Welcome to Little Bird Knits’ 2013 Crochet Along!
We will be completing one granny square a week for 48 weeks. The last weeks of the year will be used to join the squares and create the blanket border. Each square will be 6 inches by 6 inches. We will start with easy granny squares and move to harder ones as the year progresses.
What you need:
- Yarn! – I suggest picking 4-5 colors that you will use to complete all of the squares in the blanket. While each square will be different, using the same colors will help tie it all together. Make sure that whatever yarn you choose is worsted-weight and easily available in case you need to purchase more during the year.
- Crochet hooks – I tend to use an I or J hook to complete my squares since I crochet tightly. Use whichever size hook you need to create a 6 inch granny square. This may take some trial to find the right hook.
- Yarn needle – for weaving in the yarn ends to make sure that your squares don’t come unravelled.
- Scissors, measuring tape/ruler, stitch markers (optional)
How This Works
Every Sunday afternoon, I will post the week’s pattern and tutorial photos. I will try to have photos of each step of the pattern, especially any parts that may be confusing. If you need any help, comment on the post with your questions at any time during the week and I will answer them.
Once you have completed your square, take a picture and send it to me at littlebirdknits0@gmail.com. I will add it to the photos page for everyone to see. Part of the fun of a crochet along is seeing how we each use different colors to create different looking squares, even though we are using the same pattern.
At any time, feel free to share your favorite granny square pattern with me. I do not currently have all 48 squares planned out, so I would love to see your suggestions.
Additional Information
At the top of this page, you will see a menu with a few pages that I have added. Probably the most useful page (aside from this one) will be the Links page. This page will have links to crochet tutorials of the stitches that we will be using (for those that are learning to crochet), along with websites that have free crochet patterns. I will also be using this page to link to the original pattern location that we are using each week.
I’m excited to be sharing this journey with you and can’t wait to see the blankets we create.
little bird knits 
This is a wonderful initiative and I will be crocheting along all the way from Cape Town, South Africa.
Sounds like a lot of fun! I think I can manage a square a week with everything else I have going on. Count me in.
I’m in! I’ve always wanted to join a group like this.
I would love to take part.
I have a suggestion…but I don’t have an actual pattern…I just used this website to make a 6″ Granny Square…in a different fashion: http://crochetagain.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/mitered-granny-square/
I do have a pic of what I just whipped up if you’d like me to share it with you…
Sure! Send it to littlebirdknits0@gmail.com and I’ll add it to the photos page.
Thanks for sharing!
loving this from Austin TX
What fun! I’d like to crochet along.
I am wondering how much of each color you would guesstimate it will take to finish the project?
It depends on how many colors you have chosen. The total yards for the blanket will be around 3450 yards (based on Lion Brand’s chart). For my example squares, I have 5 different colors, and I expect to use them about equally. Since each of my skeins has 370 yards, I will need less than 2 of each. For the joining and border, I plan to use a 6th color, and expect to need about 3 skeins, depending on the border that I decide to use. I bought one skein of each of the 5 colors, and will purchase more as needed.
If you decide to just use scrap yarn (left overs from previous projects), then just make sure that you have about 3450 yards total.
I’ve been looking for a crochet along for awhile but this is the first one that i really want to do and can’t wait to start! Two questions tho, and maybe u already answered and i missed it, when is the first square pattern going to be available and if we get behind, will the patterns be available after the next one is posted? Thanks so much!
The first square will be posted within the next hour. I’m actually typing it up right now. All patterns will be available at all times. You will just need to scroll back through the posts, or use the search tool on the side to find your missing week.
Thanks so much for joining me!
Found the first pattern! Yay! Now to choose my colors. Thanks so much!
I can do this! Going to break out the wool stash right now and see what colours I feel like. For me the challenge with squares is always to get them to be the same size. The nice thing about a ‘granny’ square is that one can usually just add another row or two to make the blocks fit together. This block will be my benchmark for size of all the blocks in the project.
oKay, I’m in new to crochet to take it easy on me….
I’m going to try this, totally new to granny squares though… but it sounds like it’s going to be fun 🙂
Thank you for including me.
I have been crocheting for a long, long time. This is my first CAL, and I am looking forward to the company, and seeing everyone else’s squares!
This sounds fun. I would like to participate.
I learned to crochet a long time ago, but I am really getting into it. This is my first CA and I look forward to having a fun time. Thank you.
okay, you “hooked” me! I am going to try it- my first CAL and my first granny squares! hurray!
hi! this is my first granny square and I’m getting hung up on round four, specifically where it says Ch 2, 3 dc in next ch-2 space, ch 2 twice.
am I to chain 4 before moving on to the next chain 2 space? my other rows were awesome and square but this one keeps being wavy and not so square.
Sorry for the confusion. The word ‘twice’ means to repeat that whole section twice, not just the ch 2. You basically want to work until you get to the next corner, so you’ll need to complete that section twice for round 4 and three times for round 5.
I LOVE this idea! I am so excited to piece it all together. I’ve decided to use a conglomeration of all my scrap yarn- heaven knows I have TONS of it! SO, mine won’t be all matchy-match, but I think it will be loads of fun anyways!! My first square is done and am anxiously awaiting the next pattern!!
Here is a suggestion for a square to throw into the mix…i think it looks cool and thought i would share.
http://mgdesigns.blogspot.com/2007/12/brighter-daze-square.html
A friend and I are going to crochet a long together. Crochet has helped us come close together again and this a great opportunity for us to do something together even though we are so far away.
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If its not too late to join alms catch upp id love to join in. this its right up my alley. I’ve amassed a large amount if yarn at garage sales etc so this would be perfect to use it allll up. Is there a place to subscribe so I get emails, our do you ink them out our just post here. I could really use the emails because sometimes finding posts like this are hard on my phone. Lmk kk 🙂
It’s never too late to join 🙂 All patterns will stay posted for the year, so there is no need to worry if you get behind or miss a week or two. You can subscribe with your email address in the area on the top right of the page. I’m not sure if it is visible on a phone, or not. If you can’t figure it out, feel free to send me an email at littlebirdknits0@gmail.com and let me know to add you to the mailing list 🙂
I just found your site this morning. I hope I’m not too late to join your CAL. I will get busy and start crocheting to catch up. Thank you for doing this. I look forward to learning new stitches and techniques.
This looks like fun. I think I will be joining in, and I’m only a week behind so it will be super easy to catch up! 🙂
awesome idea! i’ll have to join in on this fun!
Hello I just found this site last night! I am looking forward to crocheting along with all of you. I need to play catch up first though 🙂
I’m a little late to the party but I have my yarn and will hopefully catch-up quickly 🙂
I just came across this group;Sounds like fun, I am a beginner, so I look forward to the challenge. I will need to do a few squares to catch up…(I know what I will be doing) look forward to the journey
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Would like to join
I thought I had joined up on your website to get instructions and I have never received an e mail with your crochet instructions. We are a group in Phalaborwa in South Africa and others have had instructions. What am I doing wrong? Your patterns are lovely. Thanks Marion
There are 2 ways that you can sign up to receive emails when a new square has been posted.
1. On the right hand side of this page, there is a section that says “Follow Blog Via Email”. If you enter your email address in the box and then click the “Follow” button, you will receive an email from WordPress every time that I make a new post.
2. To receive an email from me (littlebirdknits0@gmail.com) with a photo of the new square and a link to the post, then send an email to me with your name and the email that you would prefer to receive the notifications.
Finally, if you are a fan of my page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/littlebirdknits), I do make a post there each time that I have added a new square.
Hope this helps!
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