Simply Crochet

Welcome to our 2022 Granny Square Day issue!

TONI’S JOURNAL...from the studio

Keep track of your stash with crochet expert Toni Lipsey’s top tips for creating a system to organise your skeins, balls and notions once and for all...

Granny Square Day

Welcome to our Granny Square Day issue! We’re

CONTRIBUTORS

Meet the talented designers whose pat terns feature in this issue...

Hello, hooksters!

We can’t wait to host our annual Granny

Coming from all angles

Wherever you’re going, you’ll need this lightweight shawl wrapped around your shoulders. Made using Bernat Softee Cotton, this airy shawl works up easily and gets softer and softer with every wash. Get the Zig Zagging Filet Crochet Shawl pattern from www.yarnspirations.com and your yarn from www.woolwarehouse.co.uk

INSPIRING BOOKS

ULTIMATE CROCHET NURSERY KRISTI SIMPSON (£18.95,StackpoleBooks) Deck a

5 FAB FINDS Daisy bags

Make a fun floral handbag for a festival – or just for fun!

Check it out

Strikingchequerboard patterns in a mix of bold and neutral shades can breathe new life into your home décor

Sunny days

For effortless summer style, try this lacy top by Margaret Hubert

GRANNY’S SQUARES

With her trusty hook, ball of yarn and WIP in tow, this cute gran by Ellie’s Craft Boutique is our kind of lady!

Bikini bottom

Upcycle a swimsuit top into a cool summer blouse with this lacy addition

Baby blues

Spell out your love for a newborn in this colour-gradient blanket

Peachy keen

Whether you’re going out or staying in, you’ll want to sport this pretty open cardigan from Stitch & Story

Grow softly

Immerse yourself in the delicate detail of this pretty cushion

Granny makes

We challenged two designers to come up with a fab design, each using just granny square motifs… which is your fave?

Flora & fauna

Decorate a plain plant pot with a vibrant toucan or cheeky monkey designed

Mohair mix

This scarf by Fran Morgan gives granny squares a refined makeover soft & flowy finish

Talavera BLANKET

Bring Spanish sunshine into your home with the bright colours and textured stitches of Ana Morais Soares’ seven-part Talavera blanket crochet-along

Let ’s just hang

Mix your mediums with handmade wall art that’s a clever blend of crochet and macramé

Woolmouse / Lovehandyed

Meetan indie dyer and indulge in a design with their skeins

New dimensions

Witha unique shape that gives it a bias drape, this stylish wavy scarf by Amy Overbury is truly one of a kind

FAMILY AFFAIR

Afterdeciding to turn her crochet hobby into a business, Jo Bunclark of Marlow and Chestnut began collaborating with an unlikely partner – her own five-year-old daughter!

YARNBOMBS away!

Crochet designer Eleonora Tully of Coastal Crochet journeyed to Italy for the Yarn Bombing Festival – and brought the magic back for Simply Crochet readers!

Neon Yarns

Go bright and go bold with these vibrant yarns

Show us yours

Join our gang of Treble Makers and share your thoughts and makes with us, for a chance to be featured here, use our hashtag #Sctreblemaker

PINK LADY

Sometimes a bit of customisation can really make

DOUBLE TAP

We’vebeen double tapping on Instagram and admiring your makes. Tag us @simplycrochetmag and use the hashtag #SCtreblemaker

LIFE IN LACE

Claire Manby looks simply stunning in this hexagon

THE LOWDOWN

It’s simple to be in with a

“I made granny squares! Now what?”

Brush up on your technique with our simple guide…

HOW DO I WORK A ZIPPER JOIN?

Here’s an easy way to join motifs using slip stitches…

Crochet essentials

Over the next few pages, you’ll find simple step-by-step guides to many useful stitches and techniques that you’ll use every time you pick up a hook

Square up

Six reasons to follow Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling, aka Granny Square Lady, and her endless supply of motifs

CHARTS & DIAGRAMS

Follow these charts when making the baby blanket, granny square cushion and granny square plant holder.

SUNFLOWER BURST

36 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

Big BEE

1 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

BEETROOT

2 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

FOUR SQUARE

3 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

FANCY FRIES

4 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

SUMMER BIRDHOUSE

5 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

IN A SPIN

6 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

TIGERRIFFIC

7 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

SOFT PETALS

8 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

HAP-PEA

9 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI

10 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

RAINBOW BURST

11 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

PROSECCO POP

12 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

FLUFFY DANDELION

13 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

BLUE SKIES

14 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

UNION JACK

15 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

MY MILKSHAKE

16 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

SUNNY DAY

17 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

SEA & SUNSHINE

18 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

ICE CREAM

19 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

JOLLY JELLYFISH

20 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

21 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

FORGET-ME-NOT

22 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

BURGER BUDDY

23 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

POWERFUL PEACE

24 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

PINK LEMONADE

25 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

MITRED RAINBOW

26 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

SWEET MARIGOLD

27 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

SHELLS & POSTS

28 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

LITTLE TEAPOT

29 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

AUSTRALIA

30 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

ANTARCTICA

31 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

AFRICA

32 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

SOUTH AMERICA

33 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

BRICK IN THE WALL

34 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

CAMOMILE

35 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

BILLY GOAT

37 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

LATTICE & LACE

38 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

DIRTY MARTINI

39 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

LOOPY LION

41 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

WHEEL WHIRL

42 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

DIAGONAL DANCE

43 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

MAGICAL MUSHROOMS

44 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

BETWEEN THE LINES

45 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

BABY STRAWBERRY

46 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

STRIKE-THROUGH

47 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

DAISY DAISY

48 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

SPIDER WEB

49 SKILL LEVEL Easy peasy YOU WILL NEED

SAUSAGE & MASH

50 SKILL LEVEL Tricky YOU WILL NEED ■

HIGH IN THE GARDEN

51 SKILL LEVEL Go pro YOU WILL NEED

LOW IN THE GARDEN

52 SKILL LEVEL Go pro YOU WILL NEED

CHARTS

Follow these charts when making the Union Jack, jellyfish and continent-themed squares