Crochet blanket for first timer

[MrsJonesAndMe]

I only picked up a crochet hook for the first time at Christmas. I've been doing squares for WH and really enjoying it...

Would like to make a Snug Hug. Any advice for me? Make all the squares the same (stitch/pattern)...easier to do 6" or 12" or any good blogs/articles?

TIA

[bookbook]

hello
I think you can choose a few ways.
You can do squares as you say - its an easy way to build up and not be having to wrangle loads of yarn on your lap ( though nice in winter!) 12" ones would be easier, as there are less joining edges . Some of the most effective are actually quite simple , so maybe choosing a colour palette of 4-6 colours .. As you will be joining your own squares, the tension will be the same, so again making it easier when you construct. I would browse on Pinterest and find something you fancy in truth
The other very popular blankets are on the Attic24 site - these you crochet in rows, and again mainly use colour, with a few basic stitches.

[Spindelina]

To make the joining easy, make sure your squares all have the same number of stitches per side. You can either do the same pattern (or a variation) for each square, or pick a designer whose squares you like, or do some from a CAL. My two go-tos would be Polly Plum (she’s got squares in a few different sizes, some free and some paid), or there’s a block a week CAL from 2014 I think that’s covered on lookatwhatimade - you could pick squares from there.

[MrsJonesAndMe]

Waves back

Will do a bit of research while I wait for the wool to arrive. Thank you!

[bookbook]

Don't forget Bella Coco - she has done tutorials on a ripple blanket, a bobble stitch blanket and others , so worth a look :) And she does a tutorial for joining as you go along , though I haven't tried that one .

[MrsJonesAndMe]

Have one of her tutorials ready to watch 😜

[MrsJonesAndMe]

I'm going to ignore all your sage advice and do the diagram below out of solid grannies @6" each

[MrsJonesAndMe]

Argh, lets try again

[TheWoollybacksWife]

Lovely colours - it will look stunning.

How are you planning to join it? I'm a lazy old trout and prefer join-as-you-go but this doesn't work with solid grannies. You could do the continuous flat braid join which looks lovely and is on my list to try.

[MrsJonesAndMe]

I'm so inexperienced that I'm going to do whatever Bella Coco tells me to do in her video where she joins solid grannies but mainly not going to think about it for now!

[bookbook]

oh, thats lovely and very effective !
Its actually a really good way to start too - 6" are useful for making in bits of spare time . Solid grannies are actually the easiest to join as far as I am concerned - and yours will all have the same number of stitches on the edge - so win/win :)

[goldentriangle]

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[OnTopOfSpaghetti]

@MrsJonesAndMe hello, we must have very similar minds, I have just completed a solid granny square blanket in rainbow colours! Have posted pics on my thread. Its a bit wonky but I'm pleased with it for a beginner! Good luck with yours, keep us updated

[MrsJonesAndMe]

Ah well done! I've done 8/80 so far! Just trying not to think too far ahead.

[OnTopOfSpaghetti]

Keep going @MrsJonesAndMe ! It is very satisfying to see the little squares pile up! Hope it goes well

[MrsJonesAndMe]

Thanks, will come and update as I go...with pictures of course

[OnTopOfSpaghetti]

Yes please!

[TinyPawz]

Stylecraft special dk. Know those colours well. There are a lot a facebook groups and cals (crochet alongs) throughout the year. It you look on crystals and crochet site Helen Shimpton has some amazing designs and Ester from itsallinanutshell usually does step by step videos for Helens designs.

[MrsJonesAndMe]

I've managed 20/80 now, so 1/4 of the way. Annoyingly I seem unable to do 12 needed out of one ball, so will need to get some more wool!

[OnTopOfSpaghetti]

Oh wow well done! You're doing really well.

[MrsJonesAndMe]

Thanks!

[redshoeblueshoe]

They are lovely. I need a new crochet project, I might try that

[MrsJonesAndMe]

It's a great project to get involved in. I've done 36 squares now. Will take some more pictures.

[MrsJonesAndMe]

Thought I would update...getting there.

[OnTopOfSpaghetti]

Excellent progress, your squares are really neat! They will look great when you join them all together.
I have abandoned my chunky blanket in this heat and have started on some 'circle in a square' which I am really pleased with.

[WobblyLondoner]

It looks lovely! Very satisfying watching the piles of squares grow. I've made various types of blankets but I think granny square ones are my favourite because you can do them anywhere (you can't really lug a huge stripey blanket onto a train - I have found ...).

In case you want an alternative way of joining your squares - this is the method that has always worked for me: attic24.typepad.com/weblog/joining-granny-sqaures.html