by Aurora Suominen ©2010 All rights reserved
This is the tutorial for the 6" Square for the 2012 Crochet Block-a-Month CAL Group on Ravelry. This is a very easy square to crochet. First I would like to thank Aurora Suominen, who is Dragonflymomof2 on Ravelry, for this beautiful square. Then, I would like to thank her for generously sharing it with us. I sent a message to Dragonflymomof2, telling her that we were using her square for February, and asking if it was ok if I did a photo tutorial for the group. This generous designer promptly remade her square and checked her directions for errors! She wanted to be sure we had an easy time of it. How nice is that? The original square on her blog was done in 1 color. It could easily be made with a different color border, OR, I made it with each heart a different color (see the last photo.)
So, THANK YOU Dragonflymomof2/Aurora Suominen!
And, enjoy.
Round 1: Ch4 and work 11DC in 4th ch from hook. Join in 3rd ch of beg ch4. (12dc)
chain 4 (these will count as your 1st DC AND the first one will be the center of the circle)
Work 11 DC in 4th chain from hook.
Join in 3rd chain of beginning chain 4 with a ss (slip stitch).
Your circle has 12 DC.
Round 2: Ch3, 2DC in same dc. (Ch1, skip a dc, 3DC in next dc) 5 times. Ch1 and join to top of first ch3. (18dc & 6 Ch1 spaces)
ch 3 (this counts as your first DC)
2DC in the same stitch (this is your first cluster)
Ch 1
skip a DC, 3DC in next dc
5 times (with the first c3 2DC this will form 6 clusters)
Ch1 and join to top of first ch3 (18dc & 6 ch1 spaces )
Round 3: Ch3, 2dc in same dc. 1DC in next dc, 3DC in next dc. (Ch2, skip ch1 sp, 3DC in next dc, 1 DC in next dc, 3DC in next dc) 5 times. Ch2, skip ch1 sp. join to top of first ch3. (42dc & 6 ch2 spaces)
Ch3 (this counts as your first DC)
Ch3 (this counts as your first DC)
2DC in same DC (this, like in the last round gives you 3 DC)
1DC in next dc
3DC in next dc (this forms a set of 7 DC)
*ch 2
skip chain 1 space, 3DC in next DC
1DC in next dc
3DC in next dc* (this forms a set of 7 DC)
repeat from * to * a total of 5 times
Ch2, skip the chain 1 space and join to top of first chain 3
This forms 6 sets of 7 DC, each set separated by a chain 2 space.
Round 4
Skip 1dc, [5DC in next DC, Slst in next dc, 5DC in next dc. Skip a dc, slst in next dc, SC in ch2 space, slst in next dc, skip 1dc] 5 times. 5DC in next dc, slst in next dc, 5DC in next dc, skip 1dc, slst in next dc, SC in ch2 space & join in first slst. (6 hearts)
On this round, you DON'T start with chain 3, you are going to make the tops (or bumps) of the hearts:
Skip 1 stitch, [5 DC in next dc (this is in the 3rd of the first 7 DC)
SS (slip stitch) in next dc (this is the 4th or middle of the 7 DC set)
5 DC in the next dc (this is in the 5th of 7 DC set)
skip 1 dc (be careful, this will almost be hidden under the 5 DC)
slip stitch in next dc (ss in the 7th or last of the 7 DC set; this forms the complete heart top)
SC in chain 2 space
slip stitch in next dc, skip 1 DC]
complete from [ to ] a total of 5 times.
Make the last heart top:
5DC in the 3rd dc in the last 7, slip stitch in the 4th dc, then 5DC in the 5th DC.
Skip 1 dc and slip stitch in next dc
SC in the chain 2 space
Join in first slip stitch. You now have 6 hearts:
NOTE: If you want to change colors, do so at the END of rnd 5.
Round 5: Ch1, SC in same st. [Ch4, SC in slst between heart humps, Ch4, SC in sc between next 2 hearts] 5 times. Ch4, SC in slst between heart humps, Ch4 and join in 1st sc. (12ch4, 12sc)
Round 5: Ch1, SC in same st. [Ch4, SC in slst between heart humps, Ch4, SC in sc between next 2 hearts] 5 times. Ch4, SC in slst between heart humps, Ch4 and join in 1st sc. (12ch4, 12sc)
This round will make a series of chains that fall slightly behind the heart tops.
Ch1, SC in same stitch
[Ch4
SC in slip stitch between "heart humps,"
Ch 4, SC in sc between next 2 hearts]
Do this a total of 5 times.
For the last heart, do the same, but join the final chain in the first SC with a slip stitch:
Ch4
SC in between the last "heart humps."
Ch4
Join with slip stitch in sc between the 2 hearts
the 4 stitch chains are slightly too tight and if moved behind the heart bumps, they will make the hearts stick out and look a bit ruffley.
If you want the square to have a different color border, change colors NOW.
(I did not for the tutorial.)
Round 6 making the corners (or making the square into a square)
Ch1, 3SC in same st. [ (+3SC in ch4 sp, SC in next sc+) 2 times. 3SC in ch4, 3SC in next sc.] 2 times. Repeat between +to+ 2 more times. 3SC in last ch4 sp, join to first sc. (56sc)
Ch1 (this counts as 1 SC)
3SC in same stitch. (first corner made.)
[ (*3SC in Chain 4 space
SC in next sc*) 2 times (this covers the chains above 2 heart bumps)
3SC in Chain 4 space once more (now the chains above 3 heart bumps are covered)
3SC in next sc] (this completes 1 side and 2 corners.)
Repeat from [ to ] 2 more times. (each side includes: ch 4 space, SC, ch 4 space, SC, ch4 space, 3 SC to form a corner.)
For the final side:
Repeat from * to * 2 times
3SC in last ch 4 sp
Join to first sc.
Round 7: Slst in next sc, Ch3, in next st work 2DC, Ch2, 2DC (corner made) [DC in next 13sc, Work Corner in next sc.] 2 times. DC in last 12sc, join. (68dc). Fasten off.
Ch 3 (this counts as 1 DC)
In the next sc stitch (you should be in the middle of the corner now), 2DC, ch 2, 2DC (corner made)
[DC in next 13sc
Make Corner in next sc: 2DC, ch 2, 2DC] (you now have 1 DC, 2 corners and 1 side)
Repeat from [ to ] 2 more times (for a total of 3 sides)
For the final side: DC in last 12 sc
Join in the top of the first ch 3 with a slip stitch, and finish off! Weave in the ends.
Here is my version alternating the colors of the Hearts:
Sorry, a bit hard to see the blue center and final framing round. But aren't the hearts AMAZING!
Thank you Thank you Thank you again, Aurora Suominen!
f1bercat (C A Losi)
