I taught myself to crochet granny squares. I made lots of them. I used a lot of coloured yarn but then I stopped. I never did start doing anything with them all. I've still got some of them around. So this is my quest to get back to crocheting and to make something with the granny squares I already have.

What I'd really like to find for sewing up all those granny squares is a backpack. The kind I can use as a purse. So it has to be medium sized with enough extra pockets, zipper pockets and fold over pockets, for my keys, the book I'm reading, my digital camera, paper and pens I keep for making notes, my bus pass, my wallet, my mobile pharmacy, and all the other essential stuff I carry around day to day.

So far I can't find anything to suit me. But I have found some very interesting, unique and creative patterns and ideas.

Granny Square History

Crochet itself seems to have been around since the 1350s and likely before. People didn't always make a point to write about the work of women. So there are many things we won't ever know about. Those we have now were likely passed down a long time, though many generations of women.

Granny squares date back to at least Victorian times. They were known as patchwork squares. Most often they were a good way to use up scraps of yarn from other projects. So the patchwork squares were a simple pattern which could be used for everyday stuff rather than the fancy work like crochet lace and doilies.

Granny squares found new popularity in the 1970's when people wanted simple and colourful crafts to make and wear.