Granny Square Sampler Project- Week 1

Are you guys ready to get started with the first week’s granny square(s)? Keep reading…
To refresh your memory, here’s a finished original afghan that inspired this project, taken from 1982’s Better Homes and Gardens Treasury of Needlecrafts
Granny Square Sampler
. **To be very clear, we are not copying this project, we are making our own version, with different squares and construction. The only reason I show you this 1982 version is because I have not finished mine and you need something to go by as you decide color palette, I’ll be putting an image of mine once its done. If you want to make this version, you will have to buy the book cited above.
(Find all the week’s assignments for this project on this page.)
Part of the charm of this project is that the squares are all different sizes and types, which is what a sampler is all about. There is no right or wrong way to combine the squares, each person will decide how they want to combine their squares. But I will offer some guidelines as to how I do mine.
The first granny square assignment is the traditional granny square, done in 2 versions. You will complete 3 granny squares for the first week to stay on schedule. Hopefully, this will give those who are learning a chance to practice the basics. And, for those of you who know these well, you’ll have an easy week.
Tip: Don’t overthink the colors and where they go as you make these. By the time we finish this afghan, you will have combined your colors into every possible color combo imaginable. Just grab and go!
I found a great video series on You Tube (linked to below) which illustrate the instructions I’ve written really well. If you are a new crocheter, watch these until you get it and then keep going.
Granny Square Sampler
(7 round granny squares- you will make 1 of these this week)
Week 1
Square 1, Traditional Granny Square with 7 rounds (make 1 of these)
With first color, ch4, join with a sl st to form a ring.
Rnd 1- Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in center of the ring, *ch 2, 3 dc in center of the ring* rep from * 2 more times, join with a sl st to top of beg ch 3. End off.
Added 5/20/12- There was a question about how to start a new color on twitter- make a slip knot on your hook, pull through any previous round’s corner space w/hook, leaving yarn on the back, then chain 3 for your first dc and keep going.
Rnd 2- (using 2nd color). Starting in one of the ch 3 spaces from the previous round; join new color by ch 3. 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. (You just made a corner.) *In next ch 2 space (work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc)*, rep from * 2 more times, join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3. End off.
Rnd 3- (using 3rd color). Join at any ch 2 corner space; join new color by ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. *(Work 3 dc in 3 dc space on sides, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in corner space)* Rep from *2 more times, joine with a sl st to the top of beg 3 ch. End off.
Rnd 4- (using 4th color)- Repeat instructions for Rnd 3
Rnd 5- (using 5th color)- Repeat instructions for Rnd 3
Rnd 6- (using 6th color)- Repeat instructions for Rnd 3
Rnd 7- (using 7th color)- Repeat instructions for Rnd 3
 
Square 2, Traditional Granny Square with 5 rounds (make 2 of these)
(You are making the exact same square as the one outlined above, but you’re stopping at 5 rounds.)
With first color, ch 4, join with a sl st to form a ring.
Rnd 1- Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in center of the ring, *ch 2, 3 dc in center of the ring* rep from * 2 more times, join with a sl st to top of beg ch 3. End off.
Rnd 2- (using 2nd color). Starting in one of the ch 2 spaces from the previous round; join new color by ch 3. 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. (You just made a corner.). Ch 1. *In next ch 2 space (work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc)* ch 1, rep from * 2 more times, join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3. End off.
Rnd 3- (using 3rd color). Join at any ch 2 corner space; join new color by ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. *Work 3 dc in 3 dc space on sides, then (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner space* Rep from *2 more times, join with a sl st to the top of beg 3 ch. End off.
Rnd 4- (using 4th color)- Repeat instructions for Rnd 3
Rnd 5- (using 5th color)- Repeat instructions for Rnd 3
 
Tips on choosing your yarn and hook size in this post.

Helpful videos
These are GREAT videos, very clear and slow, I couldn’t do any better.
Making a slip knot, chaining and making the center circle.
Making the 1st round
Make the 2nd round
Make the 3rd round and every other round
Please leave questions you have in the comments and I will answer them there, in case others may have the same question.
For you tech savvy folks, you can also tweet me with hashtag #wisecraftgrannysquare afghan included in your tweet, or instagram a photo (#grannysquaresampler) so I’ll see it.
I have also set the project up on Ravelry, so if you spend time there you can find it.
Check back next Friday for the next squares.
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38 Comments
  • Harriett

    May 18, 2012 at 6:54 am

    Great! Couldn’t wait to log on this morning to see what the first week assignment was going to be. I love this project. Thanks again for doing it.

  • Sharry Miller

    May 18, 2012 at 7:30 am

    My daughter (almost 11) and I will have fun crocheting together. Thanks for the project.

  • erin

    May 18, 2012 at 8:31 am

    !!!! thank you !!!!

  • Leslie

    May 18, 2012 at 6:13 pm

    I am very excited. A learning experience with an end result.

  • knutty knitter

    May 18, 2012 at 7:33 pm

    Done the first one – halfway through the other two. Gives me something new to contemplate 🙂 I needed a break from knitting socks!!!
    viv in nz

  • Beatriz

    May 19, 2012 at 7:55 am

    Hi, this is Beatriz, from Spain. I’m going to crochet it for my daughter, who is leaving home next autumm. Just in time! Thank you very much for your generosity, the afghan is beautiful!

  • Annri

    May 20, 2012 at 5:49 am

    thank you, Blair! I made a cushion cover following your tutorial for circle-in-a-square and love it, so I’ve added some colors to that group for this afghan. I’m really happy about this project, feeling like as a crochet-a-long I might finish in one fell swoop before fall. 🙂

  • Isabel Silva

    May 20, 2012 at 6:32 am

    Thank you from a portuguese living in Andorra, a stay at home mom of twins that discovered the benefits of crochet for mental health!!… love this project!!

  • JKrochet Designs

    May 20, 2012 at 8:24 am

    This will be my second crochet-a-long ever and I am SO excited to get started on it!! This is going to use up much of my stash that I have been meaning to do something with, a perfect project for summer, thanks so much for your time and effort in creating it!! 🙂

  • Jasmine

    May 20, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    Blair,
    I discovered your blog yesterday after stitching up your Bejeweled Pillow pattern from Stitch magazine. What perfect timing!
    I am going to stitch up these first grannies right now!
    Can’t wait to see pictures of the finished sampler
    Question: J hook throughout?

  • blair/wisecraft

    May 20, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    Hi Jasmine, welcome! I am thrilled to hear you made the Bejeweled Pillow pattern!!! Is it on your blog yet?
    As far as the hook goes, yes, use your J hook throughout.
    Enjoy!

  • Cécile.G

    May 21, 2012 at 5:43 am

    Hello, I am Cécile from France.
    I am very enjoyed to this project but i want to know if is it possible to give the pattern with the explication? Because my “english’s crochet” is very bad and it’s difficult to traduce.
    Thank you so much for this joint project.
    Cécile

  • Laura Dodson

    May 21, 2012 at 7:17 am

    Blair, could I use cotton yarn? Used for dish cloths? Wool will not work in S. Texas….at least for me.
    And I wonder if Cecile could use Google translator? And I wish I were anywhere in France right now.

  • Margaret Murdoch

    May 21, 2012 at 8:15 am

    How large is the finished afghan going to be?

  • Cécile.G

    May 21, 2012 at 11:08 am

    Hi Laura, thank you. Yes i used google translator but he doesn’t translate all the words, least of all abbreviations. And i spoke of sketches with different points.
    This granny are simple so i think translate and understand the explication, but on the project I see grany much difficult so I think it was more simple to me with a sketch if is it possible.
    I hope that my English wasn’t too bad and that you understand my request
    Thank you…

  • Jasmine

    May 21, 2012 at 3:34 pm

    Yes it is, stitch-love-project.blogspot.com is my blog devoted to Stitch projects I’ve completed.
    I am a big fan of your patterns! Next on my project list is your ‘Facets Quilt’. I’ve got a big stack of blue jeans waiting on me- just need a strong needle for all that denim!

  • Laura Dodson

    May 21, 2012 at 4:39 pm

    I will give you the abbreviations as best I can in English. My French is not good.
    Sl st is slip stitch, ch is chain, sc is single crochet, dc is double crochet, rep is repeat, beg is beginning, rnd is round, I think those are all the abbreviations.
    Je suis desole. J’espere que cela vous sera utile.

  • kat

    May 22, 2012 at 1:31 pm

    Ok, I’m a newbie to crochet but jumping in here. I have a question. At the end of each round should there be Ch3 after the last 3dc’s before you join with a Sl St to get the last corner? If I don’t add those I seem to be missing a corner.
    Here’s what I’m talking about Rnd 1- Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in center of the ring, *ch 3, 3 dc in center of the ring* rep from * 2 more times, (should there be a Ch 3 here?) join with a sl st to top of beg ch 3. End off.

  • kat

    May 22, 2012 at 1:39 pm

    Me again, I think I figured out my own answer. You mention there are only 3 chain spaces in the next round so you don’t want that Ch 3 for a 4th corner.

  • blair/wisecraft

    May 22, 2012 at 1:56 pm

    Hi Margaret, we are aiming for *roughly* a 45″ x 65″ afghan size, but I think everyone’s will be slightly different as we get to the end. Could be a bit bigger, I will know more specific info as I finish mine.

  • blair/wisecraft

    May 22, 2012 at 1:56 pm

    Hi Kat, sounds like you figured it out, let me know.

  • blair/wisecraft

    May 22, 2012 at 1:57 pm

    Thank you Laura!

  • blair/wisecraft

    May 22, 2012 at 1:57 pm

    Hi Laura, yes, you could use cotton yarn. Its your preference.

  • blair/wisecraft

    May 22, 2012 at 1:58 pm

    Hi Cecile, I will definitely include some sort of sketch with universal symbols for the more difficult squares when we get to them. Hopefully that will help.

  • blair/wisecraft

    May 22, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    Jasmine I love your version of that pillow! I’m so glad you directed me to it, makes me incredibly happy! That was one of my favorite projects done for Stitch (as is the Facets quilt, I love playing with that pattern, may make a new version this summer). Cheers!

  • kat

    May 22, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    Hi Blair, yup I’m halfway through the first one so I think I’ve got it. Thanks

  • Margaret Murdoch

    May 22, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    Sounds like a fairly big afghan. I think, I will probably need bigger though because I want it to generously cover a double bed because our dogs love to jump on the bed with us when we are sleeping and they tend to weigh the blankets down. I will just add more squares to the afghan. I have been wanting to do a sampler afghan since I saw the pictures of the original on ravelry but without the book, it wasn’t going well. Then I stumbled across this the other day and decided to give it a shot. Thank you for this,

  • Cécile.G

    May 23, 2012 at 4:55 am

    Hi, ok thank you so much. I’m going to the store this afternoon to choose my wool. I think I take 6differents colors.
    I started the project the next week because this one is already very in charge. Thanks for your help…

  • Cécile.G

    May 23, 2012 at 4:57 am

    Thank you so much Laura I am going to translate and to make my first squares.

  • Heather

    May 24, 2012 at 3:04 am

    Squee! I sat down yesterday to work on my first square. I finally got up after weaving in the ends on my third. The colors are crazy despite my efforts are picking complementary colors. But I love it. Thank you so much.

  • Caroline

    May 24, 2012 at 12:27 pm

    Done the first three and I must say I enjoyed that and im happily looking forward to tomorrow’s. Thanks!

  • Leah

    May 24, 2012 at 6:17 pm

    I found your blog via Ravelry and have finished the first assignment. This is the first granny square project I’ve done and I’m really excited to see what the finished product looks like. I’ve only been crocheting for about a year and projects like this inspire to me to stick with it.

  • Linda

    May 26, 2012 at 8:56 am

    Hi I have just found your blog and love it, as I love making granny squares how can I resist this project I’m off to look at my stash to select some colours 🙂

  • josy15

    May 27, 2012 at 5:15 am

    It’s very beautifull, bravo !

  • Penny Peberdy

    May 28, 2012 at 4:48 am

    I’d like to join in! Is it too late?

  • Dana

    May 28, 2012 at 5:26 pm

    I’d like to join. The sampler is beautiful.

  • Mary Jo

    May 31, 2012 at 3:02 pm

    I’m following along and still have a few squares to complete week 3. But I’m very excited because I just started crocheting this winter after not doing it for many years. And I just learned to do granny squares recently. Can’t wait to see how it turns out!

  • Mary Jo

    June 1, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    I meant week 2!

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