2020 has certainly been a tough year for a lot of people, and I’m no exception.
We lost my Dad in June (not covid) and I’ve not been able to see my Mum since then due to quarantine and lockdown. But we are thankful that we have jobs that can be done from home and the kids are in school and that we have the internet to connect us albeit virtually.
Making granny baubles (so called because they are based on the classic granny square pattern) has really cheered me up recently. They are quick and simple to make, and you can use bright or whacky colours to lighten things up. So I thought I would share my “pattern” (I say pattern because honestly, it’s a bit made up as we go along) so that you can bauble-away the darker evenings.
Supplies
- Yarn – you can use whatever yarn you have hanging around, but for the sake of the pattern, I used scheepjes stone washed, which is a cotton acrylic mix. I often use it for crochet projects because it has a nice soft feel and is not splitty.
- 3mm crochet hook
- Plastic bauble – I used the transparent ones that you clip together as I had some left over from another project. You can use basically any bauble, but remember if it’s a coloured one the colour is going to show through the gaps in the crochet. The one I used is a large 28cm diameter (measured around the middle) bauble. See the pattern for notes if you are making smaller ones.
- Ribbon or hanger for your bauble
- Yarn needle for ends
- Embellishments if you wish – you could add gold thread, sequins or beads (I didn’t but I’ve seen some with that and it’s pretty)
Pattern (long version)
If you just want to skip to the abbreviated pattern then click here.
Notes:
- I’m using US crochet terms.
- I used 3 colours, but you can use two or even just a single colour. If you have a multicoloured yarn then it can be nice using just one.
- The baubles are made in 2 halves and then sewn together. If you are making smaller ones than 28cm diameter then just follow the pattern until you have a round that will cover slightly less than half your bauble and then finish with a round of single crochet. The pattern is quite stretchy and a snug fit is best (so err on the smaller rather than larger).
Round 1: With colour A: start with a magic ring, chain 3 or make a standing double crochet, then make a further 11 doubles into the ring. Pull the end tight to close the circle and then slip stitch into the first stitch to close. Cut the yarn and finish off. Weave in the end from the magic circle to make sure it’s secure – for the rest of the ends you don’t need to weave them in, just crochet over them in the next round.
Round 2: With colour B: join the yarn in the gap between any 2 stitches. Chain 3 or make a standing double. Make another double crochet into that same gap. Now do 2 double crochets into each gap between the stitches of round 1. Close with a slip stitch into your first standing double or third chain if you started with a chain. Cut the yarn and finish off.
Round 3: With colour C: join the yarn in the gap between the groups of stitches in the previous round. Start with either chain 3 or a standing double crochet. Make another two double crochets into that same gap. Now do 3 double crochets into each remaining gap. Close with a slip stitch into your first standing double crochet or third chain if you started with a chain. Cut the yarn and finish off.
Round 4: with colour A: same as round 3. The circle you are making is going to start to curve in now – this is OK as it’s going to fit round the bauble.
Round 5: with colour B: start with either chain 3 or a standing double crochet into the gap between any of the groups of 3 stitches from the previous round. Make another three double crochets into that same gap. Now do 4 double crochets into each gap between the groups of stitches. Close with a slip stitch into your first standing double crochet or third chain if you started with a chain. Cut the yarn and finish off.
Round 6: with colour C: join the yarn to any stitch of the previous round, chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch into the first single crochet. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Now make another half of the bauble exactly the same, but this time when you finish off leave a long end for sewing up.
Finishing off
Sew the two halves of the work together by holding them together and sewing over the outer most edges of the V’s in the last round of single crochet from each side (see the picture).
Once you’re a bit further than half way round slip the bauble inside and continue sewing up. Finish off by pulling it up quite tight and make a knot (yes, a knot!) and then weave away the end. Add a ribbon or hanger to your bauble and hang it up!
Now make lots more!
Pattern (short version)
Abbreviations:
American crochet terms are used.
ch: chain
R: round
sc: single crochet
slst: slip stitch
st(s): stitch or stitches
dc: double crochet
R1: with colour A: make a magic ring, ch3 or standing dc, 11 more dc in the ring, join with a slst to start of round. Finish off (12)
R2: with colour B: join with ch3 or standing dc in the gap between any 2 sts, 1 dc in the same gap. 2 dc in each gap between st of R1, slst to start of round. Finish off. (24)
R3: with colour C: join with ch3 or standing dc in the gap between the groups of sts from previous round, 2 dc in the same gap. 3 dc in each gap between groups of sts, slst to start of round. Finish off (36)
R4: with colour A: same as R3 (36)
R5: with colour B: join with ch3 or standing dc in the gap between groups of sts from the previous round, 3 dc in the same gap. 4 dc in each gap between groups of sts from the previous round, slst to start of round. Finish off (48)
R6: with colour C: join into any st of previous round. ch1 and sc in all sts. slst to first sc. Finish off. (48)
Make 2 halves, leaving a long tail for sewing up in the second half.
See above for finishing off.
