The Granny Square Book: Timeless Techniques and Fresh Ideas for Crocheting Square by Square (40 page)

BLANKET

Made with 4 colors: MC, A, B, and C.

Blanket is made in 40 squares and then sewn together.

Make 40 #16 Jeannine Squares, following the directions on
page 36
. Using tapestry needle, sew squares tog in 8 rows of 5 squares each, sewing from WS, tbl of last row, leaving ridge on RS of work. Weave in ends.

BORDER

RND 1:
With RS facing you, join MC in top right corner and, in ch-2 sp of first square, ch 1, (half corner), *work in sc tbl, working 1 sc in each st to next corner, [1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc] in corner sp, rep from * 3 times more, ending with ch 2, join with SI st to beg ch 1, do not turn.

RND 2:
Ch 3 (half corner), *work 1 dc in each st to next corner, [1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc] in corner sp, rep from * 3 times more, ending with 1 dc in next corner sp, ch 2, join with SI st to top of beg ch 3, do not turn.

RND 3:
Ch 1 (half corner), rep from * in rnd 1, fasten off.

PILLOWS WITH PANACHE

My daughter, like many women her age, is an expert multitasker. Besides caring for her family and their home, she is a highly skilled medical professional who still finds time for playing tennis and teaching tennis lessons. Using the Jeannine Square that I used for my blanket on
page 155
, she designed these two pillows, which can be crocheted in a short time but are long on décor impact. For one pillow, she simply took the basic Jeannine Square and continued the rounds to make a giant square that fits perfectly on a purchased knife-edge pillow. Her argyle pattern pillow front features nine Jeannine Squares in different color patterns turned on point. Both designs are clever and simple.

LARGE SQUARE

Follow the directions for the #6 Jeannine Square (
page 36
), beginning with orange yarn for foundation and rnd 1.

Use tan for rnds 3 and 4.

Omit rnd 5 and continue work as rnd 4, always having 4 more dc between corners and at the same time, working color sequence as follows:

4 rnds orange, 4 rnds brown, 4 rnds tan, 2 rnds rust, 1 rnd sc in brown.

Work 1 rnd reverse sc in brown. Fasten off.

Block square by placing on a padded surface, sprinkle with water, pat into shape.

When squares are dry, pin on pillow; sew all around outside edge just under the reverse sc, allowing the reverse sc to form welting around edge.

ARGYLE PILLOW

Make 9 squares as follows:

3 squares using orange for foundation and rnd 1, brown for rnd 2, orange for rnds 3 and 4, brown for rnd 5.

3 squares using rust for foundation and rnd 1, brown for rnd 2, rust for rnds 3 and 4, brown for rnd 5.

3 squares using tan for foundation and rnd 1, brown for rnd 2, tan for rnds 3 and 4, brown for rnd 5.

Block squares by placing on a padded surface, sprinkle with water, pat into shape.

When squares are dry, pin into place on pillow following photo as a guide. Sew with matching thread.

TUSCAN TILE AFGHAN

The Tuscan Tile Square used to create this unusual afghan is great for blending colors and for creating an old-world look.

Made with 3 colors: A, B, and C.

Use #58 Tuscan Tile Squares (
page 93
):

GROUP 1 (CENTER):
Make 3 squares, foundation A, rnd 1 A, rnd 2 B, rnd 3 C, rnd 4 B, rnd 5 C.

GROUP 2 (SECOND ROUND OF SQUARES):
Make 20 squares, foundation C, rnd 1 C, rnd 2 A, rnd 3 B, rnd 4 A, rnd 5 B.

GROUP 3 (OUTER GROUP OF SQUARES)
: Make 34 squares, foundation B, rnd 1 B, rnd 2 C, rnd 3 A, rnd 4 C, rnd 5 A.

When all squares are made, assemble afghan as follows: Sew the center 3 squares (group 1) short ends together in a strip, from the wrong side, catching back loops only.

Work border around these squares as follows:

RND 1:
Join A in any corner sp, right side facing, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp (half corner), [*ch 2, 2 dc in next ch-sp, rep from * to next corner, 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner sp] 4 times, ending last repeat 2 dc, ch 3, join with a SI st to complete corner.

RND 2:
Ch 3, 1 dc in same corner sp (half corner), [*ch 2, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, rep from * to next corner, 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner sp] 4 times, ending last rep 2 dc, ch 3, join with a SI st to complete corner.

RNDS 3–16:
Rep rnd 2, fasten off A.

Sew group 2 of squares into 4 strips of 5 squares each, pin these squares around outside edges, sew in place as before.

Work 1 rnd C, 8 rnds B around entire blanket, repeating rnds 1 through 8 of first border.

Sew group 3 of squares into 2 strips of 8 squares, 2 strips of 9 squares, pin in place around outside edges, sew in place.

Join B, work 2 rnds around entire blanket, repeating rnds 1 and 2 of first border.

BLOCKING:
Lay flat on a padded surface, sprinkle with water, pat into place, using rust proof pins, pin in place, allow to dry.

PLACEMATS

Move on into the dining room, and let’s make some placemats. If you have solid-color dishes and you want to spice up the table a little, make your placemats with colorful yarn in the granny square border. For patterned dishes, crochet the entire placemat from one color. Cotton yarn makes them washable and lightweight.