Winter Granny Square Afghan - Part 2

This granny square afghan got started in 2018! I’m glad to say that it’s finished at last and I want to share it with you. You can check out the first blog post I wrote about it here.

The Problem with Granny Squares

There is clearly a problem with crocheting granny squares and I wonder if you feel this too.

I love nothing more than crocheting a granny square, starting with that neat chain circle and getting into the rhythm of double crochet stitch. I love the contrast of colours. But I have a problem with stitching the squares together. I can do it, but it takes SO LONG. It’s the only downside to granny squares. Maybe apart from weaving in the ends!

Crochet Travel Kit

I travel a lot. So I’m always on the lookout for handwork projects, be that hexies, knitting or crochet. Granny squares are so portable. For travel, I fill a zip lock bag with part-finished squares, one crochet hook and a tapestry needle.

Crochet Travel Kit Essentials

The top 4 Crochet Items I pack in my travel kit are:

• Crochet hooks - a practical, well-priced set of hooks with some extras
• Fiskars scissors - 5-inch so best for home use!
• Tapestry needles - small tube containing a variety of needles
• Seam ripper - great alternative to carrying scissors

Scissors & Seam Rippers

My crochet zip-lock baggies squish down nicely, especially if you’re taking hand-luggage only. The only issue with this travel pack can be taking scissors. Mostly this is fine if the scissor blades are under 3 inches. However, if you’re travelling to Spain (and some other countries), the TSA-equivalent agents at security WILL remove scissors and throw them away. Ask me how I know.

My solution to that is to take a seam ripper in its little plastic case. That has never been removed and works nicely for cutting off yarn. It’s not so good for tidying up loose strands of yarn once you’ve sewn them into the piece and need to trim it back, but that can wait for home.

Getting Squares Made

I had a pile of finished granny squares sitting on my shelf, waiting for some more to be finished so this blanket could be sewn up.

I decided the layout of this blanket early on and made a test of both variations of the blocks. These were made using some leftover Debbie Bliss cashmerino yarn.

Layout

When I got back from my travels, I laid out all the squares that I had made originally, plus my new travel finishes.

I had room (and enough yarn) to add 2 more squares plus one more row…

Perfect! In an ideal world, I do prefer an odd number count in both rows and columns, but this was the end of the yarns, and sometimes perfect is the enemy of the good.

Finished Granny Square Afghan

And here it is in all its glory! I added a variety of borders in different stitch finishes, got the ends all sewed in and snipped off and auditioned it here in my (former) guest bedroom! I have to say I’m proud of having made this and, of course, I’ll keep on making granny square afghans despite the problem of having to sew them together!