Hello there! I'm feeling quite excited, because I'm about to give you the pattern for the square that will make up my sisterhood crochet blanket! The other day, I did a step-by-step visual guide to the basic stitches needed to get you going on making the square in the photo above. Thank you so much for your great reaction to that, it felt fantastic to be helping out with those tricky basics, that seem impossible to get the hang of when you're starting out. Today I'm going to do a similar presentation, showing you exactly how to go about making your square. For those of you who know exactly what you're doing, and just want the quick pattern, I'll do that for you in my next post, I hope that's o.k with you?
So here goes! You're going to have so much fun! And feel great when you've finished your square! I've used double knit yarn for my square, but there's no stopping you using another thickness if you want. Each colour needs to be a similar thickness, so no distortion of the square occurs. And my crochet hook is a 5mm/size 6..........So! Your first step is to make a slip knot. (I covered how to do this in yesterday's post, if you're not sure what to do).
Now make four chain. (The explanation for how to do this is also in yesterdays post).
Join your four chain together, to make a circle, by doing a slip stitch into your first chain. (You can see how to do a slip stitch in yesterday's post).
Here's what your circle you've just made will look like. You've just completed your base ring, and are ready to start your rounds.
Now for round One. Make five chain stitches.
You're now going to do a treble crochet. I showed you how to do this in yesterday's post, but I thought I'd show you again. Also. English crochet stitches are different to those in the U.S. This treble crochet I'm doing is the English version. Firstly, wrap the yarn round your hook as shown in the photo above.
With your yarn wrapped round the hook, insert your hook through the circle you made.
Wrap the yarn round your hook, and pull it towards you, back through the circle. You will now have three stitches on your hook. You are now set up to do your three motions of the treble stitch. (If you are unsure about my explanation here, the instructions in yesterday's post are much more comprehensive, so they should help you). Now, for the treble bit. Wrap the yarn round your hook, and pull the yarn through the first chain on your hook. You will have three stitches on your hook..............
Like the image above.
Wrap your yarn round your hook, and pull through the next TWO stitches on your hook.
Wrap the yarn round your hook, and pull through the last stitch on your hook.
You will have one stitch remaining on your hook.
You see, you've done one treble crochet! Well done! Now I want you do do two more of the trebles I've just shown you, exactly the same.
Your work should look like the above photo.
Now do two chain stitches.
Then do three trebles, like you've just done. Then do two chain. Then another three trebles, followed by two chain. Do Two trebles, and your work should look like the next photo...........
You o.k? How you doing? You're doing really well, learning fast.
Do you remember at the beginning of this first round, you made five chain? Yes? Well, look at your five chain, and at the third chain from the bottom, (the bottom chain would be the one attached to the circle you made in the first round), take your hook, and poke it through that third chain.
Like the photo above.
Remember to go though the third chain with the one bar under the hook and two bars above the hook. You can see the two bars on the top of the hook in the above photo. (I also explained this in my post yesterday). Then, wrap the yarn round your hook, and pull it through that third chain towards you. You've just done a slip stitch into the third chain! Well done!
You've now completed the first round! In the above photo, you'll see what your work should look like.
Now for the second round. I keep the colour the same as in the first round for this, because I'm going to be covering it with a flower I'll make seperately. But you might not want to do a flower, so you could change your colour at this point if you want. Anyway, second round, here we go! If you do join in your new colour at this point, join it in when doing the next stitch. The next stitch is a slip stitch into the next space. Then make seven chain.
Now make two chain.After that, do two trebles, going into the space below, as I have done in the photo above.
You now want to make one treble into the top of the treble that is below, (from the first round). Careful with this bit, it can be tricky, You might find your treble you just completed is going over, and covering up, the top of the treble, that you want to work into. In the photo above I'm stretching out my crochet a bit, so you can see what I mean.
Once you've done your treble, this is what your work will look like, shown in the photo above.
Now do two more trebles, into the next two trebles below, in round one.
Now you come to the corner of your square. That's the four chain you did in round one. What you need to do now, is do two trebles, into this four chain you created in round one.
See what I mean in the above photo?
Now make four chain.
Then do two more trebles into the four chain below, that you created in round one. It will now look like............
This! You have now created a corner on your square, well done!
Make three more double crochet, going into the top of the next three trebles below.
Make one treble into the next space. (That will be the space created by the four chain from the round below).
Now, look at the seven chain you created at the beginning of this round. Count three chain up from the bottom.
Do a slip stitch into this third chain. Fantastic! You've now finished round two! Well done!
Now on to round three. Start by poking your hook into the next space, (that space created by the four chain in round two). At this point you want to change the colour of your yarn.
Cut the yarn you have been using, leaving a good long tail, to enable you to sew it in at the end. Now take hold of your new colour, holding it just as if you were still using the old colour.
Do you see what I mean, in the photo above? Yes? Great! Now we can carry on with round three.
You have your hook positioned in the space created by the four chain from the last round don't you? You are half way to completing your slip stitch, just wrap the new colour yarn round your hook, and pull through the space towards you. There you go, you've done your slip stitch, joining in your new colour. And now you're all set to carry on with round three.
Make seven chain.
Then do two trebles into the space below. Now do one treble, into the top of the next treble from the previous round.
Now do six more trebles. You will be going into the top of the six trebles created in the previous round. After that, do two trebles into the next space, as in the photo above.
Next, do four chain, then two trebles into the space below. You are basically repeating what you did in the last round. Now do seven trebles. you will be going into the tops of the trebles from the previous round. After these stitches, do two trebles into the next space. Now, if you look at your square, you will see that along the two sides of the square you have just completed, you have eleven trebles, along each of the two sides. I want you to finish the next two sides, repeating the instructions I've just given you for the last two sides. But just incase this isn't totally clear, I'll take you through the next stages, to finish these last two sides in this round.
Make four chain. Then, two trebles into space below. Then, seven trebles, going into the tops of the trebles below. Then two trebles into next space. Now make four chain. Then two trebles into the space below. Then seven trebles, going into tops of trebles below. Then ONE treble into next space. Then slip stitch into the third chain, of the seven chain created at the beginning of this round. Ta-da! You've finished round three! You're doing brilliantly. You see the pattern emerging? And the rythm of the pattern? Yes? Fantastic!
Now for round four! Join in your new colour with a slip stitch. Now crochet as you did for round three, with just one difference. The number of trebles running along each side of the square will have increased from eleven, to fifeteen trebles. Don't worry, it just increases naturally, as you go into the tops of the trebles from the round below. Just go ahead and crochet, you know you've got the hang of it, be confident in your skills!
In the photo above, you can see what I mean by the number of trebles increasing with each round.
In your fifth round you will have nineteen trebles along each side of your square.
And in your sixth round you will have twenty-three trebles along each side of your crochet square. So you are repeating the same formula for each round, each round getting longer, and thus the square bigger. I stopped at six rounds.
I then cut my yarn, and cast off. All you do to cast off is this............
Loosen the stitch on your hook into a loop.
Thread the end of your yarn you have just cut, through the loop.
Now pull the yarn firmly, to close up the loop. There you go, You've cast off! You've also finished your crochet square! Well done! Before you start on the flower, congratulate yourself on doing such a great job, and maybe have a break, a stretch, and a refreshing cup of whaterever it is you find refreshing!
Did you have a nice break? Yes? So did I! Splendid. Now on with the tutorial. Firstly, before you dash into making your flowers, perhaps I could recommend you do something first. Sew in the ends at the back of your square. This part is the bit I find I don't really want to do, but if I get it out of the way, it's done, and doesn't need to be worried about again. You'll have a nice neat square, ready for its flower, and that in turn, will be all nice and ready to be joined with another square to make up your blanket. To sew in the ends, just weave them in and out at the back, making sure the colour you're sewing in, weaves in and out of the same colour............ O.k. Shall we start on the flower that goes in the middle of the square? Yes? Great, here goes.
You've got your square done, all the ends sewn in, and I think you should be feeling very proud of yourself.
Take your first colour, and make a slip knot, leaving a long tail, because this is what you'll use to attach your flower to your square.
Make four chain.
Now join your four chain with a slip knot, to make a circle.
Like this in the above photo.
Make two chain.
Now do four trebles into the circle.
Do a slip stitch into the circle. There's one petal done! Thay wasn't too bad was it?!
Above is a slightly better view of the first completed petal.
Now repeat the first petal, three more times. Finish this round by doing another slip stitch into the circle, after finishing the last petal.
Now turn your flower over, so you are looking at the back. This next bit is a little tricky, but don't worry, once you understand, it will seem easy. I need you to do a slip stitch into the bottom of the SECOND treble, of the four trebles that make the first petal you did. So, you're looking at the back of your first petal, don't count the two chain, go to the trebles, and count two of those. Do a slip stitch into the bottom stitches, (the one's going around the chain circle you made at the beginning), of the second treble.
Remember? Wrap your yarn round your hook, and............
..........Pull your yarn through the loop towards you.
There you have your slip stitch!
Now make four chain.
Do a slip stitch into the second treble, of the next petal, like you did in the first petal. Then do four chain. Repeat these stitches again into the third petal, and agina into the fourth petal.
Do a slip stitch into where you did your first slip stitch, (into the second treble, of the first petal). Cut your yarn, leaving a tail long enough to sew in easily.
Now do a slip stitch into the four chain, using your new colour.
Like in the above photo.
Now do five trebles into the four chain you created at the back of the flower. Finish the petal, with a slip stitch into the same four chain.
Do another slip stitch, this time, into the next four chain. Repeat the first petal you did in this round, (five trebles, and a slip stitch, into the four chain), three more times, so you end up with four petals intotal in this round.
Finish with a slip stitch into the next space, after the last petal in this round.
Cut your yarn, leaving a tail long enough to sew in. Loosen the stitch on your crochet hook. And pass the tail of the yarn through the loop.
Close the loop by pulling the yarn until the loop has closed.
All that is left to do is sew in your yarn, all the yarn except the longest tail from the first step, because you are going to use that to sew the flower to the square.
When you've sewn all but that first tail in, you're ready for the final stage!
Place your flower over the top of the centre hole on your square.
And sew the underside of your flower, to the top side of your square.
There you go! Done!!!!!!!
When I sew on the flowers, at this stage in the blanket, I'm sewing them on fairly loosely, so that if I change my mind about which flower goes with what square, I can take the flower off, and put it on a different square. That's why in the photo above, there is a tail not sewn in at the back.
I'm not at the stage yet where I'm joining my crochet squares together, but when I've reached that point, I'll do another tutorial to show you how I join them together. I'm going to do a quick pattern in my next post, which will be written out like a professional crochet pattern, with abbreviations. I'll also tell you which yarns I've used for my squares in that post. Well, my lovely friends, I think you should be congratulating yourselve heartily on finishing your crochet square, you've done a marvellous job, and I hope this tutorial has been clear, and helpful. I enjoyed every minute with you.............. and now I think we should all go and have a cup of tea.............. or coffee.............. or something stronger! Lots of love, Vanessa xxx
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Vanessa, I love you. Thank you. I guess its hard for you to know that I am genuine but ... I am. I bought a crochet hook and got books out of the library a wee while ago. My Darling Great Aunty Vera was an awesome crochet artist and I always wanted to learn. Anyway, we are in the throes of shifting to we-don't-know-where-yet and my craft supplies are all packed up. So ... I went to the thrift shop and found a hook and a woolen jersey to unpick and away I go! Your instructions are awesome and all you need to do is add a few more projects and you have a book in the making - if you'd like to be published. Anyway, ta very much girl, I love your Blog.
Posted by: Sarah | May 09, 2009 at 06:50 AM
WOW!! That must have taken you ages Vanessa. It looks a fab pattern. I have had a read through and it is written beautifully, just as I liked when I first started (way back in November!) I look forward to the quick pattern so I can have a bash.
Now go put your feet up and have a nice cup of tea and a cupcake, you deserve it.
Posted by: bakeandsewblog | May 09, 2009 at 06:51 AM
Do you know what? I want to add another comment. In just the perfect week I found your Blog and I think it is so beautiful that I'd like to wrap it in tissue and wind it with ribbon and make sure I treasure it for a good long time. There's something lovely about the way you Blog and I just want to make sure that you know that. (Also, its 6pm Saturday in New Zealand!).
Posted by: Sarah | May 09, 2009 at 06:54 AM
Golly, Vanessa, that is so kind of you. I can't begin to imagine how long it must have taken you to write that and load all those photos. Looking forward to giving it a whirl.
Have a fabby weekend.
Hen x
Posted by: Hen | May 09, 2009 at 08:41 AM
Hi Vanessa, That's the clearest set of crochet instructions I have ever read so Sunday lunch is a casserole so I can sit quietly and have a go whilst Richard and the boys are at my mother-in-laws for the morning. Thank you very much for spending so much time posting this for us all. Have a lovely weekend. Karenx
Posted by: Karen | May 09, 2009 at 04:38 PM
too tired to take this in but utterly mesmerised - if you scroll the page really quickly it's quite soothing to watch! amazing work. beauuuuuuutiful colours t.xx
Posted by: kitschen pink | May 09, 2009 at 10:51 PM
Vanessa, now that I've got the hook size conversion straight in my mind [had to go to the Internet for a couple of conversion charts]I'm begining this part of your tutorial.
Off I go - hope to finish at least one square by the end of this Mother's Day here in the U.S.
Was taken out to breakfast earlier in the day by my sweet hubby with daughter and grandson joining us.
Off I hook.
Gerry
Posted by: Gerry Hook | May 10, 2009 at 08:08 PM
Oh my word! You have put SO much work into this! It's incredible!! Utterly astounding and wonderful tutorial!!! It's great Vanessa :o)
absolutely the best tutorial i've seen.
You are so talented, and generous and clever and lovely, you are, you are!
Thank you
xxxxx
Sumea
Wishing you a wonderful week :o) you so deserve it.
Posted by: Sumea | May 11, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Hi, Vanessa ~ ~ Thanks for stopping by my blog. Wow! What a lot of work you put into this post. No one has an excuse now not to pull out those crochet hooks!! The pink and green are just beautiful together!
Posted by: Shelley in SC | May 11, 2009 at 03:00 PM
I'm inspired. I think I am tempted to ahev ago at this for my great neices! Thanks Vanessa... Your instructions and photos are amazing.x
Posted by: Hilary | May 20, 2009 at 09:31 PM
Gracias, muchas gracias por el tutorial tan didactico que subiste y tambien por este blog que es una explosion de color y de buen gusto
Saludos desde Argentina
Adriana
Posted by: Adriana Gorosito | August 02, 2009 at 02:24 AM
Hi There!
I just wanted to stop by and thank you for your wonderful tutorial you shared for your blanket. My daughter wanted me to make a Camo blanket for her and I have never really crocheted before - but after looking at your tutorial I felt brave enough to attempt it and with great patience I finished it and she loves it thanks to your help. It is nothing like the work of art your blanket is -but we are pleased with it-I am quite hooked on crocheting now.
Thanks again to my first real crochet teacher : ) - Ruth
- a pic. of the camo blanket is posted on my blog.
Posted by: Narnianfan | August 28, 2009 at 03:07 PM
Thank you by the pattern. Their arts/jobs are wonderful. Congratulations. Hugs, Deborah
Posted by: Deborah Rocha | September 14, 2009 at 06:48 PM
Thank you so much Vanessa fro sharing this wonderful blanket idea with us, I do have a sisterhood that look forward to sharing this pattern with, although we will not see each other for about another six weeks as I speak.
The instructions are wonderful so that the project does not become overwhelming for a beginner :-)
Thanks for taking the time to do this...
Posted by: Scribhneoir | October 11, 2009 at 09:53 AM
absolutely the best tutorial i've seen !!!
Thank you Thank you Thank you so much Vanessa to sharing this wonderful blanket
Have a fabby weekend.
Posted by: raajia | October 31, 2009 at 01:37 PM