Granny Square Book Case
This beautiful granny square pouch was designed to keep book covers and pages from bending when you carry a book in your purse or backpack. It has a versatile design that would allow for any number of other uses. It’s fun, quick to make, and a great way to practice granny squares and other basic stitches. Everyone works at their own pace but I am able to finish one of these in just a few hours.
Materials
Two colors of Medium Worsted Weight (4) yarn.
123 yards of your primary color.
45 yards of your accent color.
168 yards total.
5 millimeter crochet hook.
Tapestry needle.
Scissors.
Gauge
A precise gauge is not important in this project. For reference, my granny squares measure 5 inches by 5 inches and the finished project measures 10.5 inches by 6 inches. The depth of the project is flexible depending on the contents. It can also be adjusted to a greater depth by adding additional rows before connecting the front and back panel, and adding additional length to the flap closure.
Abbreviations
CH - Chain stitch
SL - Slip stitch
SC - Single crochet
HDC - Half double crochet
DC - Double crochet
BLO - Back loop only
Directions
Step One: Create four granny squares.
Granny square directions:
*Granny squares are worked in rounds.
Round One: Start with a magic circle using your primary color (purple in photos). CH 3.
I make a magic circle by tying a simple slip knot and leaving it loose. Once youre ready, pull the tail out and pull the cirlce tight.
DC 2 into the magic circle. [CH 2. DC 3 into the magic circle.] Repeat steps inside brackets x2 until there are four clusters of DCs.
First cluster of double crochets. The CH 3 counts as a DC in the first cluster.
All four clusters complete and magic circle pulled tight.
Join to the top of CH 3 with a SL. Finish off and cut yarn. If you are using all one color don’t finish off and proceed straight to the CH 3 in round two.
Joining to the top of the CH3.
First round complete.
Round Two: Join to your first round with your accent color in between two clusters of DC with a SL. CH 3.
Joining to the previous round.
DC 2 into the space between DC clusters in the previous round. CH 2.
Inserting hook in between DC clusters.
DC 3 into the same space. From now on we will CH 2 every time we go around a corner and CH 1 to move between DC clusters along an edge.
Two clusters of DC with CH 2 in between.
CH 1. DC 3. CH 2. DC 3 into the same space. Repeat this pattern all the way around. Join to the top of CH 3 with a SL. Finish off and cut yarn.
Round Three: Join to your last round with your main color in between two clusters of DC. CH 3.
DC 2 into the space between DC clusters in the previous round. Work your way around the square working DC 3 into the spaces between clusters from the row before. CH 1 to move between clusters on the edge and CH 2 to create the corner. Finish off and cut yarn.
Round Four: Repeat round three with your accent color. Finish off and cut yarn.
Step Two: Hold two granny squares wrong sides together. Using your main color, insert your hook through the back loop of both squares.
Holding worng sides together.
Pull up a loop and complete a SC. Repeat from corner to corner along one edge. Do not finish off.
Connected squares.
Step Three: Unfold the squares and, using your main color, single crochet in the back loop all the way around the outside of both squares. Finish off and cut yarn.
*Repeat Step Two and Three with the other two squares.
Adding edge to granny squares.
Finished panels.
Step Four: Using your main color, join to the back loop anywhere along the edge of one of the panels. CH 1. HDC all the way around the panel working 3 HDC into each corner. SL into the starting stitch. Finish off and cut yarn.
Join to back loop.
HDC around with 3 in each corner.
*Repeat with the other panel.
Step Five: Using your main color, with the WRONG side facing towards you, join to the left corner of a long edge of one of the panels in the back loop.
Reversed from how you'll be holding it to show what loop to pick up.
DC around three edges leaving the last long edge unworked. Don’t finish off.
Step Six: Turn your work and hold each panel right sides facing each other. Work a slip stitch into the back loop of both panels, connecting them. Don’t finish off. If you prefer, you can sew the two panels together.
Step Seven: Turn your work right side out and work HDC along the long edge that was left unconnected. There should be 36 stitches across.
Turn your work and HDC in the second stitch from the hook. Continue this way to make 8 rows of HDCs. Don’t finish off.
Step Eight: Turn your work and skip one stitch. In the next stitch make this sequence of six stitches [HDC, DCx4, HDC]. Skip a stitch and slip stitch into the next stitch.
Skip a stitch and repeat the six stitches in the next. Repeat this pattern across the row making a total of 7 shells. Finish off and cut yarn.
Step Nine: Using your accent color, CH 130. Finish off and cut yarn.
Tie a knot at either end of the chain and cut the tails to about a centimeter. Unravel the fibers of the yarn to create a small tassel.
Using a six inch piece of yarn, tie the chain to the back of the project in the center next to where the two granny squares are connected.
Step Ten: Weave in all your ends and you’re done!
