The Granny Square Book: Timeless Techniques and Fresh Ideas for Crocheting Square by Square (2 page)

Designed by my grand daughter, this backpack shows her favorite colors and her love of anything denim.

My mum had taught me to knit when I was quite small, but I don’t remember her crocheting very much. I just sort of figured it out for myself when I was in my teens, when crochet hippy-style fashions were starting to come into vogue. I never actually made a granny square back then although soon after I started crocheting I remember I did create a very bright and lacy “granny circle” poncho using random circular motifs simply because I hadn’t yet figured out how to put in the corners!

–PRUDENCE MAPSTONE

I didn’t learn to crochet until age twenty-two when I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras. I learned by rote in Spanish. I have passed on the skills to both of my daughters, and one crochets more than the other.

–GWEN BLAKLEY KINSLER

I learned how to crochet from my mother when I was in the sixth grade because I saw her making granny squares and was dying to learn how to make them too. Since my mother is left-handed and I am not, it turns out that I was crocheting “wrong” like she did for thirty years before someone pointed it out! My teen-aged daughter is a sporadic crocheter—her favorite projects are long, skinny scarves and amigurumi.

–MARY BETH TEMPLE

YES! My mom did teach me when I was young. She taught me to sew and crochet, and we made stuff for Barbie! Not many granny squares until 1990 when I picked up a couple afghan books that rekindled my love for crochet. That’s when I went granny square nuts. THEN I discovered Freeform and the whole world changed! Recently Mom and I were crocheting together and she was asking me lots of questions. I kept saying, but you taught me!

–MYRA WOOD

Grannies really do span the generations. If you love to crochet, teach someone younger. If you don’t have a son or daughter to teach, maybe a relative or friend. A few simple lessons will equip someone for their lifetime journey of crochet learning and enjoyment. Keep the granny square going!

I hope that you enjoy the book as much as I have enjoyed doing it.

CROCHET BASICS

HOOKS AND OTHER NOTIONS

Crochet hooks are available in a range of standard sizes, and they can be made from metal, wood, bamboo, or plastic. Hooks may have slightly different shapes at the neck or hook, but their sizes, designated with letters, numbers, and metric diameter measurements, are universally used. In simple terms, the diameter of the shaft determines the size of the stitch a hook will make. The chart at right shows the correspondence between the letter and number sizes and the metric conversions. In addition to hooks, there are only a few other tools a crocheter needs. The list includes a tape measure, scissors for cutting yarn, stitch markers, and tapestry or yarn needles for sewing seams.

Some hooks have tapered necks; others have inline necks the same diameter as the rest of the shaft.

Yarn needles have a large eye for carrying the yarn and blunt tips to insert through stitches. The bent-tip style is particularly helpful for sewing seams.

GENERAL TECHNIQUES

Granny squares can incorporate any crochet stitch. Along with the following guide to the stitches you may encounter, you will also find information about how crochet directions are written and how to interpret the stitch diagrams.

STITCHES

SLIP KNOT

Make a loop several inches from the end of the yarn, insert the hook through the loop, and catch the tail with the end (1). Draw the yarn through the loop on the hook (2). Pull on the tail to tighten the slip knot around the hook.