Sweet Summer 12” Crochet Square

Today I’m happy to release the pattern for my new Sweet Summer 12” Crochet Square. I designed this as part of the Moogly Crochet Along 2023, and this versatile square will also be great in any of your crochet alongs requiring 12” squares. I love the way it turned out! It’s a little bit reminiscent of lace, without being too holey, and I really love it in the pink color scheme.

The annual Moogly CAL is organized by Tamara Kelly on the Moogly blog. For more information about this project and all the designer squares, please visit this post.

Tamara is making her 2023 squares in neutrals, which are so gorgeous and soothing. Here’s Tamara’s version of my square:

To see Tamara’s notes and more about her make of this square, please visit this post.

The Moogly CAL is a great way to try out 12” square patterns by 24 different designers, maybe add something new to your stitch repertoire, and even make some new friends. Tamara has lots of goodies for you in this post to help you make the most of the CAL experience, including her YouTube channel and special Facebook group. One of the great things about this CAL is that squares from year to year are interchangeable—so if you ever come across one that’s not especially to your liking, you have several years worth of 12” squares from which to choose a substitute. I’ve participating for a number of years and you can find all my 12” square patterns here.

Sweet Summer 12” Crochet Square

by Carolyn Christmas

Size

12” square

Skill level

Intermediate

Materials

Three colors Caron One Pound worsted/Aran-weight yarn

A Raspberry

B Soft Pink

C Rose

Size J 10.0/6.00 crochet hook

Abbreviations and stitches used

Ch        chain

Dc        double crochet

Hdc      half double crochet

Lp        loop

Sc        single crochet

Sl st     slip stitch

Sp        space

St         stitch

Yo        yarn over

Special Stitches

3-dc bobble: Yo, pull up lp in st, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook, (yo, pull up lp in same st, yo, pull through 4 lps on hook.

Gauge

After Rnd 4, piece should measure about 4 ¾”-5” across. Gauge is not critical if you are making squares for a crochet along with 12” squares because instructions are included for adjusting the final size with the last couple of rounds. I recommend using the hook size you have chosen for the remainder of your squares and follow the instructions at the end for adjusting size to achieve 12”.

Instructions

Rnd 1: With A, make magic circle and work standing dc, or ch 5, join with sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 15 dc in ring, join. Fasten off. (16 dc)

Rnd 2: Join B with standing dc in any st or join with sl st and ch 3 (counts as first dc), ch 1, 3-dc bobble in next st (see Special Stitches), ch 1, (dc in next st, ch 1, 3-dc bobble in next st, ch 1) around, join with sl st in top of first dc or in top of beginning ch-3. Fasten off. (8 bobble sts, 8 dc and 16 ch-1 sps)

Rnd 3: Join C with sc in top of any bobble, 5 dc in next dc—scallop made, (sc in top of next bobble, 5 dc in next dc) around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off. (8 scallops, 8 sc)

Rnd 4: Join A with sc in center dc of any scallop, * skip next 2 dc, 4 dc in next sc, skip next 2 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next dc—corner ch-2 sp made, skip next 2 dc, 4 dc in next sc, skip next 2 dc **, sc in next dc; repeat from * around ending last repeat at **, join. Fasten off. (13 sts on each side between corner ch-2 sps)

Rnd 5: Join C with standing dc in any corner ch-2 sp or join with sl st and ch 3 (counts as first dc), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same corner sp, dc in each st around with (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner ch-2 sp, join. Do not fasten off. (17 dc on each side between corner ch-2 sps)

Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each st around with (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner ch-2 sp, join. Fasten off. (19 sc on each side between corner ch-2 sps)

Rnd 7: Join B with standing dc in any corner ch-2 sp or join with sl st and ch 3 (counts as first dc), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same corner sp, * (ch 1, skip next st, 3-dc bobble in next st, ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st) 4 times, ch 1, skip next st, 3-dc bobble in next st, ch 1, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner ch-2 sp; repeat from * around ending last repeat at **, join. Fasten off. (5 bobbles on each side)

Rnd 8: Join C with sc in any corner ch-2 sp, * skip next dc, (5 dc in next dc, sc in top of next bobble) 5 times, 5 dc in next dc, skip next dc **, sc in corner ch-2 sp; repeat from * around ending last repeat at **, join. Fasten off. (6 scallops on each side)

Rnd 9: Join A with standing dc in any corner sc or join with sl st and ch 3 (counts as first dc), (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same st, * (skip next 2 dc, sc in next dc, skip next 2 dc, 3 dc in next sc) 5 times, skip next 2 dc, sc in next dc, skip next 2 dc **, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sc; repeat from * around ending last repeat at **, join. Fasten off. (27 sts on each side between corner ch-2 sps)

Rnd 10: Join C with standing dc in any corner sc or join with sl st and ch 3 (counts as first dc), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same st, dc in each st around with (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner ch-2 sp, join. Do not fasten off. (31 dc on each side between corner ch-2 sps)

Note: There are several options for rnd 11. Your square may already measure 12” on each side after rnd 10, in which case rnd 11 is not needed. Or, depending on how much more is needed, rnd 11 may be worked in sc, hdc or dc to obtain 12” size. Mine measured 12” working rnd 11 in sc.

Rnd 11 in sc: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each st around with (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner ch-2 sp, join. Fasten off. (33 sc on each side between corner ch-2 sps)

Rnd 11 in hdc: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc in each st around with (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in each corner ch-2 sp, join. Fasten off. (35 hdc on each side between corner ch-2 sps)

Rnd 11 in dc: Repeat rnd 13. (35 dc on each side between corner ch-2 sps)