Welcome to June folks, summer is upon us. I was volunteering at a church camp all of the first week of this month, so don't mind the delay. I have a little thought that I wanted to share, and I'm excited to broach the subject.
Okay, little may not be the best way to describe my train of thought. Initially, I wanted to discuss granny squares, seeing as the Celestial series (now available through my storefront!!) was almost entirely made of granny squares. I absolutely flat-out refused to even learn how to make them when I was learning to crochet in 2021, simply because they were popular and highly praised. I've never been one to flow with trends or alter my opinion based on one person's thoughts. In fact, I find myself to be a contrarian often times, which has it place but can be wildly annoying.
On the positive side, being contrary means that I am willing to question sources of information, the sharer's intent and target audience, and the quality of information gathering done. On the regular, this looks like double checking stats before believing claims people spout online or googling info on the spot rather than just letting a factually incorrect statement steer the conversation.
On the flip side, sometimes I reject opinions for simply being the first one shared with me. It has happened more times than I can count; someone presents an idea to me, has a very obvious opinion, and I automatically take the other side. This is more in reference to things like "best artist of all time" or "worst movie trope" rather than things of a political or criminal nature. This jumping to conclusion has often impeded and slowed the process of me forming my own opinions about something. My brother suggested a books series to me, and I took about 18 months to even touch it simply because he was so emphatic about how cool it was.
It is now my favorite book series. The "I told you so" was also emphatic, but deserved.
All this to say: popular things are popular for a REASON. Granny squares are an easy and memorable pattern that can be easily altered and adjust to the creator's liking, and can be done without much though process once learned. Techniques and products are often overhyped on the internet, but generalizations and over-exaggerations often start from a seed of truth. This is also true of stereotypes, but that's a much more in depth conversation.
Generalizations, by definition, are assumptions made about a whole group based on what is commonly seen from individual members of a group. Think of the Karen hair cut, or the idea that jocks are bullies and nerds are push-overs.
Granny squares fall into their own generalization: easy and beginner friendly. The thing is, granny square has a wider meaning. As I've seen it used, a granny square can be any crochet project in the round with corners to add angularity. I've seen spiraled squares, classic squares, solid squares, flower squares, 3D squares with ruffling and mesh designs, giant squares, micro squares...literally the only thing they share is shape, Accordingly, calling granny squares as a WHOLE "easy" is like saying cooking is easy. The basics CAN be, but there is so much more complexity under the surface. I love cooking and gastronomy, and eating for that matter, but there's a wide expanse of difference between what I do and what Gordon Ramsey does.
In both cases though, repetition eases the process. Classic granny squares are easy because only 3 patterns are really needed; how to do corners, how to do a cluster, and how to do the first row. Memorize those and you're set. Even more complex squares are only so large, and can be memorized over time. This is even more true if the squares are in a blanket or cardigan, where dozens of squares are needed.
I'll stop here, before I start discussing sizing math, joining methods, hook size...it's like mentioning seasoning, too much to discuss and too little time.
To those making squares, what's your favorite? And to everyone else, what would you like to see made into a square? I have some ideas for the future, and the Celestial series (check it out through the storefront!) has definitely been a helpful stepping stone forward.
Don't be a square, stick around <3
