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

This Cybele 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

Cybele 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

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.

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 2 (this DOES NOT count as a ST); work 12 DC into ring; SL ST into first DC worked. (12 DC)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With B – join into any DC.

RND 2: CH 3 (counts as 1 DC); work 2 DC into SAME DC; CH 2; SKIP next DC.
*Work 3 DC into next DC; CH 2; SKIP next DC. **
Repeat from * to ** 4 more times; SL ST into 3^rd of 3 CH.
(18 DC – 6 x 3 DC groups; 6 x 2 CH spaces)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Note: If you have a tight tension increase 2 CH space to a 3 CH space.

With C – join into any SKIPPED RND 1 DC.

RND 3: CH 5 (counts as 1 TR and 1 CH space); work 1 TR into SAME DC; CH 1; work 1 DC into the 2^nd (center) DC of 3 DC group; CH 1.
*Work [1 TR; CH 1; 1 TR] into next SKIPPED RND 1 DC; CH 1; work 1 DC into the 2^nd (center) DC of 3 DC group; CH 1. **
Repeat from * to ** 4 more times; SL ST into 3^rd of 3 CH.
(12 TR; 6 DC; 18 x 1 CH spaces)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

With D – join into any CH space in-between 2 TR.

RND 4: Work Starting Popcorn (special stitches); CH 1; work 1 DC into next TR; work 1 DC into next 1 CH space; work 1 DC into next DC; work 1 DC into next 1 CH space; work 1 DC into next TR; CH 1.
*Work Popcorn (special stitches) into next 1 CH space (in-between 2 TR); CH 1; work 1 DC into next TR; work 1 DC into next 1 CH space; work 1 DC into next DC; work 1 DC into next 1 CH space; work 1 DC into next TR; CH 1. **
Repeat from * to ** 4 more times; SL ST into 2^nd CH of 2 CH.
(36 STS = 6 x Popcorn; 30 DC – CH spaces are NOT counted)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Note: ALL CH spaces will be SKIPPED for next round – concentration required.

With E – join into any Popcorn.

RND 5: CH 4 (counts as 1 TR); work [1 TR; CH 2; 2 TR] into SAME Popcorn; work 1 DC into each of next 2 STS; work 1 HDC into next ST; work 1 SC into each of next 2 STS; work 1 HDC into next ST; work 1 DC into each of next 2 STS.
*Work [2 TR; CH 2; 2 TR] into next ST; work 1 DC into each of next 2 STS; work 1 HDC into next ST; work 1 SC into each of next 2 STS; work 1 HDC into next ST; work 1 DC into each of next 2 STS. **
Repeat from * to ** two more times; SL ST into 3^rd of 3 CH.
(48 STS = 12 STS on each side)

RND 6: CH 1; work 1 SC into SAME ST; work 1 SC into next ST; work [1 SC; CH 2; 1 SC] into corner CH space; work 1 SC into each of next 12 STS.
*Work [1 SC; CH 2; 1 SC] into next corner CH space; work 1 SC into each of next 12 STS.**
Repeat from * to ** once more; work [ 1 SC; CH 2; 1 SC] into next corner space; work 1 SC into each of next 10 STS; SL ST into first SC worked.
(56 SC = 14 SC on each side; 4 x 2 CH corner spaces)

With G1 – join into any 2 CH corner space.

RND 7: CH 2 (counts as 1 HDC); work [1 HDC; CH 2; 2 HDC) into SAME space; work 1 HDC into each of next 14 SC.
*Work [2 HDC; CH 2; 2 HDC] into next corner space; work 1 HDC into each of next 14 SC.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times; SL ST into 2^nd of 2 CH.
(72 HDC = 18 HDC on each side; 4 x 2 CH corner spaces)
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Note: Do not miss the FIRST HDC stitch at the start of each side – shift the Popcorn a bit for easier access.

With F – join into any 2 CH corner space.

RND 8: Work Starting Popcorn (special stitches); work 1 DC into the 3^rd loop (back loop) each of next 18 HDC.
*Work Popcorn into next 2 CH corner space; work 1 DC into the 3^rd loop (back loop) each of next 18 HDC.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times; SL ST into top of Starting Popcorn.
(4 x Popcorns; 72 DC = 18 DC on each side)

RND 9: CH 3 (counts as 1 DC); work [2 DC; 2 CH; 3 DC] into SAME Popcorn; work 1 BPDC Stitch (special stitches) around each of next 18 DC.
*Work [3 DC; 2 CH; 3 DC] into top of next Popcorn; work 1 BPDC Stitch (special stitches) around each of next 18 DC.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times; SL ST into 3^rd of 3 CH.
(72 BPDC; 24 DC = 96; 4 x 2 CH corner spaces)

RND 10: CH 1; work 1 SC into SAME DC; work 1 SC into next 2 DC; work 3 SC into next 2 CH corner space.
*Work 1 SC into next 3 DC; work 1 SC into each of next 18 BPDC; work 1 SC into next 3 DC; work 3 SC into next 2 CH corner space.**
Repeat from * to ** two more times.
Work 1 SC into next 3 DC; work 1 SC into each of next 18 BPDC; 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.

3D & Overlay:

With G1 – join yarn with a SC around the RND 1 DC directly below 2 TR – see photo.

RND 1: *CH 3; SKIP next DC; work 1 SC around next RND 1 DC. **
Repeat from * to ** 5 more times; SL ST into first SC worked.

RND 2: *SL ST into next 3 CH space; CH 3; SL ST around RND 3 TR; work 4 DC into 3 CH space; SL ST around next RND 3 TR; CH 3; SL ST into SAME 3 CH space. **
Repeat from * to ** 5 more times.

RND 3: *SL ST around next RND 1 SC; CH 2. **
Repeat from * to ** 5 more times.

RND 4: *SL ST into next 2 CH space; CH 2; work 3 HDC into SAME space; CH 2; SL ST into SAME space. **
Repeat from * to ** 5 more times.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

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