Would you like to make this pretty blanket? I have all the info you need! This is not a full written pattern, but what I like to call a ‘recipe’ of all the ingredients used to make it, which will hopefully help you on your way to making one for yourself.
Do you ever start a project and then wonder whether it’s really working, but then it turns out to be one of your favourite makes? This blanket was just like that. When I started making the squares I wasn't convinced I liked the colours, but as soon as I started joining them they looked so different! I added lots more colour on the big border, and it turned out to be a beautiful, snuggly blanket.
Where to start?
I mostly start with a pattern in mind and then choose the colours. I wanted an easy pick up and put down project not requiring much concentration, which, let’s face it, granny squares are perfect for! I also wanted it to be a stash-buster (story of my life). I picked several skeins of pretty ‘summery’ shades from my stash. If I’m going for fairly soft colours I’ll always add a colour which is a little darker or brighter to add some contrast. For the joining colour I wanted a pale shade to keep it feeling fresh, like white or cream.
Yarn & Hook
Stylecraft Special DK 100g skein:
1 x Buttermilk
1 x Parma Violet
1 x Powder Pink
1 x Parchment
1 x Pale Rose
1 x Grape (the deeper shade for contrast)
Sirdar Hayfield Bonus DK 100g skein:
4 x Cream (this is one of my favourite cream yarns – it’s great for when you don’t want a bright white but you also don’t want a yellowy cream colour)
Hook: 4mm
Granny Squares
49 x Squares
Each square has 5 rounds
Each round is a different colour
You can find hundreds of tutorials for Granny Squares on YouTube or Google if you search!
Joining Method
Continuous Join As You Go
7 squares x 7 squares
I made all the squares first (and weaved aaaalllll my ends in!) then I laid them out where I felt they looked right to my eye – I don’t like anything too similar together, but everyone is different, there’s no right or wrong way to place them! Go with how you like it. ***TOP TIP: Once I’ve done this and I’m happy, I always take a quick picture in case they get messed up (usually by my dog walking all over them!) then I pop each row in a pile in the order I am going to join them for ease.***
You can find lots of brilliant tutorials for ‘Continuous Join As You Go’ by other makers on YouTube if you search. It's my favourite method; it's very satisfying and fast, and best of all there are minimal ends to weave in! (Please note this method is different to ‘Join As You Go’ where you join each square together as you are making them). Once I had joined all the squares I continued crocheting in cream and completed 5 rounds in the granny cluster stitch.
Border
I wanted a big border to frame the centre of the blanket:
12 x rounds – alternate 1 x round of colour and 1 x round of cream – granny cluster stitch
1 x round – cream - half treble crochet stitch (UK Terms)
1 x round – buttermilk – crab stitch (search for crab stitch on YouTube)
My blanket is 7 x 7 squares and measures approx. 55 x 55 inches. Your own tension will affect the finished size.
You could make this blanket in any yarn brand or weight, just adjust your hook size accordingly, and note the finished size will be different.
Hopefully this has inspired you to make your own Summer Shades Granny! I'd love to see yours! Tag me on Instagram @harrietsduck and use the hashtag #summershadesgrannysquare
Kate x