Hello and welcome to the first part of the Blog Blanket CAL 2015 – this is the pattern for the first granny style square.

I love this little square, it starts out like a granny square but after the first 2 rounds it changes a  little.

First just a reminder about what I am using: I’m making my blanket in an aran weight yarn and I’m using a 4.5mm hook, but you may choose any yarn you like as long as you use a suitable hook.   My Yarn is DROPS Nepal (65% wool/35% alpaca, 50g/75m per ball) and I used 7 colours in all – Forget-me-not (8783), Red (3620), Goldenrod (2923), Purple Mix (4434), Olive Mix (7238), Medium Blue (6220) and Orange Mix (2920).  I am using 3 balls of each colour but I know I will need more for the border.   My finished blanket will be a little over 1.2m (4ft) square.

So here’s the pattern:

ABBREVIATIONS
The pattern is written in English crochet terms.
St(s) = stitch(es)
Ch = chain
Tr = treble (US dc)
Ss = slip stitch
Sp(s) = space(s)
Ch-sp(s) =chain space

I made each of my squares in the same colour each round, but if you want to change colours then simply join your new colour at the point you do a ss on each new round.   The square below has a different colour each round, to give you a clear idea of how the pattern works (and yes Judy, although this is in pastel shades, this is for you!).

Foundation:  Make a 4ch foundation ch and join into a ring with a ss

Round 1: 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 2ch) 3 times into the ring, 2tr into the ring, join to 3^rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.

Round 2: ss into 2ch-sp, (note for this and each subsequent round: this ss is to position the start of the round in the right place) 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into each of the next three 2ch-sps, 2tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3^rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.

Round 3: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (2tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *miss 1 st, (1tr, 1ch) into the next st, miss 1 st, (1tr, 1ch) into the next 1ch-sp, miss 1 st, (1tr, 1ch) into the next st, miss 1 st**, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 3 times but on the last repeat end at **, 1tr into first 2ch-sp and join to 3^rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.

Round 4: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each st and 1ch-sp around, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) into each 2ch-sp, and work a final 1tr into the first 2ch-sp,  join to 3^rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.

Break yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing or crocheting together later.

You should have 15tr along each side and a 2ch-sp at each corner.

This was my first square:

Using aran weight yarn and a 4.5mm crochet hook, my square came out at 12cm (about 4.5″) square before blocking.  If you were using double knit yarn and a 4mm hook, then your square will be about 10cm (4″).

You may make as many as you like of these but I made a total of 16, 3 in Purple Mix, 1 in Goldenrod, 4 in Olive Mix and 2 each of the other 4 colours.

I hope you enjoy making this motif and I would love to see what you make, so
please join in the discussion and share your progress on my Ravelry forum here.

Next week I will publish the second square in my blanket.

Happy crocheting xx