What's your favorite way to make an afghan or crochet blanket?

United States
September 11, 2007 6:18am CST
What is your favorite way to make an afghan or crochet blanket? Do you have a particular crochet stitch that you prefer to use? For years, I tried in vain to crochet using the more fancy popcorn stitches and such. And, I was fairly successful. Except by the time, I had crocheted one foot of fabric, I was bored with the project. Then I discovered the granny square afghan. I adore making granny square afghans! Much more than crocheting or knitting almost anything else. It's a simple pattern that I know by heart. For the most part, granny square afghans are simply small to medium sized square blocks of crocheted material whip-stitched or sewn together to form an ornate blanket. Very simple to do. You can get the pattern at any craft or yarn store. What I love about crocheting block square style blankets is that you only have to bring out one square at a time to work on. Unlike traditional knitted or crocheted blankets, where you might have a very large piece of crocheted fabric spread out in front of you while working, the granny square is small (6 to 12 inches per block) and can be worked on anywhere. Often times I have started and finished several crochet granny square blocks while in the car on a trip. And, once you have a nice sized stack of squares, you can start stitching them together for an instant blanket. You can combine and blend colors to match your decor or vary colors from one block to the next. And, the best part is, that they make lovely blankets to cuddle under during harsh winters. And, they are excellent and affordable frugal Christmas gifts. Most times an entire afghan will cost me less than $15.00 to make. So, what is your favorite way to make an afghan?
2 people like this
3 responses
shawnasie
@shawnasie (389)
• United States
12 Sep 07
I like to use a basic double crochet and use different colors. I love making my own patterns. I have a few pictures in my profile of projects I have completed. I do find it to be a little boring at times when it is a large blanket that is using a basic pattern. i think that is why I like making my own patterns. I don't really care for granny square blankets because I don't like sewing them all together. I can't stand all the uctting and tying off included with every square.
venshida
@venshida (4836)
• United States
11 Sep 07
I have never done any granny squares. I am sure it is a easy project. I use various stitcher, I like the vstitch and popcorn. I seldom due popcorn because it takes little bit more yarn. I don't do too much blanket because It takes to much time to complete.
AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
11 Sep 07
That would have been exactly my answer, too. I don't crochet anymore because of carpal tunnel syndrome, but when I did, I found I would be halfway through an afghan and not want to finish. I would be tired of doing the same thing over and over and not feeling like I had accomplished anything. With granny squares, you finish all the time. You can do one and be finished with it in no time flat. So, it doesn't matter that you have to make many of them, a few here and a few there and you feel as if you have accomplished something every time you do the last stitch on one. I even found some interesting patterns for making other types of squares and although they take a little longer than a granny square, they don't take nearly as long as an entire afghan, so you still get to feel you finished something. Even if you make the whole afghan a granny square, it takes a fraction of the time to complete.