Knit and Crochet Away!

Update on the “Granny Square Madness”

tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

I thought I would share an update to this post from a couple weeks ago Granny Square Madness, and let you where I am on making my first granny square afghan.

At the previous update I was here in my progress – 46 blocks completed:

And here is where I am as of today – 63 blocks done:

Since I am making the afghan 9 x 10 (90 blocks), I have 27 more to go!

After laying out the completed blocks, I checked my remaining blocks in various stages of progress to make sure I had 27:

And yay – I have 27 in progress! This was important to check as I am getting low on yarn. I’ve already exhausted the magenta and most recently the oatmeal colored yarn; and now I only have 1 skein each of the dark gray and of the light gray.

So I really need to conserve my remaining yarn to complete the rest of the blocks. That was once a full basket of yarn! It does feel good to use up 15 – 20 year old yarn I’ve had in my stash.

I did find a YouTube tutorial that I think I am going to use to attached my blocks:

Courtesy of YouTube

I like the join in this one. I have not made my final decision yet and plan to check out some more videos before deciding.

But as I mentioned earlier in this post I am running low on yarn, so what yarn will I use to join the blocks? Well – a couple weeks ago I found a giant skein of dark gray yarn (darker than the gray I am already using) at a thrift shop that I think I will use to join the blocks. Today I auditioned it with a couple blocks:

I plan to try joining a couple blocks as a test with the dark. dark gray yarn and see how I like it. I did take a look around the yarn department of Joann’s Fabrics, the same national chain where I bought the original Lions Brand yarn in Seattle, Washington in the early 2000s, and they did not carry any of the exact yarns I am using. Too bad I think it would have been cool to join the blocks with the magenta color!

Once again Mike the Mini Schnauzer tried out the afghan after I laid it out on the carpet:

He continues to grow impatient with me as he wants to snuggle in and fall asleep in the finished afghan.

When he got up from lying on the blocks one of the block got stuck on his foot and he “rearranged” the blocks a little…

Well that is an update for now, back to working on finishing the last 27 blocks!

Postscript

I am already thinking about my next granny square afghan (not sure when my first one is complete that I can stop the “madness”) and I realized a couple weeks ago I do not have much acrylic or wool-acrylic blend yarn in my stash. I mainly have wool yarns for knitting. 

So on my visits to thrift stores to build my home library (future blog post), I’ve also been on the look out for yarn that will work for granny square afghans (acrylic and blends) and slowly building my stash (quite inexpensively):

2020-10-12_09-05-43_062

Published by tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

Quilter, crafter, obsessive tea drinker and lover of all furry creatures (especially dogs and cats) - join me on my tierneycreates blog as I share stories from "A Crafter's Life".

47 thoughts on “Update on the “Granny Square Madness””

  1. It´s looking lovely, I like the colors. The other day I sent my daughter a link to make sunflower granny squares, but she´s not getting the hint 😀

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    1. You are to be even more direct like “please make me one” – that is what I would do if I knew someone who could make the sunflower GS – I love those – saw one on Etsy but it was $200. I am going to try to make one someday. Thanks for your comments!

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  2. I have really enjoyed following the progress of your afghan. Those last 27 blocks will be done in no time and you must be very pleased with yourself for turning a basketful of yarn into a potential blanket. I use the joining method shown in the UTube video you posted and think it is the best and quickest way to join the blocks. I think the thrift shop dark grey will work very nicely for that extra joining row.

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    1. Thank you for your thoughts on the joining method, I’ve looked at so many different options so far! I hope they are done soon I am impatient to start joining it 🙂

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    2. I ended up watching – “CUADRO MARGARITA 2 Formas diferentes de Tejer la Flor a Crochet paso a paso” – wow she made the center so tight! I did laugh when it her piece flew off the crochet hook – like a craft video blooper! I am thinking I could do a brown center and then a sunflower orangish-yellow and make a sunflower afghan!

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  11. Mike the mini is a very discerning pup! He clearly is a fella who knows a good thing when he sees it. I love how the blocks transition from dark gray on the bottom right, to the lighter shade on the top left. Very cool.

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  13. I am proficient at knitting but have had very little experience with crochet. I asked my daughter to teach me but she said I could watch a YouTube and teach myself. Guess I will have to because you have infected me with your granny squares. Guess I should have worn a mask. 🤣 I love your color choices and the different block patterns. I’ll be watching to see how the grey thread works for joining. Take care!

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  14. I have a granny square blanket that I made in the 1970s – it’s got a few issues now, but only because some “squares fell out” – all made with double knit wool and I do put it through the washer annually on the delicate cycle – it has worn well…SO don’t be afraid of using wool yarn.

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    1. Thanks so much for that info! Well it held up since the 1970s that is awesome! That opens up even more possibilities as I have a large stash of wool (from when I had a fantasy that I was going to knit a sweater!) 🙂

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      1. You could always make a few squares up – sew them as to be a pillow – then send them through the washer. Just make sure not to shock the material – i.e. hot/cold or cold/hot … if it shrinks too much then maybe it’s a sweater or some beanies…

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  17. Looks like the afghan is very close to done! You are more than halfway through the squares — Bravo! 👏👏👏 It’s exciting to see this take shape, and I’m sure you’ll do great work with the joining (I may have to refer to that vid myself, thanks for sharing it!). And I have found some great skeins at the thrift store for granny squares, too (even “little” skeins can be perfect for making the square centers). I wish you happy seaming and many good yarn finds!

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    1. It is getting close to do! Even closer after this weekend I think I have like 7 more squares to finish! But then of course it will be time to put it all together. Thanks so much for your comments!

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  19. I would like to learn how to crochet, but I know I will get distracted and start waving the crochet needle around like a sword as I battle an invisible enemy of procrastination. And then would link two needles together with a thick thread and start pretending I have nunchucks. I am pleased to see Mike guarding the squares again. While I am not a quilter, you are inspiring me to get back to my sewing projects. I have the panels of my backpack ready to start sewing together. I need to get it done.

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