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THE BIG BOOK OF Granny Squares 365 crochet motifs TRACEY LORD with LUCY ADAM, KATIE CLAMMER, LINDSAY OBERMEYER, PAULINE RICHARDS, DEBORAH SMETHURST, AND LINDEY TYDEMAN For Sheila, my mum, whose unfailing love and faith in my abilities gave me wings. contents introduction choosing a hook choosing & buying yarns getting started choosing colors crochet basics starting out basic stitches making a square decorative stitches finishing off the patterns author biographies & acknowledgments copyright introduction Crochet squares have a long and well-documented history within the field of handmade textiles. All around the world different cultures have a tradition of working in motifs to create beautiful linens and exquisite shawls. Because of its versatility, crochet has enjoyed many revivals over the years, but in modern times it has seen an increase in popularity because it is so fast, economical, and portable; what could be better than working on your gorgeous new blanket while traveling to work on the train? Or perhaps the prospect of relaxing after a long day by making a square each evening, and using up pieces of your yarn stash at the same time, is irresistible? Either way, this book contains a wealth of potential for the creation of future heirlooms, thoughtful gifts, and stylish home furnishings. This book is intended to be a comprehensive collection of crochet square designs that can be combined into a range of pieces, from throws and afghans to purses and curtains. We have included squares to suit all levels of ability, from the novice to the more experienced crocheter. The squares are a mix of traditional in-the-round and linear grannies, and sometimes a combination of the two. Besides the classic designs there are lace, textural, three dimensional, and colorwork squares as well as flowers, composite blocks, cables, and bobbles. In short, something to tempt every crocheter’s taste. The collection includes both classic and historical motif designs updated in modern colors, as well as a huge range of original blocks created specially for this book. Whether your taste is for floral or lacy, textural or modern, there is plenty to capture your imagination and get you hooked. We have arranged the designs in a delicious rainbow of colors that are bound to have you itching to get started. Be warned, however, making motifs is an addictive pastime; even though this is an immense collection of designs, all the contributors and the author found that they still had even more designs in their sketchbooks after this book was completed, and found it hard to stop creating. Crochet is so much fun to play with, so do play. Crochet squares are the perfect medium for creating stunningly colorful pieces that you will treasure forever. We hope this book will start you off on a lifelong love affair with granny squares. Using the squares The squares in this book are designed to work up to about the same size, allowing you to intermix them at will. You might choose to alternate different designs to create a pillow, or you could use several color variations of a single square to make a blanket. Suggestions for use are given with many of the squares, but these are far from exhaustive. The beauty of working in motifs is that they lend themselves to such a wide range of possibilities, so you are positively encouraged to make your own choices and to devise your own color combinations. Each square has a symbol denoting the skill level required to complete it (see Difficulty rating). Basic stitch knowledge is all that is needed for the beginner squares, while the most complex-rated ones involve a series of different techniques and require the ability to follow a detailed pattern. Initially, choose designs that match your current level of skill and, when you are comfortable, challenge yourself with some blocks from the next level up. There is a stitch reference section to guide you through creating less familiar stitches, and when a square uses an unusual technique or stitch this is explained at the start of the instructions. We have also included advice on how to choose colors, materials, and equipment, as well as covering techniques for joining squares into a finished piece. What is not included are any prescriptive designs for completed pieces. We hope that you will use this book as inspiration to create your own unique pieces that are entirely personal to you. When choosing squares for your project keep in mind the end use of the piece: heavier, densely textured blocks will produce a warm fabric whereas lacy, open-textured ones will offer an airy lightness. Light or heavy blocks can be successfully mixed with medium weight squares without greatly affecting the balance of the resulting piece, but you can also choose to blend light and heavy blocks deliberately to create a contrasting effect. There are several ways you can approach creating your own design for a larger piece. If you are confident at drawing, simply drawing out your design idea is the most straightforward option. You could trace the design from the book to speed the process up, or use large-scale graph paper and make a design plan using colored pencils or pens. Another very simple method is to make up one square from each of the designs you’ve chosen and then make color copies or scans of each one. Create a few more copies than you think you need of each particular square. Cut out the copied squares and arrange them until you are happy with the overall design, then secure it on a larger piece of paper as a guide while working. For a larger project you could work out part of the design in this way, then repeat it over again to your chosen size. If you feel confident with technology, a digital program is particularly helpful when working out larger, more complex arrangements for bigger items, such as blankets. Make a sample square of each type you plan to use, photograph it and save the photographs onto a computer(cid:2015)it’s a good idea to reduce the size of each file at the same time to avoid an enormous, unworkable document. Open a new document in a word-processing or image- manipulation program and paste the photographs beside each other in repeat, moving them about until you are happy with the arrangement. This method also allows you to change colors, which is useful if you have a complicated design. Save the file when you are happy with the finished result. choosing a hook Crochet hooks come in many sizes and types, and it can be a little confusing to choose the right one. Check the ball band of the yarn you have chosen for the suggested hook or knitting needle size. It is recommended that you use the suggested size, but first make up a test square and check whether the finished fabric feels acceptable to you: if it is too tight, then use a larger hook size; if it feels too loose or open, then go down a hook size. It’s a good idea to start building a collection of hooks in various sizes in any case, and you will probably find that you use them all. Store them in a hook roll so that you can easily select the size you need. Hooks are made from metal, plastic, wood, or bamboo, and some have a rubber or plastic grip handle. Some hooks have a more sharply angled hook head than others. Every crocheter has their own preference; I have a beloved basic metal U.S. size F/5 (4 mm) hook that I have been using for years, but try a few types to work out what is most comfortable for you. However, if you have any form of muscular or arthritic difficulty, it is strongly recommended that you use a hook with a comfort handle because these are designed to reduce the strain on wrists and hands. Hook size U.S. Hook size U.K. Suitable yarn gauge B/1 2.0 mm Laceweight (2-ply) yarns C/2 2.5 mm Baby (3-ply) yarns D/3 3.0 mm Fingering (3(cid:2014)4-ply) yarns E/4 3.5 mm Sport (4-ply) yarns F/5 4.0 mm Light worsted (DK) yarns G/6 4.5 mm Thicker worsted (DK) yarns H/8 5.0 mm Worsted (aran) weight yarns I/9 5.5 mm Thicker worsted (aran) weight yarns J/10 6.0 mm Chunky yarns K/101⁄ 7.0 mm Bulky yarns 2