There's more to life than granny squares
But it's a good place to start, don't you think?
It's a common misconception that crafters make to think that crochet is only about granny squares and anything that vaguely resembles a granny square. That's not true. There is so much more to crochet than granny squares but it is a good place to start and I will tell you why in this post.
What else can I crochet?
First, we should talk about what other options there are for crocheters who don't want to have a go at crochet squares. There are many things you can crochet without having to make anything square. Using any of the four basic crochet stitches, you can create garments, bags, blankets, toys, home decor and much much more.
All crochet stitch patterns are made of one of the following stitches:
Single crochet (UK treble)
Half double crochet (UK half treble)
Double crochet (UK treble)
Every stitch following these stitches is just a variant or a 'build' on the basics. To make a triple stitch (UK triple treble) you make a double crochet twice. To make a shell or fan stitch, you need to make 5 double crochet stitches into the same chain. To make a v stitch, you make two double crochet stitches into the same chain, with one chain separating them to create the v shape.
If you do want to start with the granny square, that's fantastic! You can learn a few things from this clever shape:
You can learn how to build in rounds.
Learn to change colours.
Learn to make corner spaces.
Learn how a chain space works.
Keep them small or make something massive!
As you can see, you can learn a lot from that humble square. There's something pretty and comforting about a granny square throw.
The humble granny square is a great place to start and here are some further posts to help you get going:
How to get your granny squares right every time.
Why you should try the granny square
The beauty of a granny square is that you can knock them out so fast, once you learn how. Then you can join them into whatever you want to make. They are great little building blocks to make all sorts of things!