Re: Granny Squares? instructions

On 21 Sep 2005, LibraryCat513 wrote:

> Yes, I can put up with specific directions.
>
> Also, it seems that I'm not sure which
> direction to crochet it in. The picture directions I found showed it
> being crocheted counterclockwise, but when I do it, counterclockwise is
> awkward and I have to go clockwise. Make any sense?
>
>
Okay, here goes, written instructions to crochet a granny square.
And please ask any questions for further clarification. I don't
have an image file of any of the granny squares I have crocheted,
perhaps someone can attach one and send it to the list or to you
directly.

Since you wrote that you want to crochet the round clockwise
instead of counter-clockwise, that suggests to me that you are
possibly holding the crochet hook in your left hand and doing
things in reverse so to speak. I suspect that if that's the case,
no problem, if there are crochet directions anywhere that indicate
directions to go, just do the opposite. I myself hold my crochet
hook in my right hand and crochet a granny square in a counter-
clockwise direction, but I'll give 'handed-neutral' directions
below.

You already know how to get the first round. this leaves you with
four clusters of 3dc and three corners of 3ch. Now what you want to
do is ch3 (if you have finished the first round with a sl st), or
ch2 (if you have finished the first round with sc1). This makes
("simulates") the first dc of the next cluster of dc3 in the second
round.

Now is an important part: rotate the granny square you have started
by 180 degrees, so that you will be crocheting stitches in the
opposite direction of the first round. that is, if the side of the
granny square that was facing toward you was a photograph, turn the
photograph so that you are now looking at the backside of the
photo.

You'll notice that the ch2 or ch3 that you just crocheted is at
(very close to) the start of one of the corners. Since the ch2/ch3
is the first dc of a cluster of dc3, you need to crochet dc2 into
the corner formed by the ch3 in the first round, to finish that
cluster. At which point crochet ch3 (to make a new corner), then
dc3 into the same corner as the previous dc2. So you've just
finished a full corner, the first corner of round 2.

Now, repeat the following 3 times (finishing round 2):

ch1, dc3, ch3, dc3.

You will probably see that written as something like:

* ch1, dc3, ch3, dc3. Rep. from * 3 times., in crochet directions.

This almost finishes the second round, so you'll need to connect
the yarn to the ch2/ch3 which started round 2 - again, either using
a sl st or sc, your choice. (see tip below)

Once again, if you used a sl st to finishe the round, ch3; if you
crocheted an sc to finishe the round, ch2. And once again, turn
what you have crocheted 180 degrees to start the next round, if you
are going to crochet another round.


to start round 3, you'll notice that instead of being at the start
of a corner (ch3), you're along a straight edge space (ch1). dc2 to
finish the first cluster of round 2, and follow the general
directions below.

You'll probably notice a pattern developing now. Based on the
previous round that you are crocheting into:

Into each ch1 in the previous round, you'll crochet dc3 (it's part
of a straight edge);

into each ch3 corner of the previous round, you'll crochet dc3,
ch3, dc3 (it's another corner);

along each straight edge, each cluster of dc3 is separated by ch1;

at each corner, each cluster of dc3 is separated by ch3.

You'll probably also notice that the number of clusters of dc3 on
each straight edge is also the number of the round you are
crocheting. For example, if one straight edge of the round that you
are crocheting has 4 clusters of dc3, you'll know it's the fourth
round in the square.

Tips: if you prefer to use a sl st to finish a round, do it into
the top ch that started the round. And, make sure that when you
crochet the ch2/ch3 at the start of that round, make the last of
those 2 or 3 chains relatively loose, so you don't need to struggle
with inserting the hook into that bleepin' chain to finish the
round. *chuckle* You can accomplish this by using a larger hook,
which will create larger spaces in the stitches... which also works
if you want to make a long chain and then crochet something like sc
into them with a smaller guage hook, for the start of a scarf or
what-have-you (this is not a granny square).

To finish a granny square, you do need to use a sl st in the top of
the ch2/ch3 which started that round. Once you have made the sl st,
cut the yarn with several inches left hanging loose, and pull the
loop on your hook so the loose yarn gets pulled through. I think
this is called 'fastening off' - I'm not all that 'up' on all
crochet terms, and someone else can advise you on how to secure the
yarn more securely, since *oh my* I haven't really formally learned
this yet. lol

Hope that helps, best to you,

David


.

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