crochet 101 :: make a basic granny square

Crochet 101 is a series of crochet tutorials where I will teach you how to complete the basic stitches needed to crochet.

Hi :) 

I'm back today with another Crochet 101 lesson... A week late!!
I'm so sorry for the delay; things just were not working in my favor last week, hence no post on Friday (I couldn't believe I missed that day!! Grr!).

So without further delay, let's get things going!

In this series, we have learned how to:

• Make a slip knot
• Chain stitch
• Slip stitch (part II)
• Single crochet (part II)
• Half double crochet (part II)
• Double crochet (part II)
• Treble crochet (part II)
• Crochet in the back loop (part II)
• Crochet in the front loop (part II)
• Switch colors (part II)
• Fasten off and weave in ends
• Begin crochet in the round
• Read yarn labels
and
• Read a written pattern

Do you know what this means?!

Well besides the obvious post title, it means WE ARE STARTING OUR FIRST BEGINNER PROJECT!!

[Can you tell I'm excited?]

Lesson 23:

A granny square is a very popular crocheted motif. It is worked in rounds so the work is never turned to work on the other side. There are many variations of the granny square, but today we will be learning how to make the basic granny square.

*This tutorial assumes that you already know: how to begin crochet in the round, how to chain stitch, how to slip stitch, how to double crochet, and how to fasten off and weave in ends.

If you do not know any of these, please click the links listed at the beginning of this post and they will take you to that tutorial.

*NOTE: Because some of you are still new at this and most likely have not mastered reading a written crochet pattern yet, I will be including both the normal pattern directions and the written out directions (those will be in parenthesis). That should save you some time looking at your notes ;)

Today's tutorial will show you how to make a granny square using just 1 color.

(We will learn how to make a multi-colored granny square in tomorrow's tutorial.)

Let's get started!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You will need:

*Yarn

*Hook

*Scissors

*Yarn needle

In this post, I show you where to look for what type of hook you will need for your yarn.

Start with your preferred method of crocheting in the round.
For this tutorial, I have chosen to use the magic loop. If you choose to use one of the other two methods, ignore this step, begin setting up to crochet in the round, and then continue on to the next step.
(For the first method of making a center ring: you will begin with a chain 4, then join [as explained in the tutorial])

~Rnd 1 (Round 1)~
Step 1:
Ch 3 [counts as first dc here and throught]
(Chain 3 [This will count as a double crochet for this round and throughout the pattern; when the rounds start with a ch 3])

Step 2:

2 dc in loop.

(Make 2 double crochets in the center of the ring)

[1 dc...]

[...2 dc]

Step 3:

Ch 2.

(Chain 2)

[This makes the corner of the square and sets up the space where the second round of crochet goes.]

Step 4:

[3dc, ch2] 3 times.

(Make 3 double crochets into the center of the loop, then chain 2. Repeat this sequence a total of 3 times.)

 [3 dc...]

 [...ch 2 (1 repeat of 3)]

 [3 dc, ch 2 (2nd repeat of 3)]

 [3 dc, ch 2 (3rd repeat of 3)]

Step 5: 
*Move on to Part 2 if you are not using the magic loop starting method.
Part 1
Pull the tail of the yarn to tighten the loop (magic!).

Part 2:

Join in top of ch 3.

(In the top chain of the beginning chain 3, make a slip stitch to join the round.)

 [Find top chain: shown with the purple circle in the picture above.]

 [Insert your hook, yarn over...]

[...pull yarn through and complete a slip stitch]

Round 1 is complete!

Now this tutorial goes on to show you how to complete Round 2 of the granny square if you are using just 1 color. Of course you can also fasten off at this point and just make a ton of little squares to join later.

~Rnd 2 (Round 2~

Step 1:

Sl st in ea of next 2 sts and in ch-2 sp.

(Make a slip stitch in the next double crochet, make a slip stitch into the second double crochet, and into the chain 2 space [not the chains])

 [Next dc...]

 [...insert hook, yarn over, pull yarn through...]

 [...complete the first slip stitch.]

 [Move to next double crochet...]

 [...complete second slip stitch.]

 [Insert hook into the chain 2 space...]

 [...and complete the last slip stitch.]

Step 2:
Ch 3.
(Chain 3.)

Step 3:
[2 dc, ch 2] in ch-2 sp.
(Make 2 double crochet stitches into the chain 2 space and then chain 2.)

Step 4:
[3 dc, ch 2] 2 times in next ch-2 sp.
(Make 3 double crochets, then chain 2, then make 3 more double crochets and chain 2 ALL IN THE CHAIN 2 SPACE.)

 [Locate the next ch-2 sp...]

 [...3 dc, ch 2.]

 [Yarn over and go back into the same ch-2 sp...]

 [...and make 3 dc, then ch 2.]

Step 5:
Rep 2 more times.
(Repeat step 4 for the next 2 ch-2 sp corners; Make 3 double crochets, then chain 2, then make 3 more double crochets and chain 2 ALL IN THE CHAIN 2 SPACE. Move to the next ch-2 sp and repeat; make 3 double crochets, then chain 2, then make 3 more double crochets and chain 2 [all in the ch-2 sp].)

 [Move to next ch-2 space...]

 [...make 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, and ch 2 (all in the ch-2 sp; first repeat of 2).]

 [Go to next ch-2 sp...]

 [...and make 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, and ch 2 (all in ch-2 sp; second repeat of 2).]

Step 6:
3 dc, ch 2 in next ch-2 sp.
(Make 3 double crochets, then chain 2 in the next [and last] chain 2 space.)

 [Move to last ch-2 sp...]

 [...and make 3 dc, then ch 2.]

Step 7:
Join.
(Make a slip stitch to join the round.)

 [Insert hook into the top chain of the beginning ch 3, yarn over...]

 [...pull yarn through and complete a slip stitch.]

Round 2 is now joined and completed!

*If you want your square to be bigger:
Repeat Round 2: Steps 1-3, then repeat Step 4 for however many chain 2 spaces you have in the round, and finish off the round by doing steps 6-7.


*If you want to stop at Round 2, STOP at Step 6 of Round 2 and follow the steps below:

Step 1:
Thread your yarn needle.

Step 2:
Insert needle under both loops of the top chain of the beginning chain...

 ...and pull the yarn through (not too tight!).

Step 3:
Next, insert your needle into the back loop only of the last chain of the chain 2...

...and pull the yarn through.

 Pull in the yarn a little to make the loop snug, but not tight.

 This technique creates a nice finish that is almost unnoticeable:

Step 4:
Next, turn your square over to the backside and start to weave in the end.

Remember to give the end a slight tug before cutting so that it will slide back into the stitches for good hiding.

And that's it!

A basic granny square; completed!

Below are 2 videos I made to show these steps in action. I have added music to the videos because I filmed the videos with my phone and I don't know how to mute the background noise while recording. Feel free to mute the videos if classical music is not your thing lol


In this first video, I show all the steps described above for Round 1.


In this second video, I show all the steps described above for Round 2.
(Towards the end, I was having trouble getting my hook into both loops of the top chain to join so I just said forget it and stayed in the one loop... And for some reason I keep messing with the square at the end of the video... sorry for that lol)

There you have it; how to make a granny square. This tutorial shows how to make a one colored granny, but tomorrow we will learn how to switch colors so that we can make our granny square nice and colorful :)


See you back here tomorrow!

monday, funday :: vol 4

Hi :)

For today's Monday, Funday, I thought I'd share this cute little pumpkin crochet pattern:

(via)
Isn't it cute?!!
How about adding some safety eyes and an embroidered smile?

(via)
Or cut out some felt and glue it on for a jack-o-lantern look

(via)
And of course you can make up a whole bunch of these and keep them out as decoration until Thanksgiving :)

June of Planet June has great amigurumi tutorials and patterns. Check out her blog!

See you tomorrow!

blog updates + a little tour

Hi :)

I've been doing some small changes here and there lately on the blog so I wanted to take this moment to show you around the different parts of my blog.

I haven't had a chance to do this yet, so I thought this post might be helpful for my new readers (HI!!) as well as for some of you who may not have had a chance to explore this space yet.

So, let's start at the top of the blog:

::TABS::

HOME - Clicking this tab will take you to the main front page of my blog.

ABOUT - Clicking this tab will take you to a page where I share a little bit about myself. You can also fill out a form to send me a message or if you would like to share a picture of anything you have made using my tutorials, you can do so in this section.

CROCHET 101 - Clicking this tab will take you to a page where I have linked all of the tutorials from my first tutorial series here on the blog. I have split the tutorials into 3 sections: Stitches, Techniques, and Getting Started; for easier finding.

CROCHET LINGO - Clicking this tab will take you to a page where I have common crochet terms and abbreviations listed and defined, in alphabetical order for easy finding.

BLOG LOVE - Clicking this tab will take you to a page where I have listed and linked my daily blog reads (blogs that I love!) in alphabetical order for easy finding.

And 2 new tabs that I recently added:

FREE - Clicking this tab will take you to a page where I share free patterns and printables from my 'Monday, Funday' posts and from around the internet.

TUTORIALS - Clicking this tab will take you to a page where I have linked tutorials for projects that I have shared on the blog.

Moving to the left side bar you will see:

A (very old) picture of me and a little message from me to you :)

Select Language​▼

A drop down translation bar for all my non-English readers.

My follow section, which includes links to all of the places you can 'follow' or 'add' me.

(Explained below.)

 Clicking this image will take you to Bloglovin' where you can click the 'follow' button to follow my blog and be updated in your Bloglovin' feed whenever I post here on the blog.

 Clicking this image will take you to my Instagram profile where you can click the 'follow' button to follow me and be updated in your Instagram feed whenever I post a new picture.

 Clicking this image will take you to my Twitter profile where you can click the 'follow' button to follow me and be updated in your Twitter feed whenever I send a tweet.

 Clicking this image will take you to my Flickr profile where you can 'add' me to your contacts and be updated whenever I post a new picture.

 Clicking this image will take you to my Ravelry profile where you can 'add' me to your friends and can see what projects I'm working on or what patterns I have 'favorite'-d.

 Clicking this image will take you to my Google+ profile where you can 'add' me to one of your circles and be updated whenever I share something or post to my profile.

 Clicking this image will take you to my Pinterest profile where you can 'follow' all of my boards that I pin to, or choose some of my boards to follow to see what I'm pinning.

 Clicking this image will take you to my YouTube profile/channel where you can 'subscribe' and be updated whenever I post a new video.

 Clicking this image will take you to the 'About' page where you can fill out the form to send me a message or picture and I will receive it in my email inbox.

My Instagram feed slideshow.

A 'Fat Acceptance' blog badge I snagged from the amazingly wonderful Rachele of The Nearsighted Owl.

(She has all kinds of colors so snag one for yourself here!)

An 'Ally' button I made from an image I saw to show my support.

Under this section, you will find all of the tags I use for my posts.

Click on a tag and it will take you to all the posts that have that tag.

And finally,

Under this section, you will find every post I have ever posted on this blog.

Categorized by year, then sub-categorized by month.

And that's that! A breakdown tour of my blog. I hope you found some of this helpful and informative :)

See you tomorrow!!

new series :: wisdom wednesday

Hi :)

I thought I'd introduce another series on the blog called:

I know a lot of bloggers do this already, but I like the idea of sharing some words of wisdom or some funny quotes with you guys.

So for our first edition, I share this quote:


(via)

♥

'post'-poned

Hi :)

Firstly, I want to say to you, "HAPPY OCTOBER!"
I can't believe we are already into the beginning of a new month.
*sigh*

Secondly, I know today's post was supposed to be a Crochet 101 lesson, but I didn't get the pictures/video that I needed so it will be postponed until next Tuesday. Tomorrow's Crochet 101 will also be posted next Wednesday instead of tomorrow, as it is going to be part 2 of the lesson.

So, with that out of the way, I thought that for today's post, I would share this amazingly inspiring video by Marielle of Magical Day Dream.
(We need more people like her in the world!!)


(via)

How great is she? :)


I also wanted to take this moment to remind anyone that is interested in the Fall KAL that I mentioned in this post, that today is the official starting date! If you are interested and have a Ravelry account, you should join the Instagram-Along-Ers group on Ravelry to stay up to date with all KAL news.
I went to Michael's yesterday and got all my supplies:

Can't wait to start!!!

See you tomorrow!