That Granny's So Much Treble

I am in a friendship square swap, and I need to have my last square done and pinned out today. I wet block them, and it seems like it takes at least a day, usually two for them to dry, and since I need to have them sent by Monday at the latest... I need to be done.

Obviously I am looking for a last square that will work up fast. I need it to be 12" and I need it to be out of worsted weight yarn. It's time to improvise.

This morning I was laying in bed thinking about it while I nursed my daughter, and it occurred to me, what is faster then double crochet? Treble. It's taller, it will get up to 12" faster... and what would it look like if I substituted treble in place of double crochet in a granny square?

Let's find out.


So far so good:

 Does everyone know how to do a treble stitch? I prepared a photo tutorial:

Step 1: Wrap the yarn around your hook twice.

Step 2: Insert hook into stitch or space, depending on your project. Catch the yarn in back.

Step 3: Draw up a look through to the front. You know have four loops on the hook. Wrap the yarn around the hook again.

Step 4: Pull the loop you wrapped through two of the loops on the hook. Now you have three wraps on the hook.

Step 5: Wrap the yarn around the hook again and pull it through two more loops. Now there are two left.

Step 6: Last but not least, wrap the yarn around the hook once more and pull it through those last two loops. Now you have only one loop on your hook, and you are ready to do it all over again.

And there you have the treble stitch.

Okay, on to what you are really here for, the pattern.

That Granny's So Much Treble Square

J crochet hook
Worsted weight yarn (original made with Red Heart Super Saver in Soft White and a tan color that I lost the ball band for)

Gauge: 3 trebles to 1 inch. Gauge isn't all that critical, since it's a simple square you can work it till you get it the size you want.

Chain 4

Round 1: Slip stitch in beginning of chain to form a loop. Chain 4 and work 3 tr in loop, ch 1, work 4 tr, ch 1, tr 4, ch 1, tr 4. Chain 1 and slip stitch to top of chain 4. (16 trebles)

Round 2: Chain 4. Tr 3 in chain one space. Ch1, tr 4. *Move onto next ch 1 sp, ch1, tr 4, ch 1, tr 4.* Repeat in remaining chain 1 spaces. Chain one and slip stitch to chain 4. (32 trebles)

Round 3:  Ch 4, tr 3 in space made by the chain one and slip stitch. *Chain 1, tr 4, ch 1, tr 4 in next chain 1 space. Ch 1, tr 4 in next chain one space. Ch 1, tr 4, ch 1, tr 4, ch 1 in next space.* Repeat around. Chain one and slip stitch to beginning chain 4. (48 tr)

Round 4: By now you have established sides and corners. Chain 4, tr 3 in starting space, and tr 4 in each side chain one space around. Tr 4, ch 1, tr 4 in each corner space. Always remember to ch 1 between each group of 4 trebles. Chain one and slip stitch to the row's chain 4 at the end of each row.

Continue around in like manner for 6 rounds total.

This is what it should look like now.

Final round: Switch to contrasting color and do a single round of sc in each stitch and chain one space, and 2 sc, ch 1, 2 sc in each corner. Fasten off.

And here it is done.

You don't really need to change colors, but I think the sc round gives it more stability. My square came out to just under 12", but I plan to block it. If you don't want to block it and yours is less than 12", you could add another round of sc.

Now, I wrote this post as I crocheted, and I am not all the experienced in pattern writing, so feel free to comment on anything you find unclear and I'll try to fix it.

Hope you like it!