Category: Patterns

Crochet patterns, crochet diagrams or directions on how to make it.

New Blanket for New Baby

by Sue, posted in Granny Squares, Patterns

I am expecting my first grandchild, and have started the first baby blanket. I love the colors (the photo isn’t quite right, the light aqua is lighter, the light pink is peachier, the yellow nicer, the bright pink less purple-y, at least as it looks on my computer).  These are a few Vanna’s Choice (the darker Aqua and the lighter pink) and the rest are Vanna’s Choice Baby.

This is a combination of a regular granny square and my mitered granny, to make one large square blanket.  I really like how it is turning out so far, like a modern log cabin in a way.

Since receiving and crib blankets are small, I hope to do more than one blanket in these colors.  (and then there are all the other cute baby things to crochet!)

BabyBlanket

Granny Hearts

by Sue, posted in Granny Squares, Odds & Ends, Patterns

I got the idea to make a granny heart, I am not sure why, but once I did it wouldn’t leave my head.  It has been percolating in there for a while.  I figured I should just do it and get it out of there and unclutter my mind, and here is the result.

Update!  Key to what each symbol means is now included in the diagram.

SmallGrannyHeart

Continue reading “Granny Hearts” →

Pretty Petals Potholder

by Sue, posted in Dishcloths, Patterns

I really love vintage patterns!  I don’t remember how I found this pattern on the web, but I am glad I did.  It is called Pretty Petals Potholder and was published in 1946, perfect for my kitchen.  It does make a very nice potholder.  I used my Handicrafter Cotton again to make it.  I know I have seen stunning pillows or cushions on other blogs with a similar pattern, so I just had to join in the fun.  I am very tempted to make this into chair pads, I think it would work nicely for that.

Here is a better view…pretty and practical!  I will be making more of these.

Loopy Ruffle Dishcloth

by Sue, posted in Dishcloths, Patterns
I ♥ my ceramic chicken!

This basic stitch, from a Bernat pattern (you have to join to view and download the patterns, but it is free to join) I think is one of my favorite stitches for dishcloths.  I have seen it called a Linen stitch, Woven stitch and Moss stitch. Wonderfully functional with a nice texture, fast and easy as pie.  The pattern is fabulous just as it is.

I prefer to work in squares, it gives you an edge that is the same on all sides if you don’t want to do an edging and it naturally comes out square.  So, I worked out how to do the stitch in squares.

They are very nice plain, with a longer loop in one of the corners for a hanging loop, but I decided to add an edging.  I made these with 11 rounds, then the ruffle edging is 2 rounds, one in the stitch and then one of the ruffle.  The ruffle is super easy, ch4, sc.  Ch4, sc, over and over again. For a hanging loop, ch8 for the center loop of one of the corners instead of ch4

A sample size diagram of the in the round pattern, just add how many rounds you would like.

The only bit that is a little different and needs some explanation, is the start of each round.  The ending is as usual, slpst to the top of the sc.  Then I slip stitch into the corner ch3 space, and instead of doing a ch1 to get the height for the sc, I pull up the loop of the slpst a little so I have the proper height, and used that instead of the ch1.  It made the start of the round less obvious without the extra thickness you get with the ch1.  You can do it with the usual ch1 if you prefer.

I used Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Country Yellow, Country Red, Robins Egg and White, with a size E (3.5mm) hook.  I love the colors, fun, vintage-y and festive!  Maybe I will like washing up dishes more with pretty dishcloths (well, can’t make me like it worse, and maybe I will think crochet thoughts while doing them, which can only be good : )

Pretty as a Picture Dishcloth

by Sue, posted in Dishcloths, Patterns

Use any beautiful flower granny square and then frame it with what I am calling Picture Frame edging, because it reminds me of victorian picture frames.  All made in Bernat Handicrafter cotton and a size E-4 3.50mm h0ok.

I used these very lovely flower granny square patterns for the centers.  I used a sliding loop to start all of them, only tightening the loop enough so the stitches fit perfectly.

still in need of photography skills!

A diagram for how I did the border…

Maybe these are too pretty to use!

Off centered granny square

November Morning

by Sue, posted in Granny Squares, Patterns

I haven’t misplaced my calendar.  I fell in love with these earthy colors (see, I don’t only do bright colors ) and it all reminds me of November in New England.  Frost on the edges of brown leaves as you crunch through them in the woods.  Gray skies that smell a bit of snow.  The greys and dark colors of the bare trees, the rustle of leaves as a squirrel scurries away, scolding me and Zip for intruding.  Snuggling up with a cup of cinnamon coffee or hot chocolate.

Off centered granny square

I started this in the summer, when it was very hot and November weather seemed so far away.  This post has been sitting since then, as whenever I could take photos it was rainy and cloudy.  Today, it was a bit cloudy but I took some photos just the same.

I am not sure how I will arrange these off centered granny squares, but I really like them.  I wanted a quilt-y look with the hombre yarns being the patterned fabric.

These squares were made like the Mitered Granny Square, with a larger center square with a different color border, only 2 ‘half rounds’ that make the miter part, and then two rounds for the final border.

I can smell the leaves just looking at them.

Mitered Granny Square Diagram

by Sue, posted in Granny Squares, Patterns

UPDATE 1/21/17: I have a new version, Mitered Granny Square 2.1 which is a diagram for a mitered square with ch2 corners and ch1 in between the 3dc clusters that you may want to check out.

To help understand how to do the Mitered Granny Square, here is a diagram.  The diagram only shows the first part of mitering to get you started, it should be easy to extend it to additional rows as needed.  The border is included.

A Better Granny Rectangle

by Sue, posted in Granny Squares, Patterns, Tutorials

Well, I think it is better : ) As I said before, in my other Granny Rectangle post (I think this one is better), I have always been unsatisfied with how the center of granny rectangles line up in the middle, instead of alternating like it does in the rest of the fabric.  It seems weaker and is not as pleasing to me, I just don’t like it : )  Don’t know why I didn’t do it this way the first time I got the idea, but at least I thought of it now.

A Better Granny Rectangle (or a variation) has been used to make:

Granny Rectangle Dog Mat (has a longer starting center)
Granny Rectangle Throw

Updates

2/9/17: I have a new post A Better Granny Rectangle Revisited. I have made some tweaks to how I do them since I first posted this and thought it deserved a new post. I include another version for doing them with 3dc, ch1.

1/17/17: I have added a Granny Rectangle V2.0 diagram (at the end of this article). This one has ch2 corners and ch1 in between the 3dc’s, to show that version of granny squares.

2/25/16: I have added another diagram that shows another round added so you can see how I continue on in the same color, it is near the end of the article.

For the size I did in the example:

Ch 22   Ch 21 (corrected 8-24-13)
In the 6th chain from the hook, 3dc.
Skip 2 stitches, 3dc in same stitch.
Continue across, skipping 2 and doing 3dc in the same stitch.  When you reach the last ch, 1dc.  Ch3 (counts as a dc)

Crochet Granny Rectangle 1

In the space on the end created by the dc and foundation ch; 2dc, ch3, 3dc, ch3, 3dc. 2 corners on the end made.

3dc in each space between across…

At the next end; in the ch 5 space 3dc, ch3, 3dc, ch3, 3dc to make the corners on the other end.

Now, go across the other side, making 3dc in each space between…

Slpst into the top of the beginning ch3 and there you have it!

ABetterGrannyRectangle

I find diagrams so helpful (pretend you don’t notice that I forgot the ending slpst in the diagram):

Better Granny Rectangle Diagram

and another, to help with the maths of the repeats in case you want a different size…

GrannyRectangleDiagramRepeat

Updated 2/25/16:  Here is a diagram with another round of crochet added. To continue on, you would repeat as in the 2 rounds shown. Update: you can do ch2 in the corners if you find ch3’s are too much. Ch3 works fine for smaller projects, but ch2 would be better for larger items.

BetterGrannyRectangle-Diagram1

Update 1/17/17
This is A Better Granny Rectangle v2.0. The difference is ch2 on the corners and ch1 in between the 3dc’s. For those times you are using this to make a blanket and want to make your grannies with the ch1 between clusters. To change the size, adjust by 4 ch’s.

better-granny-rectangle-diagram-version-2-0

I am feeling that the added space in the starting chain in this 2.0 version is too much, not working as neat and tidy as I would like. Looks like this will be evolving even more, stay tuned!

Mitered Granny Square

by Sue, posted in Blankets, Patterns, Tutorials

Updates:

1/21/17: A new version that is done with ch2 corners and a ch1 between the 3dc clusters, diagram for Mitered Granny Square 2.1.

Diagram for Modern Mitered Granny Square.

Helpful links:

Link to Sliding ring tutorial, if you would like to start your squares the way I do.
Link to Join As You Go tutorial, if you would like to check out how I like to join granny squares.

These are the directions for the blanket I first showed in the Crochet in Progress post, here is a better photo (the colors look a bit washed out, the sun was bright):

And a closer look, remember it is posed on a chair, instead of lying flat so the squares look less than square. Continue reading “Mitered Granny Square” →