Let’s Get Squared! (With Jenny King)

Garment making is my new crochet passion. I like simple and easy shapes (but not boring) and a slightly oversized fit and look. I’ve made (and even designed myself) quite a few garments recently. And I am looking forward to learn more about shaping and sizing.

Today I would like to show you my hot off the hook sweater. I made it following the video course Get Squared by Jenny King – a crochet designer from Australia. Jenny kindly gifted me this course to try it out and maybe to write a review. And now when my sweater is completed I would like to share my thoughts and experience with you.

What is Jenny’s course Get Squared about?

Get squared course is about creating garments with basic crochet granny stitch. You don’t need to be an experienced crocheter to make a unique sweater or cardigan for yourself. Jenny’s course is all about magic and it’s aimed to absolute beginners in crochet (as well as advanced makers who would like to learn a new method of creating garments).

You will need (any) yarn, 6mm crochet hook, several measurements of your body... and 10 minutes to watch the video. That’s it. Jenny has created a universal (and pretty much innovative) system of creating garments – without complicated measuring, shaping or sewing. Get Squared is a very clear, complexed and complete method explaining everything from beginning to end.

 

What you'll get with Get Squared

Get Squared course consists of several short videos: introduction and explanation on how to create five different garment styles – basic sweater/jumper, basic cardigan, cardigan with extended fronts, cardigan with V-neck shaping and a shrug.

Instructional videos give a very clear idea about basic shaping and with your own accents (like collar, hem, buttons, different length of sleeves) you can create endless variations of garments. You can create literally everything. And no need to mention that with 6mm hook and a “speedy” granny stitch your new garment will be made in almost no time. With some frogging and remaking it took me, guess, 9 hours in total to make my sweater.

The course will also provide you with a chart and table with measurements where you will add your own “magic numbers” – several simple measurements of your body.

My own experience with Get Squared

I first heard about Get Squared system at last Bloggers Days when creative director of Scheepjes – Simy Somer – was showing her nearly finished crochet shrug. To be honest I am not very fond of granny stitch. I am not even sure why… Maybe because I haven’t seen many crochet designs with this stitch which look modern. But Simy’s shrug inspired me to give this system a try.

In the very beginning I made two mistakes. I don’t normally use large hooks, and I thought that for 6mm hook I should take some bulky yarn. Which is not true at all! In her video Jenny is showing cardigan made with very fine yarn. And with large hook granny stitch is getting a very nice drape. So after a little bit of swatching I put away 20 skeins of bulky wool yarn and chose Merino Soft yarn* by Scheepjes instead. The label recommends 4.5mm hook, but with 6mm hook granny shells became nicely draping.

My second mistake was wrong sizing. With Jenny’s recommendations I made necessary measurements (for a perfect fit). But after I started to crochet I felt like adding much more ease to my sweater. To make it slightly oversized. And to get an oversized effect with granny stitch you should really add enough of space.

After both mistakes were corrected everything went very fast and smooth. I loved Jenny’s videos and the way she talks to you. Her voice is very soothing, she is taking time to explain every single detail. She is using both UK and US terms in her talking, so no chance to be lost. Jenny also mentions some tips and tricks I’ve never heard of before, and her decreases for sleeves are genius! With nice background music I had a feeling as if I was talking to an old friend in my living room.

And what I really loved about Get Squared course is that video's are not long at all. It takes up to 10-12 minutes to get a complete insight into every garment style! No endless hours of watching and trying to filter important information.

After approx. 9 hours of crochet my sweater was done. First I made it much longer. But then frogged almost half of it, added knit-look hem to the bottom and sleeves, and a long tunelneck collar. I turned my sweater inside out to make back side as a front. For some reason I like it much better like this. And ta-dah! The sweater is ready!

If you got interested in Jenny’s system of creating garments you might also want to have a look at your new Kids Squared course for children's garments. The course includes video tutition as well as 21 pattern shortcuts which can be made to fit children, from babies through to pre-teens. And I am sure it will not disappoint.

My fellow blogger friends also got hooked with Jenny King designs. Nerissa of Miss Neriss has created a classy cardigan (and also published an interview with Jenny on her blog HERE). And Susan of Felted Button went very creative with shaping. Check her colorful sweater HERE.

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