Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Some people call it smocking. Some people call it shirring. Whatever you call it, it’s makes an awful pretty top for a sundress. Pretty Ditty shares a tutorial for smocking/shirring. Get the how-to.
[tags]sewing, tutorial, smocking, shirring[/tags]
I remember as a kid watching my grandmother crochet granny squares. I don’t even know what she was using them for, I just remember watching her build those colorful squares of yarn stitches. It was so much fun watching the colorful squares emerge from scrap yarn.
I am far from the only one who loves a granny square. Started in the center and worked round after round to create a square (or circle, or hexagon, or any other shape), granny squares are the ultimate yarn project building block. The granny square is the star of the book Vintage Granny Squares: 20 Crochet Projects with a Retro Vibe by Emma Varnam.
All I can say is, this book is absolutely adorable, y’all. The projects are colorful, creative, and all with a fun retro vibe.
All of the projects in this book are based on a basic granny square. There are bags, blankets, accessories, even a cute top. Or how about a pair of fingerless mittens made from granny squares?
But my favorite project in the book has got to be that project basket featured on the front cover. At 9 ½” wide and 11” tall, it’s the perfect size to hold a yarn project or two.
Granny squares are the ultimate portable crochet project. Squares stack neatly and take up little space in your project bag. You can stitch up all the squares you need for the project before sewing them all together.
Granny squares are also a super fun way to use up those leftover bits of yarn, which all seem to have laying around. Why not use these scraps to stitch up a colorful and fun bag or accessory?
You’ll find some great granny square inspiration in Vintage Granny Squares: 20 Crochet Projects with a Retro Vibe.
Publisher: GMC Publications (March 4, 2025)
Language: English
Paperback: 144 pages
ISBN-10: 1784946796
ISBN-13: 978-1784946791
RE: SHIRRING
I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH SHIRRING A CHIFFON POLY FABRIC BLOUSE AT WAIST.
THE BOBBIN GETS STUCK AND LIFTS UP AND RAVELS, WHEN I THREAD IT WITH THE ELASTIC THREAD BY HAND. I DO IT BY HAND SO IT IS NOT TOO TIGHT. I DID ONCE BEFORE, BY HAND TIGHT THREADING AND THEN LOOSE, AND I SAW THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SHIRRING.
BUT NOW I’M HAVING PROBLEM WHEN I RETHREADED IT. AM I PUTTING THE NEEDLE BACK IN THE WRONG WAY, OR MAYBE IT’S THE NEEDLE, AND AT WHAT TENSION DO I USE IT..AT 0 OR 1. THE STITCH I USE 5 AS THE LENGTH.
WHAT AM I DOING WRONG? PLEASE ADVISE.
PLEASE ADVISE ASAP SO I CAN FINISH MY PROJECT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY HELP ON THESE ISSUES.
CAROLYN MONTY
carolynmonty@msn.com
1714-437-1035