Meet the Designer: Shelley Husband

Discover the creative journey and expert tips of crochet designer Shelley Husband, including her latest beautiful granny square collection with Hobbii.

Dear reader, are you ready for some true granny square magic? We're thrilled to introduce you to Shelley Husband, the creative mind behind Spincushions. 😍

Known for her elegant and detailed designs, Shelley has recently collaborated with Hobbii on a beautiful collection of crochet patterns: the Compass Rose Granny Squares.

Let's dive into our conversation with Shelley to learn more about her inspiration, process, and tips for fellow crocheters. Keep reading to discover her very best tips for granny squares (trust us, you won't want to miss these 😉)!

1. What is your favorite place to crochet?

“I can usually be found in my lounge room, in my comfy chair with my view of the ocean, forest and farmlands (and quite often a mob of kangaroos). If I’m designing, there will be music playing. If I’m making, I’ll be watching something light or listening to an audio book.”

2. Can you tell us a bit about your creative process?

“Most of the time, I have no plan in mind when I sit to design. I love designing with no restrictions so I can just play and see what comes off the hook. The thrill of making an idea work, creating a new combination of stitches and techniques is what makes my brain sing. There are times when I have to consider certain things, which adds a little restriction. For example, I might need the new design a granny square to be beginner friendly, and so I limit the stitches to techniques used to the basics.”

3. How do you choose colors and yarns for granny square projects?

“For me, crochet is all about the patterns and textures the stitches make. So neutral, natural colors are my go to. I love single color work in large granny square blankets. A sampler blanket made of many different squares, all the same color, is so appealing to me.

When I do stray into color, it tends to be a gradient of blues with a neutral or natural cream. No other reason than blue being my favorite color and who doesn’t love a gradient?”

4. What are your favorite projects to make with granny squares?

“I most often make blankets with my granny squares, but I do make neckwear sometimes—scarves, cowls and wraps as well. I’ve made a few cushions and cushion covers. And even pot holders. But blankets are my favorite thing to make with granny squares.“

5. What are your favorite techniques or stitches to add a unique touch to your granny squares?

“Oh my seamless ways are the most fun for me. I design my squares in a way that makes it really hard to see where rounds begin and end. The technique is borrowed from very old crochet patterns—it’s not new. It is quite common in lacy doily patterns. I have transferred it to granny squares and use it in the most basic patterns to the most complex.”

6. Could you share more details about the new granny square patterns?

“I know I said earlier that I like to just sit and play when designing and see what happens. Sometimes though, a particular idea is the inspiration. And that is the case with the four Compass Rose Granny Square patterns.

I woke up one morning with the outer raised shape you see in all four patterns in my head. I must have been dreaming in crochet. I had a very strong desire to make the idea come to life. I was contacted by Hobbii about the same time for this project, which was quite fortuitous as it gave me an excuse to explore the shape.

I designed them all in the Friends 8/6 cotton, that being the yarn weight I use most often. The most common size I design granny squares is 15 cm/6 in, so using this yarn weight meant I could do that easily. The only restrictions I placed on the design process were to make sure each square had the same outer shape and be 15 cm/6 in.“

⬆ North Granny Square

“North was the first, most basic iteration of the idea. It gave the inspiration for the name of the series of patterns and guided the design of the other three.”

⬆ South Granny Square

“South came next. I wanted to replicate the outer shape in the middle and formed the two rounds of petal-like shapes.“

⬆ East Granny Square

“East flew off the design hook quickly. It is a fun one with the cool effect of front post stitches making the center stand out with a large cross shape.“

⬆ West Granny Square

“West uses front post stitches in an interesting way to create the radiating rays of the center, maintaining the outer shape.

Once they were all designed, I then made the patterns several times over with the Friends 8/4 and Friends 8/8 cottons as well as the Friends Cotton Silk. I tried different color combinations as well. The gradient blues and cream are my favorites.”

7. What are some common mistakes you see crocheters make with granny squares?

“When folks are first learning, one thing that can be really hard to learn is where exactly to poke your hook to make a stitch. Learning the anatomy of the most common stitches is really helpful. When people tell me they are having trouble getting the right number of stitches or that their squares are wobbly, it is often because they are not making their stitches in the right place. So learning the right spot to work stitches can solve a lot of problems.”

8. What are your top 3 tips for granny squares?

“1 – Treat each granny square as a small project on its own. Make one, weave in the ends, block it. Then all you need to do is join them all at the end.

2 – Experiment with different yarn and hook combinations. As granny squares are usually used to make things that are not fitted, you can let go of needing to match the pattern size. Let the intended final project dictate the yarn and hook combination you use. If you want sometime light and airy use fine yarn with a large hook. If you want something quick to make, use a thicker yarn and a large hook.

3 – Crochet your granny squares together. It is so quick and easy to do. There are many ways to try and all give different results. Experiment!“