Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Colorful Granny Squares

by

100 colorful granny squares to crochet book

This book is truly colorful   and is full of wonderful granny squares that will inspire you to organize all your partial skeins of yarn to create many, many squares.

There are oodles of free granny square patterns online, so why buy a book of them?  One really useful reason is that Leonie Morgan has included information on how much yarn of each color you’ll need to complete enough of any particular square to make an afghan in a variety of sizes.  For instance, for a traditional granny square composed of five colors, you’ll need 2 yards of the central color (A), 3 yards of the next color (B), 6 yards of the next one (C), 8 yards of the next color (D), and 9 yards of the edging color (E), resulting in a total of 72 yards of color A,  and so forth to make an entire baby afghan.  No more running out of yarn when you’re three fourths of the way through the baby afghan the weekend before the shower!

Also, Morgan has included some truly outstanding squares that I have not seen elsewhere.  The Bobble Heart on Page 54, shown worked up into a colorful and sweet baby afghan on the next page is a stunner.  I’m not much for popcorns and bobbles, but I’ll be making this afghan.  Other appealing squares includes a mitered square with a star called Stars and Stripes, the Mitered Flower which reminds me of a sunrise, and the Frilly Circle shown in three presentations are all spectacular.  There are also cross stitched squares, ripple squares, 3D squares, and lots of flowers  The color play alone makes the book a good read!

Each of the 100 patterns has a clear, color photograph, written instructions, and a chart in addition to the detailed yardage information.  Since I’m not a fan of joining squares (although I will do it), there are plenty of these patterns that could simply be worked into larger, one block afghans.

Book Specs:

100 Colorful Granny Squares to Crochet by Leonie Morgan

St Martin’s Griffin Press, 2013

8X8 inch soft cover with 144 pages and hundreds of color photos

ISBN 9781250025128

$21.99 USD

Have you read?

Crochet Christmas Dove Ornaments With a Printable Gift Poem

There is something especially lovely about a handmade gift that comes with a few thoughtful words. These crochet Christmas birds pair a folded yarn ornament with a decorative poem card, turning a little crochet project into a keepsake.

The design has a rounded head, a tiny embroidered eye and beak, and a forked tail. A broad overlapping section forms the wing, giving the bird that folded, origami-inspired appearance. It is a simple-looking shape with plenty of handmade charm.

A Crochet Bird That Doubles as a Gift Topper

What appeals to me most is the idea of using the bird twice. Tie it onto a wrapped present as a gift topper, then let the recipient hang it on their Christmas tree afterwards. The wrapping gets recycled, the ribbon goes into somebody’s “far too useful to throw away” drawer, and the bird becomes part of next year’s decorations.

Cream would be a lovely choice for a Christmas dove, while cranberry red, sage green and dusty blue offer a different seasonal look. Keeping the wing plain lets the crochet texture and folded layers stand out.

For a personalised crochet gift tag, an embroidered initial is a sweet addition. One small letter gives the ornament a purpose without needing to squeeze an entire name onto the wing.

The Printable Christmas Dove Card

The accompanying printable brings the gift together. Watercolour-style holly, evergreen branches, berries and gold accents frame the card, with space above the poem for attaching the crocheted bird.

The original Christmas poem shares wishes for peace, joy and love, then invites the recipient to hang the dove on their tree. There is also a “With love from” line, so the finished card feels like a complete little present.

I would print it on firm cardstock and attach the bird with a removable thread or ribbon loop. That way, the recipient can lift it off the card easily when it is time to decorate the tree.

It is a thoughtful Christmas gift concept, especially for crafters who enjoy making small decorations with a personal touch. The bird and poem card belong together: a little handmade ornament, a Christmas wish, and something to bring out again next December.