In today’s Granny Square Month post, I’m sharing a review of a gorgeous crochet book including patterns for 60 motifs and 15 projects usings these motifs by Agnieszka Strycharska. I’m also sharing an excerpted pattern from that book for a beautiful granny square skirt, 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 PDF review copy of Crochet Blocks: 60 Easy-to-Make Motifs & 15 Stunning Projects by Agnieszka Strycharska was provided to me by Tuva Publishing. 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

Crochet Blocks: 60 Easy-to-Make Motifs & 15 Stunning Projects by Agnieszka Strycharska is a visually stunning, project-inspiring crochet motif pattern book. It opens with a preface from Agnieszka where she shares her inspiration. It continues on to a 12-page motif gallery. Motifs are photographed in groups on an colorful background (just as you see on the front cover). Each motif has a label tag with its number. Flipping through these pictures will make you want to get your hook out as soon as possible.

The book continues on to the Motifs section, which includes 60 patterns for motifs in a variety of shapes including 28 squares, 12 hexagons, 11 circles, and 10 triangles. Each pattern includes a materials list, the finished size, and a list of special stitches. The patterns are then written out in US crochet abbreviations with an international stitch symbol diagram. Most patterns are made with DMC Natura Just Cotton, while some are made with DMC Natura XL. Each pattern also includes at least one flat lay photo of the motif.

The next section, Projects, includes patterns that use the motifs from the previous section. There are 3 bags, 2 pillows, 2 neckwarmers, and a shawl, a skirt, a hat, a rug, a pair of legwarmers, a blanket, a doily, and a stool cover. Each project includes a materials list, finished project measurements, and detailed instructions for assembling the project. Each project includes several pictures, including styled, full page photos and assembly diagrams.

The book ends with a 5-page stitch guide that includes written and illustrated instructions for the slip knot, 7 basic crochet stitches, and 5 special stitches. The abbreviations list is a glossary of US pattern abbreviations. Color palettes with small thumbnails of yarn balls are included for DMC Natura Just Cotton and DMC Natura XL, in case you want to make color changes while using the same yarn.

If you have an extensive granny square book collection, like I do, you may not necessarily find unique, new patterns, but the beautiful layout and attractive projects will inspired you to get crocheting. If you don’t have many granny square books, this is a great one to start off your collection. If you like to crochet motifs, to make portable and functional projects, and to add some boho handmade touches to your wardrobe or home, then get a copy of Crochet Blocks: 60 Easy-to-Make Motifs & 15 Stunning Projects!

Motif 2 & Skirt

Crochet Patterns by Agnieszka Strycharska

Published in Crochet Blocks: 60 Easy-to-Make Motifs & 15 Stunning Projects.

Pattern © 2016 Tuva Tekstil ve Yayincilik Ltd. Shared with permission from Tuva Publishing.

Note from Underground Crafter: These patterns uses standard US crochet pattern abbreviations. You can find a master list of abbreviations here.

Motif 2

Materials

Hook:

• E-4 (3.50 mm)
• DMC Natura Just Cotton:
  • Color A – N 51 Erica
  • Color B – N 85 Giroflée
  • Color C – N 74 Curry

Finished Size:

• 2.75” (7 cm)

4-Bobble Stitch (4-bob):

• Yo, insert hook into st or sp indicated, pull up lp, yo, draw through 2 lps on hook, [yo, insert hook in same st or sp, pull up lp, yo, draw through 2 lps on hook] 3 times more (5 lps on hook), yo and draw through all 5 lps.

Note:

• The first Bobble Stitch in a round is started differently to subsequent bobbles in round. Instructions for the first bobble are included within the pattern. For subsequent bobbles follow the directions above.

Pattern

• Base Round: Using Color A, ch 4; join with sl st to rst ch to form a ring.
• Round 1: (Right Side) Ch 3 (counts as rst dc, now and throughout), 15 dc in ring; join with sl st to first dc (3rd ch of beginning ch-3). (16 dc) Fasten off Color A and weave in all ends.
• Round 2: With right side facing, join Color B with sl st to same st as joining, ch 1 (NOT counted as first st), sc in same st, ch 1, skip next dc, 7 dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc, *sc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc, 7 dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc; rep from * around; join with sl st to first sc. (28 dc, 4 sc & 8 ch-1 sps) Fasten off Color B and weave in all ends.
• Round 3: With right side facing, join Color C with sl st to last ch-1 sp on Round 2, ch 3, [yo, insert hook in same st as joining, pull up lp, yo, draw through 2 lps on hook] 3 times (4 lps on hook), yo, draw through all 4 lps (first 4-bob made), ch 2, 4-bob in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, skip next 3 dc, sc in next dc (center dc of 7-dc group), ch 2, skip next 3 dc, *[4-bob in next ch-1 sp, ch 2] 2 times, sc in center dc of next 7-dc group, ch 2; rep from * around; join with sl st to first dc. (8 bobbles, 4 sc & 12 ch-2 sps) Fasten off Color C and weave in all ends.

Skirt

Materials

Hook:

• E-4 (3.50 mm)

DMC Natura just Cotton:

• Color A – N 51 Erica
• Color B – N 85 Giroflée
• N 75 Moss Green
• Color C – N 74 Curry
• Color D – N 05 Bleu Layette
• Color E – N 64 Prussian
• Ribbon or Cord for Waistband Tie

Finished Size:

• 16.5” x 21” (42 x 53 cm)

This project uses Motif 2 (see above for pattern).

Pattern

• Following instructions for Motif 2, use the following colorways to make a total of 84 motifs.
• Block 1 – Make 42 Motifs
  • Color A – N 51 Erica
  • Color B – N 85 Giroflée
  • Color C – N 74 Curry
• Block 2 – Make 42 Motifs
  • Color A – N 51 Erica
  • Color B – N 75 Moss Green
  • Color C – N 74 Curry

Assembly of Skirt

• Use photo and layout diagram as guide.
• With right sides facing, using 42 motifs, lay out 6 motifs across by 7 motifs down (either Front or Back of Skirt), alternating Blocks 1 & 2. Repeat with remaining 42 motifs so that both Front and Back look the same.

Motif Joining

• For Front and Back, work across horizontal seams first.
• ♥Holding first two motifs together, with right sides facing (wrong sides together), working through both thicknesses, matching sts, working in back loops only, using Color D, join with sl st to corresponding chs of corner ch-2 sps, ch 1, sc in same ch, *sc in each st or ch across to next corner ch**, pick up next two motifs and starting from corner ch of new motif, rep from * across seam, ending at ** on final repeat. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
• Repeat from ♥ for the remaining horizontal seams.
• Repeat from ♥ for all vertical seams.
• Repeat the Motif Joining for the remaining Front/Back

Skirt Seams

• Holding the finished Front and Back together, with right sides facing, using the same method established, starting from a corner, join across length of skirt (7 motifs). Fasten off and weave in all ends.
• Repeat seam on the other side of Skirt.

Waistband

• Round 1: With right side facing, working around top of Skirt, join Color D with sl st to ch-2 sp, ch 1 (NOT counted as first st, now and throughout), 2 sc in same sp, [2 sc in next ch-2 sp] around; join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off Color D and weave in all ends.
• Round 2: With right side facing, join Color C with sl st to any sc, ch1, sc in same st, [sc in next sc] around; join with sl st to first sc.
• Rounds 3-4: Ch 1, sc in each sc around; join with sl st to first sc.
• Round 5: Ch 3 (counts as rst dc), [dc in next dc] around; join with sl st to first dc (3rd ch of beg ch-3).
• Rounds 6-7: Rep Rounds 3-4.
• At the end of Round 7, fasten off Color C and weave in all ends.
• Weave Ribbon or Cord through stitches in Round 5 and tie in front.

Hem Edging

• Round 1: With right side facing, working around bottom of Skirt, join Color C with sl st to any st or sp, ch 1 (NOT counted as rst st, now and throughout), sc in same st, [sc in next st or sp] around; join with sl st to first sc.
• Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around; join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off Color C and weave in all ends.
• Round 3: With right side facing, join Color E with sl st to any sc, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each of next 2 sc, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next sc, *sc in each of next 3 sc, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next sc; rep from * around; join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off Color E and weave in all ends.

If you enjoyed these patterns, you can find more in Crochet Blocks: 60 Easy-to-Make Motifs & 15 Stunning Projects on Amazon.