Crocheted blocks of color made up into garage-sale afghans and late-hippie-era skirts and vests bring the 1970s to mind, but the truth is that granny squares have been a mainstay of American needlecraft for over one hundred years. Information about their origins is scarce, but most sources suggest that granny squares were first made by thrifty settlers faced with a dearth of warm textiles.Yarn was difficult to come by in the early days of our country; too expensive to be wasted, it had to be...