Lately I’ve gained a whole new appreciation for the granny square. I don’t  know why that is, maybe because I’ve seen all of the possibilities of this extremely versatile pattern. I’ve been itching to make one, so this week I decided to give it a go. I made 2 lovely afghans, one is a security blanket / car seat or stroller blanket and the other a regular baby sized afghan. I decided to add a lovely edging to the bigger one just to give it a little flair.

    

If you love the blankets but don’t want to make your own, I have them up for sale in my Etsy shop, click here

MODERN GRANNY AFGHAN

NOTE:  You can use an array of different types of yarn for this afghan.  The hook size used will depend on the type of yarn chosen.  For the yellow one, I chose 100% cotton yarn (Lily Sugar N’ Cream) with an H hook and for the blue one, I used worsted weight yarn (Loops & Threads Impeccable Impeccable) with an I hook.

MATERIALS
Refer to note above for yarn – how much you need is dependent on how big you make it
Refer to note above for hook – the thicker the yarn, the bigger the hook size

ABBREVIATIONS
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
sl st – slip stitch
sp – space
ch – chain

INSTRUCTIONS
Rnd 1:  Start with a magic ring.  *3dc in center, ch 1*  Repeat from *to* three more times.  Ch 1.  Join to top of first dc.  Tighten ring. (you should have 4 sets of 3dc and ch 1 sps in the middle)

Rnd 2:  Sl st in next dc.  Continue to sl st until you reach the ch 1 sp.  Ch 2.  2 dc, ch 1, 3dc in ch 1 sp.  *skip next 3 dc.  3dc, ch 1, 3dc in space between 3dcs*  Repeat from *to* around.  Join

Rnd 3:  Sl st until you reach the ch 1 sp.  Ch 2.  2dc, ch 1. 3dc in sp.  *Skip next 3 dc.  3dc in next sp.  Skip next 3 dc.  3dc, ch 1, 3dc in space between 3dcs*  Repeat from *to* around.  Ch 1.  Join

Continue last round, keeping the following in mind:
*  3 dc only along the sides of the blanket (do not ch 1 between the 3dcs)
*  3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in every corner

To change color at the end of a round:
*  Sl st until you get to a corner ch 1 sp.  Finish off.  Weave in ends.  Start new color.

Edging
(shown in yellow blanket)
Hdc around every st.  2 hdc in every corner

(shown in blue blanket)
Rnd 1:  Sl st in any corner ch 1 sp.  Ch 5.  *Sl st between 3dc.  Ch 5*.  Repeat from *to* around.  Join to first sl st.  Finish off.  Weave in ends

Rnd 2:   Join with sl st to any ch 5 loop.  Ch 5.  *Sl st in next ch 5 loop.  Ch 5*  repeat from *to* around.  Join to first sl st.  Finish off.  Weave in ends.