(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection - The Crochet Lady - Maurita Way)

Hello. I’m Maurita the Crochet Lady. Motifs are pieces crocheters make multiples of and join them together to create items like afghans (blankets), sweaters, purses, scarves, etc. Not all motifs are square. Also, they can be joined by sewing or crocheting them together at the seams — OR — some are worked with the “join as you go” method.

The most famous motif is called a “granny square.” Even the new hexagon cardigan from the TV show “Wednesday” is a six-sided granny crocheted similar to a traditional four-sided Granny Square. We will focus on traditional ones today.

One big thing to keep in mind before choosing the design … all the yarn tails to knot and hide. If you choose to change colors every round, each color will have to be cut, knotted, and hidden. That part is NOT my favorite, so I tend to either work solid squares or try to hide the fact that I carry my repeated yarn color to the next round on the back side.

My favorite design for granny squares uses graph paper. Each grid square equals 1 granny square. I use solid square, diagonal two colored squares, or half squares. Popular ideas might include Minecraft, Tetris, or even a pictured scene. Also, some quilt designs can be duplicated with this method.

“Join-As-You-Go” Granny Squares (Photo by Maurita Way)

Before I share the patterns, here are a few notes. First, I hold my starting yarn with my ring. Each square starts with the first half of a corner, then close it with (ch1, hdc in top of Beg ch-2). Half squares include stitch past the edge corner on each side. Lastly, diagonal two colored squares require you to turn your work each round.

I hope you have fun designing projects with squares. Enjoy my column photos plus videos on the newspaper website. More crochet is on the way next month.

Stitches used: Slip stitch, chain, half double crochet, double crochet. Beg ch-2= 1st dc– OR –Beg-dc. Ch-1= side space. Ch-2= corner space.

TRADITIONAL GRANNY SQUARE:

Ring: ch4, join with sl st.

Diagonal Two Color & Half Squares (Photo by Maurita Way)

Rnd1: In ring work: ch2, 2dc, [ch2, 3dc] 3 times, ch1, hdc in top of Beg-dc.

Rnd2: ch2, 2dc over hdc, ch1, (corner= 3dc, ch2, 3dc in ch-2 space), [ch1, corner] twice, ch1, 3dc in corner space beside Beg-dc, ch1, hdc in top of Beg-dc.

Rnd3: ch2, 2dc over hdc, [ch1, 3dc in ch-1 space, ch1, corner] 3 times, ch1, 3dc beside Beg-dc, ch1, hdc in top of Beg-dc.

Rnd4 +: each round will have one more (3dc in ch-1 space) on each side.

DIAGONAL HALF SQUARE:

Tetris Design- front & back (Photo by Maurita Way)

Ring: ch4, join.

Row1: Beg-dc, ch2, corner, ch2, dc.

Row2: Beg-dc, turn work, ch2, 3dc in ch-2 space, ch1, corner, ch1, 3dc in ch-2 space, ch2, dc in top of Beg-dc.

Row3+: sides will have extra 3dc in ch1 space like Traditional Granny Square.

DIAGONAL TWO COLOR SQUARE:

1ST COLOR–Ring: ch4, join.

Rnd1: Beg-ch2, 2dc, ch2, 3dc, ch2, leave loop on hook,

2ND COLOR–sl st in ring, ch2, draw through 1st color loop, 2dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1, hdc in top of Beg-dc.

2ND COLOR — Rnd2: Beg-dc, turn work, 2dc over ch-1, ch1, corner, ch1, 3dc to start corner, ch2, leave loop on hook,

1ST COLOR–ch2, draw through 2nd color loop, 2dc to complete corner, ch1, corner, 3dc, ch1, hdc in top of Beg-dc.

“JOIN-AS-YOU-GO” notes:

Single corner join: swap ch2–work ch1, sl st to join, ch1.

Side join: swap ch1–work sl st to join.

Full corner join: (note: only join side squares) Swap ch2–ch1, sl st to 1st square, st st to 2nd square, ch1.