Sweet Fabric [Search results for granny square

  • How to make a granny square necklace...

    How to make a granny square necklace...

    Since I posted the granny square necklace I've had a few emails & comments asking for a little how to.

    If you know how to make a granny square you can easily make one of these sweet necklaces. You don't need to follow a pattern at all. Just have a go. I think that all you really need to know is that I used embroidery floss, & a 3mm hook (but I'm super tight - so maybe choose something smaller).

    If you are a rule follower (like me), it's all there in the slide show.

    I've chosen a traditional granny square because in my opinion if it ain't broke...don't fix it. I love everything about a granny square. You can read about all about it here.

    How To Make A Granny NecklaceView more presentations from kootoyoo.

    I'm not trying to teach anyone how to make a granny square. There are plenty of tutes around for that. My "pattern" uses Australian/UK terminology so if you're in the US you'll need to double where I say treble.

    There's a PDF tutorial here if you'd like to "print & keep".

    You might like to try

    Purl Bee (US terminology)
    Sarah London on Flickr (Aus/UK terminology)
    & Pip has put together a few posts on granny squaring too.

  • Why I love a granny square...

    Why I love a granny square...

    Friday Archives hosted by Loobylu.

    I'm sharing this pic of the smallest to help explain the love of the granny square. This image really is an archive - she's a big(ish) girl now.

    Some of you may have heard this story already - if that's you feel free to find some fresh content in the sidebar (I've been inspired by Pip's recent housekeeping & done a bit of my own).

    So...on with the story. We were given two bunny rug size granny blankets when the big girl was born.

    I was unimpressed to say the least. Crocheted from Patons Feathersoft - I thought that they were pretty yick. Consequently they were used only to keep the lovely woollen blankets firmly tucked around our sleeping babes.

    The smallest ferreted them out of the side of the cot when she was about 6 months old and she and the "Hucky" have been inseparable ever since.

    Now, thanks to Brown Owls (& a good friend) I'm totally up to speed on the Granny Square.

    Want some more Granny Square links?
    Granny-Along on Flickr (thanks Fran)
    Grannyalong Blog

  • Proud moment...

    Proud moment...

    Eeeek...I taught the big girl to granny square. She's really, really good. Her granny square is lovely & square & even.

    Pt Lonsdale is home to a beautiful shop called Wildpurl so the lucky girl learned to crochet using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. This was absolutely the perfect yarn for a small person to learn with. It doesn't separate at all.

    Our break was really lovely.

    The pace at Lonsdale is super slow & the only planned activities for the day are the run, coffee & the dog beach.

    I devoted my down time to crochet & was feeling quite pleased with my efforts until I laid these squares & the 21 I had at home out & realised that I'm probably only half way to my goal. I really think that I'm going to have to revise the original plan & just make it big enough to drape across the foot of the bed. That would be OK wouldn't it?

  • Amazing...

    Amazing...
    Granny Square Victoria Mason

    Well here it is! The Granny Square necklace by Victoria Mason. As amazing as it looks in this photo - it's so much better in real life. Just how Victoria has managed to make it drape & curl is beyond me.

    You might remember that Victoria asked me to crochet her a tiny square & if you follow her blog (& you should because she's so amazingly generous with her process) you will have seen it develop further...

    here, here & here.

    Victoria's work is incredible, every piece she makes has a beautiful story behind it & the attention paid to every step of the process is beyond compare.

    Victoria has given this to me to pass on to one of you! Amazing!

    These are brand spanking new (not yet available for sale) & this one is a one-off. Vic was trialling enamel colours and has settled for a couple of different combinations for the "for sale" pieces.

    How lucky you would be to wear this piece around your neck? Want to be an early adopter? Comment away people & we'll draw a winner Monday night.

    Thank you Victoria for including me in the creation of this piece, for being so clever, for being so generous & just generally for being ACE.

    Comments now closed 10:44pm Monday 17 May. Winner announced Tuesday 18 May. Thanks.

  • How to make a granny shrug...

    How to make a granny shrug...
    Shrug

    You can do it too!
    Today is your day!

    How
    It seems that the mulberry granny shrug has inspired a few of you to have a crack yourself. That's super exciting & exactly why this patch of web space exists. Over the weekend Lara & I have worked together to present to you the whole box & dice for the granny shrug enthusiast.

    There's something for everyone. This is the master class...for lovely folk who like to follow a pattern, or maybe you need the visual (like me) or perhaps you'd like to watch a dinky video.

    If you know how to make a granny square then you know how to make this shrug. Just crochet yourself a couple of lovely granny hexagons.

    You can just skip over the "instructions" & make the granny exactly as you always do. Maybe you slip across to the next chain space...ripper knock yourself out. There is no "right" way to make it.

    You'll just end up with a lovely curly hexagon...good, that's great...exactly what we want. Just keep checking your sizing after each round to decide when you're done.

    Mine have been 9 rounds (in the Wilderness) but depending on your tension & hook size yours might be 8 or 10 or more. Keep folding the curly hex in on itself until you're confident that the fit will be right for you.

    the pattern
    My very favourite crocheter is Lara. She's one of the reasons I picked up the hook in the first place. She likes to be good at stuff & works hard to make sure she gets things right. Well, guess what? She's written a fabulous, fabulous pattern (it might not have posted yet...be patient) for you to print & keep. And spared you all from my effort at a written explanation. Thank you Lara, you're the very best & it was lovely to share the making of the how to with you.

    & the video
    Just so you know it was really hard to crochet standing up stradling a tripod & keeping (or trying) the crochet in the frame.

    Australian/UK terminology

    Yarn
    You've got a HUGE amount of flexibility here. You want to achieve a good deal of chunkiness & you'll just adjust your number of rounds accordingly so pick something that suits your style. I did make the suggestion the other day to use stash yarns crocheted together to make up the chunky style yourself.

    I used Patons "Wilderness" 14ply. I like it...A LOT. It's a blend so purists might like to check out other options but I think it's just the perfect yarn for the job. Here's why... (& where to buy too).

    OR you can have a go with 2 balls of 8 ply held together or whatever else takes your fancy. You'll just adjust your number of rounds according to tension & fit. Go nuts. Lara's using two strands of 12ply & is very happy with the result.

    Hook
    I'd say 15mm. I'm really happy with the result I'm getting with the 15mm hook. You need it to be loose so that you get a nice drape with the finished "fabric". We're not going for sturdy here folks...we want the pretty drape.

    Making Up
    I switched to a 2.65mm hook & just used double crochet up the centre back seam.

    Then I doubled along the top sleeve seams & single crocheted along the back of the neck opening to give extra strength.

    Again if you know how to do it your own way...do that. It will be great.

    What, haven't had enough? Here's the steak knife! A round by round for the visual learner.
    How to make a granny shrugView more presentations from kootoyoo.

    Other Stuff
    There's a flickr group. If you make a shrug we'd love to have it added to the group.

    HAC class? There have been a couple of requests for a HAC class for the shrug. If you still think you need it or would like to make it up with a bunch of other girls over tea & biscuits, I'd be happy to run it over two evenings. If you're keen please email me kootoyooATgmailDOTcom & if we get enough interest we'll go ahead.

  • Grannies are good...

    Grannies are good...

    Since my coffee & crochet session with this lovely girl I've been obsessing about Granny Squares.

    Then I checked in here & saw Claire's book with this gorgeous blanket on the cover. I spent some time pouring over a few vintage craft books and now I'm committed.

    I'm hoping to make a Granny Square rug for the foot of everyone's beds in the new ranch. I've made a start on ours.

    I think I'm going to aim for a square a night - I'll mix it up so I don't get bored. Every second night I'll do a square for the the little guy. He's having red white & blue. Very Jennyesque I think.
    49

  • Victoria Mason Granny Square...

    Victoria Mason Granny Square...
    Granny Square Victoria Mason

    Necklace winner is...

    Stomper Girl.

    Thanks for playing along everyone. If you really do want a necklace of your own perhaps you could send Vic a really nice email & she might sell you one before the official release.

  • Eye candy...

    Eye candy...
    Eye Candy

    Just a bit of granny square jewellery prettiness. I'm working on a "made to order" granny square ring - what fun!

  • Tracking square with Granny [Slide 13]...

    Tracking square with Granny [Slide 13]...

    .
    I love the term "tracking square" to describe dating. I've been having lots of dates with the hook lately. The Granny & I are working really hard at our relationship!

    My Grannies are eight rounds & beautifully square until round five & then things start to stray a bit. I tried really hard to embrace the wonk just as Jess said, but I can't - I'm flawed, I confess.

    I tried to manipulate her a bit...not much luck.

    I've changed my approach & I'm now doing a reversible Granny. I like it! A bit more solid in construction & I think the end result will be much more stable.

    Lovely & square - just the way I like it. It's all about laying the foundations after all.
    .

  • Tiny granny...

    Tiny granny...
    tiny granny

    I told you it was basic. There's no "look how I've turned this into that" magic. Just a granny square like any other.

    But this little granny is destined for greater things. It's in the mail now to someone very clever & creative who is planning to make something absolutely wonderful from it...

    I shall keep you in the loop.

  • Do you speak crochet?...

    Do you speak crochet?...
    Chunky Crochet Map

    I've just realised I missed a whole round of the .. in the centre of the double clusters. Blow.

    I found one of the hexagon jackets that inspired the granny shrug. I'd completely forgotten where I'd seen it most recently & it was (of course) Sarah London.

    I'm really pretty terrible at reading instructions & prefer to "read" the actual piece.

    But I've prepared a little "how I" rather than a how to.

    Yarn
    Caressa Express - it's one of those "super chunky fast knit yarns" which isn't a ply. As the gorgeous grey (& possibly the yarn) is discontinued I did a bit of experimenting yesterday to offer some alternatives.

    Chunky Crochet

    The top hex is the Caressa Express which actually works out kind of expensive as each ball is only about 50 metres long.

    The other grey one is a 14 ply which is about the same price per ball but has around 100 metres per ball.

    Finally, the blue is two balls of 8 ply crocheted together. This would probably work out around the same price as the 14 ply but what I like about this option is that your colour choice is massive.

    The Hook
    I used a 15mm hook. I am super tight though so you might want to try something a little smaller if you're an average or loose crochet queen.

    Begin
    It's just the same as crocheting a granny square (if you don't know how to to that you can learn from Pip or Sarah) except you're making your double clusters from the six points rather than four corners.

    I made my hexagons "reversible" which means that the work is turned after each round. There's no right or wrong side. I like it because it seems to keep my work nice & even. My squares are square when I use this method. When you're not changing colours each round it does seem more prone to wonk uncontrollably (for me anyway).

    Just keep adding rounds until it's the right size for you.

    Have a go! Pretty small time investment & it does look really cute over a long sleeved top.

    Granny Shrug Front
  • So wrong it's right ...

    So wrong it's right ...

    I found this at the Op Shop yesterday!

    I think that this girl may have just turned a lovely shade of pea (just as I did when I saw this).

    I couldn't believe my luck - I'd seen one there last week & as you might know grannies in good condition don't turn up that often. The ones I usually find in Op Shops look (& smell) like they've been used as dog's bedding.

    Last week I'd laid out the rug & ummed a bit, then I folded it neatly & put it back on the shelf. Despite being granny rug charming the colours were a bit off & it just didn't do it for me.

    But this little baby is absolutely the best granny rug I've ever seen. There's something in it for everyone.

    I asked the smalls which square they liked best & they all came up with a different one. I'm loving the red, green, blue & white one myself.

    Which is your favourite or is it way too wrong for you?

    Disclaimer: I fully understand that a granny square is an acquired taste (& one I acquired from the smallest).

  • Hearting brown...

    Hearting brown...

    OK, so maybe I'm not as in love with brown as I used to be. I blame the grannies.

    In an effort to re-affirm my love of brown & inspire new combinations of the same 3 or 4 shades I'm wearing:

    brown boots
    brown wool top layered under
    beige/biscuit vintage heart dress purchased from the Op Shop

    You can see more (not brown) granny action in Pip's granny a day flickr group here.
    & a giant granny square that Jhoanna picked up at the Op Shop too.

  • My stuff featured elsewhere ...

    My stuff featured elsewhere ...

    Fabric from one of my favourite vintage dresses

    Every once in a while something of mine turns up somewhere super lovely.

    Just for the record:

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    Spool holder

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    Christmas Decorations, Corner Bookmark, Granny Square Necklace, Spool holder

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    Confused about everything crafty out there? Not sure where to go and what to buy for your latest craft idea? Can't find that kitsch pattern that everyone else is talking about? Well worry no more! CraftGossip is all the latest news from real craft people telling you about the real stuff. We scour the net looking for the best craft ideas and projects and review them for you.
    Corner Bookmark, Embroidery on Dark Fabric, Hand pieced Pincushion, Photo to embroidery pattern, Twisted Cord

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    Mixtape Zine
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    my collection in issue 6

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    Twisted Cord

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    One Pretty Thing is a daily website dedicated to bringing you inspiring projects for a more beautiful life.
    Corner Bookmark, Drawstring Bag, Embroidered carry all, Embroidery on dark fabric, Fabric Notebook Cover, Photo to Embroidery Design, Quilt Quiver, Tealight Holder, Twisted Cord

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    Drawstring Backpack, How to fold a fat quarter

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    Simple square pincushion

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    Embroidered Carry All, Embroidery on Dark Fabric, Corner Bookmark, Handpieced Pincushion, Pillowcase Shoulder Bag, Sausage Dog CD cover, Simple Square Pincushion, Toadstool Pincushion

    Thank you lovely folk for the thumbs up. It's much appreciated.

  • Granny square ring...

    Granny square ring...
    Granny_Ring_Red_Ecru

    Ecru & Red Granny Ring

    I actually made this for myself but was concentrating on Spicks & Specks and not on the sizing. It's too big for me. Maybe you might like it?...here.

    Would you like to see one on a real hand?.

    Thanks all for playing along yesterday & for not minding that I wasn't about. x

  • Granny's ring...

    Granny's ring...

    A 3 round granny square done in 8ply on a 5mm hook would have taken me between 10 - 15 minutes.

    This took about 10 times that. Thinking that I really should wear my glasses.

    Obviously not going to be part of the king size blanket.

  • Lazy girl's guide to laying out a "quilt"...

    Lazy girl's guide to laying out a "quilt"...

    You might remember ages ago I got all inspired by this lovely girl & layed out my PJ quilt on the carpet.

    I had the very best intentions of actually stitching it up BUT all the pieces got in the way & I had to pile them up again. Once that was done I lost all enthusiasm & they have sat in a nice neat pile ever since.

    I've been slowly working on my granny square quilt/blanket & everytime I go to make up a new square I lay all the blocks out to see what I've got & what I need (or don't).

    Then I stack them all up again.

    So yesterday I made this piecing "quiver". I'm quite pleased. I've just safety pinned them on & then rolled the whole affair up & stowed it under the table in the pool room.

    Be lazy with me...

    I just used an old double bed doona cover & a couple of broomsticks from the hardware.

    I layed the stick on top of the doona & "measured" the casing for each side. Pin & machine stitch into place.

    & for the ties along the centre fold (wrong side of doona cover). Pin & machine stitch into place.

    Then I marked lines for a cot sized quilt & a single bed quilt

    & just ran lines of stitching. The doona cover I used had lines already printed on it ... a stroke of accidental genius.

    Once all the machining was complete I fed the broomsticks into their casings & then I pinned my blocks to the doona cover.

    Note: there's overhang at the top which I just folded down when ready to roll.

    I folded in half so that the sticks met

    & then rolled the sticks toward the mid line.

    I tied the ribbon loosely & stored.

    Disclaimer: This method would not be recommended by serious quilters I am quite sure...but it works for me.

    Also: if you know of anything similar to this please let me know - I'd like to check it out.

  • Hand bound & hand embroidered...

    Hand bound & hand embroidered...
    Notebook

    (faux).

    If you're a die hard kootoyoo reader (thank you from the bottom of my teeny tiny heart) you might remember I went to a Kaotic Kraft Kuties day to make my own hand bound book. Then for Backtack 4 I embroidered a notebook cover & bound it myself using the same technique. I loved that book but it did make me a little sad to think that once all the pages were used then that was the end of it.

    I know I've been guilty of buying lovely hand bound books and then not using them because I don't want to "spoil" them...such a waste. Maybe you have too?

    NotebookClose

    Anyhoo, I've made a faux one as a gift for The Big Girl's drama teacher & I'm most chuffed with it. I followed my own notebook cover tutorial to make it up & I love that not only is it refillable time after time after time but it can be washed too.

    NotebookSpine

    PS: Most excited that Vic now has the granny square necklace for sale (& it's in Frankie this month too).

  • Wonky Babushka...

    Wonky Babushka...

    For Jess...as part of the week of wonk.

    I like my first one better.

    I'm not sure what it is...maybe trying too hard. I need to stay loose & not overthink. I do like the patch up though & all the materials were "wonky". Ends of skeins/balls & otherwise "useless" bits & pieces.

    The granny square was given to the small, slept with her a couple of nights, ended up in her pj pocket, went through the wash (where it unravelled a bit), then in the tumble dryer and was rescued from the laundry floor for this project.

    The mushroom coloured silk embroidery thread was an absolute dream to stitch with.

  • Finders...

    Finders...

    Today I found:

    - that our camera has a multiple exposure feature
    - catching the train to be stress free
    - being in town was great fun
    - that Victoria Mason is cleverer than I ever thought
    - that I can crochet a granny square from Canterbury station to Flinders Street
    - that I really want to go to Sydney for Finders Keepers. I think it's going to be a fabulous event.