African Flower Square

I am excited to share the African Flower Square as it’s my featured week in the You’ve got option CAL, so I decided to go with the African Flower Square as my featured contribution. This square is such a beloved classic, with it’s beautiful floral centre, bold geometry, and versatility.

Pin this post for later

The design is offered in two finished sizes (6″ and 12″), so you can pick your choice.

Inspiration

The African flower square has been used for a few of my projects, and I have always loved that it makes a perfect stash buster. You can make these in colors of your choice.

Square Size Options

You can pick between the two sizes available – 6″ and 12″

You can go down or up as regards the hook sizes to achieve the desired size you want.

Have a look at the other squares included in the event, released weekly and updated on Marie’s blog, linked here.

African Flower Square Material List

Yarn: You can use any worsted weight yarn of your choice.

This prototype was made using: Hobbii Portobello, Worsted weight, #4 (60% Cotton, 28% Acrylic, 12% Wool, 120 m (131 yds) per 50 g (1.75 oz) Ball)

Estimated Total Yardage

Main Color (MC) Purple = 30 – 80 Yards

Second color (CC) Peach = 30 – 60 yards

Hook – 5 mm Crochet Hook

Gauge – 15 sts over 8 Rows = 4 x 4” made in dc before blocking.

Difficulty Level – Intermediate

Terms – US Terminology

Stitches Abbreviations

Chain/chains – ch/chs

Chain space – ch sp

Stitch(es) – st(s)

Slip Stitch – sl st

Single Crochet – sc

Double crochet – dc

Third loop – This is the loop just below the front loop.

MC – Main Color

CC – Contrasting Color

Construction Notes

This project is done in two parts. Part 1 is for the 6” square, and it starts with making just one square. After which, you add 2 rounds.
Part 2 is for the 12”, you need 4 squares, which are then joined together, and add 2 rounds to get it to 12”.

Pattern Notes

Please kindly read through the pattern before starting.
Similar #4 weight yarn can be substituted; please check the gauge.
Stitch count is written after each round.

Finished Measurement

Part 1 = 6”

Part 2 – 12”

African Flower Square Pattern Instructions

Part 1: Only for 6” square

Squares

Round 1: With MC, make a Magic ring, ch 3 (counts as the first dc, here and throughout), dc, *ch 1, 2 dc, rep from * 6 more times, ch 1, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 16 dc, 8 ch sps

Close the ring tightly.

Fasten off or drop yarn.

Join CC to any of the ch sps.

Round 2: Ch 3, dc, ch 1, 2 dc in ch 1 sp,*(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in each ch 1 sp around, join. 32 dc, 8 ch sps

Fasten off CC and join MC to any of the ch sps.

Round 3: Ch 3, 5 dc in ch 1 sp, *6 dc each ch 1 sp, join. 48 dc

Fasten off MC and join CC, to any of the 3rd dc in the group of 6 dc from the round below.

Round 4: Ch 7 (counts as the first tr + ch 3), tr in same st, *dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, sc in next 5 sts, hdc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, (tr, ch 3, tr) in next st, rep from * 2 more times, dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, sc in next 5 sts, hdc in next st, dc in last 2 sts, join with a sl st to the 4th ch of the ch 7 starting chain. 8 tr, 16 dc, 8 hdc, 20 sc, 4 ch-3 sps.

Round 5: Ch 2, dc in each st around, aim for (dc, ch 2, dc) in each ch 3 sp. 60 dc.

Round 6: Ch 2, dc in each st around, (dc, ch 2, dc) in each ch 3 sp, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 68 dc, 4 corners.

Fasten off.

Part 2: Only for 12” square

Make 4 Squares.

Repeat Round 1 – 4 as with Part 1 of 6”

Do not fasten off

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in each st around, aim for 3 sc in each ch 3 sp. 64 sc.

Fasten off.

Joining the squares together

Mark the edges with stitch markers.

Use a crochet hook and a single crochet to connect the sides of the squares.

Finishing

Joining the squares together

Step 1: Arrange the squares as shown above.

Step 2: Using your crochet hook and CC, join the squares together using a single crochet stitch over both sides; continue until you have joined the sides of the arranged squares together.

All joining should be on the right side and across the 4 loops – 2 loops on each of the squares. This gives a beautiful “braid”.

I did my joining using one of the same color as the last round.

You can use any color for your joining.

Fasten off and sew in all ends.

With Color MC

Place a stitch marker on the 2nd sc at each corner; this is the stitch to be used for the corners.

Round 1: Ch 2, dc in each st around, (dc, ch 2, dc) in 2nd sc, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 128 dc, 4 corners.

Rounds 2 – 3: Ch 2, dc in each st around, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each ch 2 sp, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 160 dc, 4 corners.
Fasten off.

Weave in all ends.

Block to measurement.