Scrappy Stained Glass Granny Square Afghan
Identifier
2025.030
Title
Scrappy Stained Glass Granny Square Afghan
Creator
Maude Virginia Graham Elder (2 November 1898 - 30 May 1988) Completed by her great granddaughter Jolie Elder (b. 1966)
Date
circa 1990
Format
49 inches by 66 inches/125cm by 168cm
Each block is about 3¼ inches/8 cm square.
Each block is about 3¼ inches/8 cm square.
Description
This is a multicolored scrap granny square afghan in acrylic yarn. Blocks are arranged in a 15 by 20 grid = 300 blocks.
This is the last afghan made by my paternal great-grandmother (my father’s paternal grandmother). My great-grandmother lived in a mobile home at the far end of the property where her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter had a house in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I do not know the economic history of my great-grandfather and great-grandmother. I do know this living arrangement allowed my great-grandmother to age in place with family members just a few yards away.
My great-grandmother always seemed to have a crocheted afghan in progress. I remember a crocheted afghan on the back of her couch. When she died, most of her crocheted items went elsewhere in the family, I think possibly to a relative who did not crochet? My family received two piles of granny squares. One pile had completed squares in shades of purple. I put those together for my sister, who likes purple. The other pile of squares became this afghan.
This type of afghan is typical for my great-grandmother’s demographic cohort — age, gender, and geography. It is made of leftover scraps from other afghans. It is thrifty! This example has a variety of colors in the center and in the second round that makes the “petals.” I’ve typically seen this type of afghan worked with all yellow centers to resemble a field of flowers. The black on the third round accentuates the colors and unifies the design, giving a pleasing stained glass effect regardless of color choice.
When I received the pile of squares, some but not all were complete. I bought more black acrylic yarn and finished those squares. Then I joined the squares together to create the afghan. I’m sorry I didn’t write down what method I used to join these squares. They line up nicely. I’m very happy with that result. I used up the leftover black yarn with multiple rows (7 or 8) of single crochet to make a border. I didn’t get the increases in the corner quite right; the edges curl. I’m less happy with that part.
I keep this afghan on display in my guest bedroom. It has some cat hair on it. My great-grandmother always had a cat, so I think she would approve.
This is the last afghan made by my paternal great-grandmother (my father’s paternal grandmother). My great-grandmother lived in a mobile home at the far end of the property where her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter had a house in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I do not know the economic history of my great-grandfather and great-grandmother. I do know this living arrangement allowed my great-grandmother to age in place with family members just a few yards away.
My great-grandmother always seemed to have a crocheted afghan in progress. I remember a crocheted afghan on the back of her couch. When she died, most of her crocheted items went elsewhere in the family, I think possibly to a relative who did not crochet? My family received two piles of granny squares. One pile had completed squares in shades of purple. I put those together for my sister, who likes purple. The other pile of squares became this afghan.
This type of afghan is typical for my great-grandmother’s demographic cohort — age, gender, and geography. It is made of leftover scraps from other afghans. It is thrifty! This example has a variety of colors in the center and in the second round that makes the “petals.” I’ve typically seen this type of afghan worked with all yellow centers to resemble a field of flowers. The black on the third round accentuates the colors and unifies the design, giving a pleasing stained glass effect regardless of color choice.
When I received the pile of squares, some but not all were complete. I bought more black acrylic yarn and finished those squares. Then I joined the squares together to create the afghan. I’m sorry I didn’t write down what method I used to join these squares. They line up nicely. I’m very happy with that result. I used up the leftover black yarn with multiple rows (7 or 8) of single crochet to make a border. I didn’t get the increases in the corner quite right; the edges curl. I’m less happy with that part.
I keep this afghan on display in my guest bedroom. It has some cat hair on it. My great-grandmother always had a cat, so I think she would approve.
Provenance
Jolie A. Elder
Collection
Citation
jolieae, “Scrappy Stained Glass Granny Square Afghan,” Center for Knit and Crochet Digital Repository, accessed July 14, 2026, https://digital.centerforknitandcrochet.org/items/show/41052.
Added by jolieae
Comments