Today we are going to talk about three things:
Getting your squares to the same size
Blocking your squares
Joining your squares together
These three things are the key to turning a stack of pretty squares into a neatly put-together blanket. So let’s dive right in.
Although these techniques can be used with any crocheted squares, examples shown here are for the Cheerful Child CAL here on pink mambo.com.
Cheerful Child is a baby blanket CAL here on pinkmambo.com that appears every Monday and Thursday January 7-February 18, 2016. It features granny-style blocks in a variety of designs, all on the easy side.
Every other block is a different granny square design–there are 12 of those–and alternating blocks are solid granny squares in the five colors, all made the same–and there are 13 of those (Hadley Square #4). So 25 blocks in all plus a border. My blanket turned out to be 34 1/2″ square made with a size I hook.
Cheerful Child’s skill level is adventurous beginner, which means you have knowledge of the basic stitches and are ready to take on a larger, more involved project with a little more texture and combinations of stitches. Experienced crocheters will enjoy the fun of making these fresh and pretty blocks as well.
Each square features round by round photos and written instructions. I hope you will join in the fun of making this cheery, pretty blanket!
Here are links to all the blocks and additional information.
- Square 1: Posy Wheel
- Square 2: Bullseye
- Square 3: Emma on Oombawkadesigncrochet.com
- Square 4: Hadley
- Square 5: Easton
- How to make Cheerful Child in different sizes
- Square 6: Ruby
- Square 7: Avery
- Getting your blocks to the same size, blocking and joining
- Square 8: Finley
- Square 9: Kayden
- Square 10: Morgan
- Square 11: Monroe
- Square 12: Addison
- Square 13: Channing (last square)
- Border (last post)
Getting your squares to the same size
If some of your blocks are turning out a little smaller or larger than the others, there are several things you can do. You can try going down a hook size if, for example, your Hadley seems to be turning out larger than the others. I have heard from a couple of people that this is happening. I think we relax more while stitching the simple rounds of dc on the Hadley, and crochet a little tighter with the more varied stitches of the granny blocks. So if you haven’t made all your Hadleys that is the first thing I would recommend trying.
If you’ve made them all, you can substitute a round of hdc for the sc round on the last round of any of the granny blocks that are coming out smaller. This still looks very neat and tidy, and you don’t have to change the stitch count. My mother did this on some of her granny blocks.
The third thing you can do is block your squares out to 6 inches. Edited to add: I would only recommend doing this if the difference is less than 1/4″. If it’s 1/4″ or more, I’d recommend replacing the last round of single crochet with a round of half double crochet as shown above.
This is what I did to block mine. I pinned out and steam blocked each of my squares before putting them together and it made such a difference in how smooth and pretty they were. They were all the same size then and joining them was a breeze. If you don’t want to block them individually, you can try blocking the strips of five as you get them made and joined. We are going to go over joining into strips in this post. This is what my mother did on her Cheerful Child. Her blocks were a little varied in size, but she joined the first strip of five together then steamed the whole strip, coaxing the squares into uniform size, and it came out perfectly.
My favorite method of blocking is steam blocking. I actually drew a big square marked off as a 6”, 8” and 12” square on my ironing board cover with a fine point Sharpie. I felt like such a rebel drawing on the ironing board cover! It’s been very handy though. I just pin out the square to the corners, apply the steam, then use my fingers to coax the warm, damp square to line up with the lines on the ironing board. Let it dry and you’re in business. You can also use a piece of gingham fabric with big checks to block.
To steam, set the iron to steam, and if you have an iron that features bursts of steam, so much the better. But either way, use the iron to allow the steam to penetrate the yarn fibers without actually touching the iron to the crochet. If you prefer, cover the crochet with a handkerchief or pressing cloth just to be sure the iron doesn’t touch it. After steaming, smooth the crochet with your fingers until it’s nice and straight. Then let it dry completely before removing. A hair dryer set on cool helps this process if you’re in a hurry.
Again, steam blocking is not the only way to block. It’s just my preference. Some people prefer wet blocking.
Joining your squares together
To join your squares together, you can choose from a variety of joining methods. Here are some of my favorites:
For this series of photos, I showed the joining in red for contrast so you could see it more clearly. However, we really chose color B when it came to actually joining the strip together.
I chose to hold my squares right sides together and slip stitch to join through the back loops only. To do this, hold two squares right sides together, lining up the stitches along one edge (A). Make a loop on your hook, and insert it into the back loop of the second ch st of the corner on both squares (B).
Yarn over and pull through to make your slip stitch, then slip stitch through both layers, back loops only, all the way across (C).
When you finish, it looks like (D).
Continue to add blocks in the pattern shown on the graphics downloadable from this post. It will be Hadley, Easton, Hadley, Ruby, Hadley for the first strip of five if you are making the baby blanket size.
This creates your first strip.
Thank you for the cleaur explanation. The photo’s are showing how to work. The squares are beautiful after blocking.
Have a nice weekend, Margaret
Thanks Margaret and I hope you have a good weekend too!
I have a problem with the concept of blocking squares to make them “match” other squares. This is a child’s blanket and will need to be laundered. So what happens to those blocked squares when it comes out of the dryer? Aren’t they going to shrink and leave you with a lumpy blanket? Wouldn’t you have to block the whole blanket every time you wash it?
I’m thinking it would be much better to make sure the squares are the same size without blocking. I plan to give the blanket to my grandson and I would like for it to be easy-care. Please set me straight if my thinking is wrong.
I just re-read my comment… I didn’t intend to sound negative! I am thoroughly enjoying the CAL! The squares are charming and fun to make. My color choices were inspired by your Taanvi’s Flowers, though I’m using Simply Soft Brights.
There must be a lot of work involved in organizing a CAL… Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us!
Oh no Linda, I didn’t take it negatively at all. It’s a very good point. Thanks so much for your kind words. Yes, a lot of work but I love every minute of it and especially the community aspect of joining in with so many people making it.
Hi Linda, I washed my blanket and dried it and it turned out just fine. I think the thing is, none of my blocks were that much smaller. So I edited my post to reflect that if they’re less than 1/4″ smaller, you can block them out. But if they’re smaller than that, go ahead and replace the round of sc with a round of dc. That’s what my mom is doing on hers as she makes it, and those are hitting exactly 6″. Thanks so much and best wishes!
That’s a good point, Linda. I will wash my Cheerful Child that I blocked like that and see what happens. 🙂
I’m confused over yardage for small throw, says 13 skeins of yarn, is this right?
What color letter do we use to join? I am having so much fun with the Cal! Please say that you are doing another after this one! I have no trouble with your patterns as I do with some others. Thank you for your time and great talent!! I would post a picture but I don’t know how? Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth, I’m thrilled to hear this is going great for you! Yes I am doing another one after this one, and have the next one planned for after that! lol. The next one will be announced within days and begins late February after this one is over. I’m glad the instructions and all are clear for you, I try! 🙂 🙂 OK on the joining, I should have said that in the post and will go back and add it. I used color letter B, the same color that all the small squares are edged with. I had used the red in the photos to show a contrast so it would show up clearly, but we really used the color letter B to join the strip. I’ll add that to the blog post–thanks for asking!
I meant to add, Elizabeth, that several people are posting their progress photos on the facebook group CAL – Crochet A Long. It’s a great group and they are hosting my next CAL over there so Id love for you to join and post there!
Hi Carolyn, I joined this CAL from the Netherlands and I want to thank you! Your instructions are clear and I am confident I will complete my first blanket with squares. I have learned a lot, thanks to this CAL. And most of all, your Squares make me happy. I love the colors and patterns. (my colors differ a bit, but they are very bright and happy colors). I hope to find the CAL FB group, will join and share pictures. Warm regards, Mireille.
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment, Mireille! I love that you are making yours with bright, happy colors and can’t wait to see it! So glad you are having success with your first blanket. I designed this CAL with people in mind who have the basics down but are ready for a bigger project like a blanket 🙂 🙂
Happy to read your reply, thank you! I will share my finished blanket in the CAL group on Fb. The border is also beautiful, A joy to see the bright colors match in the last rounds. This is my first blanket, and also first granny project. I can say I am proud how it turned out.. Thank you!
Hi Carolyn, several of us over on the facebook CAL group are wondering when you’ll be releasing the 8th square. We’re all pretty anxious. Thank you for creating such a fun blanket
Hi Lorna, I’m so sorry the post was late today ! IT’s up now. Sorry to make you all wait. We had all kinds of technology and internet problems yesterday which threw us off. Very sorry. Hope you have fun making the new one!
Hi Carolyn. Will you be posting the 1-25 square soon?
Hi Gail, Very saorry for the late hour of getting Finley up. We had all kinds of technology and internet problems yesterday which threw us off today. So sorry to make y’all wait. The post is up now and I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Hi Carolyn, I am loving this blanket! I am currently making one in the colors you originally used, but now I want to make a second one in the colors in this post. Would you mind sharing the yarn and colors?
Thank you in advance,
Ingrid