Hello!
Today I have something lovely to share with you all, my crafty friends.
A hooky friend of mine, Shelley Husband, has just written a fabulous
ebook called 'More than a Granny' and it is full of good stuff for us crochet fans.
(Shelley has a great blog called Spincushions and is big on Instagram too!)
Lucky me, Shelley forwarded a copy to me for a sneaky preview,
so I have been giving it a good read!
I am in awe of her ability to produce such a resource for crocheters, her designs are really great, with 20 motifs including a nice mix of flowery motifs, more lacy type square and also some excellent geometric designs too. There is something for everyone in this selection of patterns, and another interesting thing that Shelley has done is make them all the same size so you could make a beautiful mixed motif blanket using lots of different squares! How gorgeous would that be, I think that's going on my to do list!
The patterns are very well explained with clear instructions and a good stitch dictionary for those slightly trickier stitches. There are some simpler patterns that would be good for new crocheters, and there are also some challenging ones for the more experienced hooker to get their teeth into!
There is a US and UK version so you won't get confused with stitch terms.
I thought I would give this lovely square called 'Crop Circles' a try, I love all the circles, and it would also look great in bold mixed colours, I think it has a bit of a modern retro feel to it, it would make a great blanket!
This is Shelley's example from the ebook, noice! :)
And here is my first two squares, I love them, even if they need a bit of a blocking!
I am thinking I will make 42 and do a little blanket, I have gone to my favourite colours, but I have a few others to add in the next square.
This pattern was a nice challenge for me, I wasn't sure if I could do all the different circles and get them looking good, but I followed Shelley's pattern and it has turned out great! I like Shelley's tips for getting a professional finish to your crochet, it really is the little things that make a difference.
I have to confess I had never read an ebook before, ( I am a bit of a traditionalist and like a real book to look at) but I found it really easy and convenient and think I am a convert, I will probably look into more books in this format!
And you don't need an e-reader to use it, it can be downloaded as a PDF from Smashwords, easy peasy! It is available from lots of places on the internet, have a look at Shelley's post here for more info on techy stuff, and where you can pick up a copy. :)
And guess what!
Shelley has generously offered a free copy to a reader of Little Woollie! :)
So if you would like to win a copy of this lovely crochet ebook, leave a comment and tell me what is your favourite thing to make from motifs. Blankets? Bags? Cushions? I will pick a winner on Saturday, good luck!
Ok I think that is all I have for you today, I am going to go and make another crop circles square! :)
Have a lovely hooky day! :)
I love making little bags from square motifs, and key holders. I follow your wonderfull blog, and love it! greetings from Jerusalem. tammy.
ReplyDeleteSehr schön.
ReplyDeleteLiebe Grüße, Manja
I have always made blankets before but I am keen to make a cushion. What cute grannies!
ReplyDeletelisejackson000 at gmail dot com
Blankets for me. Love the ones you've done, different with a modern look.
ReplyDeleteYour grannies are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI am working on a huge granny blanket made with tiny classical grannies since a while & I love it.
I would love to win a pdf copy of Shelley's book. It seems awesome.
Thanks for sharing.
Edith
(peacadilly@yahoo.fr)
Definitely blankets.
ReplyDeleteI like to make blankets, but I want to learn to make a bag! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI've always dreamt of making a huge granny blanket, now I might well have enough spare wool to start it... : )
ReplyDeleteThis crop circles pattern is amazing and your colors are great, I also love the bottom right one on the cover - I hope I'm lucky enough to win this giveaway! xx
Your squares are lovely,love the colors too.Great giveaway,thank you for the chance to win it.I am always on lookout for new motifs patterns since I love to make garlands and coasters from them.
ReplyDeleteI like to make throws. At first, I was intimidated by the granny square, but after seeing some of the gorgeous creations people have made with them, I put aside my fear and decided to tackle a Victorian Christmas Tree Skirt as my first project. I love the versatility and never realized how many beautiful motifs there are out there, with new ones every day!!
ReplyDeleteJust the cover itself is breathtaking! I'm imagining all that's inside. Those crop circles do have a retro feel to them depending on the color choices. They would look lovely pair with your pom-pom trees. It's hard to choose a favorite.....I'll go with blankets then as I look around at the variety of them covering every available space. ;D Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteBlankets, in spite of all the ends that need weaving in! The book looks great x
ReplyDeleteI love to make afghans - never tire of them.
ReplyDeleteI am quite new to crochet and have not made any Granny Squares yet. It is on my list of things to try :0)
ReplyDeleteI have started with a blanket from Lucy at attic24.typepad.com. I never could start small. Her choice of colours and picture instruction make it very easy to follow.
I like the photos of the squares on the book cover. All coordinated.
Hugs
Beautiful squares, and great blog! Added to my blogs list. :)
ReplyDeleteI've only been crocheting for just over a year and already I enjoy making cushions from motifs The adrenalin rush is wonderful when you see all your hard work coming together and making something unique(sometimes in a bad way!!). The motifs look different to a lot you see which is excellent and the ones you have made are lovely, would be nice to see the rest. Love your blog, you add a freshness to crochet and you are a pleasure to read on my Monday mornings, thank you - André
ReplyDeleteLovely squares! I usually make blankets with motifs, but I have quite a few pillows that need beautiful covers!
ReplyDeleteI would definitely make a lovely warm snuggly blanket, but am always open to try something new. On my to do list are a bag, some cushions and some little miniature motifs for a necklace ..... when will it end! x
ReplyDeleteI love making blankets from the motifs!
ReplyDeletetalesfromtrish.blogspot.com
shelley's directions for this year's CAL were great so i would think her new book would be no different.
ReplyDeletei would use the motifs to make some pillows.
I'm in awe of the people who have the patience to put all the squares together. Love your blog, but I'm going to pass on the contest in favor of someone who does have that commitiment.
ReplyDeleteHi, I love to make blankets and am thinking of dong some bags as holiday gifts. Thanks for an inspiring post. I love the squares you made! :-) Ellen
ReplyDeleteLove Granny Squares! These are so unusual and beautiful. My favorite projects for squares are afghans and blankets.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. For me, blankets for sure. Thanks for a chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI love to make blankets. Such a lovely book! Thank you for the great post and the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteThat book looks wonderful! I love to make blankets, bags, cushions...... With these motifs I might try my hand at a duffel bag. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win. Lovely ebook!
ReplyDeleteI'm back to crochet after a long, long (I almost gave number of years, but that even horrified me) break. The book is lovely and so well written. I've made the basic squares for a throw and need to decide the method for joining them... any suggestions? My favorite thing to make would be bag out of an oversized circle similar to those shown on http://pigstails.blogspot.com/2012/11/handbag-orgy.html . Could it get any better!? Would love to win a copy of 'More than a Granny.'. Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your amazing inspirational posts! I always love having your flash of colourful goodies in my inbox and your Etsy finds :) I am making my very first granny square blanket at the moment. What I love about granny squares is how they are easy for a newbie like me to do and I can use all of that fabulous colour to create mini squares of happiness! Thanks for the opportunity to win such a fab eBook, your samples are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteLove those grannies!!! Thanks for the opportunity. I love to make cushions, bags and blankets with grannies. Love peace and crochet Gabriela
ReplyDeleteWow they are lovely granny squares. I would make a blanket but use the interchangeable designs, what a fabulous concept and relieves the monotonousness of creating 'x' number of the same-very, appealing.
ReplyDeleteHelen
I have just learned how to crochet....well actually I knew the sts just couldn't read the charts or patterns. I am still working on it but am just a little more confident in my abilities. do you think this book would be appropriate for beginners like me?
ReplyDeletewould love to wina book of these patterns.
Granny squares are my favorite. I would love a chance to win the book.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Linda
Blankets for me too :)
ReplyDeleteWould love to try the motifs from the ebook
Thank you!
Stella
I love making blankets. The next thing I'm going to make is a hot water bottle cover.
ReplyDeleteSandy Downs
I would probably make a blanket to wrap up in. I made one last year with just plain old fashion granny squares using jewel tone colors. I set it together with an awesome darkish teal. I was very pleased with it. I love making the Irish Rose crochet so the flower granny motifs really caught my eye. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love making blankets and hats and scarves. I also love making blocks are they are small enough to take and make when I'm out and about. What a lovely book someone is going to be lucky enough to win. Thank you
ReplyDeleteCushions are a perfect project for granny squares, the brighter the better!
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, what a great news this really is, this e-book seems to have lots of goodies. I like the idea of mixing colours making happy contrasts and at the same time expressing delicacy. Indeed, that ones in several sort of blues is a good example, as well yours using vibrating red contrasting light blue. I think the best way is using these squares in cushions and spreading them all over the house, so every corner could breath of this creativity and happy energy. I´d love to win a copy, let´s see what could happen. Thanks for the opportunity and for your blog, always a pleasure for the eyes. Ivani from São Paulo/Brazil.
ReplyDeleteI'm the proud aunt of eight nieces. This year I made all of them a pencil-case for their birthdays; same pattern but different color-schemes and each with her name embroidered on it. It was nice to have a handmade present for them all and for next year I envision eight pillows; different granny squares, different colors but a pillow it'll be.
ReplyDeleteBlankets, just love them. Have been thinking about this ebook, so would be amazing to win. Thank you both for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful book, and the granny square you completed is particularly pretty x
ReplyDeleteI met Shelley in a knitting workshop just a while ago. Just thought I'd throw that in. I'd have to say blankets would be my thing as they become treasured heirlooms, hopefully. Would love to win Shelley's book.
ReplyDeleteI like to make blankets out of motifs, doesn't seem as daunting that way but I have handles ready to make a bag one day! Love your squares!
ReplyDeleteSO PRETTY!! This book looks amazing too! I love making blankets from motifs! :)
ReplyDeleteYour squares are so pretty! Love the colors. I am definitely a blanket maker. My husband would say that we could make a house fort with all the blankets we have (and he might have a point) but I say you can never have enough! Especially with all the pretty patterns out there!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing to make would be blankets...but I am open to trying a bag or three. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the book is fascinating. A lovely mix of new things to try!
Your squares look great. Fantastic colours as always. I live making blankets.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all - I love the grannies that you show. At the moment I am doing a granny square blanket all in white cotton and all with different patterns. So it would be so wonderful to win the fabulous book as an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteAs you asked I prefer to do blankets - why? Because I love crocheting and end up with a lot of squares and blankets eat a lot of them.
I enjoy reading your blog very much and find plenty of ideas and inspiration as well.
Best wishes from Austria
Knitgudi
I will say I've never made anything with motifs yet but I'd love to make some cushions
ReplyDeleteI love making granny square afghans. I don't crochet a lot but I love a nice afghan and this looks like the perfect book to feed my addiction!
ReplyDeleteSo excited for the release of the book! I seriously need some new crochet square inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI live making crochet squares into baby blankets for a charity called Knit One Give One.
I love the variety of different squares and love how they look in blankets! I would also love to make bags and cushions from the gorgeous squares. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never made anything with grannies yet, but I think that might change. :)
ReplyDeleteGreetings Katrien
I have made two granny blankets but would love to make another one using these lovely patterns. Love the colours.
ReplyDeleteWow this look great! Congrats to Shelley! Bags and blankets - I love all the variations and colours and patterns that it can introduce. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteBags are definitely my fav thing to make with granny's. I get to have a different purse anytime I want just by dumping my stuff into another one that matches better or just catches my eye.
ReplyDeleteI like to make blankets because every time I make a new one to throw over my couch they disappear into my kids rooms for them to snuggle under so I know they are appreciated
ReplyDeleteI made a wall hanging recently with mini grannies. The colours were all shades of blue and green to match the room decor. Though I say so myself, it looks stunning!!
ReplyDeleteWow what a nice give away.
ReplyDeleteBlankets, blankets I love it.
Grtz,
Chris
Lovely squares! I usually make blankets with motifs and these seems perfect, but I'd like to be more creative and do a set of potholders! Thanks for the giveaway! PS eBooks are addicted! :)
ReplyDeleteAaaah motives! They are just so versatile! Just looking at a picture of one makes my crochet muscles itch and it's hard to resist the magnetic pull of my yarn stash...
ReplyDeleteI love how one simple crochet motive can look SO different by using different colours in the same square, or making it all in one colour. I usually end up experimenting so much that it takes up more time and yarn than the actual project! But thats part of the fun. I've mostly made bags or blankets using squares, and have recently tried making them into jewelry - very fine work with thin threads, but absolutely worth it.
Thanks for sharing!
Warm Regards
Kalonkie
I follow spin cushions on instagram and love her work , I am considering buying this book. What a lovely give away
ReplyDeleteAah silly me ...blankets are alway a favourite to produce or a scarf
ReplyDeleteI like making blankets with the motifs I make - it is nice to feel wrapped in your own work!
ReplyDeleteWould love to make a babyblanket for my newborn premsture granddaughter ��
ReplyDeleteDefinitely blankets. They make lovely presents and you can't have too many yourself. I have started the multi coloured one shown in main pic above - I just love it
ReplyDeleteI like to make blankets. I love how you can make a blanket look like a patchwork quilt using different motifs.
ReplyDeleteI sooo love these patterns! I would like to make a cushion with them. Thanks for the giva away :-)
ReplyDeleteSo many choices, I love making blankets and cushions from motifs. My husband gave me a daisy afghan kit when we were first married 41, almost 42 years ago, and I still have that beautiful afghan.
ReplyDeleteI love making blankets from motifs but I've also used them to make cowls and even a cardigan.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the chance to win this wonderful e-book!
ReplyDeleteI love to make afghans/blankets with various granny squares. As a quilter also, they remind me of the sampler quilts from days-gone-by of our mothers, grandmothers, and aunties. Blessings to you and yours. :D
Previously I would of said blankets but I'm now wanting to expand and make things like bags :-). Thanks for a chance to win this fantastic book!
ReplyDeleteblankets!! I am saving up yarn for a fallblanket right now
ReplyDeleteI love to make blankets and cushions. My baby granddaughter needs a selection of blankets so I would love to win the book
ReplyDeleteXx
Lovely giveaway. I would make blankets
ReplyDeleteHi Julie! It's Hanna! My favorite thing to make from motifs is scarves and little Christmas decorations, but honestly I love it all:) I also think trying out some lovely cushions would be neat. Her book looks like it would give me some inspiration on all these things! Happy making!
ReplyDeleteI love to make blankets and bags!!!!! lovely motifs!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am an afghan and pillow cover maker as making things for charity. I have always loved making motifs..
ReplyDeleteAdorava receber esse lindo livro.
ReplyDeletePenso que o primeiro projecto seriam umas capas para almofadas.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBlankets are my favourite, I already have made five but I can't stop dreaming of another one when I see lovely granny squares like these.
ReplyDeleteAprendí a hacer ganchillo cuando era niña pero solo eso, aprender. Cuando vi tu manta de rayas mixta no tuve mas remedio que hacerla, fue la primera pero ya van unas cuantas, ahora voy a empezar la de Lucy. Me gustan las rayas y las abuelitas pero mis colores son los del otoño. Saludos desde España.
ReplyDeletePilar
I have never made a motif before. I'd love to try!
ReplyDeleteYour description of yourself could be me! I am a mom of 3 boys, a sister and a daughter too. Plus all the other good things you mentioned. I follow you! I love your blog. Nice giveaway. Fingers Crossed! TY! I love to make bags. Thats my love, I love to work up granny's too. I cant decide! Can I have 2? :-)
ReplyDeleteI love to make scarves and blankets with motifs! Lovely giveaway! Thank you
ReplyDeleteSteph
I enjoy making blankets. I should be doing this as a stash buster, butt maybe a new book could start me off in a new direction. Thanks for the chance to win
ReplyDeleteCushions all the way for me as I am of limited attention span and always keen to do my next inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI've only made grannies to contribute to group blankets and yarn-bombing. Someday I'd like to make myself a blanket - maybe this book would provide the inspiration to make someday become today.
ReplyDeleteI love making blankets and cushions... Not sure if I'm too late to enter, but just in case I will leave my comment. I would looooove to win the book :)
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