by Gwyn Guthrie

Created on: March 14, 2010

The classic granny square makes a delightful scarf and is an excellent crochet project for artisans of all skill levels.  Beginners with crochet often learn the classic granny square when starting in the craft.  Expert crocheters have created some fascinating variations on that classic style and your scarf can be an exotic version of this great classic stitch pattern!

To begin your granny square scarf, you will need a few supplies and a few skills.  Your supplies will be yarn in the color(s) of choice, your crochet hook, scissors, and a large-eyed yarn needle.  The skills for a granny square are the chain stitch (ch) and double crochet (dc) stitch.

After your design is established, making the squares will be a quick and fun project.  This is a great take-along project to work on whenever you have a little waiting time.  First, you must establish your design.  Decide on the size for your scarf.  Most scarves are between eighty and ninety inches long and four inches to eight inches wide.  You will need to decide if you want a row of single granny squares, or if you want two rows for your scarf.  After these decisions are reached, you now know the approximate size needed for each of the squares and how many squares you will need to crochet.  Your second task is to decide on your color pattern for each square. Keep in mind that every square can be different with a mix of colors or the entire scarf can be a single color.  It is your choice and the possibilities are endless!

When you make your first square, check the gauge of the square.  The gauge refers to the overall size based on your specific yarn and crochet hook size.  Making a sample square of your design will ensure that your overall project size will come out as you planned.  If your sample square is too small, try using a larger hook for loose stitches.  Use a smaller hook if you need a tighter square.  You can also vary the number of rounds to the square for a larger or smaller overall design.

When all of your squares are complete, stitching the granny squares together is easy. The mattress stitch is a common stitch for connecting the squares. Choose two of the squares and hold them with right sides together.  Line up the chain stitches of the two squares. You are going to “sew” into the aligned chain stitches.  Use the large eyed needle and yarn to loop stitch through both of the crocheted squares and join them.  When you reach the end, cut your yarn about one inch from your last stitch and weave that loose end back into the granny square to hide the end.

Granny squares are such a fun project. They are small and fast to make.  They can be colorful or subdued and are an excellent way to use up yarn remnants, or a great excuse to buy even more yarn!  While crochet designs become more complex and intricate, the granny square remains the matriarch of the crochet world.  Your granny square scarf is sure to be a hit using these tips for design, gauge verification, and stitching.

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