Miriam is a knitter who crochets. Amy is a crocheter who knits. We both came to crochet first, as children, and we both learned to knit about fourteen years ago. We share an appreciation for the inherent beauty of both knitting and crochet. Miriam loves lace and designs intricate patterns that enthrall knitters with their form and flow. She's designed over two dozen shawls including two published here on Knitty. Amy designs crochet garments that combine fit and wearability with captivating constructions. She has a particular fondness for hats. Amy naturally picks up a hook when she's thinking of designing something new, and Miriam reaches for her needles, but we each enjoy the challenges of both knitting and crochet.
Pinned, Covered, & Adorned: A Trio of Small Granny Gifts
In knitting, as in crochet, scale makes all the difference. Vary the yarn and hook, and you get a completely different project. Using yarn and scale is one way to change the finished size of a garment. When crocheting solid fabric (not motifs) yarn changes can equal huge changes in scale. For instance, a baby hat made in fingering yarn could be made for an adult using a heavier yarn. Swatching and a little math will get you the new size before you even pick up your needles or hook. With a granny square or other motifs, the square IS your swatch. If you’re making a project with multiple squares, measure the first one and do your calculations based on it.
All of the projects in this issue are made with just one square, varying the weight of the yarn and the number of rounds. If you make more than one, you’ll get a clear idea of the difference a yarn makes. For instance, "Granny’s Diamond Necklace" is made in two sizes just by using two different weights of thread cotton and different hooks. "Pinned," and "Covered," a pin cushion and a pillow cover are the exact same number of rounds, but one is five inches across and one is ten because one is made from fingering yarn and the other,
bulky.
When it comes to granny squares, the bigger the yarn and hook, the bigger the holes between shells. So with a bulky yarn granny square like the one we used in "Covered," keep in mind your pillow surface will show through. You could choose a contrasting color that will peek out through the holes, or go with something more subtle. Traditionally, granny squares have two chains in the chain space between the shells. In the "Pinned," and "Covered," Amy adjusted that chain space to be just one chain, making the holes a little smaller.
Here are three ways to use your (newfound?) granny know-how to make great gifts for a cozy holiday home.
by Amy O'Neill Houck
Hand dyed Perle Cotton makes these tiny wee granny squares a colorful accent to any outfit. Or you can play around with different colors on different rows in solid colored cotton. Start slow to get used to using such a small hook.
The inspiration for this necklace came from a picture I saw years ago on the Kootoyou blog.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
#5 square is 1.25 inches across and #12 square is .5 inches across, after blocking.
MATERIALS
Yarn Less wee one (shown below in purples) Color Complements DMC Perle Cotton #5, (100% cotton; 21 yds/skein); color #56
Wee one (shown above in blue/green) Color Complements DMC Perle Cotton #12, (100% cotton; 21 yds/skein); color #109
Recommended needle size [always use a needle
size that gives you the gauge
listed below -- every knitter's
gauge is unique] US#7/1.65mm steel hook for use with the #5 Perle Cotton US#12/1mm steel hook for use with the #12 Perle Cotton
Notions 4 3mm seed beads for the #5 Perle Cotton version Yarn needle
GAUGE
See note above re: size.
A note about gauge: when working with thread and steel needles, you may find your stitches looser or tighter than when you crochet with yarn. Play with several steel hooks in sizes larger or smaller than listed here to get a jewelry fabric you like. A stiffer thread square is preferable because it will hold its shape.
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
Chain: ch Single Crochet: sc Double Crochet: dc Shell: 3 dc in space or stitch indicated Chain Space (ch-sp): the space underneath chains indicated from the row below. Sc inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
Both squares are made the same: when using the #5 Perle Cotton, use the US7/1.65mm steel hook; when using the #12 Perle Cotton, use the US12/1mm steel hook.
Beading: The #5 Perle Cotton Necklace is made with 3mm seed beads. Slide 4 beads onto your thread before starting your granny square.
DIRECTIONS
Square
String the beads onto your choice of thread before you begin.
Ch 5, join last ch to the first ch made with a sl st to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 3, work 2dc into the center of the ring, ch 2, *3 dc into center of ring, ch 2, repeat from * 2 more times, sl st into top of initial ch 3 to join. Sl st across the next 2 dc until you reach the ch-sp.
Round 2: Sl st into the next ch-sp, ch 3, work 2 dc into same ch sp, ch 2, work 3 dc into same ch sp, ch 2, *in next ch sp, work [3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] (corner made), ch 2, repeat from * two more times, sl st into top of initial ch 3 to join. Sl st across the next 2 dc until you reach the ch-sp.
Round 3: Sl st into the next ch-sp, ch 3, work 2 dc into same ch sp, ch 1, slide a bead up to the hook, ch 1, work 3 dc into same ch sp, ch 2, *3 dc in next ch sp, ch 2, in next corner ch sp, work [3 dc, ch 1, slide a bead up to the hook, ch 1, 3 dc] (corner made), ch 2, repeat from * two more times, 3 dc in last ch sp, sl st into top of initial ch 3 to join. Do not fasten off.
Chain
Sl st to next corner ch sp, work chain for 21 inches, or long enough to hang the necklace around your neck, skip next corner and sl st to the following corner ch sp to hang the necklace as a diamond shape as shown. Fasten off.
FINISHING
Weave in ends. Wet block and lay flat to dry.
by Amy O'Neill Houck
See your Granny Square from a different angle! A standard granny square placed on the diagonal folds around a little stuffed pin cushion just like an envelope. Fill your pincushion with emery sand or walnut shells to make a needle/pin sharpener.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Finished square is 5 ins across. Finished pin cushion is about 3.5" across.
MATERIALS
Yarn
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport [100% Merino Superwash 200 yds /2 oz] [CA] Dusk, 1 skein – only small amounts are required [CB] Grapevine, 1 skein – only small amounts are required [CC] Firefly, 1 skein – only small amounts are required
Recommended needle size [always use a needle
size that gives you the gauge
listed below -- every knitter's
gauge is unique] US E-4/3.5mm crochet hook
Notions One small piece of fabric 3.5 x 7" (linen is shown in pic below) A small amount of polyfill stuffing Sewing needle and thread
GAUGE
Whatever size it is, it is.
Be zen.
PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
Chain: ch Single Crochet: sc Double Crochet: dc Shell: 3 dc in space or stitch indicated Chain Space (ch-sp): the space underneath chains indicated from the row below. Sc inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
DIRECTIONS
PIN CUSHION
Fold the fabric rectangle in half to make a square. Stitch two sides, and half of a third closed. Flip the square right side out and stuff lightly with batting. Whip stitch the remaining opening closed. Secure the thread tail.
GRANNY SQUARE ENVELOPE
Work Granny Square as per PILLOW COVER FRONT (see pattern below).
FINISHING
Weave in ends. Wet block and lay flat to dry.
by Amy O'Neill Houck
With a squishy, comfy granny square on the front and two knitted mitres joining in the back, this lovely pillow will grace your bed or your couch with equal beauty.
This pillow cover uses the exact same granny square as the pin cushion above, but it's much bigger because we're using bulky yarn.
Recommended needle size [always use a needle
size that gives you the gauge
listed below -- every knitter's
gauge is unique] US #10.75/7mm straight needles US L-9/8mm crochet hook
Notions 1 10-inch pillow form
GAUGE
12 sts/20 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch
(shell, ch 2) 3 times and 4 rows = 4 inches
PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
Chain: ch Single Crochet: sc Double Crochet: dc Shell: 3 dc in space or stitch indicated Chain Space (ch-sp): the space underneath chains indicated from the row below. Sc inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
Note: This square differs from a traditional granny by having just one chain between each shell.
DIRECTIONS PILLOW FRONT (GRANNY SQUARE)
With CC, Ch 5, join last ch to the first ch made with a sl st to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), work 2dc into the center of the ring, ch 1, *shell into center of ring, ch 1; repeat from * 2 more times, sl st into top of initial ch 3 to join.
Fasten off.
Round 2: With CA, make a slip knot, place it on your hook, & join yarn with a sl st to one of the corner ch-sps, ch 3, work 2 dc into same ch sp, ch 1, shell into same ch sp (first corner made), ch 1, *in next ch sp, work corner, ch 1; repeat from * two more times, sl st into top of initial ch 3 to join.
Fasten off.
Round 3: With CB, join yarn with a sl st, to one of the corner ch-sps. Ch 3, work 2 dc into same ch sp, ch 1, shell into same ch sp, ch 1, *shell in next ch sp, ch 1, work corner, ch 1; repeat from * two more times, shell in last ch sp, ch 1, sl st into top of initial ch 3 to join.
Fasten off.
Round 4: With CC, join yarn with a sl st, to one of the corner ch-sps. Ch 3, work 2 dc into same ch sp, ch 1, shell into same ch sp (first corner made), ch 1, *shell in next ch sp, ch 1, shell in next ch sp, ch 1, work corner repeat from * two more times, shell in last ch sp, ch 1, sl st into top of initial ch 3 to join.
Fasten off.
Round 5: With CA, join yarn with a sl st, to one of the corner ch-sps. Ch 3, work 2 dc into same ch sp, ch 1, shell into same ch sp (first corner made), *[ch 1, shell], in each ch-sp across to next corner, ch 1, work corner, repeat from * two more times, [ch 1, shell] across final side, ch 1, sl st into top of initial ch 3 to join.
Fasten off.
Round 6: With CB, work as for Round 5. Round 7: With CC, work as for Round 5.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
PILLOW BACK
With CA and WS facing, beginning at a corner ch sp, pick up 1 stitch for each stitch and chain space across the next 56 sts (ending just before the 3rd corner ch sp). Place a removable marker into the stitch over the center corner ch sp from the granny. (You'll have 27 sts on one side of the marked st and 28 on the other).
Row 1: S1, k to 1 before marker, s1, k2tog, psso, k to the end of the row. 2 sts decreased.
Repeat Row 1 until 8 sts remain.
Bind off.
Repeat with CB for remaining 56 sts on other side of the square.
FINISHING Block and weave in ends. Insert pillow into the cover and using CC, slip stitch back opening closed with CC.
