What I love about 12"

Sometimes 6" just isn't enough, you just have to go all out for 12", you can get much more variation with 12".

As mentioned in my first post on squares, this one would be about 12" squares ( why, what else were you thinking of?)

There are many many patterns to choose from for 12" squares on the internet.  You could make a traditional granny as discussed last time and keep doing rounds until you reach 12" or you could decide to get adventurous and try something new.
As most of the free patterns are American therefore use American terminology, this has to be remembered when making stitches otherwise the pattern will not work.

Conversion Table

slip stitch (same in UK and US)

dc (double crochet) UK - sc (single crochet) US

htr (half treble) UK - hdc ( half double crochet) US

tr (treble crochet) UK - dc (double crochet) US

dtr (double treble) UK - tr (treble crochet) US

trtr (triple treble) UK - dtr (double treble) US

UK terminology I believe is based on the number of moves it takes to complete a stitch and US terminology refers to the number of loops on hook before inserting hook through to pull yarn and complete stitch.

Right...back to 12" squares, I also take part in another Ravelry group swap called Bakers Dozen.  This is where groups of 13 people, over the course of a year (13 months actually) makes squares for each other in the group.  Each member if the group has their own month when they dont make a square but instead will receive a square from each of the other 12 members.

Here are some of the squares I received when it was my month (Sept)

I think my 12" squares will also be used with 6" squares for that camping blanket that I mentioned.

I fell behind with some of my squares for this group but have no got them done, they just need to be posted off.

This purple one is for Novemeber and the pattern can be found here

These 2 squares were for December, an extra one was done for a birthday (can you guess what country the recipient might live in from the second square ?)

This is January's square and the pattern can be found here

And as I have caught with myself I decided to do February's square while I was on a roll, the pattern for this square can be found here

Another thing to bear in mind with American patterns is that they tend to use yarn that is classed as 'worsted weight'.  The nearest equivalent we have in the UK is Aran weight but the US has a much wider range of colours in this weight so if you plan on using DK yarn (in the US this is classed as light worsted or even 3), more rows of pattern are generally needed to bring up to 12".

There you go, 12" squares, the difference between UK and US terminology, yarn weights and some examples of patterns and where they can be found....see you soon.

Grannies - gotta love 'em - An introduction to crochet squares

Ooo I love grannies - the square variety (although I do love the relation kind too!), a much maligned staple of crochet (the 70's have a lot to answer for).

The granny square is very versatile, from super large squares that are very traditional baby shawls down to smaller ones joined together to make colourful blankets, cushions and even bags.
Then you can get variations on the same theme, granny triangles, granny rectangles, granny circles, you can even get granny stripes - these I intend to explore in more detail over time.
The granny square theme has led to more and more elaborate squares being designed and created, to the extent that there are now hundreds of patterns, mostly free, out there on the internet to choose from to suit various experience levels.
I intend to show you some of the variety of squares on this blog as I make them to swap with other people form around the world, but not in this instalment.

As a member of Ravelry - an online community for knitters and crocheters, I have joined a number of groups that swap 6" squares on a monthly basis, either to a particular theme - holidays, seasons or colours, or to a members preferences - colours etc. (like those below - jewel colours was the request)

I also make squares for a couple of groups/charities that put together blankets for people who will benefit from the well wishes of those that have made the squares, these squares can be made in any colour combination, a great way to use up all those little bits of yarn left over from other makes.

Next time I will show some of the 12" squares that I am working on and that I have received from another swap, these will be making a blanket for me to keep me warm when I go and live in a tent for holidays!

See you then.