Hello everyone. I had been working on this granny square crochet coat for over 2 years. I know, that’s a very long time. You may be wondering why it took so long. Well, this is how it started. I invited a friend to dinner during the 4th of July weekend, and she showed me a granny square coat she saw online at an Etsy shop for I believe $1500. Needless to say, the coat was beautiful, but at the time we both thought it was overpriced. So, she decided she would make the coat, and I said, okay, we can both make the coat. The plan was set and we were going to make this fabulous crochet coat and wear it to the next fashion show, which was in September. This was 2019.
I was working during the time I started my coat. I chose my colors, and then started making my squares. Sometimes I would sit in my car and crochet through my lunch, making squares and talking to my sister on the phone. She lived in Virginia at the time and we talked every morning, sometimes at lunch and sometimes in the evening.
Months passed and I was still not finished making my coat. The date for the fashion show came and left, many times over and I was still not finished with it. My friend finished her coat long before I finished mine, although we were both “done” with the entire process. This was a very long, stressful process, because of the five colors on each square and the numerous loose strings that needed to be woven in when the squares were done and the coat itself was in its finishing stages. If not for the weaving in the ends, the process would not have been as tiresome and stressful. I am learning how to weave in ends, or have less ends to weave in with my crochet projects when changing colors or adding more yarn.
The finished coat is 96 squares total. The sides are 24 squares and the back is 48 squares. I was torn between making the back 40 squares, 5 rows instead of 6, and making the sides 16 squares instead of 24, which would have been two rows instead of three. If I had made it 72 squares instead of 96 I would have had a more fitted look than an oversized fuller version of what I chose. In either case, fitted or more relaxed, the choice is a good one.
What I liked about making this coat is that it is granny square, which is a very easy pattern for this coat and many other crochet items. I have used it many times. In making my crochet queen sized blanket, which I posted on the blog. If you missed that post, you can see it here. Crochet Blanket. I also used the granny squares for my crochet poncho. Here is that post if you missed it. Crochet Granny Square Poncho
So, I guess you are wondering where I got the motivation to finish the coat. Well, the fashion show was coming up again, and I bought tickets for my sister and me. I really wanted to wear my coat and that is what drove me to just finish it. At that point all squares were made, and I had already put the back together and both sides. However, I still needed to put the sides on the back, and also weave in a bunch of ends as well as create a finishing border row. All of that took a good chunk of time, but I finally finished. I wore this to the same fashion show I was supposed to wear it to when we decided to make the coat in 2019. The fashion week show was this past weekend, and I was very proud to be making something I created. The current coat does not have sleeves, but I plan to add sleeves so I can wear it well into fall and winter.
My final thoughts on this full length granny square crochet coat, is I absolutely love it. It was worth all of the work and the stress I encountered when constructing it, and I plan to wear it often. It is the perfect weight, and I also have the option of wearing it with a belt. See the pictures above. This coat will be something I will not easily discard because of the work I put into it, and because it is a really really great piece. I also want to add that finishing this coat was on my list of goals for 2021, and this is yet another goal I can mark off as completed. My next goal is my first quilt. I will get started on that very very soon. Also, having made the coat, I also believe the price for the crochet coat on Etsy was well worth the money and she did well to ask for that amount. It is a ton of work.
That’s a wrap [literally] for now, but I can’t wait to show you a new project, pattern, or DIY something. Thank you for allowing me to share this crochet granny square coat with you. Leave a comment and please “Like” if you like. I love sewing, and I love sharing my projects with you. Also, if you have not subscribed yet, please consider doing so. You can subscribe below. Until next time, I will be making my life better, one project at a time, and I hope you do the same.
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