I love this blanket and it definitely one for me to keep. I love the wonderful bright and cheerful colours. Best of all, it matches my new sofa perfectly. The blanket is based on the traditional Granny Square, which is a firm favourite of mine. A total of 81 squares are joined using the wonderful red joining colour. You can easily make the blanket bigger or smaller by adjusting the number of squares you make. I added some tassels in each corner to give it boho vibe, but this is optional. You can find more details and the free pattern here.
Strawberry Candy Squares
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Materials
Crochet Hook: 4mm or size needed to achieve gauge (I used a 3.5mm for this sample)
Yarn: DK weight yarn in seven colours, 295m for each of six colours and 1180m of a joining colour
The sample uses Stylecraft Special DK (100g/295m) in each of Lemon (A), White (B), Spring Green (C), Aspen (D), Wisteria (E) and Magenta (F) and Fondant (G) and 4 balls (400g/1180m) in Pomegranate (H).
You can purchase the yarn here.
Notions: Scissors and needle to weave in ends.
Finished Size
Finished Size: 116 cm x 116 cm (excluding tassels)
Skill Level
Skill level: Suitable for beginners
Gauge
Gauge: 5 rounds in pattern = 10cm x 10cm, adjust hook size as necessary
Abbreviations/Crochet terminology:
UK terms are used throughout.
Ss – slip stitch
Tr – treble crochet
Htr – Half Treble Crochet
Ch – chain
Beg-ch – beginning chain
*to* – instructions between asterisks will be repeated as specified in the instructions
Notes on the Granny Square
The pattern is based on the traditional Granny Square. The Granny Square uses groups of treble crochet to form ‘treble clusters’. It is a really simple technique and suitable for a beginner. There are many different ways to make a Granny Square – this pattern has one chain stitch in each corner. The pattern also suggests you turn the work over after each round – I find this helps to keep the square even and it also makes the work reversible.
Instructions for the Granny Squares
You need to make a total of 81 Granny Squares. I used a random colour order, ensuring that the colours were balanced. Make each square as follows:
Foundation ch4, join with ss in first ch to form a ring (alternatively you can use a magic ring).
Round 1 Ch3 (counts as first tr), 2tr in ring, (ch1, 3tr) 3 times, ch1, join with ss in 3rd ch of beg-ch. Fasten off.
[4 treble clusters]
Round 2 Turn work over. Pull up a loop in any ch1 corner space. Ch3 (counts as first tr), 2tr into same space, *(3tr, ch1, 3tr) in next ch1 corner space*, repeat from *to* twice more, 3tr in corner space where you started, ch1, ss into 3rd ch of beg-ch. Fasten off
[8 treble clusters]
Round 3. Turn work over. Pull up a loop in any ch1 corner space Ch3 (counts as first tr), 2tr into same space, *3tr in space formed between the treble clusters from round 2, (3tr, ch1, 3tr) in next ch1 corner space*, repeat from *to* twice more, 3tr in space formed between the treble clusters from round 2, 3tr in corner space where you started, ch1, ss into 3rd ch of beg-ch. Fasten off
[12 treble clusters]
Round 4 Turn work over. Pull up a loop in any ch1 corner space Ch3 (counts as first tr), 2tr into same space, *3tr in next two spaces formed between the treble clusters from round 3, (3tr, ch1, 3tr) in next ch2 corner space*, repeat from *to* twice more, 3tr in the next two spaces formed between the treble clusters from round 3, 3tr in corner space where you started, ch1, ss into 3rd ch of beg-ch. Fasten off.
[16 treble clusters
Round 5 Turn work over. Pull up a loop in any ch1 corner space Ch3 (counts as first tr), 2tr into same space, *3tr in each space formed between the treble clusters from the previous round, (3tr, ch1, 3tr) in next ch2 corner space*, repeat from *to* twice more, 3tr in each space formed between the treble clusters from the previous round, 3tr in corner space where you started, ch1, ss into 3rd ch of beg-ch. Fasten off.
[20 treble clusters]
Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5
Joining the Squares
The squares were joined using the join-as-you-go method when adding a sixth round to each square with joining colour (H) (pomegranate) yarn. Alternatively you can complete the sixth round in joining colour (H) (pomegranate) for each square and then sew the squares together. The join-as-you-go method of joining involves slip stitching to the adjacent square after each set of treble clusters. You can find more details on how to join using the join-as-you-go method here.
Border
Border round 1: Using yarn H (pomegranate), pull up a loop in any ch1 corner space Ch3 (counts as first tr), 2tr into same space, work along the side of the blanket inserting *3tr in each space formed between the treble clusters from the squares below. When you come to the join between the two squares insert the treble cluster in the slip stitch that was formed when joining. Work (3tr, ch1, 3tr)* in the corner and then repeat from *to* until you reach the start of the round, 3tr in corner space where you started, ch1, ss into 3rd ch of beg-ch.
1. Pull up a loop in a ch1 corner, ch3 2. 2tr in same space 3. 3tr in each space along 4. At the point where two squares were joined with a ss, insert the 3tr into the ss. 5. Continue working 3tr in each space all round the blanket, with [3tr,ch1,3tr] in each corner.
Border Round 2: Turn the blanket over, ss into the chain 1 corner space that you just formed. Ch3 (counts as 1tr), 2tr into same space, work along each side of the blanket working 3tr in each space formed between the treble clusters from the row below and working [3tr, ch1, 3tr ] in each corner.
Border Round 3: Turn the blanket over, ss into the chain 1 corner space that you just formed. Ch3 (counts as 1tr), 2tr into same space, work along each side of the blanket working 3tr in each space formed between the treble clusters from the row below and working [3tr, ch1, 3tr ] in each corner.
Border Round 4: Turn the blanket over, ss into the chain 1 corner space that you just formed. Ch3 (counts as 1tr), 2tr into same space, work along each side of the blanket working [2htr, ch1, 2htr] in each space formed between the treble clusters from the row below and working [3tr, ch1, 3tr ] in each corner. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
work [2htr, ch1,2htr] in each space work [3tr,ch1,3tr] in each corner
Tassels (optional)
I added a tassel (using pomegranate (H) yarn) in each of the four corners.
You can do this as follows:
1. You can use a piece of card approximately 13cm in height. 2. Place a piece of the pomegranate (H) yarn across the top of the card. 3. Wind the yarn around the width of the card. 4. Wind around 70 times. 5. Cut the yarn at the bottom. 6. Lift off the card. 7. Wind another piece of yarn about 2cm from the top. 8. Tie with a knot 9. Secure the ends
10. Trim off the tassels. Make 4. 11. Secure each tassel by threading though a corner space of the blanket. 12. Tie in the ends.
