The Granny Square

I’m just going to come out and say it – I LOVE GRANNY SQUARES!  I can’t really say exactly why, except that this was how my grandma taught me to crochet.  I still have the first project I can remember making.  Here are a few pics:

When I was in high school, my grandma taught me to crochet and opened up a whole new world of obsessive addiction.  I loved it so much I would take it to class because I was one of those students who always had her work done before the rest of the class.  I just couldn’t stand to waste a moment.

This particular scarf is made in a cheap acrylic yarn, something that came into popularity in the 70’s.  It’s a little stiff and not as comfy as today’s fabulous natural fiber yarns and modern acrylics.  I would never choose a yarn like this now.  But, let’s consider that this was made over 35 years ago and it still looks great.

The granny square has become my go-to project.  For me, it’s so satisfying to make.  It’s like a whole series of mini projects.  I find the repetitive nature of the granny square and of crochet itself cathartic and healing.  It makes the absolute perfect traveling project.  And, let’s talk about the infinite number of color combinations that make every granny square project look different. There’s a trade-off, though – sewing all those squares together.  You don’t really think about that when you’re making the squares.  When presented with stacks of squares, however, the join-as-you-go method looks pretty darn great!

I’ve made many granny square items since that first scarf.  My most recent is a trio of baby blankets for the newborn triplets of extended family.  That pattern will be arriving on the scene soon.  Here’s a teaser:

What’s your favorite granny square story?