Joyous Squares

Design By Dot Drake

Skill Level
Intermediate

Finished Size
Approximately 48 x 56 inches

Materials

• Red Heart Soft Yarn medium (worsted) weight yarn (5 oz/256 yds/140g per skein):
• 3 skeins each #9518 teal (A), #9537 fuchsia (B) and #9522 leaf (C)
• 2 skeins #3720 lavender (D)
• Size I/9/5.5mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
Rnds 1 & 2 = 3 inches in diameter

Instructions
SQUARE A
Make 5.
Rnd 1: With B, ch 5; join with sl st to form ring; ch 3 (counts as a dc on this and following rnds), 3 dc in ring; [ch 3, 4 dc in ring] 3 times; join with hdc in 3rd ch of beg ch-3.
Rnd 2: Ch 3, 3 dc in sp formed by joining hdc; ch 1; *in next ch-3 sp work (4 dc, ch 3, 4 dc); ch 1; rep from * twice; 4 dc in same sp as beg 3 dc made; join with hdc in 3rd ch of beg ch-3.
Rnd 3:Ch 3, 3 dc in sp formed by joining hdc; ch 1; *4 dc next ch-1 sp; ch 1, in next ch-3 sp work (4 dc, ch 3, 4 dc) -- corner made; ch 1; rep from * twice; 4 dc in same sp as beg 3 dc made; ch 1; join with hdc in 3rd ch of beg ch-3.
Rnd 4: Ch 3, 3 dc in sp formed by joining hdc; *[ch 1, 4 dc next ch-1 sp] twice; ch 1, in next corner ch-3 sp work corner; rep from * twice; [ch 1, 4 dc next ch-1 sp] twice; ch 1, 4 dc in same sp as beg ch-3 made; ch 3; join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3. Fasten off.
Rnd 5:With A, make slip knot on hook and join with sc in 3rd dc of any corner; *ch 1, in next ch-3 sp work (sc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, sc) -- corner made; ch 1, sk next dc, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc on rnd 3, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc on rnd 2, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc on rnd 1, sc in next dc; working upward, ch 3, sk next 2 dc of next corner on rnd 2, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc of corner on rnd 3, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc of corner on rnd 4, sc in next dc; rep from * twice; ch 1, in next ch-3 sp work (sc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, sc) -- corner made; ch 1, sk next dc, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc on rnd 3, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc on rnd 2, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc on rnd 1, sc in next dc; working upward, ch 3, sk next 2 dc of next corner on rnd 2, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc of corner on rnd 3, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc of corner on rnd 4; join with sl st in joining sc. Fasten off.
Rnd 6: With D, make slip knot on hook and join with sc in 2nd ch-1 sp between any 2 corners on rnd 4; ch 1, in same sp work (3 dc, ch 1, sc); *ch 4, sc in 2nd ch-3 sp of next 3 ch-3 sps on rnd 5, ch 4, sk next corner on rnd 5, sc in 2nd ch-3 sp of next 3 ch-3 sps on same rnd, ch 4, in next ch-1 sp on rnd 4 work (sc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, sc); rep from * twice; ch 4, sc in 2nd ch-3 sp of next 3 ch-3 sps on rnd 5, ch 4, sk next corner on rnd 5, sc in 2nd ch-3 sp of next 3 ch-3 sps on same rnd, ch 4; join with sl st in joining sc. Fasten off.
Rnd 7: Join C with sl st in first ch-1 sp to left of any corner on rnd 4; ch 3, 2 dc in same sp; *ch 2, sc in next ch-4 sp on rnd 6, ch 3, working behind next 5-st group on rnd 6, sc in 3rd dc of next 4-dc group on rnd 3, ch 3, working on front side, sc in next ch-4 sp on rnd 6, ch 2, 3 dc next ch-1 sp on rnd 4; ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp on rnd 5, working behind next corner, ch 35, working on front side, sc in next ch-1 sp on rnd 5, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * twice; ch 2, sc in next ch-4 sp on rnd 6, ch 3, working behind next 5-st group on rnd 6, sc in 3rd dc of next 4-dc group on rnd 3, ch 3, working on front side, sc in next ch-4 sp on rnd 6, ch 2, 3 dc next ch-1 sp on rnd 4; ch 2, sc in ch-1 sp on rnd 5, working behind next corner, ch 35, working on front side, sc in next ch-1 sp on rnd 5, ch 2; join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3. Do not fasten off.
Pull 1 ch-35 lp from back to front through ch-1 sp of corresponding corner on rnd 3, over ch-4 sp made on rnd 6 and from front to back through same sp on rnd 3; draw lp to front in ch-1 sp on corresponding corner on rnd 2. Rep with rem lps.
Rnd 8: : Sl st in next dc; ch 1, sc in same dc; *ch 5, sc in 2nd dc of next 3-dc group in rnd 6, ch 5, on rnd 7, sc in 2nd dc of next 3-dc group, ch 5, on rnd 5, sk next sc, sc in next dc, ch 5 -- corner lp made; sk next dc, sc in next dc, ch 5, on rnd 7, sc in 2nd dc of next 3-dc group; rep from * twice; ch 5, sc in 2nd dc of next 3-dc group on rnd 6, ch 5, on rnd 7, sc in 2nd dc of next 3-dc group, ch 5, on rnd 5, sk next sc, sc in next dc, ch 5 -- corner lp made; sk next dc, sc in next dc, ch 5; join with sl st in first sc.
Rnd 9: Ch 4 (counts as a dc and a ch-1 sp), sk next ch, [dc in next st, ch 1, sk next st] 8 times; *[dc in next ch, ch 1] 3 times -- corner made; sk next ch, [dc in next st, ch 1, [dc in next ch, ch 1] 13 times; rep from * twice; [dc in next ch, ch 1, sk next ch] 3 times -- corner made; sk next ch, [dc in next st, ch 1, sk next st] 3 times; join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-4. Fasten off.
Rnd 10:Join B with sl st in 2nd dc of any corner; ch 1, 3 sc in same dc -- corner made; *sc in each dc and in each ch to 2nd dc of next corner; 3 sc in 2nd dc -- corner made; rep from * twice; sc in each dc and in each ch to first sc; join with sl st in first sc.
Rnd 11: Ch 1, sc in same sc; 3 sc in next sc -- corner made; *sc in each sc to 2nd sc of next corner; 3 sc in 2nd sc -- corner made; rep from * twice; sc in each sc to first sc; join with sl st in first sc.
Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Center Knot
Join D with sl st in any ch-35 lp; ch 1, sc in same lp and in each rem lp; join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.

SQUARE B
Make 5.
Rnds 1-4: Rep rnds 1-4 of Square A.
Rnd 5: With D, rep rnd 5 of Square A.
Rnd 6: With A, rep rnd 6 of Square A.
Rnds 7-11: Rep rnds 7-11 of Square A.

Center Knot
Join A with sl st in any ch-35 lp; ch 1, sc in same lp and in each rem lp; join with sl st in first sc.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

SQUARE C
Make 5.
Rnds 1-4: With A, rep rnds 1-4 of Square A.
Rnd 5: With B, rep rnd 5 of Square A.
Rnd 6: With D, rep rnd 6 of Square A.
Rnds 7-11: Rep rnds 7-11 of Square A.

Center Knot
Join D with sl st in any ch-35 lp; ch 1, sc in same lp and in each rem lp; join with sl st in first sc.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

SQUARE D
Make 5.
Rnds 1-4: With A, rep rnds 1-4 of Square A.
Rnd 5: With D, rep rnd 5 of Square A.
Rnd 6: With B, rep rnd 6 of Square A.
Rnds 7-11: Rep rnds 7-11 of Square A.

Center Knot
Join B with sl st in any ch-35 lp; ch 1, sc in same lp and in each rem lp; join with sl st in first sc.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

SQUARE E
Make 5.
Rnds 1-4: With D, rep rnds 1-4 of Square A.
Rnd 5: With B, rep rnd 5 of Square A.
Rnd 6: With A, rep rnd 6 of Square A.
Rnds 7-11: Rep rnds 7-11 of Square A.

Center Knot
Join A with sl st in any ch-35 lp; ch 1, sc in same lp and in each rem lp; join with sl st in first sc.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

SQUARE F
Make 5.
Rnds 1-4: With D, rep rnds 1-4 of Square A.
Rnd 5: With A, rep rnd 5 of Square A.
Rnd 6: With B, rep rnd 6 of Square A.
Rnds 7-11: Rep rnds 7-11 of Square A.

Center Knot
Join B with sl st in any ch-35 lp; ch 1, sc in same lp and in each rem lp; join with sl st in first sc.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Assembly
Referring to photo for placement, join Squares in 6 rows of 5 Squares each. To join Squares, hold 2 Squares with WS tog; join A in 2nd sc of right-hand corner; ch 1, sc in same sc and in each sc to 2nd sc of next corner. Join Squares in rows; then join rows in same manner.

Outer Border
Rnd 1 (RS): Hold piece with RS facing you and 1 short end at top; join A with sl st in 2nd sc in upper right-hand corner; ch 1, 3 sc in same sc -- corner made; sc in each sc to 2nd sc of next outer corner; 3 sc in 2nd sc -- corner made; rep from * twice; sc in each sc to first sc; join with sl st in first sc.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in same sc; corner in next sc; sc in each sc to 2nd sc of next corner; corner in 2nd sc; rep from * twice; sc in each sc to first sc; join with sl st in first sc.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in same sc and in next sc; corner in next sc; sc in each sc to 2nd sc of next corner; corner in 2nd sc; rep from * twice; sc in each sc to first sc; join with sl st in first sc.
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in same sc and in next 2 sc; corner in next sc; sc in each sc to 2nd sc of next corner; corner in 2nd sc; rep from * twice; sc in each sc to first sc; join with sl st in first sc.
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in same sc and in next 3 sc; corner in next sc; sc in each sc to 2nd sc of next corner; corner in 2nd sc; rep from * twice; sc in each sc to first sc; join with sl st in first sc, turn.
Rnd 6 (WS): Ch 1, sc in next sc; *ch 2, sl st in top of sc just made, sc in next 3 sc,* rep from * around with 3 sc in 2nd sc of 3-dc group of each corner, join.
Fasten off and weave in ends.