Service Description

There are a variety of joining methods for assembling and putting together of base GRANNY SQUARES, but also HEXAGONS, TRIANGLES or PARTIAL MOTIFS to work as fillers to even out finished Rectangular or Triangular Shapes. The Traditional GRANNY SQUARE was an American innovation that came about as an economical using up of leftover yarn after the mid-20th Century and was commonly used in Afghan Design. It started showing up in fashion in the late 1960's and early 1970's at Music Festivals, so there was a strong connection to youth. For the 21st Century, fashion also has played a role for even more intricate Motif designs as well as a broad variety of joining methods. The great appeal of Granny Square Art and Design is the Infinite combination of colors and stitch techniques as well as the practical using up of yarns you have on hand. We will explore 4 Categories of these joining methods. The first is a simple seaming method using a tapestry needle and a strand of the working yarn. The seaming is usually worked from the wrong side, in a variety of ways. The second is the crocheting together of the squares or motifs, with a crochet hook, and usually although not always, on the wrong side. The third technique is also a crocheting together of the squares/motifs and can be worked as tailored to the Motif design in a variety of ways. The squares are joined into with a Slip Stitch and chains are worked to link the joinings. This can be worked from the right or wrong side for numerous design, fit and aesthetic purposes. And the fourth method is a joining of the motifs on the final round of the square/Motif so that each consecutive Motif is joined to one or more previously worked motifs. HOMEWORK: BRING 2-3 OR MORE GRANNY SQUARES that you have completed (worsted yarn, I/5.5 mm or J/6mm hook) and some working yarn for class demonstration. The squares should be about 6"/15 cm square. With this class, I will give out to all who attend a pattern for My TEMPLATE DESIGN for a HEXAGON MOTIF With HALF MOTIFS( as fillers) that demonstrate the join as you work technique that you can use for any yarn and hook size to make your own design. BIO: MARI LYNN PATRICK, Designer and Technical Writer/Editor in the Hand Knitting and Crochet Yarn Market since 1973. Most recently, Principal Contributing Technical Editor, Vogue Knitting Magazine, 1982- 2020