The New Granny Square

by Susan M. Cottrell, Cindy Weloth

These are not your granny’s granny squares! They’re young, hip, and sometimes not even square . More than 70 contemporary versions come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and textures, and with fabulous finishing ideas. They’re attractive enough to use as an embellishment on a piece of clothing, as well as in traditional stitched-together projects. Many of the designs appear in different yarn weights and colors, allowing crocheters to personalize any of the items and get exactly the look they’re after. And the wide selection features everything from ponchos and scarves to sweaters and skirts. Easy-to-follow instructions make the projects inviting even for newcomers.

Genres: Crochet, Crafts

144 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2006

Reviews

[Ami · Rating 1 out of 5]

There certainly are a good many granny square patterns presented in this book, and some of them are probably new. But as for younger, hipper granny square usage? Well, no. I love granny squares as much as the next guy, and probably a lot more, but the patterns were really mostly ugly. Things I liked: granny square diversity, the pictures of each pattern in both sport weight yarn and thread. Things I didn't like: the lame attempts at modernity, the lack of inspiration to actually try anything, and almost everything else.

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looks like a pretty good book for people interested in adapting granny squares to new purposes. I was mostly looking at it for inspiration for the fairly traditional granny square blanket I'm planning to make myself, so it wasn't really what I was looking for, but I'll keep it around -- there's one or two designs that could be nice.

[Ligaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to finally check this out from the library as I'd seen it before and I loved the cover project but, you know what they say about a book's cover... I was immediately confused and then disappointed by the books organization and design. The granny squares are seemingly random sizes, and placed in odd spots relative to their instructions. Use of typography to help guide the reader is minimal and white space is poorly utilized. The most egregious is the lack of any stitch diagrams! Luckily, there are color photos throughout but several of those are out of focus. There is only one project that I liked, the Ribbon Block Skirt (p 118).

[Adrienne M. · Rating 1 out of 5]

No. No. No.

Firmly rooted in the novelty-yarn craze of the 2000s (which, to be fair, is the decade in which this book was published), the author used all the varieties of textured yarn at her disposal to create both the granny blocks and the projects (which are mostly 2000s-era extra embellishments to existing garments). Nothing here looks appealing to me, and I can’t easily visualize what the blocks could look like if I made them in nice, normal, round yarn. Perhaps the author achieved her goal of adapting old techniques to a new time, but I’m looking for something either more timeless or more modern, so it’s not for me.

[Mortalform · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't like the way this book displayed each square, the pages have a unpleasing stucco texture, the yarns chosen didn't appeal to me. Patterns in and off themselves had nothing wrong with them but not much to recommend them.

[Jen Potter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really, really, really wanted to like this book. But it was a big pile of crap. The yarns look cheap and the patterns dated. Sigh.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to keep this forever. But since it belongs to the library, had to return it. I will definitely look for a way I can get, and try, all the granny squares.