Yay so it’s time for block 1!!! How exciting!!!  AND it’s my first design for 2015 so super exciting!!!  You can tell how excited I am by the abundance of exclamation marks!!!

Yes I thought that I would have a go at designing the first block for the CAL, I wanted it to be fun, yet simple to ease us into the CAL process.  Believe it or not this was the first 12 inch square I have EVER made or designed and it was sooo enjoyable after designing many 6 inch ones.  It seemed huge too but, I tell you what, it some how seemed so much more satisfying when I’d finished it.  Hope you enjoying hooking it up too – I can’t wait to see what you come up with!!!

This square will be available as a free Ravelry download forever or scroll down the page to where I have also posted the pattern below.

Don’t forget to stay tuned for the next block to be released on January 21st (or 22nd)

Moroccan Window 12″ Square by Heather C Gibbs

Notes:

• Hook: UK 5.5 mm / US Size I
• Yarn: Aran / 10 ply / Worsted / Weight #4
• Colours: Works best in at least 4-5 different colours.  For ease I have noted colour changes on each round referred to in this  pattern as YARN A, B, C and D
• Pattern uses UK and American crochet terms: see the following link for a printable conversion chart: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/70437470329344/ 
• Specialist stitch: UK Front Post Double Crochet / US Front Post Single Crochet (FPSC) – see a good video tutorial here if you are not sure how to do this stitch; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvdqqR2Kkho
• You will also need:  A Yarn Needle 

Gauge:    7 tr/dc = 2 inches / 5 cm

Size: 12 inch x 12 inch / 30.5cm x 30.5cm

These measurements are approximated, and actual subjects may vary. Pattern will work in other yarns though gauge/size will be different.  CHECK YOUR GAUGE, use any size hook to obtain gauge.

Abbreviations:

• st(s) = stitch(es)
• sp = space
• sl st = slip stitch
• ch(s) = chain  
• dc/sc = UK double / US single crochet
• htr/hdc = UK half treble / US half double crochet
• fpdc/fpsc = UK Front Post double crochet / US Front Post single crochet
• tr/dc  = UK treble / US double crochet
• dtr/tr = UK double treble / US treble

Pattern:

(Updated 12/02/2015)

Rnd 1: With YARN A; either make a magic ring (adjustable ring) to start or ch 3, (doesn’t count as a st), crochet 16 htr/hdc into the ring / 3rd ch from hook then sl st to top of 1st htr/hdc to join, use tail yarn to tighten centre ring closed if necessary. Finish off with an invisible join and weave in ends  (16 sts).

Rnd 2: With a sl st attach YARN B to any st then ch 3 (counts as a tr/dc), add a [tr/dc, ch 2, 2 tr/dc] in the same st as your beginning ch 3, * ch 1, skip the next st, 1 tr/dc in the next st, ch 1, skip the next st, [2 tr/dc, ch 2, 2 tr/dc] in the next st * repeat from * to * twice, ch 1, skip the next st, 1 tr/dc in the next st, ch 1, then sl st to top of 1st tr/dc to join. Finish off and weave in ends (20 sts + (4x)ch 2 sps and (8x)ch 1 sps).

Rnd 3: With a sl st attach YARN A to any ch 2 sp corner;  ch 3 (counts as a tr/dc), add a [tr/dc, ch 2, 2 tr/dc] in the same sp, * 1 tr/dc in the next 2 sts, 1 dtr/tr in the skipped st of rnd 1,  1 tr/dc in the next st, 1 dtr/tr in the skipped st of rnd 1, 1 tr/dc in the next 2 sts, work [2 tr/dc, ch 2, 2 tr/dc] in the next ch 2 sp * repeat from * to * twice, 1 tr/dc in the next 2 sts, 1 dtr/tr in the skipped st of rnd 1,  1 tr/dc in the next st, 1 dtr/tr in the skipped st of rnd 1, 1 tr/dc in the next 2 sts, sl st to top of 1st ch 3 to join. Finish off and weave in ends (44 sts + (4x)2ch sps).

Rnd 4: With a sl st attach YARN B to any ch 2 sp  corner;  ch 1, 1 dc/sc in same sp, ch 2, 1 dc/sc in same sp, * 1 dc/sc in the next 4 sts, 1 fpdc/fpsc in the next st, 1 dc/sc in the next st, 1 fpdc/fpsc in the next st, 1 dc/sc in the next 4 sts, [1 dc/sc, ch 2, 1 dc/sc in the next ch 2 sp], * repeat from * to * twice, then 1 dc/sc in the next 4 sts, 1 fpdc/fpsc in the next st, 1 dc/sc in the next st, 1 fpdc/fpsc in the next st, 1 dc/sc in the next 4 sts, sl st to top of 1st dc/sc to join. Finish off and weave in ends (52 sts + (4 x)ch 2 sps).

Rnd 5: With a sl st attach YARN A to any ch 2 corner; ch 2 (counts as first htr/hdc), 1 htr/hdc in same ch 2 corner, ch 2, 2 htr/hdc in the same ch 2 corner * 1 htr/hdc in the next 13 sts, [2 htr/hdc, ch 2, 2 htr/hdc in the next ch 2 corner], * repeat from * to * twice, 1 htr/hdc in the next 13 sts, sl st to top of 1st ch 3 to join. Finish off and weave in ends (68 sts + (4 x)ch 2 sps).

Rnd 6: With a sl st attach YARN C to any ch 2 sp     corner;  ch 3 (counts as first tr/dc), 1 tr/dc in same sp, ch 2, 2 tr/dc in the same sp *  1 tr/dc in the next 2 sts, ** ch 1, skip next st, 1 tr/dc in next st **  repeat from ** to ** five times, ch 1, skip next st, 1 tr/dc in the next 2 sts, [2 tr/dc, ch 2, 2 tr/dc in the next sp], * repeat from * to * twice, then ** to ** once more, ch 1, skip next st, sl st to the top of 1st ch 3 to join. Finish off and weave in ends. (56 sts + 28 x ch 1 sps and 4 x ch 2 sps).

Rnd 7: With a sl st attach YARN A to any ch 2 corner; ch 3 (counts as first tr/dc), 1 tr/dc in same ch 2 corner, ch 2, 2 tr/dc in the same ch 2 corner * 1 tr/dc in the next 4 sts, ** 1 dtr/tr in the skipped st of rnd 6, 1 tr/dc in the next st ** repeat from ** to **five times, 1 dtr/tr in the skipped st of rnd 6, 1 tr/dc in the next 4 sts, [2 tr/dc, ch 2, 2 tr/dc in the next sp] *  repeat from * to * twice, then ** to ** once more, 1 dtr/tr in the skipped st of rnd 6, 1 tr/dc in the next 4 sts, sl st to the top of 1st ch 3 to join. Finish off  and weave in ends. (100 sts +   (4x) ch 2 sps).

Rnd 8: With a sl st attach YARN C to any ch 2 sp  corner;  ch 1, 1 dc/sc in same sp, ch 2, 1 dc/sc in same sp, * 1 dc/sc in the next 6 sts, ** 1 fpdc/fpsc in the next st, 1 dc/sc in the next st ** repeat from ** to ** six times, 1 dc/sc in the next 6 sts, [1 dc/sc, ch 2, 1 dc/sc in the next ch 2 sp] *  repeat from * to * twice, then ** to ** once more, 1 dc/sc in the next 5 sts, [1 dc/sc, ch 2, 1 dc/sc in the next ch 2 sp], 1 dc/sc in the next 6 sts, sl st to top of 1st dc/sc to join. Finish off and weave in ends (108 sts + (4x) ch 2 sps).

Rnd 9: With a sl st attach YARN A to any ch 2 corner; ch 2 (counts as first htr/hdc), 1 htr/hdc in same ch 2 corner, ch 2, 2 htr/hdc in the same ch 2 corner * miss next st, 1 htr/hdc in the next 26 sts, [2 htr/hdc, ch 2, 2 htr/hdc in the next ch 2 corner], * repeat from * to * twice, miss next st, 1 htr/hdc in the next 26 sts, then finish off with an invisible join to top of 1st ch 2 to join and weave in ends. (120 sts + (4x) ch 2 sps).

Rnd 10: With a sl st attach YARN D to any ch 2 corner; ch 3 (counts as first tr/dc), 1 tr/dc in same ch 2 corner, ch 2, 2 tr/dc in the same ch 2 corner * 1 tr/ dc in the next 4 sts, ** ch 1, skip next st, 1 tr/dc in next st ** repeat from ** to ** 10 times, 1 tr/dc in the next 3 sts, [2 tr/dc, ch 2, 2 tr/dc in the next sp], * repeat from * to * twice, then 1 tr/dc in the next 4 sts, next repeat ** to ** eleven times, 1 tr/dc in the remaining 3 sts, then finish off with an invisible join to top of 1st ch 3 to join and weave in ends. to join. (88 sts + (44x) ch 1 sps and (4x) ch 2 sps).

Rnd 11: With a sl st attach YARN A to any ch 2 corner; ch 3 (counts as first tr/dc), 1 tr/dc in same ch 2 corner, ch 2, 2 tr/dc in the same ch 2 corner * 1 tr/ dc in the next 6 sts, ** 1 dtr/tr in in the skipped st of rnd 10, 1 tr/dc in the next st ** repeat from ** to **10 times, 1 tr/dc in the next 5 sts, [2 tr/dc, ch 2, 2 tr/ dc in the next sp] * repeat from * to * twice, then 1 tr/dc in the next 6 sts, next repeat ** to ** 11 times, 1 tr/dc in the next 5 sts, then finish off with an invisible join to top of 1st ch 3 to join and weave in ends. to join. (148 sts + (4x) ch 2 sps).

Rnd 12: With a sl st attach YARN D to any ch 2 sp corner; ch 1, 1 dc/sc in same sp, ch 2, 1 dc/sc in same sp, * 1 dc/sc in the next 9 sts, ** 1 htr/hdc in the next st, 1 dc/sc in the next st ** repeat from ** to ** 10 times, 1 dc/sc in the next 8 sts, [1 dc/sc, ch 2, 1 dc/sc in the next ch 2 sp] * repeat from * to * twice, then 1 dc/sc in the next 9 sts, next repeat ** to ** 10 times, 1 dc/sc in the remaining 8 sts, finish off with an invisible join to top of 1st dc/sc to join and weave in ends. (156 sts).

This square will need blocking to pull it into the 12 inch x 12 inch square;

Blocking afghan squares:

To steam block an afghan square pin the square evenly on a flat surface. Set your steam iron (or hand held steamer) on the lowest setting that will produce steam.  Once you have a good steam going, hold the iron or steamer close to the crochet and work in a circular motion over the entire piece until every inch is evenly dampened. DO NOT touch the iron on the yarn! If you find that you must lightly press the square cover it with a cloth first to protect the yarn from the hot metal plate. Allow the pieces to dry  thoroughly before unpinning.