It’s finally finished! My very first granny square afghan. And I think I’m in love.
This really shouldn’t have taken me as long as it did. Way back in early July, when I posted the pattern for the Wildflower Granny Square, I’m pretty sure I made a few empty promises that I’d be posting the finished blanket within a week or so. But I have to be honest — I do not like repetition in crochet. When I make a new pattern, I’m pretty content to never make it again. (Fall and Winter are torturous for me with all of the sock monkey and polar bear hats I sell on Etsy.) So when I started making the squares for this blanket, the first few were fun. The next ones, and the ones after that, not so much.
But wow, what a feeling of accomplishment when I did finally complete them and started stitching my blanket together! I mean, seriously. I was so excited.
This particular afghan is a gift for a dear friend who is having a baby girl in November. If you follow my blog, you know that our family is relocating to Michigan in a couple of weeks. I’m pretty distraught that I’m not going to be around when Baby R. is born, and I couldn’t move without leaving something special for her. So, by the time you’re reading this, I’ll have already surprised her mommy with the blanket. I hope she loves it!
And, much to my surprise, now that this blanket is finally complete, I’m finding myself kind-of-sort-of wanting to make another one for myself. We’ve purchased a home in our new town, and I’ve already decided on the colors of the living room: chocolate brown and tan, with bright teal accents. I think that a Wildflower Afghan with those colors, draped over our dark brown couch, would be eye-catching and beautiful. Here’s a walk-thru list of how I created this afghan.
THE SQUARES
For the squares, I of course used my free pattern for Wildflower Granny Squares. For the blanket pictured above, which measures 28″x34″, you’ll need to make the following:
- (10) white squares with pink and yellow flowers (Bernat Satin “Snow” and “Banana”, and Caron Simply Soft “Strawberry”)
- (3) blue squares with white and green flowers (Bernat Satin “Lagoon” and “Snow”, and Caron Simply Soft “Mint”)
- (3) green squares, with white and green flowers (Bernat Satin “Snow” and Caron Simply Soft “Mint”)
- (2) purple squares, with white and green flowers (Bernat Satin “Snow” and “Lavender”, and Caron Simply Soft “Mint”)
- (2) yellow squares, with white and green flowers (Bernat Satin “Snow” and “Banana”, and Caron Simply Soft “Mint”)
THE JOINING METHOD
I single crocheted my squares together. I knew from the very beginning that this was how I wanted to do it; I love the look of the raised edges, and I think it perfectly compliments the raised flowers. Since I’d never actually done it before, I referred to this tutorial by Repeat Crafter Me. I added one SC in each corner section.
THE EDGING
And last but not least — the edging! I started with a couple rounds of white SC, adding (SC+Ch1+SC) in each corner. Then, to make it even a little more girly, I added a white row of DC ruffles (3 DC in each stitch, with 5 in each corner). It took a while to get around, but it was worth it. (Although if I were making this for someone other than a child, I would have left the ruffles off.)
That’s it!
Of course, the color combination possibilities are endless. Whatever colors you choose, I know you’ll end up with an afghan that’s really going to stand out. Be sure to send me your finished photos!
This looks like a blanket any little girl would enjoy having. the next time I have to make a baby blanket, I just might try this one. Thanks for the patterns.
I love the colors that you chose for this beautiful afghan. I can’t wait to make it. Thank you for the pattern.
Why am I not able to get the directions for this afghan?
Thank you
Barbara, they are on the blog post. You’ll need to follow the provided link for the square motif pattern. 🙂
Love this so beautiful. Will use pattern to make a larger one for my granddaughter in pinks & white. Love it you did such a great job. Ty for pattern. Am so excited to make it.
Patti
Thanks Patti!
It’s gorgeous! I have a friend having her first girl in November too and would love to make it as a gift. Can you tell me how many skeins of each color you used?
I wish I could! I did a terrible job of keeping track of that. 🙂 I know it was less than one skein of all of the colors, but as far as the white… it was definitely more than 1. I’m sorry!
Your afghan is gorgeous! Such a lovely gift to welcome a new little one. Good luck with the move. Being closer to family is definitely a good thing.
Thank you Vickie! Yes, we are very excited 🙂
It’s lovely – it must have been so hard to give it away!
Sheila, if I had a girl of my own, I might not have been able to 😉
Absolutely beautiful. I’ve got to try it!
Thank you, Patricia 🙂
Absolutely beautiful. I’very got to try it!
That turned out absolutely beautiful! It is the perfect baby afghan…very different than every other “cookie-cutter” afghan you always see. Thanks so much for sharing! Can’t wait to make it for my future grandbaby…my kids are supposed to be working on that right now!
Lol! And thank you so much for your kind words, Nadine!
That is truly beautiful. Where in Michigan are you moving?
We are headed to a little town in southwest Michigan. Very close to where I grew up, and where both my parents and my husband’s live. So we are pretty excited 🙂
It is beautiful, but I understand your pain with the repetition 🙂
So glad I’m not the only one! 😉
This is just lovely!!! You did a super job!!!
Thank you Carol!
Oh your afghan turned out really cute. Very nice indeed !
Thank you Barbara 🙂
You have done a beautiful job. Well done and there is a very lucky friend receiving this with all your love and persistence.
Susanna
Thank you so much! 🙂