Stitch Tutorial for 16-Circle Square Afghan Block

Stitch Tutorial part 1

16-Circles Square by Beatriz Medina

A Giant Thank You to the Designer, Beatriz Medina, for this very cool square.  This square was published in her blog, Undisthreadness, on Wednesday, September 13, 2006.

These are EXTRA explanations to the directions on the pattern given in the above link.  I found the directions a bit confusing, so added more "steps"  and photos to explain the confusing parts. The original directions are in italics.   I did NOT design this pattern, and am writing these explanations with Beatriz Medina's knowledge and permission.

1st row (4 circles):

With color 1, chain 22.

 

In the 4th chain from hook, *3dc

 

skip 2 st, 1 ss (one quarter circle made)*

 

skip 2 st, repeat from * to * 3 times until you have 4 quarter circles in a row.

 

First half of row 1 now looks like this:

 Remove hook from loop, insert hook in the last stitch of the beginning chain (that is now the "head" of the first dc of the first dc group)

pick up the dropped loop

and pull through in a ss

 

Going Counterclockwise, make 12 dc in the same st of the previous 3 dc. There are now 15 dc in that stitch.

 

Continue around the row Counterclockwise

ss in the next ss

 

*11 dc in the next 3 dc-group

 

ss in next ss*

 Repeat from * to * and finish off.  4 circles made:

 

2nd row (12 circles):

With color 2, chain 70.

In the 4th chain from hook, *3dc in the same st (a quarter circle made);

skip 2 st, 1 ss

 

Make half-circle:

skip 2 st, 3 dc in the next st

 

Remove hook from loop in chain, and insert it in the 4th dc of the upper left circle of the first row

counting backwards or counterclockwise from where the circle connects with a ss.  This is in the topmost dc.

 Pull through and make a ss

 4dc in the same stitch you made the previous 3dc (1 half-circle made)

 

skip two base chains, ss,

  skip two st in the base chain; make another half-circle, by making 3 dc in chain

 

remove hook from loop and join it to the second circle of the first row by

inserting it in the 4th dc of the upper right circle of the first row counting clockwise this time from the center ss, and pulling the loop through with a ss :

finish the half-circle with 4 dc in the same stitch where you made the last 3 dc:

 skip 2 st in chain, ss,

*Make a quarter circle.  Skip 2 st on chain, 3 dc in same st, skip 2 st, 1 ss all in the chain. This is in the corner and not attached to one of the 4 center circles:

Make next  half-circle

skip 2 st, 3 dc in the next st in the chain

 

Remove hook from loop in chain, and insert it in the 7th dc of the upper right circle of the first row

counting forwards or clockwise from where the circle connects with a ss.  This is the sidemost dc in the circle, and pull loop through. Make a ss.

 

 4dc in the same stitch you made the previous 3dc (1 half-circle made)

skip two base chains, ss

 (sorry this photo flipped sideways)

skip two st in the base chain; make another half-circle, by making 3 dc in chain, 

remove hook from loop and join it to the third circle of the first row by

inserting it in the 4th dc of the bottom right circle of the first row counting clockwise this time from the center ss on the right side, and pulling the loop through :

 

finish the half-circle with 4 dc in the same stitch where you made the last 3 dc:

skip 2 st in chain, ss, *