When you plan to make a crochet blankets using granny squares, you must plan the dimension of the granny squares that will be used to make the blanket. If you dont plan the dimensions of the granny squares, you may end up with either too few or too many granny squares for you blanket. By planning the size of the granny squares, you can determine how much yarn will be needed for the project, as well as the numbers of rows and columns of squares that will be needed.
The size of the granny squares will affect the amount of time that you spend crocheting the squares, as well as the amount of time that you will spend joining the squares together. For instance, small granny squares, such as those that are four inches in width, allow for more color change within the squares. However, you will require more individual granny squares to create a blanket if they is small in size.
How to Plan a Granny Square Blanket
Large granny squares, such as those that are eight or ten inches in width, will allow you to create your blanket more fast because you will have to crochet fewer individual squares; however, there will be less room for color changes within each granny square. The size of the granny squares will dictate the type of yarn and hook that you will use in the project. For instance, if you use light yarn and a small crochet hook, your completed granny squares will be small and contain alot of detail.
Bulky yarn and a large crochet hook will create large granny squares that will be completed more quick. Additionally, you will have to consider yarn weight in the planning of the project. If the yarn is fine in weight, more yardage will be required to complete the project.
Consequently, you will have to ensure that you has enough yarn to complete the project. The number of granny squares that will be required can be calculated using mathematics and the process of division. You will have to divide the total width of the blanket that you would like to create by the width of each granny square.
Additionally, you will have to divide the length of the blanket by the length of each granny square. These calculation will reveal the number of rows of granny squares that will be required to be created, as well as the number of columns. For instance, if you would like to create a large blanket, you may require hundreds of small granny squares to be created, but only a few large granny squares will be needed.
The method that you use to join the granny squares will affect the amount of yarn that you use. For instance, many methods of joining the squares will require fifteen to twenty percent more yarn than the yarn that is used to crochet each individual granny square. The join-as-you-go method will require to weave the yarn of one granny square into the next granny square as they are being crocheted.
This method will help to keep the blanket flat. Additionally, methods that use sewing, such as the mattress stitch, will result in an invisible join between the granny squares. In contrast, a whip stitch will create a ridge in the blanket that is visible to the touch.
The color scheme of the blanket should be planned. Limited color will make the math easier, as you will have fewer variables in your color choice. However, if you use many colors, you may have to lay the granny squares on the floor to view how the colors will look together.
Blocking the granny squares is a step that will be required to complete the project. You will have to wet the granny squares and pin them to a flat surface. By blocking the granny squares, they will dry to an even size.
If you dont block the squares, they may shrink or stretch to fifteen percent of there original size, which will make the blanket not appear flat. Finally, you should of purchased extra yarn for the project. You should purchase twenty percent extra yarn, as this will ensure that there is enough yarn to complete the project.
Additional yarn will be needed for joining the granny squares, as well as for weaving in the ends of the yarn. Additionally, you may wish to create a border for the blanket.
