(Scroll to the bottom to see testers’ photos.)
Here is the square in blues…
Below is the text of the full written pattern for ninja crocheters. For adventurous beginners, helpful photos are available in 9-page, printable, downloadable, ad-free, premium pattern in my Etsy shop.
This 12” (30 cm) afghan square has 40 stitches on each side for shawls, throws, blankets, afghans, window coverings and more. Rounds 1 through 8 provide a 7” (18 cm) flower applique for decoration on hats, bags, shawls, scarves, pillow covers, etc.
Skill Level. Intermediate.
Stitches/Techniques Used in This Pattern. Slip stitch, chain, single crochet, double crochet, extended double crochet, treble crochet, double treble crochet, pointy picot, standing stitches, needle join (aka invisible join). Instructions for underlined portions are included in the appropriate round.
Tools. I-9 (5.5 mm) hook, yarn needle, and scissors.
Materials. Medium-weight (#4) yarn. Pictured: Red Heart Super Saver (RHSS), Big Twist (BT), and Caron Simply Soft (CSS).
Approximately 2.9 oz/151 yds (82 g/138 m). Details on yarn amounts for each separate color are available in 9-page, printable, downloadable, ad-free, premium pattern in my Etsy shop.
Gauge. Rounds 1-5 (through outer petals) = 5” (12.7 cm) diameter. Background square (Rounds 9 through 17) 7 stitches x 8 rows = 2” (5 cm) in pattern.
Abbreviations. bl – back loop; ch – chain; dc – double crochet (UK – treble crochet); dtr – double treble crochet (UK – triple treble crochet); ea – each; edc – extended double crochet (UK – extended treble crochet); NJ – needle join; rnd – round; RS – right side; sc – single crochet (UK – double crochet); sk – skip (UK – miss); sl st – slip stitch; sp(s) – space(s); st(s) – stitch(es); tr – treble crochet (UK – double treble crochet); WS – wrong side yo – yarn over (UK – yarn over/round hook).
Special stitches. 3-dc shell – 3 dc in same location.
INSTRUCTIONS
Rnd 1. Flower center. With A, ch 4, sl st in first ch to form a ring, ch 2 (counts as dc), 15 dc in ring. NJ in first dc, not in ch-2. (See Note About Join.) Weave in ends. 16 dc.
Needle Join (NJ). Cut working yarn about 7” from hook and pull all the way out through last loop. Remove hook and set it aside. Thread yarn tail through yarn needle. Insert needle from front to back under both top loops of stitch indicated. Pull tail through to back. Insert yarn needle from front to back, under back loop only, through last st of rnd (from which working yarn emerges). Pull tail through and keep tension similar to surrounding sts. On back, weave in ends and finish off.
Note About Join. The joining stitch covers over and replaces top of initial ch-2.
Rnd 2. Inner petals. RS. Attach B with sl st in any dc. [(Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, sl st) in same st, ch 1, sk 1, sl st in next st] 8 times, omitting ch-1 and sl st on last repeat. NJ to first sl st to mimic ch-1. 8 petals, 8 chains. (Petal: sl st, 6 chs, 2 dc)
Rnd 3. RS. Working into any unworked dc from Rnd 1 and enclosing ch directly above from Rnd 2, with C work standing sc, ch 4; (sc in next unworked dc from Rnd 1 and over ch directly above from Rnd 2, ch 4) 7 times; sl st to join in standing sc. Pull all petals in front of chains just made. 8 sc, 8 ch-4 sps
Standing sc. With slip knot on hook (or with unknotted yarn wrapped around hook), insert hook in place indicated, yo, pull up loop (2 loops on hook), yo again, pull through both loops.
Rnd 4. Outer petals. RS. Continuing with, C [(sl st, ch 4, 4 tr, ch 4, sl st) in next ch-4 sp] 8 times. NJ in first ch of first petal. 8 petals. (Petal: 2 sl sts, 8 chs, 4 tr.)
Rnd 5. Outer petal outline. RS. Without slip knot on hook, pull up loop of D from under back loop of 2nd ch of beginning ch-4 of any petal. (Sl st bl next 2 ch sts, sl st bl next 4 tr, sl st bl next 3 ch sts, sk next sc and sk next sl st, sl st under both horizontal strands of sl st between petals, sk next ch, sl st bl next ch) 8 times, omitting last sl st on last repeat. NJ in first sl st. 88 sl sts.
Rnd 6. WS. Attach E with standing dc under 2 vertical strands of sc between chain spaces from Rnd 3, ch 5, (dc under back 2 vertical strands of next sc between petals from Rnd 3, ch 5) 7 times, omitting last ch on last repeat. Sl st to join in first st. (Joining st replaces last ch.) 8 dc, 8 ch-5 sps.
Standing dc. With slip knot on hook, yo (or with unknotted yarn wrapped around hook twice), insert hook in place indicated, yo, pull up loop (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through 2 loops, yo again, pull through last 2 loops.
Rnd 7. Leaves. RS. With E, ch 1, turn piece over and work on front, folding petals forward. [(Sl st, ch 2, dc, edc, tr, dtr, pointy picot, dtr, tr, edc, dc, ch 2, sl st) in next ch-5 sp] 8 times. NJ to first sl st. 8 leaves. (Leaf: 2 sl sts, 4 chs, 2 dc, 2 edc, 2 tr, 2 dtr. Picot: 2 chs, TSS2tog.)
Extended double crochet (edc). Yo, insert hook into place indicated, yo, pull through (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through 1 loop (3 loops on hook), yo again, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo again, pull through last 2 loops.
Treble crochet (tr). Yo twice, insert hook in place indicated, yo, pull through to make 4 loops on hook, [yo, pull through 2 loops] 3 times.”
Double treble crochet (dtr). Yo 3 times, insert hook in place indicated, yo, pull through to make 5 loops on hook, [yo, pull through 2 loops] 4 times.
Pointy Picot: Ch2, insert hook in bl of 2nd ch from hook, yo, pull up loop (2 loops on hook). Insert hook under 2 front loops at top of last dtr, yo, pull up loop (3 loops on hook). Yo, pull through all 3 loops. (See Photo Tutorial.)
Rnd 8. Leaf outline. RS. Beginning without knot on hook, pull up loop of F from under back loop of 2nd ch of beginning ch-2 of any leaf; (sl st bl next 4 sts, sl st bl of first picot st, ch 2, sk 2nd st of picot, sl st bl last st of picot, sl st bl next 4 sts, sl st bl next ch, sk next ch and next sl st, sl st under both horizontal strands between leaves, sk next ch, sl st bl next ch) 8 times, omitting last sl st on last repeat. NJ to first sl st. 120 sts. Helpful photos are available in 9-page, printable, downloadable, ad-free, premium pattern in my Etsy shop.
Rnd 9. Background square. WS. Attach B with sl st between dtr sts of any leaf in ch-5 sp from Rnd 6, *ch 3, sl st around post of next dc from Rnd 6, ch 3, sl st between dtr sts of leaf in next ch-5 sp. Repeat from * 7 more times, omitting last sl st. Sl st to join in first sl st. 16 sl sts and 16 ch-3 sps. Helpful photos available in printable, downloadable, ad-free, premium pattern in my Etsy shop.
Rnd 10. At the very end of this rnd, you’ll be catching one of the leaf tips. WS. Continuing with B, sl st to next ch-3 sp, ch 3 (=dc), 3 dc in same corner sp (first corner is half-finished), *3 hdc in next ch-3 sp, hdc in next sl st, 3 hdc in next ch-3 sp, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp (next corner finished). Repeat from * 3 more times, omitting last 4 dc and last ch-2 on final repeat. Hdc to join in top of beginning ch-3, catching 2 strands from back of nearest leaf tip within stitch to stabilize leaf (first corner is now complete). 17 sts ea side (incl chains). Helpful photos available in printable, downloadable, ad-free, premium pattern in my Etsy shop.
Rnd 11. You’ll be catching strands from the back of 3 more leaf tips in this round. Ignore the other 4 leaf tips until the next round. With B, ch 3 (=dc), turn to RS, 2 dc in corner sp (first corner is half-finished), *[sk 3, 3-dc shell between posts – not in tops of stitches) 4 times, (2 dc, dc catching 2 strands from back of nearest leaf tip, ch 2, 3-dc shell in same corner ch-2 sp (next corner made). Repeat from * 3 more times, omitting last ch-2 and 3 dc of last corner. Hdc to join in 3rd ch of beginning ch-3 (first corner is now complete).6 shells + ch-2 corner ea side. Helpful photos available in printable, downloadable, ad-free, premium pattern in my Etsy shop.
Rnd 12. In this round, you’ll be catching the remaining 4 leaf tips. Continuing with B, ch 3 (=dc), turn to WS, 2 dc in corner sp (first corner is half finished), *(3-dc shell between shells) 2 times, [dc between shells, dc again in same place catching 2 strands from back of leaf tip. dc again in same place], (3-dc shell between shells) 2 times, (3-dc shell, ch 2, 3-dc shell) in corner ch-2 sp (next corner made). Repeat from * 3 more times, omitting last ch-2 and 3-dc shell on last repeat, hdc to join in 3rd ch of beginning ch-3 (first corner is now complete). (All leaf tips should now be anchored.) 7 shells + ch-2 corner ea side.
Rnd 13. Continuing with B, ch 3 (=dc), turn to RS, 2 dc in corner ch-2 sp (corner is half-finished), *(3-dc shell between shells) to corner, (3-dc shell, ch 2, 3-dc shell) in corner ch-2 sp. Repeat from * 3 more times, omitting last ch-2 and 3-dc shell on last repeat, ch 1, sl st to join in 3rd ch of beginning ch-3. (Sl st replaces final chain.) (First corner is now complete.) Cut yarn and weave in ends. Square now measures 8” (20 cm). 8 shells + ch-2 corner ea side.
Rnd 14. Working on WS, attach A with standing dc in any corner ch-2 sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 3-dc shell) in same corner sp, (3-dc shell between shells) to corner, *(3-dc shell, ch 2, 3-dc shell) in corner sp, (3-dc shell between shells) to corner. Repeat from * 2 more times. NJ or sl st to join in first st. Cut yarn and weave in ends.9 shells + ch-2 corner ea side.
Rnd 15. With C, working on RS, repeat Rnd 14. 10 shells + ch-2 corner ea side.
Rnd 16. With E, working on WS, repeat Rnd 14. 11 shells + ch-2 corner ea side.
Rnd 17. With B, working on RS, repeat Rnd 14. 12 shells + ch-2 corner ea side.
Rnd 18. Edging.Working on RS, attach F with standing sc in any corner ch-2 sp, ch 2, sc in same sp, sc in every st to corner, *(sc, ch 2, sc) in corner, sc in every st to corner. Repeat from * 2 more times. NJ to first corner ch, not to standing sc. Cut yarn and weave in ends. 38 sc + ch-2 corner ea side.
Enjoy your creativity!
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Testers’ Photos
Test square by Paulina Smith-Maraboli.
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Test flower applique by Priscilla DiSoto-Napoli.
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Test flower by Susie Spriggs.
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