This week I created a pattern starting with the 8-petal African Flower pattern. This square does tend to curl a little bit after you create the flower part, so it will definitely need a little bit of blocking when it is finished!
I’m using a size I/9 (5.5 mm) hook, and worsted weight size 4 yarn for every one of these squares to keep stitch sizing consistent. My squares don’t always look completely “square” at the end of each pattern. I intend to block them all at the end of this project before I sew them together!
I changed colors at random with this square. However!! Feel free to change colors as few or as many times as you want!! Color changes listed in pattern are just my suggestion, please feel free to stretch your creativity and make these squares any way you want to. I think it would even be pretty amazing in one solid color!
The colors I used are:
Color 1: Impeccable Yarn in Bright Sky Blue
Color 2: Red Heart Super Saver in Pale Yellow
Color 3: Impeccable Yarn in Grape Punch
Color 4: Red Heart Jumbo in Pretty N’ Pink
Color 5: Red Heart Super Saver in Aruba Sea
Confession time! I actually started 3 (three!!!!) different square patterns for this week. Each one worked beautifully at first, but as I got into the pattern I found typos, or stitch counts that didn’t add up. I started this project to try new things, but I didn’t want it to be confusing. And I don’t want it to be so frustrating that you give up and don’t want to participate anymore!
So…I picked up one of my “starter” pieces, and decided to create a pattern myself! I don’t have individual photos here for Round 1 and Round 2, but those rounds are pretty straightforward so I hope you will forgive me this time.
I’m calling this square the African Flower Revisited. Usually when you see the African Flower pattern it only calls for one extra round after the flower “petals” to create a square look. I just continued around with a few different stitches to create a 12 inch square!
To begin: Ch 8, sl st to make circle
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc, (ch 1, 2dc) 7 times, ch 1, sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch 3
Round 2: (change color), starting in ch 1 sp: Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2dc, *ch 1, (2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in ch sp, repeat from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch 3, DO NOT fasten off
Round 3: sl st over to ch 2 sp, *7dc in ch 2 sp, ch 1, repeat from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of 1st dc. fasten off
Round 4: (change color), (start in 1st st of 7dc fan), *ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 6 st, *sc down into ch sp from previous row, sc in next 7 st, repeat from * around, sl st to beginning sc, fasten off
Round 5: (change color), starting in dropped down sc: Ch 2 (does not count as stitch), hdc in same stitch, *sc in next 4 stitches, hdc in next, dc in next 2 stitches, [tr, ch 3, tr] all in next stitch, dc in next 2 stitches, hdc in next stitch, sc in next 4 stitches, hdc in next stitch* 4 times, sl st in first hdc to join, fasten off
Round 5: (change color), starting in dropped down sc: Ch 2 (does not count as stitch), hdc in same stitch, *sc in next 4 stitches, hdc in next, dc in next 2 stitches, [tr, ch 3, tr] all in next stitch, dc in next 2 stitches, hdc in next stitch, sc in next 4 stitches, hdc in next stitch* 4 times, sl st in first hdc to join, fasten off
Round 6: (change color), starting in corner: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), (hdc, ch 2, 2hdc in corner), *hdc in each st across, (2hdc, ch 2, 2hdc) in corner, repeat from * around, sl st to 2nd ch or beginning ch 2, fasten off
Round 7: (change color), starting in corner: Ch 3 (counts as dc), (dc, ch 3, 2dc in corner), *dc in each st across, (2dc, ch 3, 2dc) in corner, repeat from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch 3, fasten off
Round 8: (change color), starting in corner: Ch 3, (2dc, ch 3, 3dc) in corner, *ch 1, sk 2st, 3dc in next st, repeat from * to corner, (3dc, ch3, 3dc) in corner, repeat from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of starting ch 3, fasten off
Round 9: (change color), starting in corner: Ch 3, (2dc, ch 3, 3dc) in corner, *ch 1, sk 2st, 3dc in next st, repeat from * to corner, (3dc, ch3, 3dc) in corner, repeat from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of starting ch 3, fasten off
Round 10: (change color), starting in corner: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), (hdc, ch 2, 2hdc in corner), *hdc in each st across, (2hdc, ch 2, 2hdc) in corner, repeat from * around, sl st to 2nd ch or beginning ch 2, fasten off
And there you have I! A fairly simple way to turn an African Flower into a square! I made a baby blanket using the smaller version (6 petal) of the African Flower pattern. Instead of making a square, I kept the hexagon shape for that project. I like this square so much I may make an entire blanket out of it!
I hope you have fun making this square! I am happiest when I am creating. I love to see how all these bit and bobs of color can turn into this amazing work of art! Don’t forget to come back next Friday to get the pattern for Week 12!
We will be adding a border to each square to ensure that each one is the same “size” around, since some of these squares have a different number of stitches around the edge! Then we will join all the squares together and add a border.
