Granny Rectangles , second thoughts!

 

Helloooo!!!

As some of you may recall, I've been working on granny rectangles since I made my first granny chain HERE .

I made an updated version of that design few months later, when I was contacted by Claire Montgomerie to submit a granny bunting pattern for issue 100 of Inside Crochet magazine (look HERE ).

During last spring (in May) I made a couple of necklaces based on the original pattern of my granny rectangles and I showed the results on my Instagram feed .

Recently I started a chevron blanket, using both the granny stitch and some granny rectangles arranged according to the herringbone pattern, as you can see :

Anyway, why I'm here today bothering you about granny rectangles???

The answer is very simple : I just wanted to update the pattern, as I was no more convinced about it as I didn't like how the corners of the rectangle were shaped!

So, if you are interested, I'm going to show you what I did for the new granny rectangle and something more!!

WHAT YOU NEED : 

• a hook , in my case a 5mm 
• some yarn : I had some leftovers from HOBBII MEGABALL in green (yarn A), navy blue (yarn B) and turquoise (yarn C)
• scissors

Remember that I follow the US crochet terminology, thank you !

ABBREVIATIONS :

ch = chain

DC = double crochet

sl st = slip stitch

RS = right side

spdc = spike double crochet stitch

FIRST ROUND (RS) :

Make a slip knot on the hook with yarn A, then : 3ch, wrap yarn, insert hook in first chain, work a DC. Repeat 10 times, so to create a foundation chain made of ten eyelets

As you can see from the above picture, the top of the foundation chain is flat because of the double crochets (DC), while the bottom of it is scalloped because of the 3 chains repetition!

Now, we start to work around this foundation chain where the last eyelet is :

(3ch, 2DC, 1ch, 3DC) in same space, as shown :

 In pic 1 : 3ch

In pic 2 : 2DC, 1ch

In pic 3 : 3DC

Then in the following eyelets, work 3DC in each, from eyelet 9 to eyelet 2 included.

In the last eyelet (that is the first made) you work :

(3DC, 1ch, 3DC, 1ch, 3DC) in same space, as shown :

In pics 1 & 1a : you see the last  3DC shell worked, before starting to crochet into last eyelet

In pics 2, 2a and 2b : all the stitches completed and you see you turn the foundation chain so to crochet along the bottom of the eyelets.

In each eyelet, from 2 to 9 included, work 3DC.

In eyelet 10 (look at the following picture) work 3DC, 1ch and sl st on the top of initial 3ch. Fasten off.

Next I'm showing you how to work a traditional granny rectangle or a granny rectangle with spike stitches (!!!).

TRADITIONAL GRANNY RECTANGLE

In the above picture you see two rectangles : A is the one made with the old pattern, while B is the one I'm going to write about!

Using yarn A, follow the given instructions for the first round. Keep your work horizontal and in top  right corner :

Second Round (RS) : join yarn B with a sl st, (2ch, 1DC, 1ch, 2DC) in same space, (3DC in next space) 9 times, (2DC, 1ch, 2DC) in next two corners, (3DC in next space) 9 times, (2DC, 1ch, 2DC) in corner, sl st on top of initial 2ch, fasten off.

Third Round (RS) : in top right corner join yarn C with a sl st, (2ch, 1DC, 1ch, 2DC) in same space, (3DC in next space) 10 times, (2DC, 1ch, 2DC) in corner, 3DC in next space, (2DC, 1ch, 2DC) in corner, (3DC in next space) 10 times, (2DC, 1ch, 2DC) in corner, 3DC in next space, sl st on top of initial 2ch, fasten off.

You can go on with the pattern as you like, reaching the dimensions your project requires. Obviously, the starting foundation chain can be adapted to your requirements, too, simply adding or removing as many eyelets as you need.

GRANNY RECTANGLE with SPIKES

We are going to use the spike double crochet stitch (spdc), which is the same as the traditional DC but instead of working the DC into the next stitch or space, you will work that DC into the row beneath!

Even in this case, rectangle A is the one with "wrong" corners, while rectangle B is the one I'm giving you the pattern today.

When working the spdc in the second round, you need to insert the hook in the chain between two eyelets, which is the chain were you worked the DC forming the eyelet itself (see below picture):

Using yarn A, follow the given instructions for the first round. Keep your work horizontal and in top  right corner :

Second Round (RS) : join yarn B with a sl st, (2ch, 1DC, 1ch, 2DC) in same space, [(1DC, 1spdc into the chain in between eyelets, 1DC) in next space] 9 times, (2DC, 1ch, 2DC) in next two corners, [(1DC, 1spdc into the chain in between eyelets, 1DC) in next space] 9 times, (2DC, 1ch, 2DC) in corner, sl st on top of initial 2ch, fasten off.

Third Round (RS) : in top right corner join yarn C with a sl st, (2ch, 1DC, 1ch, 2DC) in same space, [(1DC, 1spdc into the middle stitch of the shell from row below, 1DC) in next space] 10 times, (2DC, 1ch, 2DC) in corner, (1DC, 1spdc into the middle stitch of the shell from row below, 1DC) in next space, (2DC, 1ch, 2DC) in corner, [(1DC, 1spdc into the middle stitch of the shell from row below, 1DC) in next space] 10 times, (2DC, 1ch, 2DC) in corner, (1DC, 1spdc into the middle stitch of the shell from row below, 1DC) in next space,  sl st on top of initial 2ch, fasten off.

You can go on with the pattern as you like, reaching the dimensions your project requires. Obviously, the starting foundation chain can be adapted to your requirements, too, simply adding or removing as many eyelets as you need.

If you need the original pattern of the granny rectangle, simply :

• check HERE
• look for issue 100 of Inside Crochet magazine
• or The Granny Bunting

Hope this brief tutorial will be helpful one day !!!

Thank you, xxxx Ale

Please, show me your makes on IG using the following hashtag : #homemadeatmyplaceoriginals or  tagging me @alessandrapoggiagliolmi .

Text, Design and Photography : Alessandra Poggiagliolmi

All Rights Reserved. No part of this pattern may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.