Crochet Podcast 182: Heart Granny Squares, Flat Border 2026

Crochet Podcast 182: Heart Granny Squares, Pillows, a Shrug, and a Flat Border Win

If you love heart motifs but still want projects you can use year-round, Crochet Podcast 182 is packed with ideas. This episode walks through new heart granny square options, two heart pillow looks, a heart granny square shrug that turns motifs into a wearable, and a diagonal granny stitch blanket border that actually lies flat.

You'll also get an update on the year-long scrap granny square crochet along, plus a simple way to share your makes with the Secret Yarnery community.

A new solid heart granny square, plus the old version side by side

New heart start vs. old heart start (circle vs. square)

The first big share is a heart granny square that looks adorable even before you decide what it will become. What makes this update interesting is the construction change between the older heart and the newer one.

The older heart version starts with a square center, then the heart shape appears as the motif builds. The newer heart starts with a circle, then shapes into the heart, and that small change gives it a stronger heart outline. It reads as a heart right away, even from across the room. If you like hearts that look "full" and bold, the circle start gives that super hearty heart shape.

If you've made heart squares before and felt like the heart got a bit boxy, this new approach is the kind of tweak that can make you fall in love with the motif again. It also opens up more options for mixing with traditional granny squares, since you can still square it up cleanly and keep the edges neat.

If you want the full written walkthrough for the updated style, use this step-by-step heart granny square guide.

If you're choosing between the two, pay attention to the center start. A circle start tends to give a rounder, more "heart-like" curve at the top.

Color combos that look like candy, plus simple storage that stays tidy

Color choice is half the fun with heart motifs, and this episode has two different vibes.

One set leans "candy bright," with punchy shades that pop against each other. Another set uses pairs, a dark and a light in each color family, so you get depth without having to overthink it. The pair idea shows up in greens, purples, and blues, and it's a smart way to make a coordinated stack without matching everything perfectly.

Just as helpful is the storage tip: keeping tutorial motifs in zipper bags (often simple Ziplocs) so they stay clean, flat, and easy to find later. That matters if you reuse pieces for thumbnails, seasonal decor, or to compare pattern versions later. Bags also keep sets together, so your hearts do not drift all over the craft space.

Here are a few reasons this works so well:

• Clean and protected: no lint, no snagging, no mystery fuzz.
• Grab and go: you can pull one exact set without digging.
• Seasonal sorting: hearts can live in a spring or Valentine tote, then disappear until you want them again.

A "handful of hearts" in two moods: pastel side and bright side

Next up is a set of heart pillows, and the color plan is simple but effective. Each heart uses a brighter shade on one side and a lighter, more pastel version on the other. That gives you two looks in one project: one side feels Easter-ish and soft, while the other side feels bold and cheerful.

It also makes these fun to display because you can flip them depending on season or mood. Even better, the project is compact enough that it's easy to batch make a handful of hearts without committing to a full blanket.

Heart pillows and the heart granny square shrug that turns motifs into a wearable

Heart pillows with an easy join and cute gift ideas

These heart pillows are made by joining heart shapes together, then working a simple edging join that keeps the outline playful. The join uses chains and single crochets all the way around, so it looks a bit loopy and decorative, and it still keeps the heart silhouette instead of squashing it into a circle.

Stuffing stays light, mostly in the center, so the pillow puffs without getting lumpy. There's also a fun little extra idea shared in the episode: tuck a folded dryer sheet (like a fresh laundry scent sheet) inside the center before stuffing, then add stuffing on both sides so it stays in place.

A couple of easy ways to gift or use these:

1. Tuck a heart pillow inside a coffee mug for a sweet teacher gift.
2. Hang one from a doorknob, or use two colors like a "do not disturb" sign for a sleeping baby setup.

If you like the heart motif and want other small, practical projects, these heart granny square coasters pattern are a fast win and make great sets.

Heart granny square shrug: 14 squares into a sweater-like fit

The wearable highlight is a heart shrug made from 14 heart granny squares. It's one of those projects that looks impressive, yet it's still built from repeatable pieces. The layout turns motifs into a shrug with sleeves, and the shaping gives a cute silhouette that feels a bit corset-like in the front.

Details that stand out in the finished piece:

• The neckline and shoulders sit nicely, and the shape goes from wider to skinnier in a way that looks intentional.
• The bottom edge looks clean and polished.
• Like most wearables, it still needs the final "grown-up step," sewing in tails and tucking in any little loops.

The big question people ask is whether it can become a full sweater. The answer is yes, but sizing depends on getting your squares to the right finished measurement for your body, which is always the tricky part with motif clothing.

If you want a wearable version with a lace-up look (and clear sizing levers), this heart granny square sweater pattern is a great companion read.

Quick Rico update, because puppies are part of crochet life

In the middle of all the hearts, there's a little life update too: Rico has been outside at night with Dingo guarding the house, and now he's inside, camped out on the bed, fully committed to staying put.

Don't disturb him, he's clearly decided this is the best part of the schedule.

Diagonal granny stitch blanket with a border that stays flat

Why diagonal granny borders ruffle, and how this one avoids it

If you've made a C2C granny stitch blanket (also called diagonal granny stitch), you already know the annoying part: the border. The blanket grows on a diagonal, and when you try to add a standard granny border with three stitches in each space, things can ripple or ruffle.

Many crocheters "fix" this by sprinkling in double crochet decreases. It works, but it can feel fiddly because you're constantly adjusting to force the border to behave.

The border shared in this episode solves the problem with a cleaner approach. You can keep cruising with a consistent rhythm (three, three, three), then adjust in the next round so the whole edge lies flat. The result is the kind of flat drape that makes you want to hold the blanket up just to show it off.

This is a great technique to save for any diagonal granny stitch project, especially if you like strong color stripes and want the finishing to look as good as the center.

The yearly scrap granny square crochet along update (join as you go)

A memory blanket made from scraps, with colors grouped by project

The crochet along update is a fun one because it's practical and sentimental at the same time. The idea is simple: whenever you finish a project, use leftover yarn to make a granny square. In this episode, the squares are three-round grannies, and they get joined as you go so the blanket grows all year.

The key choice here is not joining randomly. Instead, the squares get grouped so the colors from one project stay together in a row, block, or section. That way, the finished blanket becomes a visual memory of what you made that year, rather than a totally mixed scrap look.

Sometimes that grouping means changing the layout. For example, doing two rows of four squares instead of a long row across the bottom can help keep the blanket shape tidy while still keeping project colors together.

Hook size, fiber choice, and a smart stitch marker trick

A few practical details make this style of crochet along easier to stick with:

• A 6 mm crochet hook is used, even when yarn weights vary (the focus is on consistency).
• Acrylic yarn is the main plan, with a note that natural fibers could be kept separate instead of mixed.
• Everything gets air-dried (no dryer in use), and crochet pieces get laid flat to dry.

One of the most useful tips is marking the project hook size. If you tend to "borrow" hooks from WIPs, adding a stitch marker to the project (and even choosing a specific marker color) helps you remember what hook you used later.

How it started: a granny stripe blanket, full balls first, scraps after

The blanket began with the first project of the year, a straight granny stripe blanket (not diagonal). The approach was to use full balls of yarn for the blanket itself, then turn leftover bits into the scrap squares for the memory blanket. If a scrap color was too small to complete the square plan, white yarn filled in the rest so the square could still be made and added.

That "finish with white" rule keeps the crochet along moving forward, even when scraps are tiny. It also creates a thread of consistency across the whole blanket.

If you want another quick heart square option for using up leftovers, this 15-minute heart granny square hack is a fun stash-buster.

Monthly crochet along plans and how to share in the Community tab

A simpler live schedule, plus a spin-the-wheel project picker

Alongside the yearly scrap blanket, there's also a monthly crochet along plan. Live chats are reduced to the first and last Friday of the month. That means fewer mid-month lives, and more time for filming, finishing projects, and regular life stuff.

Here's how the monthly plan works:

• First Friday: spin a wheel to pick the project and another wheel to pick the color.
• Last Friday: show and share what everyone made.

This format is great because it creates momentum without needing a daily check-in. You still get the fun surprise element, plus a deadline that feels friendly instead of stressful.

Posting on the Community tab (so everyone can see your makes)

The Community tab is the main sharing spot. It's where you can post photos of your finished projects, works in progress, and crochet along entries. It's also a good place to ask a question because other makers can jump in and help.

To post, the process is straightforward:

1. Go to YouTube, then open the Secret Yarnery channel page.
2. Choose the Community tab, then sort by newest if you want to see recent posts.
3. Select "What's on your mind," add text, add a photo, then post.

People share all sorts of inspiration there, from clever borders to full blankets, and it's an easy way to feel connected if you crochet at odd hours.

Membership perks, the new mic, and the upcoming ruffle hat tutorial

Loop Masters Lounge on March 20, plus a Discord hangout idea

Memberships get a quick spotlight in this episode too, with a thank you to members who support the channel. One of the perks mentioned is a Loop Masters Lounge event with video calls on March 20. There's also a possible add-on idea: using Discord as a "lounge" space where members can hang out between calls, chat, and listen to music.

If you want to join or manage a membership, you can use the Secret Yarnery channel membership page. (That support also helps fund upgrades like microphones.)

A ruffle bucket hat that fits, no elastic required

The end-of-episode teaser is a new ruffle hat tutorial, and the point of it is fit. Ruffle hats look simple at first glance, but a lot of people struggle to get them to stay on without adding elastic or extra steps.

This version is designed to fit your head using crochet alone, no elastic, no complicated add-ons. It uses granny stitch and a neutral taupe band, chosen so the hat works with lots of outfits. There's also an honest style review from Christa's daughter, who felt the neutral band blended in too much. Still, the idea behind the neutral choice is solid: it keeps the hat flexible across wardrobes and colorways.

The tutorial is scheduled for Sunday, and it's aimed at anyone who wants to make ruffle hats for themselves, kids, or grandkids, with a fit that feels reliable.

If you're gathering supplies for upcoming projects, the video description includes links for basics like worsted-weight yarn, a 6 mm crochet hook, and sharp-tip yarn needles.

Conclusion

Crochet Podcast 182 is a reminder that small pattern changes can make a big difference, especially with hearts, borders, and wearables. Between the updated solid heart granny square, the easy-join heart pillows, the 14-square shrug, and the diagonal granny border that stays flat, there's a lot here to try next.

If you make one project from this episode, share what you chose and what colors you used. Then keep the momentum going with the yearly scrap blanket plan, it's one of the easiest ways to build a meaningful memory blanket without adding extra pressure. For extra fun, drop a hand emoji in the comments wherever you're chatting about this episode, it's the little "I made it to the end" signal.

FAQs

What is Crochet Podcast 182 about?

Crochet Podcast 182 covers a new solid heart granny square style, heart pillows, a heart granny square shrug made from motifs, and a diagonal granny stitch blanket border that lies flat. It also includes a scrap granny square crochet along update and sharing tips for the Secret Yarnery Community tab.

What is the difference between the new solid heart granny square and the old one?

The old heart square starts with a square center, and the heart shape shows up later. The new heart square starts with a circle, then turns into a heart, which makes the top curves look fuller and the heart reads more clearly from a distance.

What yarn and hook size work best for these heart motifs?

Worsted-weight acrylic yarn and a 6 mm hook are a common, reliable combo for these types of motifs. The most important thing is consistency so your squares match in size.

How do you keep crochet motifs organized and clean?

A simple method is storing sets in zipper bags (like Ziplocs). It keeps motifs flat, protects them from lint and snags, and makes it easy to grab the exact version you want later.

How are the heart pillows joined?

The heart pillows are joined with a simple edging-style join using chains and single crochets around the edge. It keeps the outline decorative and doesn’t squash the heart shape.

What stuffing tip helps heart pillows smell fresh (optional)?

You can tuck a folded dryer sheet into the center before stuffing, then add stuffing on both sides to hold it in place. (Skip this if you are sensitive to fragrance.)

How many squares are needed for the heart granny square shrug?

The shrug in this episode is made from 14 heart granny squares, arranged to form a shrug shape with sleeves.

Can the shrug be turned into a full sweater?

Yes, but sizing depends on your finished square measurements and the layout. If your squares are too small or too large, the fit will change a lot. Measure your squares first, then plan the width and length you need.

Why do diagonal granny stitch borders sometimes ruffle?

Diagonal granny stitch blankets grow at an angle, so a standard “three double crochets in every space” border can add too much fabric in some areas, which causes rippling or ruffling.

How does this episode’s diagonal granny border stay flat?

Instead of constantly forcing it flat with frequent decreases, the border approach shared keeps a steady rhythm, then adjusts in the next round so the edge settles and lays flat.

What is the yearly scrap granny square crochet along?

It’s a year-long “memory blanket” idea: after each project, you use leftover yarn to make a granny square, then join as you go so the blanket grows all year.

What if I don’t have enough scrap yarn to finish a square?

Use a simple rule: finish the round(s) with white (or one consistent neutral). It keeps the project moving and makes your blanket look more unified.

Christa Patel is the creator behind The Secret Yarnery, a crochet-focused YouTube channel and blog for makers who love bright color, practical patterns, and relaxing crochet time. She shares beginner-friendly tutorials, granny square projects, stitch tips, and crochet-along ideas that help you use your stash and actually finish what you start. When she is not filming or designing, she is building a welcoming community where crocheters can share their wins, works in progress, and questions without pressure.

You can find more crochet tutorials, patterns, and updates at https://secretyarnery.com.