It’s time for another crochet square pattern!
The Cross & Puff Crochet Square is a fun, slightly textured pattern that creates a modern granny square. You will create crossed double crochet and horizontal puff stitches to create the texture that is reminiscent of flower and leaf buds in early spring.
This crochet square went through a few iterations before getting it just right, as I was aiming to balance the stitches while changing color each round. I’m so happy with the final results and wanting to make sure that beginners and experienced crochets enjoy making this little square, I hand drew a symbol chart!
If you’re new to reading symbol charts, just look at the key and use it as a guide to help create an image of what your finished crochet square will look like. Maybe learning to read symbol charts will become one of your 2023 craft goals.
A few tips when making the Cross & Puff Crochet Square
The horizontal puff stitch is much like the traditional puff stitch, except you work around the post of a double crochet, and the chain 1 at the top of the stitch is not a separate stitch.
I like to think of the horizontal puff stitch as a three-step stitch, so it helps to count it as one single stitch when completing the additional rounds.
The crossed double crochet can scrunch up with tight tension, so it will help to pull the golden loop (the first pull up a loop in any crochet stitch) a bit to add a smidge of length. This will be especially helpful when making a crossed double crochet above a horizontal puff stitch.
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YARN
The Cross & Puff Crochet Square was made with King Cole Fashion Aran, which was offered as yarn support for the Mélange Blanket Mystery Crochet Along with Underground Crafter. I’ll share more details below.
Fashion Aran is a worsted weight #4 yarn that is available in 34 color ways. Each skein is 70% acrylic and 30% wool with a put-up of 219 yards / 200 meters per 100g. I enjoyed the slight tonal quality of Pearl that has a hint of pink and sky blue to it, and enjoyed the little fleck of color throughout Inoa.
Fashion Aran yarn is easy to work with and is super soft from the addition of wool. I did not deal with any splitting, and found the yarn easy to frog. AS a UK based yarn, you can click HERE to find a stockist. At the time of this writing, 2 of 9 shades are available for $6.25 per skein through the US LoveCrafts site, and 22 of 26 shades are available for £3.99 per skein through the UK LoveCrafts site.
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Materials
- King Cole Fashion Aran, #4 worsted weight yarn (70% acrylic, 30% wool; 219 yds/ 200 m; 3.5 oz/ 100 g): 14 g total or 31 yds
- Color A: Inoa, 7 g or 15.5 yds
- Color B: Pearl, 7 g or 15.5 yds
- US J(6.00 mm) hook or hook to meet gauge
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
- Measuring Tape
GAUGE
3 rnds in pattern = 4”[10 cm]
FINISHED SIZE
6” x 6” [15.2 cm x 15.2 cm]
PATTERN KEY
Ch: chain
Cnr: corner
Crossed dc: crossed double crochet
FO: fasten off
Hdc: half double crochet
Horizontal PS: horizontal puff stitch
Rem: remain(s)
Rep: repeat
Sk: skip
Sl st: slip stitch
Sp: space
St(s): stitch(es)
YO: yarn over
SPECIAL STITCHES & TECHNIQUES
Crossed Double Crochet: worked over 2 sts, sk next st, dc in next st, working in sk st, dc in sk st
Horizontal Puff Stitch: Dc in next st or ch 3 (if at beginning of rnd), working around the post of dc just made, [YO, insert hook around dc, YO, pull up a loop] 3 times (7 loops on hook), YO, pull through all loops, ch 1, sk next st
EXPERIENCE LEVEL
Easy
NOTES
- Pattern is written US terms.
- Read the entire pattern before beginning.
- Ch 3 counts as dc throughout the pattern.
- Crossed dc counts as 2 sts throughout the pattern.
- Hps counts are 2 sts throughout the pattern.
- When working Rnds 4-5, use the ch-1 sp of the hps from Rnd 3.
- A hand drawn stitch chart is located within the ad-free PDF.
Grab the ad-free PDF from your favorite pattern shop.
Instructions
Rnd 1: With Color A, make a magic circle, ch 3, 2 dc in center, ch 2 (cnr made), [3 dc in center, ch 2] 3 times, tighten center, sl st to join, FO, turn. 12 dc, 8 ch; 20 sts total
Rnd 2: Attach Color B in any cnr, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the first cnr, *hps in next st, dc in next st**, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next cnr, rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sl st to join, FO. 20 dc, 4 horizontal PS, 8 ch; 32 sts total
Rnd 3: Attach Color A in any cnr, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the first cnr, *hps, crossed dc (using next dc and dc of hps row below), hps **, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next cnr, rep from * 3 more times and ending at **, sl st to join, FO. 16 dc, 4 crossed dc, 8 hps, 8 ch; 40 sts total
Not sure where to put the hook?
Rnd 4: Attach Color B in any cnr, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the first cnr, *dc in next st, [crossed dc, hps in ch-1 sp of hps row below] 2 times, dc in next st**, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next cnr, rep from * 3 more times, ending at **, sl st to join, FO. 24 dc, 8 crossed dc, 8 hps, 8 ch; 56 sts total
Rnd 5: Attach Color A, ch 2, (hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in first cnr, *hdc in next 14 sts**, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in next cnr, rep from * 3 more times and ending at **, sl st to join, FO. 72 hdc, 8 ch; 80 sts total
Finishing
Weave in ends.
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Mélange Blanket Mystery Crochet Along with Underground Crafter
Underground Crafter has created another amazing mystery crochet along that runs January 6 to December 1, 2023 featuring a brand new crochet square pattern every Friday from 48 designers!
Every crochet square will be 6″ x 6″ and made with a size US J (6 mm) hook to make joining easy and planning easier. Underground Crafter has a super helpful blanket planner too!
A new crochet square will be shared every Friday until December 1, so head over to Underground Crafter to signup for weekly reminders.
Underground Crafter recommends 2,280 yards / 2,085 meters for a baby sized blanket, but the blanket planner will help you determine yarn estimates and how to make a different size blanket.
I’m excited to see each crochet square throughout the year and the finished Mélange Blankets!
Love Granny Squares? Click the images below to check out these free crochet patterns
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This pattern is not to be duplicated or resold, and not to be reproduced commercially. You may sell finished products on Etsy, at farmers markets, and craft fairs, but please credit Creations By Courtney as the pattern’s author.
