Begin the Beguine is the first installment 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: Click here to read the blog post on tips, tricks, and pattern notes
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 dc into a lower round you will always leave the sc behind it unworked.
- There are no special stitches in this pattern. Really! It’s all sc and dc.
- For the crochet along we’ll be making the pattern’s 16 rounds as written, but if you’d like to use this pattern elsewhere you can make pretty much any size square from it. Simply work rounds 1 through 9 and then repeat rounds 6 through 9 until you’re just shy of your desired size. Finish with round 16.
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This pattern is Copyright © 2017 Polly Plum. All rights reserved.
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Abbreviations
- BLO – back loop only
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- FLO – front loop only
- hdc – half double crochet
- r(#) – round number
- sc – single crochet
- sk – skip
- slst – slip stitch
- sp – space
- st– stitch
- tr – treble crochet
- yo – yarn over
Video Tutorial
Commence Pattern
Begin with magic circle.
Round 1: Ch1. [Sc into magic circle, ch2] 4 times. Close magic circle. Slst to both loops of first sc to join.
Round 2: Ch1. [Sc in BLO of next st, (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp] 4 times. Slst to both loops of first st to join.
Round 3: Ch1, dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next st.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st, dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next st.
To complete the last side: (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st. Slst to both loops of first st to join.
Hint: from here on out the dc are always placed just before the dc of the last round (unless they are at the end of the side).
Round 4: Ch1, sc in BLO of first 3 st.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: *(sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st, dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st,* sc in BLO of next 3 st.
Repeat from * to * of last section to complete the last side. Slst to both loops of first st to join.
Hint: your square might not look like much yet – give it a few more rounds and you’ll see the pattern start to emerge.
Round 5: Ch1, sc in BLO of first 2 st, dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next st.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: *(sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st, dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st,* sc in BLO of next 3 st, dc in the FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next st.
To complete the last side: repeat from * to * of previous section, sc in BLO of last st. Slst to both loops of first st to join.
Round 6: Ch1, sc in BLO of first st, [dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next 3 st] repeat as necessary to reach next corner ch2 sp {on r6 you will only need to make the stitches in brackets once, on repeats of r6 you will need to make them more than once}.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: *(sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st, [dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next 3 st] repeat across side until you reach the next corner ch2 sp.
To complete the last side of round 6: (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st, dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of last 2 st, Slst to first st to join.
To complete the last side on repeats of round 6: (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st, [dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next 3 st] repeat as necessary across remainder of last side omitting final sc on last repeat. Slst to both loops of first st to join.
Round 7: Ch1, dc in FLO of st 1 round below first st, [sc in BLO of next 3 st, dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st] repeat as necessary until 1 st remains before next corner ch2 sp {on r7 you will only need to make the stitches in brackets once, on repeats of r7 you will need to make them more than once}, sc in BLO of next st.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: *(sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st, [dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next 3 st] repeat across side until 2 st remain before next corner ch2 sp, dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next st.
To complete the last side: (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st, [dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next 3 st] repeat as necessary until you reach the first st {on r7 you will only need to make the stitches in brackets once, on repeats of r7 you will need to make them more than once}. Slst to both loops of first st to join.
Round 8: Ch1, sc in BLO of first 3 st, [dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next 3 st] repeat as necessary until you reach next corner ch2 sp {on r8 you will only need to make the stitches in brackets once, on repeats of r8 you will need to make them more than once}.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: *(sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st, [dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next 3 st] repeat across side until you reach next corner ch2 sp.
To complete the last side: (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st, [dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next 3 st] repeat as necessary until 1 st remains before first st {on r8 you will only need to make the stitches in brackets once, on repeats of r8 you will need to make them more than once}, dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st. Slst to both loops of first st to join.
Round 9: Ch1, sc in BLO of first 2 st, [dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next 3 st] repeat as necessary until 2 st remain before next corner ch2 so {on r9 you will only need to make the stitches in brackets once, on repeats of r9 you will need to make them more than once}, dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next st.
Work the following on each of the next 3 sides: *(sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st, [dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next 3 st] repeat across side until 2 st remain before next corner ch2 sp.
To complete the last side: (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp, sc in BLO of next st, [dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next 3 st] repeat as necessary until 2 st remains before first st {on r9 you will only need to make the stitches in brackets once, on repeats of r9 you will need to make them more than once}, dc in FLO of st 1 round below next st, sc in BLO of next st. Slst to both loops of first st to join.
Round 10: Repeat round 6.
Round 11: Repeat round 7.
Round 12: Repeat round 8.
Round 13: Repeat round 9.
Round 14: Repeat round 6.
Round 15: Repeat round 7.
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 both loops of first st to join. Fasten off.
That’s it for this pattern. Stay tuned! May 18th will be the official start day of the crochet along and the release of pattern number 2. Make sure and read that blog post about the Crochet Along – it’s going to be fun! – and check out the Stardust Melodies eBook on Ravelry. There’s a discount code for the eBook – use coupon code “stardust” for 50% off! (Good through May 18, 2017, after that the discount is $6 off through July 3,2017, and $3 off through August 13,2017. Or just click here to Buy Now.)
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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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