Crochet Again

Update

Please see my newer post A Better Granny Rectangle.  It’s a different way of starting a rectangle, and obviously I think it is better, depending on what you want : )

I have been unsatisfied with how I was doing granny rectangles.  I didn’t like how the center start didn’t match the rest of the fabric, where the clusters align instead of alternating and the starting chain is obvious.  I thought of a different approach, I think I like how it turned out.  This is my first tutorial, I hope it makes sense.  if something isn’t clear please leave a comment and I’ll see if I can make it make sense : )

To Start

Make a sliding ring.  Draw up a loop and ch 6(counts as dc, ch3), 3dc, ch3, dc in the ring.

Tighten up the ring and chain 3.

Rows

Turn, and work as a row on the bottom side with 2dc in the first ch space and 3dc in the next ch3 space.  Ch3 and turn.

Make 3dc in the space between the 2 groups of 3dc of the previous row, and 1dc in the top of the ch3 of the previous row.  Ch 3 and turn.

Continue working as rows, alternating with ch3, 3dc in next space, dc in the top of the ch3 of the previous row for 1 row and ch3, 2dc in the ch space, 3dc in the next ch space for the next row.  Make however many rows you want, but you want to end with a row that has a center 3dc and a ch3/dc at each end.

I am going to change colors, so I am ending with a ch3 instead of a dc.  That gives a consistent ch3 for each “corner” of my rectangle.  If I was going to keep on with the same color, I would just do a dc, ch 3 for the round instead.

Slip stitch to the top of the ch3 of the previous row.  End off.  You now have a narrow rectangle of rows, with corner spaces.

Rounds

Attach a new color in a corner space with a dc (or slpst, ch3).  2dc, ch3, 3dc.

Continue around, doing 3dc along the side in the space between the 3dc’s of the rows and 3dc, ch3, 3dc in each corner space.

And there you have it, a crocheted granny rectangle.