Any 10 Squares Bag (Finished! and a simple How-To)

I made this bag on a whim. All you need is 10 squares of the same shape. They can be any square pattern, but I used the Sunburst Granny for my first attempt because it's such a beautiful stitch. I think my squares measured 4.5" across. Tweaking the size of the square will tweak the size of the bag (so, uh, that was probably obvious information, but it's relevant to point out, nonetheless). Anyway, you can join as you go (as I did) or stitch them all together after.

10 Squares total

6 will lie flat; 4 will be folded

Hopefully my pictures make it easy to see how the bag was assembled. I have 3 flat squares on each side- 2 for the top corners, 1 for the center (3 x 2 = 6). For the other 4 squares, they are folded squares that give the bag its bag shape. They were a bit trickier to join, but I managed, as you see.

Oh, you haven't seen.
Well, you should.
Take a peek!

 Ooooh sah petty!

 I have a friend who is an amazing seamstress. She's going to make a liner for the bag. I don't know if it's necessary, but it will help it keep it's shape and stay useable for years.

 To finish, I hdc around.

For the handle, I joined the yarn to the top corner of the bag. I chained 60, slip stitched into the opposite corner (on the same side- that's important). I sc into the next stitch, skipped 2 stitches and worked 5dc in the 3rd stitch. *Skip 2 stitches, 1 sc in 3rd stitch, skip 2 stitches, 5dc in 3rd stitch * across. When I got to the end I slip stitched into the corner and fastened off.

This bag is destined for a charity sale, but I think I'll make another one using a solid color in an interesting motif. Sah-petty!

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

***

purplechaircrochet.etsy.com

facebook.com/PurpleChairCrochet

pinterest.com/purplechair

Sunburst Cushion (finished)

When a deadline looms, I generally manifest my stress by completing a random and entirely unnecessary project. Meet: The Sunburst Cushion.

The Sunburst Granny Square Pattern has been getting a lot of views the last few days. It's been awhile since I made any, and I missed them. Plus, since the Sunburst Granny Blanket was a gift, I didn't have any but my pattern example around the house. One measly Sunburst. That was it! Clearly something needed to be done, and of course it could not be put off, despite more important things to be hooking (Curious? I bet you are).

The back of the Sunburst Cushion is a nod to this Vintage Vibed mandala I made on request for a friend's birthday gift. I particularly like the color distribution.

The button closure is required because I live with small children. Everything must be washable! (Let the people say: Amen.)

The colors all mix nicely with my quite colorful living room, and they especially pop next to the ugly chair. 

So, if you want to make your own Sunburst squares, click on this highlighted mess for your FREE pattern.

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

***

purplechaircrochet.etsy.com

facebook.com/PurpleChairCrochet

pinterest.com/purplechair

Sunburst Granny Square (Free!)

Presenting the Much Anticipated, Drooled Over, and Pined For

*~*~*~Sunburst Granny Square Pattern~*~*~*

The reader will note: This pattern is not truly my own. I simply looked at a bunch of Sunburst Granny squares to get the feel for how the circular part was worked. Then I squared it off and voila!
 


Let's get started. First, gather your materials.

I've selected a 5.5mm "I" crochet hook. I have my scissors, a yarn needle and cotton yarn in 4 colors.

Round 1

To begin, Ch 4, sl st into 1st ch.
Round 1:  Ch 2 ( counts as dc), 15 dc in ch loop. Join with sl st to 1st dc. 16 dc. Fasten off.

Round 2

Round 2:  Join with a new color. Ch1, puff stitch (*YO, insert hook into stitch, YO, pull thru * 3x [7 loops on hook]. YO, pull thru all 7 loops. Ch1 to close stitch), ch1. In each dc of previous round work 1 puff stitch, ch1. Join with sl st to first puff. 16 puff stitch. Fasten off.

Round 3

Round 3: Join with a new color into ch sp of previous round. Ch 2, 3dctog, (counts as 1 4dctog) ch 1. In each ch sp work *4dctog, ch 1 * around. Join with sl st to first stitch. 16 4dctog. Fasten off.

Puff stitch & 4dctog detailing

Round 4

 Round 4: In ch sp of previous round join new color. Ch 2 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ch sp. In next 2 ch sp, work 3 dc. In next ch sp work 3tr, ch 2, 3tr (corner stitch). *3dc in next 3 ch sp, corner stitch in next ch sp * repeated around. Join with sl st to 1st dc. 4 corners formed- your circle is now a square! Fasten off.

Corner detailing

Obsessive Love

Finished Sunburst Granny Square!

Work as many Sunburst Grannies as you desire and join them in your preferred method (slip stitching, join as you go, etc). For a blanket, finish it off with a border.

(Want some inspiration? Check out the Finished Sunburst Granny Blanket and my Sunburst Granny Cushion!)
Happy Crocheting. :)

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

***

purplechaircrochet.etsy.com

facebook.com/PurpleChairCrochet

pinterest.com/purplechair

Just Wow (Sunburst Granny is Finished!)

What better way to spend a day of 105*F (the third out of four) than cozied up in your purple chair, crocheting the border around a throw blanket? I couldn't think of anything I'd rather be doing in the midst of this thick, oppressive heat than putting the finishing touches on the marvelous Sunburst Granny Blanket.

I traded my usual mug of coffee for a glass of cool white wine (Pinot Grigio, I highly recommend it) and got to work.  I sipped and yarned over and pulled through and frogged and began again two- three times before I felt the border to be to my liking. The voices of NPR murmured in the background and, mixed with the heat, lulled me into a rhythm. Suddenly, I joined and fastened off.

I was done. It was done.

Immediately, I snagged my camera and took a picture of Sunburst just as it lay in a crumpled heap. Fresh from the finishing.

I keep looking and looking at this picture, trying to figure out what's off about it. And now I see it. I didn't rotate. Ha!

A favorite square.

The center-most square. The blanket is 7 rows wide and 9 rows deep.

The perfect size for a toddler bed, or for one person to curl up with a glass of wine and some NPR.

Wow. Just wow.

Sunburst will be packed up and shipped off to the lovely Stephanie early this week as a housewarming/you're-such-a-good-friend/just-because/your-daughter's-turning-2-on-Saturday kind of gift. These reasons for gift giving don't come around every day, ya know. ;)

And as thrilled as I am about sending it off, I do have a sinking, empty feeling... like when you finish a book so incredibly good your heart got wrapped up in it and it can't possibly be over?!!? Sigh. (Ahem, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Pride & Prejudice, The Harry Potter Series, The Lord of the Rings, The Time Traveler's Wife.... just to name a few). Rereads are never quite as epic. What will I do without Sunburst in my life anymore? =\

To answer my own rhetorical question, I guess it's time to focus on Little Boy Blue's 2 Year Old Blanket. Check back for updates! Hopefully it'll be done by the end of the week!

((((Want to make it your own? Follow this link for the *FREE* Sunburst Granny Square Pattern!))))

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

***

purplechaircrochet.etsy.com

facebook.com/PurpleChairCrochet

pinterest.com/purplechair

Pick a Winner! (Work in Progress)

The Sunburst Granny Blanket is nearly d-o-n-e!

I don't have pictures just yet, but they're coming. Promise.

In the mean time, it's time for some visual inspiration for the final touch: the border. And where else does one turn for visual inspiration, in this year two thousand and twelve, than the wonderful world of Pinterest? I should note that a winner has already been picked by the Sunburst Granny's recipient - the lovely Stephanie. Still, it doesn't hurt to show the crochet enthusiasts some crochet eye candy with their original sources. It's for the good of the people, really. 

Image courtesy: Muita Ihania

First up we have some lovely, basic scallopy borders. Fuss free, yet fantastically finished. (I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Muita Ihania to see the full blanket. What a wonderful way to arrange basic granny squares! It's on my to-do list.... one day!)

Image courtesy of: Ellen Bloom

This beauty is very pineapple-y fabulous. It's got more pizzazz and visual interest than the scallops, for sure, but may not be what the Sunburst Granny needs. Sunburst is awfully pizzazzy all on her own.

Image courtesy of Attic24

And of course, where would we be without Lucy? I'm sure a great many people have learned their methods from Lucy's tutorials. And here's one, for the Granny Blanket Edging. It's very similar to the scallops (first picture), but there's an extra round of chains in between to give it a ruffled, lacier look. Mhm, lovely indeed!!

Of course, these are just the first 3 that caught my eye. The possibilities are endless (or at least include 150 more options).

If you know of some nice 'n simple borders (perhaps that you've used for your own blankets?) leave me a link in the comment section! I'm all about hoarding inspiration, specifically on my pinterest page: Crochet ♥ 

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

***

purplechaircrochet.etsy.com

facebook.com/PurpleChairCrochet

pinterest.com/purplechair

Too bad.... (Work in Progress)

Too bad it's not a baby blanket. 

The much-loved Sunburst Granny is now *6* rows deep! Yah-hoo!!

Have a lovely day!

***

www.purplechaircrochet.etsy.com

facebook.com/PurpleChairCrochet

pinterest.com/PurpleChair