Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

GRANNY’S NOT SO OLD…..

by

I took the first of a series of ‘Advanced Crochet’ classes last night at Knit and Caboodle in St. Charles, Missouri with the lovely Christina Marie Potter as the teacher.  I was one of the more ‘advanced’ students (which is a particularly scary thought!!).  Two of the six students really wanted to learn the basic granny square.  Christina hadn’t anticipated getting to that point during the first class, but she pulled out a pattern from a newly published book (a crochet for tots book) and started us off with the basics.  I hadn’t made a granny square in a couple of years.  Couldn’t believe how rusty I was!!  But, pretty soon, I was back in the groove.  The other gals got up to speed very quickly.

Christina had pulled three crochet books off the shelf for us to browse.  This one, I think it was a Candi Jensen,

Lately, I’ve found some great new ‘twists’ on the time-honored Granny Square.  Wanted to share this one with you.  I think it’s my favorite:

http://crochetme.com/patterns/granny-spiral

http://crochetme.com/patterns/granny-spiral

Think of all the cool things you could do with this little spiral granny!  I’m itching to get my scraps out right now but I can’t since I’m headed out the door to a working dinner.  Rats!  When I get home, it’s me, the sofa, and my scrap yarn!

Comments

  1. This is absolutely gorgeous! I “collect” squares (all roughly the same size but each different and unique) to put together into a very interesting afgan which increases in size regularly! Many thanks for sharing the link. Good luck with the rest of the class – I’m very jealous! 🙂

  3. WOW! This is beautiful. At first look it lood quite difficult, but after taking a longer study of it, it think it is quite simple. I think I will try it. Will let you know how it comes out.

  4. I am making a Turtle Afgan for my Grandma as a suprise! The shell is made from all different granny squares.(in browns and green colors) Then, I will attach a head, and four feet…and a tale of course.

    This square is Beautiful, and I think it would be an amazing square for the project! Love it! will give it a try to make. 🙂

  7. Debbie,
    Look at the links under the pictures. You might have to cut and paste since many of the older links have been disabled.
    jd

Have you read?

The Pancake Market Bag – Free Crochet Pattern

Looking for a lightweight, stylish, and oh-so-practical tote to take with you everywhere this season? The Pancake Crochet Market Bag might just become your go-to favorite. Whether you’re heading to the farmers market to grab some fresh produce, packing snacks and sunscreen for a relaxed summer stroll, or dashing out the door for a quick last-minute errand, this bag is ready to tag along.

It’s surprisingly roomy—big enough to carry all your essentials (and then some!)—yet it folds up small enough to tuck into your car or coat closet without fuss. The openwork stitch gives it a breathable, airy texture that’s super satisfying to crochet and even more delightful to carry. Plus, it’s endlessly reusable and eco-friendly, so you can ditch the plastic and feel great about your handiwork.

I stitched mine up using a warm mustard cotton I had on hand (a little stash buster win!), but honestly, this pattern would look beautiful in just about any color. Try a bold berry for a pop of personality, a classic cream for a minimalist vibe, or even stripes if you’re feeling playful. Once you’ve made one… fair warning: you’ll probably want to make more!

Let’s dive into the pattern!

 What You’ll Need:

 Finished Measurements:

  • Approximately 15” wide x 13” tall (not including handles) 

 Stitch Abbreviations (US terms):

  • ch – chain 
  • sc – single crochet 
  • dc – double crochet 
  • sl st – slip stitch 
  • st(s) – stitch(es) 
  • sk – skip 
  • rep – repeat 

 Special Notes:

  • The base is worked in joined rounds. 
  • The body of the bag is stitched in the round, but you won’t be joining after each round—just keep going in a spiral and use a stitch marker to track the first stitch. 
  • The handles are created by chaining across stitches, then the final edge is reinforced. 

 Let’s Crochet the Base:

Round 1: Begin with a magic circle, ch 1. Work 8 sc into the ring. Pull it tight and join to the first sc with a sl st. (8 sts)
 Round 2: Ch 1, make 2 sc in each st around. Join. (16 sts)
 Round 3: Ch 1, sc in first, 2 sc in next—repeat from * to * around. Join. (24 sts)
 Round 4: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next—repeat around. Join. (32 sts)
 Round 5: Ch 1, sc in next 3, 2 sc in next—repeat. Join. (40 sts)
 Keep increasing in this manner, adding one more sc between increases each round until you reach 80 sts (about Round 9).

 Build the Bag Body:

Now switch to working in continuous rounds.

Rounds 10–13: sc in each st around. (80 sts)
 Round 14: [dc in next, ch 1, sk 1]—repeat around. (approx. 80 sts depending on exact starting point)
 Round 15: dc in ch-space, ch 1—repeat.
 Rounds 16–25: Repeat Round 15.

Alternate a few more rounds of single crochet with rounds of [dc, ch 1] to build height and texture. Keep going until the bag measures about 12–13” tall from the center of the base.

 Add the Handles:

Next Round (handle setup):

  • sc in next 12 sts 
  • ch 30 (for handle), sk 15 sts 
  • sc in next 25 sts 
  • ch 30, sk 15 sts 
  • sc to end of round. 

Final Round: sc around, placing 1 sc in each sc and 1 sc in each ch across the handle chains. This gives the straps some strength and a nice finish.

Fasten off and weave in all ends. Give your bag a little stretch or light steam block if needed.

 Tips:

  • Cotton yarn gives the bag structure and durability. 
  • You can easily size up the bag by adding more rounds to the base before beginning the body. 
  • Try using multicolor yarn for a fun summer vibe.