Cluster Square

Cluster Square ~

Free Crochet Pattern

This Cluster Square is part of the 2015 American Crochet Afghan Crochet Along. Enjoy!

• Click HERE to purchase the pdf for your convenience.

Level of Difficulty – Beginner/Intermediate

Yarn – Red Heart Super Saver Color A Yellow, Color B Shocking Pink, and Color C Jade. I used roughly 50 yards

Hook and Notions – Hook Size: I (5.50mm)

Measurement – 12 inches square

Gauge – N/A

Abbreviations
Ch/chs = chain/chains
Dc = double crochet
Dc cl = double crochet cluster
Fpdc – front post double crochet
Hdc = half double crochet
Sc = single crochet
Sp/sps = space/spaces
St/sts = stitch/stitches

Special Stitch
Double Crochet Cluster Stitch (DC CL) also Double Crochet 3 Together Stitch (DC3Tog) – YO hook insert hook into the indicated stitch.  YO and draw up a loop, YO and draw through the first 2 loops on the hook.  YO insert our hook in same st and draw through a loop; you should have 4 loops on your hook.  YO draw through the first 2 loops only and you should have 3 loops on your hook.  YO and insert hook same stitch and draw through that will give you 5 loops on your hook.  YO and draw through the first 2 loops. That will leave you with 4 loops on your hook.  YO and draw through all 4 loops on the hook.  Secure the cluster with a chain stitch.

Front Post Treble Crochet (abbreviated FPtr): yarn over twice, insert hook from front to back around post of stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), (yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times.

Notes
Chain 1 on rounds do not count as stitch unless otherwise stated.
Carry colors B and C up for rounds 3-10

Instructions

Color A

Chain 5, slip stitch together to form circle.

Round 1: Working in the circle chain 3 (counts as 1^st dc), work 2dc, chain 3, work * 3 dc, chain 3, * repeat 2 times, join with a slip stitch in the first dc. (4 sets of 3 dc and 4 ch 3 sps)

Round 2: Chain 1, fpdc in same stitch as join and around the next stitch, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next chain 2 space (first corner made), * fpdc around next 3 dc, work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next chain 2 space, * repeat 2 times, fpdc around next dc, join with a slip stitch in first fpdc. (12 fpdc and 4 corners)

Fasten off Color A; join Color B

Round 3: Chain 1, hdc in same stitch as join, chain 1, skip the next stitch, hdc in the next stitch, chain 1, skip the next stitch, hdc in next stitch, * skip the next 2 dc, work (2 hdc, ch 2, 2hdc) in chain 2 space, corner made, chain 1, skip hdc next to next corner,* repeat from * to * to the end, join with a slip stitch in the first hdc. (16 ch 1 sps 4 on each side between corners and 4 ch 2 sps)

Round 4: Slip Stitch to the chain 1 space, work dc cl in the same chain 1 space, skip the next hdc, work dc cl, work (dc cl, ch 1, dc cl) in the corner, * in the next chain 1 space, work dc cl, skip next hdc, * repeat to the next chain 2 corner, work (dc cl, ch 1, dc cl) in the corner,  repeat from * to * to next chain 2 corner, work (dc cl, ch 1, dc cl) in corner,  repeat  from * to * to next corner work (dc cl, ch 1, dc cl) in corner, repeat * repeat from * to * , join with a slip stitch in top of first dc cl.  (24 clusters total 4 clusters on each side between corners)

Fasten off Color B; join Color C

Round 5: Repeat Round 3 (32 ch 1 sp 6 per side between corners)

Fasten off Color C; join Color B

Round 6: Repeat Round 4 (32 clusters 6 per side between corners)

Fasten off Color B; join Color C

Rnd 7: Repeat Rnd 3 (40 ch 1 sps 8 per side between corners)

Fasten off Color C; join Color B

Round 8: Repeat Round 4 (40 clusters 8 per side between corners)

Fasten off Color B; join Color C

Round 9: Repeat Round 3 (48 ch 1 sps 10 per side between corners)

Fasten off Color C; join Color B

Round 10: Repeat Round 4 (48 clusters 10 per side between corners) Fasten off Color B

Fasten off Color B; join Color C

Round 11: Chain 1, hdc in same stitch as join, * hdc in each stitch across to corner, work (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner chain 2 space, * repeat from * to * around; join with a slip stitch to beginning hdc. (108hdc, 23 hdc on each side between corners)

Fasten off and weave in ends

Happy Hookin!
XO, Mistie