"Not a Granny Square" Blanket - a pattern

Winter didn't officially start until early this morning. Someone must have forgotten to tell the calendar. It has been bloody cold here with lots of snow, some sleet, and 1/4 inch of freezing rain in just the past week. Over night a front pushed through and dropped our temps into the below zero category. Wind chills are even colder. Brr!

As a result of the snow, sleet, and freezing rain, our roads are covered with thick, rutty, bumpy ice. Cars driving down our road make a lot of noise bouncing over that bumpy ice. It's too cold to melt even with the liberal application of salt. It will either have to wear away from the traffic or wait until the temps get above freezing to melt. It does make driving a challenge and stopping even more so. LOL!

With my Christmas knitting projects finished, I've been wondering what to work on next. I had an idea yesterday for a scrap blanket project. Could I make a partial granny square and crochet around it in an "L"? I tried it last night and here is the result. I wrote this up pretty quickly. If you find an error, let me know and I'll fix it. Thanks!

"Not a Granny Square" Blanket

Worsted weight yarn scraps
Crochet hook size H

Work the base rows in the same color, turning at the end of the row.

Base Row 1: Chain 3, use the chain farthest from your hook as a ring and work: 1 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, 2 dc, turn.

Base Row 2: Ch 4, in ch 2 space work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) to form a corner, ch 1, work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), ch 1, 1 dc in top of last st, turn.

Base Row 3: Ch 3, dc in ch space, ch 1, in ch 2 space work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), ch 1, 3 dc in space, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), ch 1, 1 dc in space and 1 dc in last st. Cut yarn and pull through last loop.

Beginning with Row 4, do not turn at the end of a row. When you finish a row, go back to the start of the row, fasten on a new color, and work the next row. Work on the right side only. Stitches are formed in spaces from last row unless otherwise noted. (The color notes indicate the row in the photo, not what color for you to use.)

Row 4: (dark green) Ch 4, 3 dc, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 2 dc. Cut yarn and pull through last loop.

Row 5: (white) Ch 3, dc in space next to ch 3, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), (ch 1, 3 dc)[work 3x], ch 1, dc in top of last stitch in row.

Row 6: (blue) Ch 4, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), (ch 1, 3dc)[work 3x], ch 1, 1 dc in space, dc in last st.

Row 7: (red) Ch 3, dc in space next to ch 3, (ch 1, 3 dc)[work 2x], ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), (ch 1, 3 dc)[work 4x], ch 1, dc in top of last stitch in row.

Row 8: (gray) Ch 4, 3 dc, (ch 1, 3 dc)[work 3x], ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), (ch 1, 3dc)[work 4x], ch 1, 1 dc in space, dc in last st.

Repeat Rows 7 & 8 adding an extra (ch 1, 3 dc) on each side of the "L" as the blanket grows. For example, [work 2x] becomes [work 3x] on this row and [work 4x] on the next row. After doing a few rows, you'll see how this works. If you're confused, take a closer look at the photo.

When your blanket is big enough, work one last row, then continue around the previously unworked edges working in sc to stabilize the edge. Crochet over all the yarn ends as you work down the sides. Join to the beginning of the row. Cut yarn, pull through loop and secure end.

Congratulations! You now have a blanket!

Options: Half a Granny Blanket---Work around 3 sides of the base instead of 2. Throw in an extra corner and continue in pattern.

Dec. 29 update - My blanket is almost finished. It's huge! I decided to use a needle to tuck in all the loose ends. On these two sides, I am working 2 dc over each chain 3 or last dc in the row. I found I liked this better than single crochet. I'll add dimensions and how much yarn I used after I get done.

© December 2008 Vicki Mikulak
All rights reserved. Please print only one (1) copy of this pattern for your own personal use. Feel free to use this pattern to make gifts or items for charities.