Nicki Trench - Learn to Crochet Granny Squares and Flower Motifs: 26 projects to get you started

Learn to crochet GRANNY SQUARES &
FLOWER MOTIFS Learn to crochet GRANNY SQUARES &
FLOWER MOTIFS 25 PROJECTS TO GET YOU STARTED Nicki Trench Published in 2018 by CICO Books an imprint of Ryland Peters & Small Ltd 341 E 116th Street, New York, NY 10029 www.rylandpeters.com 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Text Nicki Trench 2018 Design, illustration, and photography CICO Books 2018 Patterns in this book have previously been published in the titles Crochet Basics, Crocheted Scarves and Cowls, Cute and Easy Crochet, Cute and Easy Crochet with Flowers, Cute and Easy Crocheted Baby Clothes, Cute and Easy Crocheted Cozies, or Geek Chic Crochet. The authors moral rights have been asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. ISBN: 978 1 78249 581 9 eISBN: 978 1 78249 770 7 Printed in China Editor: Marie Clayton Pattern checker: Jane Czaja Designer: Alison Fenton Photographers: Caroline Arber, Terry Benson, James Gardiner, Gavin Kingcome, Martin Norris, Penny Wincer Stylists: Alison Davidson, Nel Haynes, Sophie Martell, Rob Merrett, Luis Peral-Aranda, Jo Thornhill Art director: Sally Powell Production controller: Mai-Ling Collyer Publishing manager: Penny Craig Publisher: Cindy Richards Contents Chapter 1
FOR THE HOME Chapter 2
TO WEAR Chapter 3
TO CARRY AND COVER Learning to crochet may be one of the most satisfying skills you ever learn.

Its creative, very fulfilling, relaxing, and been proven to lower your blood pressure, too! Making granny squares and motifs is uniquely special to crochet, and a really great way to learn stitches and shaping. It also means that you can go wild with your color choices. In this collection we have chosen a wide variety of projects to inspire you to crochet. There are projects for a variety of skill levels, from beginner to more intermediate, so once youve achieved some of the simpler projects, there are others to choose from that will take you to the next level. When first starting out, I always recommend you choose a project that you love. That way youll be motivated to drive yourself forward and finish never give up! In this book youll find a comprehensive Techniques section to guide you through the techniques and stitches, and we also have a list of all the equipment you need, as well as a Suppliers list which includes places where you will be able to buy all the yarns and hooks you need to start.

For the complete beginner, try something for your home the Crown-edged Pillow Cover has a lovely and easy pattern to follow, or something in a very similar pattern is the Traditional Square in the Baby Cloths project. One of my favorite projects to wear is the Chunky Squares Scarf this crochets really quickly and is a very easy project to make. Once you have moved off the beginners stage, there are some great projects to move on to. Try the Multicolored Laptop Cover, the beautiful Hexagon Flower Throw, and the Childs Granny Square Sweater. For those more advanced, there is the gorgeous Sweetheart Blanket, the colorful and bright Buggy Blanket, or the beautiful silk Triangle Blanket. Whether you are just starting out in your journey into the world of crochet or you are a more seasoned crocheter I hope you enjoy the inspirational and interesting projects in this book.

There is something here for everyone. You dont need a lot of equipment to make the projects in this book, but if you are new to crochet, the information here will help you make sure youve got everything you need before you begin. YARN The yarn type and shades used are listed for each pattern. For projects which only require small amounts of yarn you may choose to use some from your yarn stash instead. If you want to use a different yarn from the one in the pattern, use the information given about the yarn (weight, material, length per ball, weight of ball) to find a suitable substitute, or ask at your local yarn store. CROCHET HOOKS Crochet hooks come in a variety of sizes and youll be guided by the pattern and the thickness of yarn as to which size you need.

If you find that your stitches are too loose or too tight, try experimenting with a slightly smaller or larger hook. If you are purchasing your first hook for practice, then use a double-knitting weight yarn and a US size G/6 (4mm) crochet hook. Whichever type of hook you choose, its important that it has a good smooth tip, and its worth trying out different brands to see which you like best before making a purchase. I keep my hooks in a hook holder so I dont lose them, or in an old-fashioned wooden pencil stand where they are easily accessible. OTHER EQUIPMENTSTITCH MARKERS These are used to mark the first stitch of every round. You can buy different types, but I find that a length of contrasting crochet cotton or thin yarn also works really well it is easy to weave it in and out of each round and it doesnt get in your way or try using a safety pin.

At the end of a completed round, loop the stitch marker through the loop on the hook thus marking your first stitch of the next round. Counting your stitches after each round helps to make sure you are completing the correct number. YARN SEWING NEEDLES These come in various sizes, but all have large eyes for easy threading of yarn, and a blunt end which will not split the stitches when you are sewing up your work. SHARP SCISSORS You will need these for cutting yarn after finishing a piece and when sewing up. It is tempting to break yarn with your hands, but this can pull the stitches out of shape.