Don’t Fence Me In is the third square (second free) of the Stardust Melodies Crochet Along from Polly Plum – a texture-rich afghan square crochet along. Click here to read more about the event and how you can participate and get more great textured afghan square patterns.
Details
Pattern written in US crochet terms
Skill level: easy
Finished Size: 9 inch square (with Aran or Worsted Weight yarn)
Gauge: See this post and scroll to section on gauge
Hook size: 5.5mm/I
Yarn: Worsted Weight (Or any yarn of your choice with an appropriately sized hook)
Final Stitch Count: 31 sts per side
Pattern Notes
- IMPORTANT: Each round starts by working a stitch into the same stitch you slip stitched to join in the previous round. But for the sake of repeats, sometimes the first st isn’t pointed out. Sometimes the pattern starts you off by saying to make a stitch into the next stitch. If you’re just starting a round and all you’ve done so far is the ch1 at the very beginning and the very first thing the pattern says to do is to stitch into the “next stitch,” that means the first stitch, the one with the slip stitch already in it. (I know, I know, this is a bit unconventional for me and my pattern writing, but hang in there. When you see how this and the other CAL patterns go you’ll understand why I took some liberties with the pattern writing.)
- Stitch counts will start with 1 stitch per side in round 1 and increase by 2 stitches every round. Not counting ch2 corners.
- When slip stitching to join, slip stitch to both loops and then pull the slip stitch tight.
- When you make a stitch into a lower round you will always leave the sc behind it unworked.
- For the crochet along we’ll be making the pattern’s 16 rounds as written, but if you’d like to use it elsewhere at a larger size, I’m sure you’ll get the idea of the pattern by round 14. It’s really easy!
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This pattern is Copyright © 2017 Polly Plum. All rights reserved.
If you would like to share this pattern, please share the link to this webpage or the Ravelry pattern page (link below). Please do not distribute this pattern or the accompanying photos in any other form. Please read more in the Copyright section.
Abbreviations
- BLO – back loop only
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- FLO – front loop only
- hdc – half double crochet
- htr – half treble {see special stitches}
- r(#) – round number
- sc – single crochet
- sk – skip
- slst – slip stitch
- sp – space
- st– stitch
- tr – treble crochet
- yo – yarn over
Video Tutorial
Special Stitches
htr – {half treble} yo two times, insert hook into indicated st or sp, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook, yo and pull through all 3 remaining loops on hook
Commence Pattern
Begin with magic circle.
Round 1: Ch1. [Sc into magic circle, ch2] 4 times. Close magic circle. Slst to first st to join {do not pull slst tight}.
Hint: when you slst to join, that slst will act as the top two loops of the sc in which you made it.
Hint: R1 – R4 seem like plain rounds of sc in the BLO, but the join is slightly different in this square so pay close attention
Round 2: Slst into next ch2 sp. Ch1. [(Sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next sc] 4 times.
To join: slst to corner ch2 sp after first st {skip the first st and go straight to the ch2 sp} allowing the slst to count as the top two loops of the first st. Do not pull the slst tight, you want it to be the same width as the sc.
Round 3: Ch1. [(Sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of each st across side] 4 times. Slst to first st to join.
Round 4: Ch1. Sc in BLO of first st.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of each st across side.
To complete last side: (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of last 4 st. Slst to first st to join.
Round 5: Ch1. Sc in BLO of first 2 st.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: *(sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next 2 st, [htr in FLO of st 2 rounds below next st] 3 times,* sc in BLO of next 2 st.
Repeat from * to * of the previous section to complete the last side. Slst to first st to join.
Round 6: Ch1. Sc in BLO of first st. Sc in BLO of each st across to corner.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of each st across side.
To complete the last side: (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of each st across to first st. Slst to first st to join.
Round 7: Repeat round 6.
Round 8: Ch1, htr in FLO of the st 2 rounds below the first st, [htr in FLO of the st 2 rounds below the next st] twice, sc in BLO of next 2 st.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: *(sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next 2 st, [htr in FLO of the st 2 rounds below the next st] 3 times, sc in BLO of next 3 st,* [htr in FLO of the st 2 rounds below the next st] 3 times, sc in BLO of next 2 st.
Repeat from * to * of the previous section to complete the last side. Slst to first st to join.
Round 9: Repeat round 6.
Round 10: Repeat round 6.
Round 11: Ch1, sc in BLO of first 3 st, [htr in FLO of the st 2 rounds below the next st] 3 times, sc in BLO of next 2 st.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: *(sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next 2 st, [htr in FLO of the st 2 rounds below the next st] 3 times, {sc in BLO of next 3 st, [htr in FLO of the st 2 rounds below the next st] 3 times},* repeat section in { } once, sc in BLO of next 2 st.
Repeat from * to * of the previous section to complete the last side. Slst to first st to join.
Round 12: Repeat round 6.
Round 13: Repeat round 6.
Round 14: Ch1, htr in FLO of the st 2 rounds below the first st, [htr in FLO of the st 2 round below the next st] twice, sc in BLO of next 3 st, [htr in FLO of the st 2 round below the next st] 3 times, sc in BLO of next 2 st.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: *(sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next 2 st, [htr in FLO of the st 2 rounds below the next st] 3 times, {sc in BLO of next 3 st, [htr in FLO of the st 2 rounds below the next st] 3 times}*, repeat section in { } twice, sc in BLO of next 2 st.
To complete last side: repeat from * to * of the previous section, sc in BLO of last 3 st. Slst to first st to join.
Round 15: Repeat round 6.
Round 16: Ch1, sc in BOTH loops of each of the next 15 st.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: (Sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BOTH loops of each of the 29 st across side.
To complete last side: (Sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BOTH loops of last 14 st. Slst to first st to join. Fasten off.
That’s it for pattern 3. I hope you love what you made!
If you’d like to show your support and/or say thank you for this free pattern – the most helpful thing you can do is share a picture of your work on Ravelry or Facebook. Seriously! That’s it. If you liked the pattern, tell your friends and show them what you made.
If you loved the pattern and want to make more, we’re doing an entire crochet along of fun textured squares starting May 18, 2017. Check out the event here.
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