Get your hooks ready, it’s granny square day! It’s time to share your square with the crochet community and be part of the biggest online crochet event of the year!

If you’ve not heard about Granny Square day before it’s an international online celebration on instagram which this year falls on Tuesday 15 August 2023. Granny Square Day was started several years ago by US crocheter Susan Regalia, who recognised that Instagram’s grid format could be used to replicate the block arrangement of a classic granny square blanket online. Others soon joined in the fun and Granny Square Day was born! Simply Crochet magazine then took over the reins of Granny Square day in 2018.

Simply Crochet is thrilled to be celebrating another granny square day on Instagram and they want everyone to join in! All you have to do is hook, snap and share using the hashtag #grannysquareday2023 resulting in the BIGGEST VIRTUAL CROCHET BLANKET IN THE WORLD!

As previous years Simply Crochet the latest issue of the magazine (Issue 139) comes with two supplements to get your hooks sunk into – A colour theory booklet to help level up your crochet skills and a book full of 52 granny squares to celebrate Granny Square Day with one square a week for a whole year!

And I’m really excited to say that I’ve designed two brand new granny square for this supplement – excitingly you can actually spy one of them on the front cover!

The first design is what I would say is a granny square for purists as it features the granny square stitch (UK 3 treble cluster / US 3 double crochet cluster), it’s called ‘Bobble Burst’ and a lovely bit of texture in a colourful square. It’s been classed as an easy peasy design – perfect for beginners.

I really like how this block turned out, it feels quite appropriate for a Spring / Summer project and would look great combined to make a blanket or even a bag.

❤️ SAVE THE ‘BOBBLE BURST’ SQUARE ON RAVELRY ❤️

In the supplement the blocks range in skill level; from the more simple to getting a bit more involved and my second design has been grouped in the slightly more tricky range – but I’d say it’s still an easy enough square for advanced beginners. It’s called ‘Flower Fiesta’ and I’d describe it as a fun bit of beginners tapestry crochet.

❤️ SAVE THE ‘FLOWER FIESTA’ SQUARE ON RAVELRY ❤️

I used Rico Ricorumi for these blocks, with a 3.5mm hook (US E/4) which is a DK (Light Worsted) weight 100% cotton yarn that I had in my stash, but the designs would work equally well in any DK yarn or in fact with other fibres and yarn weights to make bigger or smaller blocks.

I know they aren’t for everyone but I’m a granny square fan, to me they are nothing to do with ‘grannys’ – they are just a super fun way to show how fun and versatile crochet can be! There’s something for everyone in the Simply Crochet A year of Granny Squares supplement from more traditional looking squares to modern contemporary designs.

Simply Crochet issue 139 is out now and is available in most supermarkets and newsagents and digitally at www.pocketmags.com.

My Squares:

Hit the button below for more block fun! Free squares will link directly to my blog or, where relevant, to a PDF of the pattern.

If you hook up any of the squares I hope you’ll share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make! 

I hope you enjoy this day of crafty celebration that brings together our fabulous hooky community!

Until next time folks! Happy hooking and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx