Irene Crochet Afghan Square
– 2023 Crochet A Block Crochet Along –

This Irene Crochet Afghan Square is part of the 2023 Crochet A Block Crochet Along.
Beautiful, textured squares with a touch of overlay ranging in difficulty from Easy to Challenging.

For more information about this crochet along and links to next squares CLICK HERE!

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Irene Crochet Afghan Square

Difficulty Level/Skill Required: Easy – Intermediate

Basic stitches in simple variations, simple repeats, color changes, shaping and finishing.
Includes more involved stitch combinations like the popcorn stitch.

You will need to know basic stitches like the DC (double crochet).
Special stitches explained and links to tutorials are provided.

Supplies/Materials:

• Yarn – Vinnis Colours – DK Nikkim 100% cotton (50 grams/119 meters)
  Weight – DK (11 wpi) 3: Light.
• Hook – 4.00 mm (G) – Clover
• Scissors
• Yarn needle

Abbreviations: US Terminology
CH – chain
SL ST – slip stitch
SC – single crochet (UK – DC)
HDC – half double crochet (UK – HTR)
DC – double crochet (UK – TR)
RS – right side
WS- wrong side

Gauge:
Not necessary for this project to be perfect.
However if you use a different yarn and/or hook sizing will differ.
Using the SAME hook and yarn will ensure your squares are consistent in size.

Pattern Notes:
Stitch count is important!
For completing the blanket – correct stitch count will ensure a successful joining of squares

Size:
Square – 9 x 9 inches (23 x 23 cm)

Colors:

Approx – 104 – 120 yards (95 – 110 m) for complete square

A – Natural
B – Cappuccino
C – Princess Aqua
D – Khaki
E – Olive
F – Old Gold
G 1 – Kingfisher
G 2 – Tomato

Special Stitches:

How to Work Crochet Popcorn Stitch:

Starting Popcorn:

• CH 3 – this counts as your FIRST DC.
• Work 4 double crochet (dc) stitches in the same stitch.
• Drop the loop from your hook.
• Insert your hook from front to back under the top 2 loops of the first double crochet of the group.
• Grab the dropped loop with your hook and pull it through the stitch.

Popcorn:

• Work 5 double crochet (dc) stitches in the same stitch.
• Drop the loop from your hook.
• Insert your hook from front to back under the top 2 loops of the first double crochet of the group.
• Grab the dropped loop with your hook and pull it through the stitch.

For Video Tutorial Click Here.

How to Work Back Post Double Crochet Stitch:

• Yarn over and insert your hook from back to front between the posts of the first and second double crochet in the row below, and then from front to back again between the posts of the second and third stitches.
• The hook should now be positioned horizontally in front of the double crochet that you’re working around.
• Yarn over and draw the yarn around the post of the stitch.
• You now have 3 loops on the hook.
• Yarn over and draw the yarn through the 2 loops on the hook, twice.
• You’ve made one complete back post double crochet (BP dc).

For Video Tutorial Click Here.

How to Work Front-Post Double-Crochet (FPDC):

• Yarn over and insert your hook from front to back between the posts of the first and second stitch of the row/round below, and then from back to front again between the posts of the second and third stitches.
• The hook should now be positioned horizontally behind the stitch that you’re working around.
• Yarn over and draw the yarn around the post of the stitch.
• You now have 3 loops on the hook.
• Yarn over and draw the yarn through the 2 loops on the hook, twice.
• One front post double crochet (FPDC) is complete.

For Video Tutorial Click Here.

How to Work 3 Double Crochet Bobble Cluster Stitch (3DC Bobble Cluster):

• Yarn over and insert hook from front to back into stitch.
• *Yarn over and draw through stitch. (3 loops)
• Yarn over, draw through first two loops. (2 loops)
• Yarn over and insert hook into SAME stitch.**
• Repeat instructions from * to ** twice. (4 loops)
• Yarn over and draw through all 4 loop on the hook.
• One 3 Double Crochet Cluster Bobble Stitch complete.

For Video Tutorial Click Here.

How to Work 4 Double Crochet Bobble Cluster Stitch (4DC Bobble Cluster)

• Worked exactly like the 3DC Bobble Cluster but adding a DC (double crochet stitch)

For Video Tutorial Click Here.

Instructions:

With A – make a magic ring/or CH 4; SL ST into 4^th CH from hook to form a ring.

RND 1: CH 3 (counts as 1 DC); work 11 DC into ring; SL ST into 3^rd of 3 CH.
(12 DC)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With B – join into any DC.

RND 2: CH 3 (counts as 1 DC); work 1 FPDC around SAME DC.
*Work 1 DC into next DC; work 1 FPDC around SAME DC.**
Repeat from * to ** 10 more times.
(12 DC; 12 FPDC = 24 STS)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With C – join into top of any DC (not FPDC)

Note: if you have tight tension – increase the CH 1 to CH 2 or it is recommended to use a size larger hook for this round.

RND 3: Work Starting Popcorn; CH 1; work 1 FPDC around next FPDC; CH 1.
*Work Popcorn into next DC; CH 1; work 1 FPDC around next FPDC; CH 1.**
Repeat from * to ** 10 more times; SL ST into top of starting Popcorn.
(12 Popcorn; 12 FPDC; 24 x CH 1 spaces)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With G1 – join into top of any Popcorn

RND 4: CH 1; work 1 SC into top of popcorn; work 1 SC into each CH space; Popcorns and FPDC sts all around; SL ST into first SC worked.
(48 SC)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With D – join into any SC worked into a Popcorn.

RND 5: Work starting 3DC Bobble Cluster; CH 2; work 3DC Bobble Cluster (special stitches) into next SC; CH 2.
* Work 3DC Bobble Cluster (special stitches) into next SC (popcorn); CH 2; work 3DC Bobble Cluster (special stitches) into next SC (fpdc); CH 2.**
Repeat from * to ** 10 more times; SL ST into top of starting 3DC Bobble Cluster.
(24 x Clusters; 24 x 2 CH spaces = 48 STS)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With E – join into any 2 CH space.

Note: if you have tight tension – it is recommended to use a size larger hook for this round.

RND 6: Work 1 SC into each 2 CH space and top of each cluster all around; SL ST into first SC worked.
(48 SC)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With G1 – join yarn into any SC worked into a Cluster.

Note: to check if squaring is done correctly – after round there will be 5 Clusters from RND 5 in-between each corner.

RND 7: CH 3 (counts as 1 DC); work [1 DC; CH 2; 2 DC] into SAME SC; work 1 DC into each of next 2 SC; work 1 HDC into each of next 2 SC; work 1 SC into each of next 3 SC; work 1 HDC into each of next 2 SC; work 1 DC into each of next 2 SC.
*Work [2 DC; CH 2; 2 DC] into next SC; work 1 DC into each of next 2 SC; work 1 HDC into each of next 2 SC; work 1 SC into each of next 3 SC; work 1 HDC into each of next 2 SC; work 1 DC into each of next 2 SC.**
Repeat from * to ** 2 more times; SL ST into 3^rd of 3 CH.
(15 STS on each side – [4 DC; 2 HDC; 3 SC; 2 HDC; 4 DC]; 4 x 2 CH corner spaces)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With F – join into any 2 CH corner space.

RND 8: CH 6 (counts as 1 DC and 3 CH corner space); work 1 DC into SAME space; work 1 BPDC around each of next 15 STS.
*Work [1 DC; CH 3; 1 DC] into next 2 CH corner space; work 1 BPDC around each of next 15 STS.**
Repeat from * to ** 2 more times; SL ST into 3^rd of 6 CH.
(15 BPDC; 2 DC = 17 STS on each side; 4 x 3 CH corner spaces)

Note: Concentration required for next round.

RND 9: SL ST into 3 CH corner space; CH 3 (counts as 1 DC); work [2 DC; CH 3; 3 DC] into same space; work 1 DC into each of next 8 BPDC; work 2 DC into next BPDC; work 1 DC into each of next 8 BPDC.
*Work [3 DC; CH 3; 3 DC] into next 3 CH corner space; work 1 DC into each of next 8 BPDC; work 2 DC into next BPDC; work 1 DC into each of next 8 BPDC.**
Repeat from * to ** 2 more times; SL ST into 3^rd of 3 CH.
(24 DC on each side; 4 x 3 CH corner spaces)

RND 10: Work 1 SC into each of next 3 DC; *work 3 SC into next corner space; work 1 SC into DC across.**
Repeat from * to ** all around; SL ST into first SC worked.
(96 SC = 24 SC on each side; 3 SC into each corner. Total SC = 108 SC)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With A – join into any CENTER (2^nd SC) of a 3 SC corner group.

RND 11: CH 4 (counts as 1 TR); work [1 TR; 2 CH; 2 TR] into SAME SC; work 1 TR into each of next 26 SC.
*Work [2 TR; 2 CH; 2 TR] into next SC (CENTER SC of corner); work 1 TR into each of next 26 SC.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times; SL ST into 4^th of 4 CH.
(120 TR = 30 TR on each side; 4 x 2 CH corner spaces)

RND 12: CH 1; work 1 SC into SAME ST; work 1 SC into next TR; work [1 SC; 2 CH; 1 SC] into next 2 CH corner space.
*Work 1 SC into next 30 TR; work [1 SC; 2 CH; 1 SC] into next 2 CH corner space.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times.
Work 1 SC into next 28 TR; SL ST into first SC worked.
(128 SC = 32 SC on each side; 4 x 2 CH corner spaces).
Fasten off and weave in ends.

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