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

This Pricus 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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• For questions relating to permission or usage email joanita@creativecrochetworkshop.com

Pricus 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 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 Crochet Puff Stitch:

• Yarn over; insert into space/stitch.
• Yarn over; pull loop through (3 loops on hook).
• Yarn over; insert into SAME space/stitch.
• Yarn over; pull loop through (5 loops on hook).
• Yarn over; insert into SAME space/stitch.
• Yarn over; pull loop through (7 loop on hook).
• Yarn over; pull yarn through ALL 7 loops on the hook.
• Chain 1 to CLOSE Puff 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 2 DC into ring; CH 3.
*Work 3 DC into ring; CH 3.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times; SL ST into 3^rd of 3 CH.
(12 DC; 4 x 3 CH spaces)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With B – join into any corner space.

RND 2: Work [Starting Popcorn (special stitches); CH 3; Popcorn] into space; CH 4.
*Work [Popcorn; CH 3; Popcorn] into next corner space.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times; SL ST into top of starting Popcorn.
(8 x Popcorn; 4 x 3 CH corner spaces; 4 x 4 CH spaces)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With C – join into any 3 CH corner space.

RND 3: CH 3 (counts as 1 DC); work 6 DC into SAME space; CH 2; work 1 SC into next 4 CH space; CH 2.
*Work 7 DC into next corner space; CH 2; work 1 SC into next 4 CH space; CH 2.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times; SL ST into 3^rd of 3 CH.
(28 DC; 8 x 2 CH spaces; 4 SC)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With D – join into 4^th DC of any 7 DC corner group.

NOTE: If you are working with THICK yarn – stop Puff ST instructions at 5 loops!

RND 4: Work 1 SC into DC; CH 5; work Puff ST (special stitches) into next SC; CH 5.
*Work 1 SC into 4^th DC of next 7 DC corner group; CH 5; work Puff ST into next SC; CH 5.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times; SL ST into first SC worked.
(4 SC; 4 x Puff STS; 8 x 5 CH spaces)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With E – join into any Puff ST.

RND 5: Work [Starting Popcorn (special stitches); CH 2; Popcorn] into Puff ST; CH 5; work 1 SC into next SC; CH 5.
*Work [Popcorn; CH 2; Popcorn] into next Puff ST; CH 5; work 1 SC into next SC; CH 5.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times; SL ST into top of starting Popcorn.
(8 x Popcorn; 4 x SC; 8 x CH 5 spaces)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With G1 – join into any 2 CH corner space.

RND 6: CH 3 (counts as 1 DC); work [1 DC; CH 2; 2 DC] into SAME corner space; work 1 FPDC around next Popcorn; work 5 DC into next 5 CH space; work 2 DC into next SC; work 5 DC into each of next 5 CH space; work 1 FPDC around next Popcorn.
*Work [2 DC; CH 2; 2 DC] into next corner space; work 1 FPDC around next Popcorn; work 5 DC into next 5 CH space; work 2 DC into next SC; work 5 DC into each of next 5 CH space; work 1 FPDC around next Popcorn.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times; SL ST into 3^rd of 3 CH.
(8 FPDC; 4 x CH 2 spaces; 64 DC – 18 STS on each side)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With F – join into any 2 CH corner space.

RND 7: CH 3 (counts as 1 DC); work [2 DC; CH 2; 3 DC] into SAME corner space; work 1 DC into each DC across.
*Work [3 DC; CH 2; 3 DC] into next corner space; work 1 DC into each DC across.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times; SL ST into 3^rd of 3 CH.
(24 DC on each side = 96 DC)

RND 8: Work 1 SC into joining SC; work 1 SC into next 2 DC; work 3 SC into corner space; work 1 SC into each DC across.
*Work 3 SC into next corner space; work 1 SC into each DC across.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times; 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 9: 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 10: 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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