Crocheted Granny Squares Book Review with Crochet Pattern: Catherine Wheel square by Val Pierce

I’m excited to share a crochet granny square pattern book review with a giveaway. I’ve also included an excerpted pattern for a lacy granny square, so read on for details!

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. A free review copy of Crocheted Granny Squares: 20 On the Go Projects was provided to me by Search Press North America. Although I accept free products for review, I do not accept additional compensation, nor do I guarantee a positive review. My reviews are based entirely on my honest opinions.

Book Review

Book review: Crocheted Granny Squares by Val Pierce with excerpted crochet pattern: Catherine Wheel square via Underground Crafter

Crocheted Granny Squares: 20 On the Go Projects is an updated version of Crocheted Granny Squares (Twenty to Make) by Val Pierce, which I reviewed when it was first published a few years ago. Today’s review combines my original review of the content with my new feedback on the latest format.

Like the other books in this series, Crocheted Granny Squares is a book focused on projects, not techniques. The book opens with a biography of Val and a short introduction. After the intro, the book has a short Hints & Tips section, which explains how you can adjust the size of your projects by using thicker yarn and larger hooks. (The motifs were crocheted with DMC Petra cotton thread.)  Val also wisely recommends weaving in the ends as you go, rather than at the end of large projects, to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

The book continues on to the patterns, which are written in US pattern abbreviations with UK pattern abbreviations in parenthesis. The book defines granny square broadly, and includes 15 square motif patterns, 1 triangle motif pattern, and 2 patterns each for hexagon and circle motifs.  The patterns don’t indicate a difficulty level, but most use simple stitch combinations so should be within the reach of any beginner crocheter who can crochet in the round.

In addition to the motif patterns, the book includes instructions for 7 projects made with motifs: a vase cover, a cushion, hand warmers, a pincushion, the Daisy Loop Scarf (my favorite project, made with the lacy Daisy Loop square), and a table mat. The updated version of Crocheted Granny Squares has large photos for each pattern and the text is easy to read. It’s a larger size that the original version but still fits into a project bag for portability. Though it’s a paperback, you can spread the spine easily to read and crochet at the same time. This book is ideal for a crochet or granny square newbie. The vibrant colors, fun backgrounds, and cute projects make this book visually appealing.

The down sides: Unfortunately, all patterns aren’t listed on Ravelry, but you can see many of the motifs on the book cover.  The book uses only pattern abbreviations and no stitch diagrams, so crocheters who prefer visual patterns may not enjoy this book as much.  The use of yrh (yarn round hook) instead of yo (yarn over) may be confusing to some American crocheters.

Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for new crocheter or a granny square pattern collector who would like some patterns for crocheting on the go.


Catherine Wheel square

Crochet Pattern by Val Pierce

Free crochet pattern: Catherine Wheel square by Val Pierce via Underground Crafter

Published in Crocheted Granny Squares: 20 On the Go Projects.

Pattern Text © 2012 Val Pierce. Photographs and Design © 2012 Search Press Ltd. Shared with permission from Search Press North America.

Note from Underground Crafter: This pattern uses standard U.S. crochet pattern abbreviations (with U.K. stitch names in parenthesis). You can find a master list of abbreviations here.

Materials and equipment:

  • Crochet hook size 3.00mm (US D, UK 10)
  • DMC Petra 3 crochet cotton – small amounts in each of 3 colours: A, B and C.
  • Alternatively, 1 x 50g ball in each colour will make several of these squares.
  • Motif size: 4in (10cm) diameter

Instructions:

  • Using A, make 6 ch, join into a circle with a sl st.
  • Round 1: using A, 1 ch, work 12 sc (UKdc) into circle, join with a sl st.
  • Round 2: using B, 3 ch, 1 dc (UKtr) into same sp, leave last loop on hook, draw through both loops, 2 ch, *2 dc (UKtr) into next dc, leaving last loop on hook, yrh, draw through both loops, 2 ch*, rep from * to * all round, joining to top of fi rst dc (UKtr) at beg of round. Break B.
  • Round 3: using C, sl st into fi rst 2 ch, 1 sc (UKdc) into sp, 3 ch,1 sc (UKdc) into next sp, *3 ch, 1 sc (UKdc) into next sp*, rep from * to * all round, 3 ch, sl st to beg of round.
  • Round 4: using C, sl st into fi rst 3 ch sp, 3 ch, 2 dc (UKtr) into same sp, leaving last loop on hook, yrh, draw through all loops on hook, *4 ch, 3 dc (UKtr) into next sp, leaving last loop on hook, yrh, draw through all loops*, rep from * to * all round, join with a sl st to top of 3 ch at beg of round. Break C.
  • Round 5: using A, sl st into next 4 ch sp, 3 ch, 3 dc (UKtr) into same sp, 3 ch, 4 dc (UKtr) into same sp, *1 ch, 4 dc (UKtr) into next sp, 1 ch, 4 dc (UKtr) into next sp, 1 ch, [4 dc (UKtr), 3 ch, 4 dc (UKtr)] into next sp*, rep from * to * twice more, 1 ch, 4 dc (UKtr) into next sp, 1 ch, 4 dc (UKtr) into next sp, 1 ch, join with a sl st to dc (UKtr) at beg of round. Break A.
  • Round 6: using B, 1 sc (UKdc) into each dc (UKtr) all round and 4 sc (UKdc) into each corner sp, join with a sl st to beg of round. Fasten off and work in all the ends.

Giveaway

Book review: Crocheted Granny Squares by Val Pierce with excerpted crochet pattern: Catherine Wheel square via Underground Crafter | Enter through October 13, 2017 for your chance to win a copy.

So now that you’ve read the review and checked out the sample pattern, I’m sure you’re looking forward to getting your hands on a copy of Crocheted Granny Squares: 20 On the Go Projects . The nice folks at Search Press North America have set aside a copy for one lucky reader!

This giveaway is open to readers with mailing addresses in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, or other parts of Europe, except where prohibited by law. Enter by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Friday, October 13, 2017. One winner will be chosen at random from the entries submitted via the Rafflecopter widget. The winner will receive 1 copy of Crocheted Granny Squares: 20 On the Go Projects , courtesy of Search Press North America. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2 thoughts on “Crocheted Granny Squares Book Review with Crochet Pattern: Catherine Wheel square by Val Pierce”

  1. These are beautiful! I love granny squares and am always looking for new ideas. I’ll definitely be trying these, thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply

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