Hello again! Today I have a new-to-this-blog crochet join which will be the second alternate joining method for the 2020 VVCAL. It’s the crochet Granny Stitch Join as-you-go (JAYG) for squares, and I am using it specifically for my “Fresh Earth” colorway (Scheepjes Catona yarn).
You can now find the Granny Stitch JAYG and CJAYG in a convenient PDF format for easy printing and totally ad-free.
I will be posting tutorials for both the regular join as-you-go (this post) and the continuous join as-you-go for this granny stitch join. In this post, you will find the regular JAYG. I hope you enjoy it! What’s the difference?
Briefly, for the regular JAYG you join each square individually, cutting the yarn after each square is joined on to the blanket. For the continuous JAYG (or CJAYG) you join squares one column at a time, making a specific continuous path around the squares like if you were drawing around them without picking up your pencil. You only cut the yarn after all the squares are joined together. This is simplified, but you’ll see the difference in the tutorials!
My 2020 VVCAL Squares
Before I start, here are some of my squares. The final stitch count is 88 sc, but you can use this join for any square stitch count, as long as you evenly spread out the 3dc groups. You’ll see what I mean later on!
Don’t you just love a pile of different squares? That’s one of my favorite things about the VVCAL projects. After 2016, 2018, and 2020, there are now over 100 square patterns to mix and match!
Alright, I’ve gathered my squares and teal joining yarns in a very artistic pile, and I’m ready to get started.
If you want to find out more about the Fresh Earth palette including yarn colors and amounts as well as color layout, or to learn about the 2020 VVCAL in general, head to the Fresh Earth blog post or the 2020 main CAL page.
Granny Stitch Join As-you-go
Materials
- Scheepjes Catona yarn – available from these affiliate links – purchasing through them gains me a small commission at no additional cost to you. WoolWarehouse, Deramores, Black Sheep Wool – or find a Scheepjes Retailer near you!
- Size 3mm hook
Stitch Guide
Note: This tutorial is written in US Terms, but there are only 2 sts involved: (US) sc and dc. These are (UK) dc and tr, respectively. So if you are used to UK Terms, just remember, US sc = UK dc, and US dc = UK tr.
- beg beginning
- beg dc (sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
- ch chain
- dc double crochet
- lp(s) loop(s)
- rem remaining
- rep rep
- rnd round
- sc single crochet
- sk skip
- sp space
- ss slip stitch
- st(s) stitch(es)
- yoh yarn over hook
Instructions
Let’s get started!
Here is a simple diagram of the order in which we will join the squares. In this diagram, there are only 12 squares, but it’s just to illustrate the joining order.
First Square: Work complete, no joining
With joining yarn, ss in the corner st, beg dc, * ch3, 3dc in same st, ch1, sk2, (3dc in next st, ch1, sk3) 5 times until the corner is reached, 3dc in corner st, rep from * 3 times omitting final dc, ss in beg dc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 dc, 28 sp]
Here is the completed first square.
Orient the square so that it is as the illustration below shows. That is how you will need to think of the sides being numbered so you can join on the correct side.
Second Square: Join 1 side
Work 2 sides of the square just as for the First Square, through the first ch of the third corner.
Here is a close-up shot of where you are now.
Holding the motifs wrong sides together, ss in the corner sp on the completed motif to join.
Ch1 to finish the ch-3 corner.
3dc in the same corner st to complete the corner.
Still holding motifs wrong sides together, ss in corresponding ch-sp on completed motif.
Work the side exactly as for the First Square, replacing the side ch-sps and the second ch of the next corner with ss to the completed motif.
Here is a close-up of the joined side.
Continue around the square just as for the First Square, and join with ss in the beg dc, cut yarn and weave ends.
Join all remaining squares in the column in this same manner.
First Square of Second Column: Join 1 Side
Work across 1 side just as before, working through the first ch of the second corner.
Here is a close-up.
Holding first square of blanket and square in progress with wrong sides together, ss in corner sp on first square of blanket, and ch1.
3dc in same corner st on square in progress, and ss in corresponding ch-sp on completed motif.
A close-up.
Continue joining across the side as before, and finish the remaining 2 sides of the square, ss in beg dc, cut yarn and weave ends.
Here is a close-up of the corner with the first square of the second column joined on.
Second Square of the Second Column: Join 2 Sides
Work across 1 side plain as before, working up through first ch of second corner.
Here is a close-up.
Ss in corner sp as before, and ch1.
Join across side as for previous squares, working up through first ch of third corner.
A close-up.
Insert hook back to front through corner sp on the square to the the right.
Pull up a lp.
Insert hook through the corner sp on the square above.
Pull up a lp.
Draw that lp through the other 2 lps on the hook. Keep everything rather snug here or you will have a messy corner.
Ch1.
3dc in same corner st to complete corner, and join across the third side as normal, then finish fourth side of square, join round, cut yarn and weave ends.
Here is a close-up of the corner where 4 squares meet. Work the remainder of the blanket joining each column of squares from top to bottom, right to left in this manner until all squares are joined.
Border Round
To get the blanket ready for a border, join yarn with ss in top right corner, (5sc in corner sp, sc in all sts/sps across) 4 times, ss in first sc. Now you can add any border!
If you are working the 2020 VVCAL and you have a 9×12 square layout (108 squares) then you need to work this sc round as follows:
Note: This will count as Round 1 of the 2020 VVCAL blanket border, so when it’s time to work the VVCAL border, you will start with Round 2 if you have added this sc round already.
Join yarn with ss in upper right corner of blanket, (5sc in corner sp, work 255sc evenly across to next corner sp, 5sc in corner, work 342sc evenly across long side) 2 times, ss in first sc.
Here is another shot of the squares joined.
I hope you like this simple and traditional join! Coming next is the continuous version of this join, which I just adore.
Happy crafting as always!
Rachele C.
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