I admit that I'm usually pretty meh about granny squares.

Sometimes they're cute and fun.

Sometimes they're a little... questionable. 😬

But usually I could take them or leave them.

Recently I went stash diving, though, looking for something easy to work on (hello, summer break!) and ended up pulling out a WIP I started way back in 2017.

It's actually one of my rejected design proposals.

My original plan? A cardigan made entirely of tiny granny squares. No, really. Like, hundreds of them. 😆

Here are the first 50 of them that I made almost eight years ago, lol:

I don't know if I'll actually bring that original vision to life (I mean, they'd make a super cute and colorful blanket, too!) but I decided that working on a few of these simple squares would be a good way to keep my hands happy without having to pay too close attention.

Want to see the sketch, the schematic, and exactly how I tweaked the traditional granny square? I shared the whole story on Patreon—including step-by-step instructions and a video tutorial if you want to try it yourself!

You can join me there for just $2/month to access this post (plus over a dozen other unpublished patterns) and there's still time to get this month's postcard, too!

So. What is your opinion on these little square motifs?

I mean, there really is a lot you can make with them.

Scarves, bags, garments, blankets, pillows... the options are pretty much endless!

In fact, I even designed a Christmas stocking using granny squares a few years ago. Have you seen it? It's a free pattern on my website as well as on Ravelry.

Let's see, what else have I made??

There's Granny at a Rave, of course, which is a triangular variation.

The Gemma Blanket, one of my early designs, is a simple modification that combines that classic granny stitch with something like the linen stitch for some cute pops of color.

And I also made a simple boxy top called the Harborside Tee for PLY magazine with handspun yarn that's mostly just two giant granny squares!

I think that one is my favorite.

At least until I make this wildly colorful cardigan, right!?

So how about it? Are you team granny square or nah? Have you made something with them you're really proud of? If you haven’t made anything from granny squares yet, but now I’ve got you thinking about it, what are you dreaming of making?? Hit reply and let me know! I'm happy to help you find a pattern, too.

For now, though, I think it's time to get back to my own little grannies.

Cheers!

-Connie

P.S. I don't have any new pictures of cute baby chickens to share with you this week, but how about a funny teenage chicken one? Waddles says hi!! (He's one of Mabel's two surviving kiddos from her first clutch.)