Planet Yarn Granny Square Pattern and Diagram

There are many, many ways to hook up a granny square.  And this, I find, can be a bit of a problem!  How do you remember which particular variation of the granny square pattern were you using to make your ongoing pile of squares? 

I decided to solve my dilemma by creating a Planet Yarn version of the pattern so I would always know which pattern I'd been using!  I thought it would be useful for other granny squarers out there too, particularly if it had a diagram to go with it too!

I had a brief battle (I was victorious) with a cracking little piece of free software called Stich Works Software and came up with this pretty little picture:



created with Stitch Works Software

Here's the key:

And here's the written instructions:

 

Ch 4 and slst to make a ring

Round 1: ch3, all following double crochet  stitches into the 4ch ring: 2dc, ch3, 3dc, ch3, 3dc, ch3, 3dc, ch 3, stst into third ch of starting chain.

Round 2: ch3, *3dc into next ch space, ch3, 3dc into the same ch space*, repeat until last ch space, 3dc into last ch space, ch3 2dc into same space and slst into third ch of starting ch. 

Round 3: ch3, 3dc into next ch3 space, ch 3, *3dc into same ch space, 3dc into space in round 2, 3dc into ch space, ch3* repeat from * twice, then ch3, 3dc into 3ch space, 2dc into same ch space and slst into third ch of starting ch.

 

Here's a hooked up square using Stylecraft Special dk in Empire and a 5.5mm hook.

 

 

 

Now, if, like me, you have multiple projects on the go and can never remember which hook you were using, I'd like to introduce you to a fantastic little gadget:

 

photo from Lana Bou

 

 

It's a stitch marker with the hook size you're using on it!  Very clever indeed!  A fabulous Etsy shop called Lana Bou stocks these stitch markers. 

My markers have beads that match the handles of the knitpro crochet hooks that I love so much I sell them in my shop!

Give Kate, the shop owner, a message on the checking out part of her shop to let her know which numbers and colours you'd like, she is very friendly and will help you get exactly what you need.  She also made me my rather fabulous 'crocheter' necklace too.  Have a mooch, it's a lovely shop full of pretty yarny related shinies! 

And now a completely gratuitous shot of my very own 12 x 12 granny square blanket I'm hooking up, using my 'Empress' yarn pack from the Planet Yarn Shop.  Oh and look, a handy little stitch marker to remind me which hook I'm using...heh!  

 

 

Happy Hooking!

 

Baby Baseball Boots

Finally, I can post about these adorable little booties!  I was in the very privileged position of knowing that the baby the booties were being made for was going to be a girl, so sharing these fabulous pink booties would rather have given the game away!

I’ve made a few pairs of baby shoes, and I’ve learned: the first one I make is always too tight and to just frog it!  I concentrate so hard on the pattern my muscles must be super tense (I think I may forget to breathe at times too).  Once I’ve relaxed a little bit (by the time I get onto the second one) my tension is far more even!

I’ve tried (and failed) to make teeny baseball boots before so I scrutinised the patterns available on Ravelry to find one I might have success with.  I found this little gem!  Teri’s pattern is fantastically detailed with plenty of photos to reassure me I’m going along the right tracks.  I didn’t realise until after I’d finished but she’s also made a youtube video.  When you’re following a pattern that’s a bit tricky it’s really, really helpful to have so much support, it really helps me persevere.  For more of her wonderful crochet patterns go have a mooch around her fantastically named blog Knot Your Nana's Crochet. 

My only whinge (and it’s all to do with me being a lazy slattern) is that there are soooooo many ends that need sewing in.  But it’s because there are so many yarn changes, not a lot can be done to change that – it’s the nature of the finished item!

Hopefully these little boots will stay on (I always found my babies were very talented when it came to kicking off shoes and socks!) and look adorable on their gorgeous owner Imani.

As usual I used my go to yarn Stylecraft Special dk, because what is not to love about beautifully soft yarn in 82 colours that goes in the washing machine and tumble drier!  I used the colours fondant and white.

Stylecraft Special Aran Special Offer

Well, the temperature has certainly dropped over the last few days!  Bonfire night was a very nippy evening out indeed!  There was also a rather thick coating of ice on the car windscreen this morning.  Brrrrr!  If, like me, you are rather fond of yarn that's a little more chunky than DK because it knits and crochets up faster...then some lovely aran weight Stylecraft Special Yarn could be just what you're after.  There isn't quite the colour range of Stylecraft Special DK but there's still some very, very scrummy colours to be had and it's just as snuggly soft and durable.  And for the next week you can grab some for a little bit less than usual!  Up until Sunday you can have a 100g ball for only £2.00 (usually the still very reasonable price of £2.25) from the Planet Yarn online shop.  Remember you also get free postage on all orders over £25 too. 

Keep warm and keep stitching!  As my friend Maria's tattoo says: Knit fast, die warm!