Solid Granny Square - Christmas Granny Afghan CAL

This is the granny square we will be using for the Christmas Granny Afghan. It's a basic solid granny square with a circle in the middle. Written pattern with photos and video tutorial is below.

Go back to main page of CAL here.

Notes:

Square measures 7in x 7in.

Chain 2 in beginning of rounds do not count as a stitch

When counting edges, do not count that Chain 2 in the beginning of the round - it does not count as a stitch.

Materials:

worsted weight yarn

I/5.25mm hook

Round 1: Magic ring, Chain 2, 10DC into magic ring, join to first DC

Round 2: Chain 2, 2DC into each stitch around, join to first DC

Round 3: Chain 2, *DC, HDC into next 2 stitches, DC, [2DC, Chain 2, 2DC] all in one stitch, repeat from * , join to first DC

Round 4: Chain 2, *DC until you get to the Chain 2 space from previous row, [2DC, Chain 2, 2DC] all in chain 2 space, repeat from * , DC in next 2 spaces until you get to the beginning of the round, join to first DC

Round 5: Chain 2, *DC until you get to the Chain 2 space from previous row, [2DC, Chain 2, 2DC] all in chain 2 space, repeat from * , DC in next 4 spaces until you get to the beginning of the round, join to first DC

Round 6: Chain 2, *DC until you get to the Chain 2 space from previous row, [2DC, Chain 2, 2DC] all in chain 2 space, repeat from * , DC in next 6 spaces until you get to the beginning of the round, join to first DC, fasten off and weave in all ends


I have also provided some photos of some of the steps to making this granny square to help with stitch counts: (click individual photos for larger view)

  

  

   

    

  

  

Video Tutorial

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Or you may view the video tutorial here on YouTube.

A question you may have is - to block or not to block the squares? I would say it's a personal preference. I personally do not block my squares and once I join them together, they usually all lay together well. If anything, I may block the border once the afghan is all finished.

Why would you want to block your squares? People will block their squares in order to keep the shape of the square before they join them together. It may also allow your squares to be all the same size if you have different tensions throughout making your squares. 

If you'd like to block your squares, there are many tutorials out there to do so. My suggestion would be to get something similar to a blocking mat (which is very similar to a child's foam puzzle pieces play may if you're familiar or a knee pad used for gardening) and use 4 thin dowels to pierce into the foam - place them so the distance between them is the size of what the square should be. You can them slide the granny squares onto the dowels to keep their shape.