I’ve been recently asket alot how I crocheted the blanket that you could see on the chair in front of my desk. I don’t really remember where I’ve seen this kind of blanket for the first time, but I think it was at Sandra Juto. Flickr is full of pictures showing this kind of granny square blankets and so I decided a few weeks ago to crochet one by myself.

There are already a few instructions by Yvonne of Yvestown, and that’s why I’ll just sum up the first three rounds and try to explaine the fourth round a bit more detailed.

1st round: chain 4, join them as a ring. Add another 3 chains, then crochet 11 more double crochets into the ring. Join the circle.

2nd round: chain 3, add one double crochet in the same space. Add two double crochets in all next spaces between the stitches of the first round. Join the circle.

3rd round: chain 3, add two more double crochets in the same space. Add three double crochets in all next spaces. Join the circle.

Now comes the fourth round, which is a bit more difficult. It also depends on to how many squares you try to join your square. I took the picture, when I joined it to two other squares, I’m quite sure you’ll be able to figure it out how to do it, if you only have one square to join!

4th round: chain 3, add two more double crochets in the same space. chain 1. Crochet three double crochets in the next space and chain 1. Crochet 3 triple crochets, chain 2, 3 tripple crochets, all in one space. Chain 1 and add 3 double crochets and one chain in the next two spaces. Add three triple crochets, chain 1 and now you start to join your two squares. Instead of adding another chain for your corner, slip stich into the corner of your other square (see picture above).

Add three more triple crochets and again slip stitch in the next space of your other square. So whenever you would have normally crocheted a single chain, you now join your squares with a slip stich. Add 3 more double crochets, slip stich, 3 double crochets, slip stich, 3 tripple crochets, the next slip stitch goes into the corner of the now joined granny square. If you have to join another square just as I, the next slip stich goes into the corner of the next granny square.

Now you just keep on crocheting like you did before: 3 more triple crochets, 1 slip stitch, 3 double crochets, 1 slip stitch, 3 double crochets, 1 slip stitch, 3 tripple crochets, 1 slip stitch into the corner of your square. Now you’ll add another chain, add 3 more tripple crochets to complete your corner, chain 1 and join the round. Done!

I try to decorate our appartment room by room (and I’m afraid I’ll start all over again when I’m “finished”). Nearly finished is now our bedroom/office. Today accomplished: my desk.

Unfortunately the chair I ordered a few weeks ago is still missing, but I can hopefully switch the chairs in the middle of May.

The desk is one of my old IKEA desks that hadn’t cost more than 25 Euros. I just covered it up with a piece of new GreenGate oilcloth and voilà: a new desk! The calendar is by Enna, the cup I store my pencils in is by GreenGate as well, the storage tins by Cath Kidston, the magnet boards by House Doctor and the shelves by IKEA / our local DIY store.

These magnet boards are available in three different versions (with either a 1 on it, a two or a three). I couldn’t resist and took the 2 and the 3 – I can’t deny I’m a computer scientist.

I’ve been drooling over this clock for months on etsy and finally bought it. I made a backing with a 1cm thick polystrene board that I covered with a piece of cloth (Cath Kidston as well) and now I can use it as a small pinboard.

I have to admit I’m quite unsure if I’ll still be happy with the desk in a few months, but for now I totally love this place.

In October 2008 I already painted and laminated the IKEA Fira boxes. It didn’t take long until I was quite unpleased with the colours and the whole look, but now I finally found the time to give them a new look.

The wallpaper I used is by Pip Studio and is called Early Bird.

The tins on the left side are by Cath Kidston, the little blanket is by Green Gate.

I’ve only painted one of the two firas I have yet, I think I’m going to make a little tutorial when I paint the other one.