Interview with Catherine Hirst, author of Granny Square Crochet and giveaway
Today I’m interviewing Catherine Hirst, the author of Granny Square Crochet: 35 Contemporary Projects Using Traditional Techniques
Catherine describes herself as a contemporary crafts instructor, and she teaches and writes about crochet, knitting, and embroidery. She can be found online at her website, her blog, Ravelry, Twitter, and Facebook. Several of her instructional videos in knitting and crochet are available on Videojug.
Catherine Hirst. (Self-portrait, used with permission.)
Interview
Underground Crafter (UC): How did you first learn to crochet?
Catherine: My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was 7 years old. I liked it right away and haven’t stopped since!
UC: What inspired you to start designing?
Catherine: Designing is, in the end, a practical consideration, because I can make finished products that fit perfectly or look exactly as I want them to look. For me, designing from scratch happened gradually; I started modifying patterns first, finally losing my fear of changing the original pattern, and then as I grew more confident, the modifications became more and more elaborate until it didn’t seem like a big deal to take the step of just starting to crochet a piece without a pattern at all.
UC: What about the granny square, and motifs in general, appeals to you as a designer?
Catherine: I love the geometric regularity of a granny square – if done properly, it always looks neat and clean. I prefer not to have too much frill and fluff in my designs. Motifs are brilliant because they can be joined together in novel ways to make different shapes and items – and of course you can incorporate a lot of colour as well.
My take on the Dot in a Square motif from Catherine's Dot in a Square Cot Blanket.
UC: Crocheters and granny squares (and granny square home decor items) sometimes get a bad rap. When you’re designing with granny squares, do you feel any additional pressure to break those stereotypes?
Catherine: I definitely wanted a modern approach when designing for Granny Square Crochet
UC: There are many techniques for joining grannies, and in your book you advocate a join as-you-go method. What do you like about JAYG motifs?
Catherine: Excellent question! When joining after the fact with a crochet hook or needle, you always end up with a solid ridge line between the squares, which I think detracts from the open, airy appeal of the granny square. Join as you go joins only in the open spaces of the outside round of a granny, mimicking the construction of the granny itself. It makes the join invisible, the squares lay flatter, and the entire piece looks less heavy to the eye.
UC: You teach a variety of crafts, including crochet. Does your experience as a teacher influence your design process, and if so, how?
Catherine: Definitely! I always eliminate extraneous steps that seem unnecessary to me. I’ll rarely use two sizes of hook in one design, for example. I try to make colour changes, increases and decreases, and finishing/seaming as straightforward as possible. I try to use nice round numbers of stitches as often as is practical, and I try to make my patterns as easy to follow and understandable as I can. As both a teacher and a crafter myself, I know well the horror of a poorly-written pattern!
UC: What is your favorite crochet book in your collection (besides yours, of course)?
Catherine: The Crochet Answer Book
UC: Do you visit any crochet or craft blogs or websites regularly?
Catherine: In my feed reader, I have The Purl Bee, which is Purl Soho‘s blog and features knitting, crochet, and stitching/embroidery; The Yarn Harlot for knitting; Posie Gets Cosy for embroidery; Crochet with Raymond and Attic 24 for crochet; Knitty Blog for all sorts of yarn-y goodness; and many, many more. (UC comment: This interview was written before Alice announced that she was discontinuing the Crochet with Raymond blog.) I also have a Twitter feed (@craftyexpat) which is filled with wonderful crafty people and it’s a tool that really helps me keep up with craft events, etc here in London. On my website, I have all the up-to-date information about what I’m up to. Please visit and say hi!
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, Catherine!
Giveaway
I’ll be giving away my review copy of Granny Square Crochet
To enter:
Leave a comment telling me about granny squares: have you made a lot or a few, do you have a favorite pattern or joining technique, what do you usually make with the squares?For additional entries, like Underground Crafter on Facebook, follow Underground Crafter on Twitter, join the Underground Crafter group on Ravelry, and/or share a link to this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog. (And then, leave a comment here, on Facebook, on Twitter, or in the Ravelry group letting me know what you did!)One winner will be chosen at random.
Good luck!
I’m blogging daily throughout October. Visit I Saw You Dancing for more Blogtoberfest bloggers and CurlyPops for Blogtoberfest giveaways. Search #blogtoberfest12 on Twitter.
Great interview with Catherine. I wonder if she knows that Crochet with Raymond has closed down? Raymond (the Siamese cat) has left home and Alice and KB are devastated. Please put me in the draw for the Granny Square book – I loooove granny squares. My favourite way of joining them is the join as you go method using the same colour for the final round of each square. It kind of pulls them all together nicely and makes the other colours just ‘pop’ out. Have a good weekend. xox
Hi Dorothy – The interview was actually written before Crochet with Raymond closed down. I’m going to add a little note about that to the interview, though.
I see other people use granny squares to make stylish things, and just when I start to overcome my fear of making something really ugly, I find something which takes me right back to where I started. More often than not it’s the colour choices that kill it, so maybe this book would help me finally take the plunge!
That sounds like a great book. I don’t have a lot of experience with granny squares, but I’d love to start!
I’m squiggi on ravelry
ps. I’m in the ravelry group and I follow you on facebook
Great giveaway again! Haven’t ever done any granny squares, I know, I am weird
But the Dot in the Square looks wonderful, I would like to give that a try.
And have you seen this granny square on the bed linen, but as a print? Fun, ain’t it?! Ciao, Fleur (Fleurtje-Eliza on Ravelry)
Granny Squares…I have a love/hate relationship with them. As a general rule I’m not a big fan of them because they are often used as stash busters. But then one comes along in Ravelry or something and I swoon! I love Granny Squares when they are cutesy or artsy or quirky or elegant.
Just a couple of days ago a knitting friend of mine pulled out a bag of granny squares she made a couple of years ago for a baby blanket. She’d completely forgotten how to crochet and needed one more square! So a friend and I retaught her how to crochet and how to make her last needed square. The great thing about many granny squares is that they are simple enough to figure out just by looking at them. (she had lost the pattern over the years).
I showed my friend that she could join her squares with a whip stitch, the mattress stitch or the slip stitch. She chose the slip stitch for speed, but did like the looks of the mattress stitch.
Thanks for hosting the giveaway. I am following you (or joined) on facebook, twitter and ravelry. I posted the giveaway on pinterest, facebook, twitter and google plus! (either as myself or Yarnovations)
I enjoy granny squares, the problem is I don’t like weaving in ends and sewing together! I made a couple of nifty bags for my nieces this summer using granny squares in cotton, they are really cute. I have also made afghans for some of my nieces and nephews using double strand large hook granny squares (20 squares to a blanket). I am always looking for new and unique patterns to catch my attention. Plus I have a huge stash of odds and ends to go through and a good granny pattern would be perfect. There are pictures of all on my blog (listed as my website).
Enjoyed the interview!
i love doing granny squares and think you can make so much with them
i have also taught a friend to crochet and she is loving it, i like to use whip stitch to join them together 
I only made a granny blanket once, I didn’t like it because the colors were too boring. I would love to make one in bright pretty colors this time, and matching granny pillow, to decorate MY side of the bed, haha.
oh! I miss Raymond too! and his humans! Love this book and can’t wait to win it! I am planning my first granny afghan- hopefully of many- and have begun trying different squares to see which ones I like. I already follow underground crafter, thank you very much for a wondeful blog- I get so many ideas! and I’ve posted them on pinterest and today’s great interview on twitter. Hope hope hope I win!
I’ve never done granny squares but these actually look fun!
I have not made a granny square since I was a kid. I’m not so much a fan of weaving in ends, or the joining. I do howevrr love the way granny square projects can look, and think I would like to get started, again.
I find that granny-squares are my go-to project when I’m stressed out and need a break from a typical bigger project. I like making scrapghans. (There I said it!) Right now I’m working on a scrapghan using 6-inch granny squares and granny square variations. It’s fun, and I’m always looking for new squares to make, new joining techniques, and new borders to finish everything.
I like you on Facebook and am in the Ravelry group.
eck! i love grannies..i make them all the time..alot of people think they are a bit dated but when you use really bright fun colors even the most basic granny square is updated and chic…a pattern that i came across that is completely awesome is this one http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hexagons-are-my-stars-tutorial …ive always had trouble though with figuring out how to join them..if you could do a post about it id be eternally grateful
following on fb
im also in your group on rav
I LOVE Grannies!!! I’m just finishing a Granny blanket in Stitch.Rock.Love, almost have all the squares attached & then I need to figure out the edging! Please enter me into the drawing! Great Interview with Catherine!
Could it be a granny square book that I missed?!? Thank you for introducing me to this wonderful resource. Since beginning my my whole granny project this summer I have really fallen for them. I still don’t like weaving in the ends, but I’m much quicker than I used to be! I really like Catherine’s philosophy for the JAYG technique – I’ll certainly be trying that!
Another wonderful interview Marie! Thanks for teaching me something new today! As for the book, I’d love to add it to my library. I’m already a regular at all the UC hot spots (FB, Rav, Twitter & Pinterest!),and I’ll be sharing a link on my FB page for sure!
Perhaps you weren’t only looking at US publications, Robin? I’m glad you enjoyed the interview.
I’ve only recently learned to crochet. I’ve just made a few granny squares for a group afghan project so I don’t have a favorite pattern or joining technique yet. The squares were fun to make, so I’d love to win this book and try my hand at some more!
I haven’t made many granny squares except an African Flower motif I’ve been working on for a blanket I think is gorgious. Any help in the joining this book could give me woould be great because right now I only have stacks of grannies.
I am a member of your rav group
I like you on FB
I have made a few things with Granny Squares. My first ever crocheted blanket that I made for my daughter before she was born was made with granny squares. I have been eyeing this granny slipper pattern. I am hoping to make them soon once I get some WIPs done. Not enough time in the day to crochet everything I want!
I also shared and liked the page on Facebook. Thanks!
I’ve never made any granny squares, never interested me but recently I’ve been seeing new updated patterns that are cute even as a single square. I’d like to win this book and finally give them a whorl =D
I’ve never actually done granny squares but these look amazing and I’d love to try them!
Haven’t tried granny squares yet, but would love to learn!
Granny square my first project to make,simple,perfect for beginner.I made many for swap partner,my favorite joining is join as you go,clever and simple,but fast too.Thanks for amazing giveaway and for the chance to win this lovely book.
I haven’t crocheted with granny squares for quite a while. When I began crocheting I made afghans, pillows, and coasters – many of each of these with granny squares. I don’t know why I stopped but after seeing this book I am inspired to return to my granny square roots. Thanks for the great giveaway and interview!
I used to crochet lots of granny squares, I attempted a bag for bread… never finished it though. This book looks great!
What a great interview! It’s nice to get an insight into how a designer works. I love to make granny squares. So far I’ve only made a granny square rainbow cushion cover, though it was circles in a square. I’m also working on a giant granny blanket.
Great interview and giveaway. I love granny squares and have been making them for many years. I make giant squares for baby blankets and smaller squares to donate to charities. I have never tried JAYGO joining, but almost took a class at an upcoming Stitches convention. BTW, I just liked your FB page and joined your Ravelry group. Thanks for the opportunity to win a fun book!
I really like the look of granny squares but I haven’t made a lot of them. (I am not sure why). I would love to win this book. Hopefully it would inspire me to make a bunch of granny square lovliness.
I love Granny Squares! So portable and so many possiblities! I love bright inviting colors and love to make pillows out of the lovely squares.
Sara
Crocheting a Granny Squares blanket will be my next project
Thanks for the chance to win.
I follow you on FB.
I liked your page on FB.
I made one granny square blanket and did what I think is a join as you go. I have the beginnings of another blanket waiting for some more inspiration, but I’d also really love to make some granny square gloves. Thanks for the chance
I now follow you on twitter @quilary.
I love making just plain old traditional granny squares… they are so functional… for mother’s day, I made mom a pair of mini granny square earrings
This looks like a great book for me to relearn crochet. About 25 years ago, I was making lots of granny squares, made 2 afghans and didn’t make any more. I have been wanting to relearn so this book looks like it would be perfect.
I’m just getting into granny squares, I like the idea of making them into purses! I would love to win this giveaway! I’ve liked the Underground Crafter on Facebook and joined the ravelry group!
I am a crochet virgin – but I have it on my bucket list so would love to learn!! Thanks for the chance!
I love a good granny square and I am gravitating towards clothing. I have a dress, a shawl and a jacket all on my “to do” list. No great information to offer with regards to my granny square knowledge though.
I love granny squares but have been so scared of joining them that I’ve mostly steered towards one big square. About six weeks ago I got brave and crocheted up 9 12″ squares and simple single crocheted them together and then did a few rows and some scalloping around the edge. Too easy. I don’t know why I’ve been so scared. I’m sure to be making many more now! Cherrie
Granny squares……hmmm, haven’t tried these for ages…maybe it’s about time I started up again with winter coming and all that!!