Stashbuster Squares Project – pattern for the squares

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This is a stash buster project to use up leftover yarn from other projects. You can use any yarn you want to use. I used leftovers of Stylecraft Special DK – each square used approximately 7-8g of DK yarn (each square measured approximately 11.5cm x 12cm). I used a size 4mm hook – you can purchase the hook that I used here. You can purchase Stylecraft Special DK yarn here.

The stitches used in these squares are double crochet (dc) and half treble crochet (htr) (UK terms). The main body of the square is based on a modified lemon peel stitch (the lemon peel stitch alternates between double crochet and treble crochet, but this pattern uses a half treble instead of the treble crochet). A video tutorial can be found here.

I left a long tails of approximately 30cm, so that I can sew the squares together using these long tails.

I made a total of 70 squares for my project, and arranged them in a 7 by 10 formation. I sewed the squares together. My blanket measured 79cm x 119cm at this stage. I did, however, decide to add a simple white border, and on completing this my finished blanket measured 82cm x 122cm.

Abbreviations/Crochet terminology:

UK terms are used throughout. 

ststitch
dcdouble crochet
htrhalf treble crochet
chchain
*to*instructions between asterisks will be repeated as specified

Stitch Guide/Conversion Guide

UK termUK abbreviationUS termUS AbbreviationDescription
Double CrochetdcSingle CrochetscInsert hook into stitch, yarn over hook, pull through stitch (2 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull through remaining two loops to leave 1 loop on the hook
Half Treble CrochethtrHalf Double CrochethdcYarn over hook. Insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook, pull through stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull through remaining three loops to leave 1 loop on the hook
ChainchChainchYarn over hook, pull through loop

Written Pattern (UK terms)

  • Foundation chain – Chain 18
  • Row 1 – dc in 2nd ch from hook and in each stitch along to the end, turn. [17 stitches]
  • Row 2 – ch1 (does not count as a stitch), htr in the first stitch, *dc in the next, htr in the next* repeat from *to* to the end, ensuring that the last stitch worked is a htr. Turn.
  • Row 3 – ch1 (does not count as a stitch), dc in first stitch, *htr in the next stitch, dc in the next stitch*, repeat from *to* to the end ensuring that the last stitch is a dc. NOTE: the dc’s are worked into a htr stitch from the row below and the htr’s are worked into a dc.
  • Rows 4 -15 – repeat row 2 and row 3
  • Row 16 – repeat row 2
  • Row 17 – ch1 (does not count as a stitch), dc in each stitch along to the end. Cut yarn leaving a long tail of approximately 30cm (if you are going to sew your squares together).

Video Tutorial

Video tutorial can be found here.

Joining

I made 70 squares for my project and arranged them in a 7 by 10 formation. I sewed my squares together using a variation of the mattress stitch. You can find more details on how I did this in the video tutorial above.

You can decide to sew or crochet your squares together, the choice is yours.

Border

You can leave your blanket as it is. Alternatively you can add a simple border. I added a simple 3 round moss stitch (linen stitch) border with white yarn.

Instructions for the border:

You will need approximately 35-40g of a border colour. Make sure you don’t work the border too tightly, you can use a bigger hook size if necessary.

  1. Using border colour, pull up a loop in the top right corner.
  2. Chain 3 (counts as 1dc and ch1), skip a stitch, work 1dc in the next.
  3. Continue to work [ch1, skip stitch, dc in the next stitch] until the corner
  4. Work [dc, ch2, dc] in the corner space
  5. Work along the side of the blanket with [ch1, skip stitch, dc in the next stitch], note – work these stitches evenly, placing a dc in approximately every other row
  6. Work [dc, ch2, dc] in the corner
  7. Work along the bottom edge of the blanket with [ch1, skip stitch, dc in the next stitch]
  8. Work [dc, ch2, dc] in the corner
  9. Work along the final side of the blanket with [ch1, skip stitch, dc in the next stitch]
  10. When you reach the corner that you started the round, work [dc, ch2] in the corner space at the start, then slip stitch into the ch2 beg-ch to close the round.
  11. Turn the blanket over, slip stitch back into the chain space just formed – ch3 (counts as 1dc and a ch1).
  12. Work a dc in the first chain space, ch1, work a dc in the next chain 1 space
  13. Continue to work along the side with [ch1, dc in the chain space] until the corner
  14. Work [dc, ch2, dc] in corner space.
  15. Work [ch1, dc in the chain space] around the rest of the blanket, working [dc, ch2, dc] in each corner. Work [dc, ch2] in the corner space at the start of the round, slip stitch into the ch2 beg-ch.
  16. Repeat steps 11-15, to work a 3rd round of the border.
Adding the moss stitch border