Wow!  We’re up to square #19 of the Traveling Afghan project! And I’m lucky enough to be providing the pattern for that square! 😊

This project is truly a labor of love from all of the participants.  Who knew when we started that the world would be in the position we are in now?  We hadn’t even heard of “social distancing.”  So how great is it that we can all come together with this project?  Not just us as the designers, but all of you who are participating.  We’ve all been connected through this project, through our stories, and through our love of all things yarn-related and crafty. 

My personal story starts with my mom.  She could do anything crafty, but she was an exceptional seamstress.  She started me on the path of making my own clothing.  When I was pregnant with my first child, my aunt taught me to crochet, and I loved it!!  I started a baby blanket… and finished it over thirty years later!  Hahaha!  Needless to say, once my son was born, and a couple years later, his sister, there was no time for crocheting.  I honestly don’t know how all of these talented people manage to crochet and knit so much AND take care of their kids.  They are definitely more industrious than I ever was.  😉

So fast forward to 2016.  My kids have been grown and out of the house for a while, and I’m thinking of taking up my favorite craft again.  I had to look up some videos to get me started again, but then I was obsessed.  I was always on the lookout for new yarn and new patterns.  Eventually, I got comfortable enough to start adjusting the patterns to suit my needs, and then it was a small step to designing my own.  

In 2018, I decided to start a website just to see what happened.  My thought was if I enjoy it, and people like my patterns, I’ll continue.  If not, I felt I hadn’t really lost anything.  My goal was to keep my patterns simple enough to be relaxing but still beautiful enough to be worthwhile.  One of my favorite things is to take something that looks complicated and find a way to simplify it so that anyone can make it.  So Simple Things Crochet was the perfect name for my site.  And guess what?  People loved it!  One of my greatest joys is seeing photos that people share of my patterns.  And I’ve met so many wonderful people – people that are now my friends even though we’ve never met face-to-face.  

So that’s how I came to be here sharing this square with you.  I hope you enjoy the pattern.  I tried to make it simple and beautiful like I do with all of my patterns, and if you make it, I’d love to see photos.  I’d also love to hear from you and hear your stories, and maybe make a few new friends! 😊

My square neighbors are Vincent Williams Jr. at Visuvio’s Crafts who did the square before mine (square #18), and next up is the fabulous Ashleigh Kiser of Sewrella with square #20.  She’ll be posting her square next so be sure to follow along.  And you can find links for all of the square patterns here at www.twoofwands.com/travelingafghans.  

You can also purchase the full kit through Lion Brand here.

My contribution to the Traveling Afghan is a combination of a traditional granny square and a solid granny square which I think makes a simple but beautiful pattern!

You’ll see an option to do the pattern without cutting the yarn. That’s how I did the square you see pictured. I think it’s easier to follow the directions if you cut the yarn after Round 4 so that’s why I wrote the pattern that way.

But you can take the lazy way out (which I did!) and just do a build-up chain at the end of each round. The problem with this is if you’re off by one stitch, the granny square round won’t come out right. I’m including photos for the option of using a build-up chain at the end to help you if you choose to do this.

As always, I’d love to see your photos if you make this and care to share. You can find me @simplethingscrochet on Instagram and Facebook.

If you’d like an ad-free, easily printable version of the pattern, you can help support my small business and purchase it for a small fee in my Etsy shop – SimpleThings byTia.

Like this pattern?  You may also like the Starry Night Baby Blanket or the Cafe au Lait Blanket.  And if you’d like to receive an email whenever there’s a new post, you can find the sign-up box below.  I’ll never sell your info or use it for anything else.  Promise!😊💕

Skill Level:  Easy+

Materials: 

Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Natural Heather – 1 skein

Hook size J/10 – 6.00 mm

Stitch markers 

Gauge:

13 dc and 6 rows = 4”

Dimensions:

10” wide by 10” long

Abbreviations:

Ch – chain

Hdc – half double crochet

Dc – double crochet

Sp – space

Ss – slip stitch

Sk – skip

St, sts – stitch, stitches

Notes:

1. Beginning chains count as stitches.
2. I start with a magic circle so there’s no hole in the center, but if you prefer you can do Round 1 this way:  Ch 4, 2 dc in 4th chain from hook, *ch 2, 3 dc in same space*. Repeat from * to * two more times. Ch 2, then join at top of first chain in round with slip stitch.  You will have four clusters.  Move to instructions for Round 2 below.
3. Note that the last round uses half double crochet, not double crochet.
4. Optional instructions:  If you prefer not to cut your yarn between rows and you follow the pattern exactly, at the end of Round 4 (and with the square right side up) you should have 8 stitches to the left of the build-up chain and 6 stitches to the right for a total of 15 stitches including the build-up chain.  If not, the spacing will not be right for the granny clusters in Round 5. If you choose this option, you can just turn after each row, do a build-up chain, and follow the pattern for that row.

Instructions:

Start with a magic circle. 

Round 1:  Into magic circle, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc, ch 2, *3 dc, ch 2*, repeat from * to * two more times, ss into top of beginning ch. You should have four clusters.

Round 2:  Turn, ch 3, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner sp, 1 dc in each of next 3 sts*, repeat from * to * 2 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next corner sp, 1 dc in next 2 sts.  Join at top of beginning ch with ss.  You should have 7 dc on each side of your square. 

Round 3:  Turn, ch 3, dc in next st (see photo below) and each st around except do (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner.  Join at top of beginning ch with ss.  You should have 11 dc on each side of your square.

Round 4:  Turn, ch 3, dc in next st and each st around except do (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner.  Join at top of beginning ch with ss.  Cut yarn and fasten off.  You should have 15 dc on each side of your square.  

Round 5:  Attach yarn at any corner sp, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the corner sp, *ch 1, sk 3, 3 dc in next st, ch 1, sk 3, 3 dc in next st, ch 1, sk 3, 3 dc in next st, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner*.  Repeat from * to * twice.  Ch 1, sk 3, 3 dc in next st, ch 1, sk 3, 3 dc in next st, ch 1, sk 3, 3 dc in next st, ch 1.  Join at top of beginning ch with ss.  Cut yarn and fasten off.

Round 6:  Attach yarn at any corner sp, ch 3, (1 dc, ch 2, 2dc) in the corner sp, 1 dc in each of next 3 sts, 1 dc in ch 1 sp,  Continue pattern around doing 1 dc in every dc st, 1 dc in every ch 1 space, and (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner.  Join at top of beginning ch with ss.  Cut yarn and fasten off.  You should have 23 dc on each side of your square.  

Round 7:  Attach yarn at any corner sp, ch 3, (1 dc, ch 2, 2dc) in the corner sp, dc in next st and each st around except do (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner.  Join at top of beginning ch with ss.  Cut yarn and fasten off.  You should have 27 dc on each side of your square. 

Round 8:  Attach yarn at any corner sp, ch 2, (1 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the corner sp, hdc in next st and each st around except do (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in each corner.  Join at top of beginning ch with ss.  Cut yarn and fasten off.  You should have 31 hdc on each side of your square. 

Here are the photos for the option of using a build-up chain instead of cutting the yarn after Round 4.