If you’ve been eyeing My Granny Square Wardrobe by Sam Sabido and wondering if it’s the right addition to your crochet library, I’m here to help. This detailed review dives into everything you need to know, from the patterns and supplies to the skill level and supports included.
Whether you’re looking for size-inclusive crochet clothing or curious about what makes this book unique, I’ll walk you through all the key details to help you decide if it’s the perfect fit for your next project. Let’s explore what this book has to offer!
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Thanks to Search Press for providing me with this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. I do not guarantee a positive review of any product reviewed on my site. All opinions shared here are my own.
About the Author
Crochet designer, crochet teacher and former guest designer on Yarn Lane TV, Sam Sabido, has crafted a book that celebrates the perennially popular granny square in a modern and wearable way. With a focus on blending retro charm and contemporary fashion, Sabido’s designs bring granny square clothing into the realm of a gorgeous trend.
Patterns Included in My Granny Square Wardrobe
This book contains 15 stunning crochet pattern designs that range from traditional granny squares to unique granny circles and granny stripes. Patterns include festival-worthy shorts, snuggly statement cardigans, a crochet dress and even an overalls pattern, making it an ultimate guide for creating your own colorful collection of granny-square garments. Here’s the full list patterns included:
- Winter’s Day Scarf
- Winter’s Day Hat
- Feel the Magic Bag
- A Hug From Granny Cocoon Cardigan
- Woodstock Dungarees
- Walk in the Park Poncho
- Colour Fade Jumper
- Feeling Groovy Dress
- Fresh as a Daisy Vest
- Fresh as a Daisy Shorts
- Feel the Sunshine Shrug
- Carefree Coatigan
- Happy Sunflower Cardigan
- Starry Night Jumper
These fun designs offer a mix of simple shapes and complex sweaters, ensuring something for everyone to use to build a contemporary wardrobe of granny-square garments. The pattern samples are shown on a couple of models of various body shapes and types, these crochet clothes showcase size inclusivity, offering sizes from S to 5XL.
What Are the Patterns Like In My Granny Square Wardrobe?
The pattern instructions are relatively clear, though brief. If you’ve ever used a crochet magazine’s patterns, this style is very similar. I needed to re-read the assembly instructions for the patterns multiple times to understand what was being instructed.
Pieces are crocheted together rather than sewn, which can make for bulky seams but quicker assembly. This may or may not be bothersome depending on the wearer and the piece.
I personally would prefer to sew my granny squares together for areas where I don’t want any added bulky (like the pair of shorts) but seaming alternatives are not presented in the book. The assembly sections would have benefitted from some support images, particularly for visual learners and beginners, as well as to support the directions.
Some patterns include some photo tutorial support which is matched up with their instructions most of the time making it helpful to know what goes with what.
Getting Started with Your Granny Square: Missing Details Beginners Need
On page 12 you find the instructions for a traditional granny square. There are some tips included for changing colors and the pattern is clear, however, it doesn’t include how to start your granny square (which you can do with a chain loop or magic circle) so if you’re unfamiliar with how to start this and are planning to work your first granny square from these pages you may find yourself stumped.
This pattern is the basis of the first five patterns noted as beginner-friendly in the book but without this guidance on how to get started, beginners cannot begin to make them.
However, if you can read charts, there is a chart on page 10 showing the traditional granny square, which shows how the granny square is started. However, I only made that connection because I went looking for it.
Crochet Terminology
Patterns are written in US crochet terminology, with a helpful conversion chart for UK terms included on page 11. This section also provides key information, including stitch abbreviations and a handy flip-out bookmark for quick reference.
Skill Level
While beginner-friendly instructions are included for specific techniques, I feel this book is best suited for intermediate to advanced crocheters. Beginners may find the assembly instructions and some patterns challenging due to their complexity or lack of supports. However, with a solid grasp of gauge and granny square basics, even newer crocheters can create their own granny-square clothing.
Supports Included for Makers
The book provides a range of supports to help makers through their crochet journey, though there are areas where additional guidance would enhance the experience. Here’s what’s included:
- Step-by-Step Photos: Some patterns feature step-by-step photos, which are helpful for visual learners, although they aren’t consistently applied across all patterns.
- Simple Construction Diagrams: Each pattern includes simple construction diagrams, aiding in garment assembly. However, these could be more detailed, particularly for patterns with complex sweaters or multiple steps.
- Size Charts and Fit Information: Patterns are available in sizes Small through 5XL, with charts outlining sizing and color changes. On page 8, there’s a helpful section explaining how garment fit works, from skin-tight to oversized, which I found incredibly useful. This kind of clarity is rare and much appreciated, especially for size inclusivity.
- Blocking and Gauge: The book touches on blocking and gauge, but the information is high-level and may leave beginners unsure of how to apply these concepts. More thorough explanations or tutorials on these topics would be beneficial.
- Guidance for Left-Handed Crocheters: Found on page 10, this guidance is a thoughtful addition since patterns and photos are primarily written for right-handed makers.
- Stitch Glossary: Located on page 125, the glossary includes written descriptions of all stitches used in the patterns. While it’s great to have a reference, this section lacks photos or illustrations, which would make it more accessible for those unfamiliar with the stitches or for visual learners.
- Yarn Substitution Tips: Page 124 offers excellent advice for substituting yarn, especially helpful for North American readers who may not have access to the British yarn brands used in the book. This section provides specific techniques for choosing alternative brands that may be more accessible or have your favorite colors.
- Stitch Abbreviations Bookmark: A flip-out bookmark attached to the cover lists stitch abbreviations and terminology conversions. This clever addition doubles as a quick-reference tool, though its use of abbreviations without stitch diagrams could be confusing for absolute beginners.
While the supports are generally clear, some areas could use improvement. For example, the section on taking body measurements provides only brief guidance, which may leave beginners uncertain about how to measure for the perfect fit.
Similarly, the assembly instructions are concise but sometimes confusing, and visual learners would benefit greatly from additional support images in these sections
Supplies Needed
Yarn: The book features British yarn brands such as Yarnsmiths Create Chunky, Scheepjes Chunky Monkey, and Drops Paris, with guidance on yarn substitutions to suit your favorite colors and local availability.
Crochet Hooks: You’ll need crochet hooks ranging from 3mm to 6mm, depending on the project.
Where to Buy
My Granny Square Wardrobe is available through Search Press and major online retailers like Amazon.
Overall
Overall, My Granny Square Wardrobe is a book of beautiful, size-inclusive crochet patterns that use regular and solid granny squares and motif squares to create crochet clothing and accessory items for your wardrobe. I’d recommend this book only for intermediate to advanced crocheters looking for a collection of granny and motif square clothing pieces.
Beginners would benefit from making multiple granny squares and granny square projects first to learn the process of creating them and have a firm understanding of gauge prior to attempting even the simpler projects in this book.
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