Technique:

Linking Woven Squares

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Once you’ve made a big stack of speed woven squares you’ll need a way to link them together. History has lots of ideas on linking woven squares, but I’ve found this to be my favorite. It’s quick, simple, you don’t need to save yarn to do it, and it works on huge pieces without having to start and end strands.

Linking Woven Squares

Linking Woven Squares

Supplies:
a bunch of woven squares
– a crochet hook – the size doesn’t matter as long as it hooks your yarn easily
– a couple knitting needles, or dowels, or string with tapestry needles on the end, or some other way to temporarily restrain loops of yarn

Linking Woven Squares

This diagram shows how I’m numbering the loops. You progress through in order, 1-8 and then onward in the same pattern.

Linking Woven Squares

The most difficult part of this is the two loops that arrows are pointed at in this diagram. They’re the most likely to sneak around and be difficult to find. One is the place where you knotted at the start, and the other is next to the last strand woven in at the end. As long as you know to look for them you’ll be able to keep them involved. And really, if you miss an occasional loop it probably won’t show on the finished project, anyway.

Linking Woven Squares

Set two squares next to each other. Orientation doesn’t matter. Put the crochet hook through the bottom edge loop on the right side square (#1 in the diagram.)

Linking Woven Squares

Now put it through the bottom loop on the left block (#2.)

Linking Woven Squares

Pull loop #2 through loop #1.

Linking Woven Squares

Put the hook through the second loop on the right block (#3).

Linking Woven Squares

Pull it through loop #2.

Linking Woven Squares

Now into loop #4, second on the left.

Linking Woven Squares

And pull it through #3.

Linking Woven Squares

Now loop #5, third up on the right.

Linking Woven Squares

And pull it through loop #4. Continue in this way until you reach the end.

Linking Woven Squares

It should look like this. The seam will probably be a little shorter than the block. It will stretch out to the same size as the block but resist the urge to pull on it now, you’ll make it harder to find the loops on the other side and you’ll be able to even everything out when all of your squares are linked.

Linking Woven Squares

Put the loop at the end of the last seam onto your choice of loop holder (a knitting needle is shown here.) Line up another square on the right side.

Linking Woven Squares

Repeat the linking process.

Linking Woven Squares

Hook that loop onto the loop holder and continue until you’ve hooked all of the squares you want on this row.

Linking Woven Squares

Look at all those squares. This is going to be a big blanket.

Linking Woven Squares

Now you’ll start over for the next row. See that short yarn at the top right? It’s the tail next to the knot from starting one of the squares. I pulled it out from where it had been woven in. If you place it there it will be VERY easy to end your row when the time comes.

Linking Woven Squares

Link these squares up the same way. Really, the short seams will be okay.

Linking Woven Squares

On this row, add squares to the left instead of to the right.

Linking Woven Squares

When you have two holders with the same number of loops lay them out as shown.

Linking Woven Squares

Now link these two rows together with one super long seam, using the same method at always.

Linking Woven Squares

There will be two ‘open’ loops from the first seams at the same place, treat them the same way you do all the other loops.

Linking Woven Squares Linking Woven Squares

Hook them like usual and then keep going into the next set of squares.

Linking Woven Squares

When you get to the end you’ll have that little tail waiting for you. Put it through that last loop.

Linking Woven Squares Linking Woven Squares

Weave the tail back in where it was before. I’ll be felting this yarn so this is enough finishing for me, but if your yarn is slippery or wants to work apart then it would be smart to tie a knot or two here as well.

Linking Woven Squares

Look at that invisible ending.

Linking Woven Squares

Now make the next row of squares, with that right end tail, and adding squares to the left. This row will attach on the right hand side of how the first pair of rows was linked. If you want it to link on the left hand side, reverse this (tail in the upper left, add squares to the right.)

Linking Woven Squares

When that row is ready, hook it to the first pair of rows.

Linking Woven Squares

The only catch here is that on the right you’ll have a loop and on the left you’ll have the start of the seam. On the left side, try to catch the loops from both loops squares here. Really just be careful not to use one more loop on the left side than the right. If you don’t get it the first time it’s easy enough to just drop where you’re working and unlink back to the problem spot!

 

Eventually you’ll have all of your squares connected. That’s all. You’re done. Really. No more threads to weave in or anything. In the next post I’ll explain how I went from here to my soft, light, lofty wool felt blanket…