Retro Circles - The Tutorial

After many requests I’ve decided to post a tutorial for the square used in the Retro Circles Blanket

I’m calling this a ‘tutorial’ rather than a pattern as I’m not re-inventing the wheel. Although I didn’t work from a pre-existing pattern when making my blanket I know there are many ‘circle in a square’ patterns out there. One from Little Tin Bird that is very similar to what I had done, so I would hate anyone to think that I’m claiming their pattern as my own.
So! Here goes...

Abbreviations:

US crochet terms

SS- Slip stitch

SC- Single crochet

HDC- Half-double crochet

DC- Double crochet

TC- Treble crochet

Ch- Chain

Select the hook that works well with the yarn you have.  I used a 4.5mm hook and dk weight yarn, I crochet quite tight so would probably choose a 4mm with dk if you don’t.

Note: Rounds 2-4 worked entirely in the BACK LOOP ONLY.

Round 1: Start with a magic circle and chain 3 (counts as first DC), 11 more DC into the circle, tighten circle. Join with a SS into the 3^rd chain in your original chain 3. Remember to join only in the back loop (12 DC)

Alternatively, if you’re not sure how to do a magic circle you can chain 4, join to make a ring. Ch3, 11 DC into ring. (This will just leave a little hole in the middle of your first round.)

Round 2: Chain 3, DC into same loop. Two DC in EACH of the following back loops until end of round. Join with SS in chain 3 (24 DC)

Round 3: Chain 3, DC into same stitch. *DC in back loop. 2 DC in next back loop. Repeat from * around. End with DC in last back loop and join with SS in chain 3 (36 DC)

Round 4: Chain 3, DC into same loop. * DC in the next two back loops, 2 DC in next. Repeat from * around. End with DC in last two back loops and join with SS in chain 3 (48 DC)

Fasten off if you want to join a new colour for the ‘square’

Join new colour.

You’re now starting on the square border around the circle. For this round you will be working through BOTH loops.

Round 5: Chain 1, SC in next two, HDC in next two, DC in next two (TC, TC, chain 3, TC, TC) all in next stitch (this is your first corner), *DC, DC, HDC, HDC, SC, SC, SC, HDC, HDC, DC, DC, (TC,TC, ch3, TC, TC) in next. Repeat from *2 more times. DC, DC, HDC, HDC join to chain 1 with SS. Fasten off.



There you are, you've made your first square!

Now make lots more. My cot sized blanket was made up of 63 squares (7 wide x 9 long). You can find a tutorial on joining the squares with single crochet at Attic24 





 

I'd love to see your creations! Feel free to post them on my Facebook page or Email me.

Disclaimer: Please do not sell my patterns or claim them as your own. You are free to do what you wish with finished items made from my patterns (donate, sell, etc), but if you are selling them online please link back to this page for pattern credit. Please use your own images if advertising an item from my pattern.