Here's how your "Grandma" made a quick and easy crochet blanket. This is a method that beginners can learn quickly, as the technique used will be the same for each row of blankets. Using Grandma's square, you can make a blanket without having to carry it around with you. You will make the squares one at a time, then sew to hold them all together.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Getting the Best Equipment
Step 1. Choose a color scheme
Knitting yarn has many color options. The color you choose will affect the final look of your blankets, pillows, and other creations. Choose the colors you want to get the effect you want.
- Get a "gypsy" look by combining reds, dark purples, pinks, yellows, light blues and spring greens.
- Get that "old country" look by making brightly colored squares but uniting them all with black borders.
- Get a classic American look by combining white, red, blue, and pale yellow.
- If you don't really care about the look but still want to use this method to quickly knit a quilt, use only two colors (white and blue, for example) for a simpler look.
Step 2. Purchase the knitting yarn of your choice
Once you've determined the colors, you'll choose the best quality yarn for knitting. If you want to make a blanket for a baby, use the softest knitting yarn you can find. If you want to make a durable product, such as a pet bedding, use acrylic.
Step 3. Purchase knitting needles of the appropriate size
This crochet size is usually written on the pattern you want to use or on the weight of the yarn you have purchased.
If you're worried about the hook size, try it out by knitting a few rows in multiples
Part 2 of 4: Creating the Center Circle
Step 1. Join the six chains
Tie a knot around the knitting needle, loop the yarn around the hook and pull it through the loop on the knot--this means you've made one end of the chain. Once the thread you're pulling is looped around the hook of the needle, pull it and make a second loop through it, creating the end of the second chain. Leave at least 10.2 cm of thread at the beginning of the skein just in case you need it.
Step 2. Slip the stitches to the end of the first chain
This will form a small ring. Drag a new loop through the loop already on the hook, also past the end of the chain.
Step 3. Join the three chains
This is the same as if you were doing a double crochet.
Step 4. Double crochet
Make these two crochet pieces in the center of the ring.
Step 5. Sequence and duplicate again
Sew the two together and then make three double crochet pieces in the center of the ring. Do this 3 times, for a total of 4 k groups (multiple knitting).
Step 6. Slip the stitches to finish
Slip into the top of the three sets to complete this loop.
Part 3 of 4: Creating the Middle Row
Step 1. Start with a new color
Add a new color for each line you want. Start knitting with a new color from rg-rt (chain space, the space remaining from chain stitches between multiple crochet batches).
Step 2. Assemble three more
Do the same thing as when you double knit.
Step 3. Double crochet at the corners
In the chain space described above, do 3 double crochets (but don't forget that in your first set, the first double crochet was actually the triple crochet you did).
Step 4. Move to the next chain room
Thread two through the double crochet batch and make three double crochets in the next chain space. This will start the square to form.
Step 5. Shape the corners
Make 3 chains of chains to form a square corner and then do 3 multiple chains to fill the chain space.
Use 1 chain stitch if you want a tighter, rounder square as shown in the pictures
Step 6. Continue until the row is complete
Do this for all four corners, then tuck the stitch over the chain of 3 at the first corner to complete the loop. Each corner should have two double crochet sets (with three sets each), separated by three chain stitches.
Part 4 of 4: Finishing the Square
Step 1. Start working on the next row
Change the color if you want.
Step 2. Continue in the same way to work the next row
Double knit 2 sets of three stitches (separated by three chain stitches) into each corner. Do only ONE batch of double crochet (three in total) into each "flat side" of the chain space, with two chain spaces between the groups located in the corners and center of the square.
Step 3. Create as many rows as you want
The amount of side space will continue to grow.
- You can make a teapot base by adding a thick piece of fabric to your square, make an ornamental ornament using a lighter knitting thread, or a baby blanket using a soft knitting yarn in baby colors. You can also make an afghan by knitting one large square or combining several smaller squares.
- The resulting squares can be joined by sewing or knitting them together using a single crochet or slip stitch system.
Step 4. Done
Tips
- Larger projects will be completed quickly if you use a larger needle/hook and thicker thread.
- When starting and ending a color, always make sure that the ends are tied securely and hidden. You can do this by knitting the ends of the color into a square, or knitting them later with a carpet needle. Be careful and make sure you leave enough thread. There's nothing worse than finishing up a quilt and seeing it ripped because the remaining thread isn't long enough to hold the ends and the middle together. But don't use knots, as they will feel hard and distracting and won't be very strong in holding your squares together.
- If you are making teapot bottoms, use cotton or wool yarn, not acrylic. Acrylic will melt when exposed to heat.
- Darker knitting yarn will make it difficult for you to count your stitches. Use a brightly colored yarn for your first try.
- When making a granny square blanket, make sure that the yarn tension is the same on all parts of the blanket.
- Grandma's squares can also make great scarves when woven in rows - a project that requires fewer squares than a quilt project.
- Go slow, so you can prevent mistakes, and check periodically every few stitches to make sure everything is lined up correctly.
- Try varying the yarn colors, changing them after you've finished a row or two.
- You can weave the ends later, but it will be easier for you to do this in the last row and knit through it while doing the next row, this will make sure the ends stick together neatly… You can also weave after you're done, but make sure you will weave it in both directions so the threads won't come loose…
