Granny Squares

Who still likes these?
I've already watched quite a few patterns and videos with patterns on YouTube, and I just can't get enough of them.

I like them, too. They’re always cool.

Granny squares are just great
https://www.crazypatterns.net/de/forum/topic/374/huebsches-haekelmuster-fuer-decken-oder-so

How long does it usually take you to make granny squares?
I’m asking because I want to figure out if I can finish this by Easter :D

Regards, Virginia

@FoxisNadel
With a little practice, _one_ granny square can be crocheted very quickly. It doesn’t take more than 1 to 2 hours if it’s a manageable size.
It just depends on how many granny squares you want to make—or what you plan to do with them.
If you want to make a bag, you obviously won’t need as many granny squares as you would for, say, a blanket or a bedspread.

Have you already found a pattern you like?
Then, of course, you’ll need some matching yarn of your choice so you can get started. Depending on how many granny squares you plan to make, you’ll naturally need more yarn.
If you’re making solid-colored granny squares, it might be practical to size them so that you use one whole skein of yarn per granny square. That makes it easier for you, because then you won’t have to switch to a new strand in the middle and weave in the ends within the granny square. After all, you’ll have the sewing work anyway when you sew all the granny squares together.
It just depends on whether you crochet relatively evenly, so that all the granny squares fit together well in terms of size.
In that case, it would be a good idea to count your stitches or rows.

Of course, if it’s a multicolored pattern, you won’t be able to avoid weaving in the ends inside the granny squares.

Why don’t you tell us what you have in mind, and then we can give you better tips?
Is this going to be an Easter gift?

Hello!
@muetzekatze: Now that's a detailed and really helpful answer :) 

Yes, it's going to be an Easter gift :) I was thinking of a small bag. I would start on it today, too. I got a pattern from a friend. It's about the same size as this bag here.

I’d also like to make a blanket out of granny squares, because I saw something like that at an acquaintance's place. Are all granny squares suitable for that? Maybe even elaborate ones like these?
Or should I use something simpler? I’ve already bought yarn. The blanket doesn’t have to be finished by Easter, since it’s for me :)

Best regards 

Hello FoxisNadel, I’m glad you liked my post. I’ve been crocheting Granny Squares for a blanket for a while now, so I’m pretty “into” the topic, so to speak. I also started a thread over there on the subject, if you’d like to click over. Crochet a blanket out of Granny Squares yourselfhttps://www.crazypatterns.net/de/forum/topic/6328/decke-aus-granny-squares-selber-haekeln As you can see, I’ve thought about it pretty intensively there—how I can handle it for myself, including the size of the Granny Squares, the number of squares, the colors and patterns, and also weaving in the ends and buying the yarn.
Maybe you’d like to join in writing over in that thread, too? 
The pattern you linked there has really pretty Granny Squares. So, if I understood correctly, you actually want to crochet a large bag? Somehow I had been thinking of a kind of shoulder bag, but what’s shown in the picture is more like a little pouch. But I think you’ll need a lining for it, because with this openwork pattern with the “gaps” in the granny pattern, small items might slip through.
Are your sewing skills up to that? Although, I’m thinking you could also sew it by hand if you simply cut the lining to fit, then place it on the Granny Square and sew the edge neatly. So, all the way around, basically. 

You should definitely still be able to manage that by Easter; with a shoulder bag it would have been more work, because depending on the size you’d need somewhere between six, twelve, and 18 Granny Squares, just as a rough estimate, although you have to divide the number by two for the front and back, and then of course you’d also need lining for it, possibly handles or a carrying strap, and maybe inside pockets too, and perhaps also bag charms or keychains to decorate the bag.

You may have noticed that bag charms on bags are the absolute trend this season. All of that might not have been finished by Easter. But the mini pouch will definitely still work by Easter. I’m just thinking about all the things you could put in it. I think I want one too. It’s super cute. Thanks for the idea. I’d always only thought of crocheting lots of Granny Squares and then making something out of them; it wouldn’t have occurred to me that you can make something pretty with just one Granny Square, too. The forum teaches you things : ) 

About the Granny Squares for the blanket, I think you can use anything you like and feel confident making. The grannies with the 3D flowers look great, but it will take you quite a while until you’ve crocheted enough grannies with 3D flowers for a blanket. Besides, I don’t know whether it’s really comfortable to lie on the blanket with that 3D texture. For a picnic blanket that might not be ideal, but if you want to cover yourself with it or use the blanket as decor, then of course that’s different.  

How about simply starting with a few squares, say about 4 or so, just crocheting them and then sewing them together? Then you’ll already have a small Granny Square square, and you’ll also see the progress right away better than you would if you only had a stack of grannies that still need to be sewn together. And then you can think about whether the grannies with the 3D texture look the way you imagine. And then, depending on your mood, you can crochet a few more grannies now and then and sew them on right away. So in that case I’d really recommend not waiting until the very end to do the sewing, because then it gets tedious. Better to switch between crocheting and sewing right from the start instead of having a mountain of grannies at the end and then spending days or evenings only sewing and not crocheting anymore.  

Once the blanket is big enough, you can also think about a pretty crocheted border. Maybe with bobble stitches too, since we currently have the thread about bobble stitches going. Did you read it? Maybe that would be something for you.

Do you want to make the 3D flowers in different colors, so several color combinations, or stick with just one color combination, or do everything in one color without emphasizing the blossoms with an extra color? Tell us a bit more about how you imagine it, and please take a look at the other thread with the Granny Square blanket. : ) It’s nice that someone else here is currently interested in crocheting a Granny Square blanket. : )  

I wrote the text in Word because it got so long and I didn’t want it to disappear if the browser acted up, so this will probably create adventurous paragraphs again.

Granny squares with 3D flowers—you name it, they’ve got it.
I’d love to have a little bag like that, too. It’s totally cute.

Dear muetzekatze, what a post! :)
Sorry for only replying now—I’ve been working hard until Easter :D
The bag worked out well, and I managed the weaving in as well. Thanks for the tip, because I hadn’t thought of that at all.

Now I might also feel like crocheting a big bag, for myself too. Or maybe for a friend whose birthday is in the summer. Then I could also try a bag charm. I’m really seeing those everywhere at the moment! It’s just a trend, like you wrote :)

The blanket is meant to be something for me to snuggle up in. I already have rose cushions, and I think these 3D flowers are a perfect match for that. But I’m taking my time with it, so it can take as long as it needs to.
Thanks also for the tip about alternating between sewing and crocheting—I’ll follow that.
The flowers should all be the same color, though. Maybe I’ll alternate between white and red now and then, but overall it suits my decor better this way :)
I could also try a border. Let’s see if I feel like it when I’m finished with the squares.

Regards, Virginia

@FoxisNadel
Glad you liked my post. Would you maybe upload a photo of your little bag? I think that would be nice.

How’s it going with crocheting the big bag for yourself and your friend? Are you managing okay?
You know that we’re here on the forum to help if you have any questions—even the pros, not just the beginners. ;)
Bag charms: Yes, for a change, I actually caught a trend there. Normally I’m always behind the trends or end up with things that never were a trend and never will be.
Even a beginner chicken finds a grain once in a while—or a trend or something. ; )

Rose pillow and rose blanket
if you already have a rose pillow, did you make it yourself?
But then you can just make it easy on yourself and use the pillow as a guide, both for the size and, of course, for the rose texture. The blanket is supposed to match the pillow, right?
But as far as the blanket goes, you can take your time. It’s summer now, after all, and you don’t need that many blankets—well, maybe for the evenings or for a picnic.
So, you’ll just have to crochet a bit faster ; )

Yes, I was thinking that alternating between crocheting and weaving in the ends might work well, and I figure that could be a good idea. I don’t really like weaving in ends. How do the other readers here on the forum usually handle that, anyway?

You can always add the border to your blanket later. So first crochet the blanket, sew everything together, then snuggle up with it, and add the border sometime later.
I’m just not sure right now about the washing part.
If you use a different yarn for the border than for the blanket itself, then it could happen that either the blanket or the border gets distorted somehow in the wash.
So I’d use the same yarn brand in different colors, so everything goes together. That way it will match in texture and yarn quality too.
And when you wash it—even at low temperatures or on the wool cycle—you’ll definitely need those color-catching sheets from the drugstore that catch any dye that comes out in the wash, so it doesn’t stain other things or, in this case, the roses in the other colors. If you don’t know them, just ask for them at the drugstore.
I mean, if you want to use red and white for your blanket, you just have to be careful when washing it, so everything doesn’t end up uniformly pink afterwards. Pink can’t possibly be trendy enough for that to be a good idea in this case.
But anyway, you’re not done crocheting the rose blanket yet, so you still have a bit more time for that. :) You need good-quality yarn for a project like that, otherwise it won’t work.

@Pros
how do you handle this? Do you wash the granny squares before sewing them together or only afterwards?
I’m just wondering whether that makes any difference somehow. Maybe the sewing thread gets distorted in the wash, or maybe the granny squares change size somehow and then everything no longer fits together?
If anyone would like to share tips on that, I’d be delighted. Thanks.

I’m bumping this thread again—maybe someone else would like to read it or say something about it or something.