Once you’ve mastered the basic granny square (Simple & Sensational™ – Video How to Crochet a Basic Granny Square and Basic Granny Square Scarf Pattern), there are numerous possibilities to expand your granny square repertoire, moving into the more unusual and intricate motifs.

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There are several books that take you to that next step and offer inspiring examples. Two of my favorites are: (But as with all books, check the author’s or publisher’s website for any corrections before beginning.)

The Granny Square Book by Margaret Hubert. This spiral-bound book contains beautiful illustrations, charts for each decorative square, as well as written instructions. There are 75 great choices, including many with flower centers. Some of my favorites are: Venetian Star (pg. 66), which I think would make a fabulous bedspread worked in off-white cotton thread; Swirling Spiral (pg. 63), a real modern twist on the traditional granny square and Tri-Color Cluster (pg. 50), an unusually dense square. There also is a section showing how to design with granny squares, plus 19 projects to start you on your way.

Beyond the Square – Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman. This spiral-bound book contains 144 motifs, including circles, hexagons, triangles, square and unusual shapes. There is a nice introductory section which has directions for the sliding loop (Ms. Eckman’s preferred way of making a beginning ring), avoiding the color blip and tidy joins. Besides some great motifs, there are ideas and charts on how to arrange and attach similar motifs or how to combine different motifs to create your own one-of-a-kind project.