Book Review: The Granny Square Card Deck by Claire Montgomerie, December 2024

Discover the Perfect Design Tool

This deck is packed with 50 cards, each featuring a different granny square design. The squares are both modern and stylish. Whether you’re a crochet newbie or a pro looking for inspiration, there’s a square for every mood. From the super easy ones to the more intricate designs the deck has something for everyone. Each card comes with a clear crochet chart on the back and a gorgeous photo of the finished square on the front. With all the different patterns, colours, and combinations available, why not just spread them out on your desk and mix and match to your hearts content to create unique projects.

Design and Usability

The deck itself is a pleasure to use. The cards are durable, with a smooth, glossy finish that makes them easy to handle and perfect for carrying around. The colourful photography on each card not only makes them gorgeous to look at, but the charts on the back also use the same colours for each row or round as on the photo, which is super helpful. The cards are the ideal size for portability—small enough to tuck into your bag, yet large enough to be easy to read on the go.

Not sure How to Read Crochet Charts?

If you have not yet learned how to read crochet charts then this deck is a must for you. Not only are the colour coded charts very clear, there is also a written 'walk through' of one round of a chart described in the accompanying booklet, together with a key showing each of the symbols used. The booklet has step by step instructions of how to follow a whole round of crochet on one square in detail. You can apply this step by step approach to each row or round of the square you are working and by the end you will know how to read crochet charts!

I am a huge fan of crochet charts - why? Well one reason is that they are universal so there is no confusion about whether US or UK crochet terminology is being used, as there often is with written patterns. A chart is a chart - no matter which side of the pond you are!

Secondly, the great thing about charts is that they look like the finished item, so you can easily tell if you are going wrong. Have a look at the images below and you will see how alike they look.

Also included in the Booklet

Make sure you keep the booklet safe in the box with the cards. It is your own User Guide. It describes how to use the cards; what yarn and shades have been used in the images; what hook size to use; the measurement of each square; the stitch chart symbols; how to read a stitch chart; and a description of how to work any special stitches.

Joining Methods and Arrangement Tips

Two joining methods for the squares are described in detail and since each square is made using the same hook and yarn weight and is the same finished size, the squares can be joined together in any combination with ease. Again detailed step by step images are given for each joining method.

A number of suggestions are given for arranging your squares, from a random patchwork style, to using blocks of 4 squares to make a bigger square, or creating a checkerboard pattern or using one square all over - the choice and design possibilities are endless.

Choosing Colours

If like me you tend to find choosing colours for your projects a bit tricky there is also a useful section on creating a colour palette with hints and tips on finding the right colour combination for you, including suggestions on the proportion of each colour to use.

Construction Methods

Not all of the squares are worked in the round, some are worked corner to corner, some in rows and some start in one corner then work outwards in a square. Whichever way they are constructed, for the majority of the squares the instructions ensure that there will always be the same number of stitches in the outer edge, which makes joining so much easier. For some squares where you are joining along the edge of crochet rows instead of into stitches, this needs a bit more care but by working 2 stitches into the edge of each US double (UK treble) row it should all work out fine.

My Favourite...

I really couldn't just choose one - so here are three of the squares which particularly caught my eye. They are from left to right: 3D Flower, Diamond Scallops, Flower Power.

My Observations

• The written instructions in the booklet for special stiches and how to read a chart use US crochet terminology, something to bear in mind if you prefer UK terminology. However as you will be following the charts for each square then as soon as you have any special stitches worked out this would not be an issue as charts are universal.

• If you really are not a fan of crochet charts (although I encourage you to try using them), then you are able to get hold of the written instructions for each square. These are not contained in the deck itself (I expect that is for reasons of space), but they are available to purchase from Search Press as an e-book companion to the card deck.

• A word of warning from the publishers - Beware of Fakes! Don't be fooled by cheap counterfeit imitations. This deck is by Claire Montgomerie, published by Search Press. It seems that fakes are available from a number of internet sites. Please don't be fooled. If it looks too cheap its probably because it is a fake and you really don't know what you will be getting inside.

Summary

The set would be a great addition to your crochet library. It is so versatile and dynamic and fun to play with! If you are a granny square fan then it is an absolute must.

Don't forget that if you are on my mailing list you can purchase any book that I review for 25% off from Search Press, using the discount code in my weekly email sent every Friday, available for TWO MONTHS from the date of the review.

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