the same place as the last sc of round 7 on that side), trc in next st, 3 trc in central corner st, trc in next st, 3trc in next st (should be the same place as the first sc of round 7 on the next side). Repeat for each side until you get back to your starting sc; sl st in sc and fasten off.
Round 9: F:
Attach yarn in central dc of a shell,
Attach yarn in central dc of a shell, ch1, sc in same st. (5dc in next sc, sk 2dc, sc in next dc) and repeat until you reach the last shell of round 8 on that side. Work your last shell of that side in the sc on top of the last shell of round 7, sk 2 trc, sc in each of the next 2 st, 3 sc in central corner trc, sc in each of the next 2 st, 5dc in next sc of round 8 to continue making shells. Repeat for each side until you get back to your starting sc; sl st in sc and fasten off.
And that's it! It sounds a little more complicated than it actually is - understanding the pattern was a lot easier than writing it down. :-p If anyone has feedback please let me know as this is my first written pattern and I'd love to make sure it's as easy as possible to follow!
It's a great blanket! Good job writing your first pattern. Have you thought about posting it on Ravelry and asking for pattern testers?
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