It’s hard to believe that the Magic Casement Square is the last granny square pattern in this series.
I have a good many more blocks than when I began to rescue this projects 3 months ago. I haven’t counted them yet, but I’m certain I am close to the number I need to complete “The Lost Granny Squares Afghan”.
It is somehow fitting that this one is the cap to this stash-busting project. It is the first block I made that led me to eventually make the hearts that I shared with you in February. (‘Here’s my Heart’)
I actually have at least one other granny square that I designed before finally seeing the heart in it and I will share it with you at a later date.
Compared to many of the squares I struggled with (for which I’ve developed a pattern), this one was easy and a pleasure to make.
Poetic Connection
I’ve dubbed it Magic Casement because the center design reminds me of the iron work on some of the windows I’ve seen (and taken pictures of ) in my travels.
I love taking pictures of windows, doors, building trim, gargoyles and oddly, dead trees. Go figure.
This is the wall of a large church in Barcelona Spain just a few blocks from ‘La Rambla’ one of the most romantic streets in the world.
I noted the window within a window high up on the wall. The architecture of the building had been subsumed somewhat in it’s centuries long need to survive as a structure.
Something about it made me think of Keats poem, ‘Ode to a Nightingale’. My favorite snippet of this charming but melancholy poem is where he describes the enduring song of the nightingale through time and fancy:
“Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home, She stood in tears amid the alien corn;
The same that oft-times hath charmed magic casements, opening on the foam Of perilous seas in fairy lands forlorn.”
The magic casement square would look quite handsome with a grey center to represent the ironwork. Guess I’d better go make one!
I’ve truly enjoyed sharing this project with you. It has been a labor of love.
I’ve reclaimed something that was lost. Now I’ll turn it into something beautiful and useful. When it’s complete I will definitely share it with you.
In the mean time I have about a half-dozen summer sewing projects that are vying for my attention and they will be seen here along with my recipes and several household tips in the coming weeks.
And of course there will be more crochet on the way as quickly as I can spin yarn into lace. Enjoy! –Laura
As always, it is a 6″ pattern in US terms and uses a G hook and 4 ply yarn.
This is a really lovely one, thanks for sharing it with us 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing this great pattern. I love granny squares and really like trying all the seemly endless variations out there.
Looking forward to seeing your finished project too.
This is such a pretty design! I’d love to see the final project.
I can’t get the Lost Granny Squares patterns to download. What am I doing wrong? I would love to make a blanket using all of the lost squares.
Shirley Crabtree
Hi, I’ve sent an email that I hope will help you.
Laura, Thank you for sharing. Love your squares & look forward to making them. Andrea P.
This square is beyond gorgeous, but I’m having some problems understanding how to start the square. The pattern says: Round 1: magic ring, ch up 3 (first dc made), 2 dc, ch 2,
I start with a magic circle of 5, and then before I chain 3 up do I close the circle and work the first round into the base layer of stitches? Do I keep the circle open and do the first round in the open circle and then close and join before going on to round two?
Sorry if this has been answered elsewhere and I missed it, I love all your granny patterns and I’m really looking forward to using them once I understand how to begin. Thank you so much for sharing such gorgeous work 🙂
Hi Michelle, I apologize if my instructions are unclear. These ‘Lost Grannies’ have been my first attempt at crochet pattern writing.
In round one make the loop for the magic ring and then chain up 3, which represents the first double crochet, then 2 double crochets and chain 2.
You have just made the first cluster of 4 clusters that are round 1 and are at the center of the square.
It basically starts out like most basic granny squares.
Do not make 5 stitches in the ring before chaining up 3.
The chain up three is the first stitch you will make in the magic ring.
I hope that helps. If you have any more questions, please just ask!
Thank you so much for replying to me, your instructions make perfect sense now. I’m so excited to work with your beautiful squares! Thanks again!
I’m curious about your lovely collection of lost Granny Squares. Are some of them offered for free, and some paid patterns? I don’t mind paying such a great price for the collection, I just wish to understand how this works so I can proceed correctly. I just now arrived at your site via Pinterest, and I love it!
Welcome! Thank you for coming to BOTB. All of the patterns for the Lost Granny Squares can be found here and are free. I simply put together the collection as a download (due to reader request) so that they could be downloaded quickly as a collection.