Pin The Circle Of Life 12″ Square For Later!
Circle Of Life 12″ Square
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The Design:
The Circle Of Life 12″ Square was my contribution to the Red Heart Joy Creators Wedding Blanket Crochet Along! Community is a wonderful and powerful thing! You see, I’m a member of a small community of crocheters that feature Red Heart yarn designs. The leader of this group is a lovely young lady named Allison and she got married last month! Well, we couldn’t let the event pass without a special gift for the newlyweds so we all got together and designed 12″ squares that would be joined into a throw and presented at the bridal shower! And since we wanted you to enjoy it too, we turned it into a Crochet Along that you can follow! See all the details over at Marly Bird.
The design inspiration for my square is the never ending cycle of life, hence the name, Circle of Life! I wanted my square to represent the cycle of life so I started it with a small circle radiating from the center to represent the beginning and early life, radiating into the Circle of Life braid, representing their union in marriage; then the square continues to expand and changes in texture to represent their growth together, paths in life and a promising future.
The Yarn:
We used Chic Sheep by Marly Bird and the colors were chosen to coordinate with Allison’s color scheme. I love this yarn — It is so soft and pleasant to work with and comes in a lovely array of colors. See my yarn reviews HERE.
I tried it in other yarn and color combinations too, what do you think?
Here’s a photo of the finished blanket, isn’t it lovely?
Size: 12” Square
=>>See the Right and Left Handed Video tutorials HERE!<<=
Materials:
- Made with worsted weight yarn, I used Red Heart Sheep Chic by Marly Bird in 3 colors.
- Color 1: VIP (blue)
- Color 2: Linen (ivory)
- Color 3: Suede (tan)
- Hook Clover Amour H/5.00 mm
- Tapestry Needle
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Gauge: See checkpoints throughout pattern.
Abbreviations (US Terms):
ch: chain
dc: double crochet
hdc: half double crochet
sc: single crochet
sl: slip
st(s): stitch(es)
tog: together
YO: yarn over
Special Stitches:
CL: Insert hook in designated space, *YO and pull loop through, YO and pull through 2 loops* (2 loops on hook), repeat between * (3 loops on hook), YO and pull through 2 loops two times.
CL3: Insert hook in designated space or stitch, *YO and pull loop through, YO and pull through 2 loops* (2 loops on hook), repeat between * 2 times (4 loops on hook), YO and pull through 3 loops, YO and pull through last 2 loops on hook.
Notes:
- Pattern written in US Standard terms
- The ch1 at the beginning of a round DOES NOT count as a stitch.
- Chain stitches within a round DO count as stitches.
- The stitch count is in ( ) at end of each round.
- Repeat instructions within [ ] or * as indicated.
- Join rounds with slip stitch to first stitch of round.
- Use same color as previous round unless change is noted.
- Fasten off at color changes.
- For best results, weave ends as you work.
Circle of Life Instructions
Round 1 (Color 1): Start with a Magic Circle, ch1, 12sc in center of circle, join. Pull tail tightly to close center hole. (12 sc)
Round 2: Ch3 (counts as hdc + ch1), [hdc, ch1] in each st to end, join to second ch of beginning ch3. (12 hdc + 12 ch1)
Round 3 (Color 2): Join yarn in any ch1 space, ch2, dc in same space (counts as first CL), ch2, [CL, ch2] in each ch1 space to end, join. (12 CL + 12 chain spaces)
Round 4: Ch1, [sc in CL, 3 sc in ch space] to end, join. Gauge Check = 3.5” diameter (48 sc)
Round 5: Ch5 (counts as hdc + ch3), skip 2, [hdc in next st, ch3, skip 2] to end, join to 2nd ch of beginning ch5. (16 hdc + 16 chain spaces)
Round 6: This round establishes the beginning of the square by creating 4 corners. Ch 8 (counts as dc + ch5), dc in same hdc, 2dc in next ch3 space, [hdc in next hdc, 2hdc in next ch3 space] 2 times, hdc in next hdc, 2dc in next ch2 space, *[dc, ch5, dc] in next hdc, 2dc in next ch3 space, [hdc in next hdc, 2hdc in next ch3 space] 2 times, hdc in next hdc, 2dc in next ch2 space*, repeat between * to end, join to 3rd ch of beginning ch8. Gauge Check = 5.25” diameter (24 dc + 28 hdc + 4 corner spaces)
Round 7: Sl st into corner space, ch2 (does NOT count as stitch) *[CL3, ch2, CL3, ch5, CL3, ch2, CL3] in corner ch space, ch3, skip 3, work dc in space between 3rd and 4th st, ch3, skip 3, dc in next hdc, ch3, skip 3, work dc in space between 10th and 11th st, ch3, skip last 3 sts*, repeat between * to end, join to top of first CL3. (16 CL3 + 12 dc + 16 ch3 spaces + 8 ch2 spaces + 4 corner spaces)
Round 8: Sl st across each st until you are into corner space, ch2 (does NOT count as stitch) *[CL3, ch2, CL3, ch5, CL3, ch2, CL3] in corner ch space, ch2, skip next 2 CL3, 3dc in each ch3 space and 1 dc in each dc up to next CL3, ch2, skip next 2 CL3*, repeat between * to end, ch2, join to top of first CL3, join. (16 CL3 + 60 dc + 16 ch2 spaces + 4 corner spaces)
Round 9: Ch1, *sc in CL3, sc in ch2 space, sc in CL3, [2sc, ch2, 2sc] in corner ch space, sc in CL3, sc in ch2 space, sc in CL3, 2sc in ch2 space, sc in each dc to next ch2 space, 2sc in ch2 space*, repeat between * to end, join. Gauge Check = 9.5” diameter (116 sc + 4 corner spaces)
Round 10 (Color 1): Join in any corner ch space, ch1, *[sc, ch2, sc] in corner ch space, sc in each st to next corner*, repeat between * to end, join. (124 sc + 4 ch spaces)
Round 11 (Color 3): Join in any corner ch space, ch2 (counts as hdc) 2hdc in same corner space, [ch1, skip 1, hdc in next st] 15 times, ch1 skip 1, *3hdc in corner ch space, [ch1, skip 1, hdc in next st] 15 times, ch1 skip 1*, repeat between * to end, join. (72 hdc + 64 ch1 spaces)
Round 12 (Color 2): Join in any corner (middle hdc of corner), ch2 (counts as hdc), 2hdc in same corner st, [ch1, skip 1, hdc in next ch1 space] to last ch1 space before corner, ch1 skip 1, *3hdc in corner st, [ch1, skip 1, hdc in next ch space] to last ch1 space before corner, ch1, skip 1*, repeat between * to end, join. (76 hdc + 68 ch1 spaces)
Round 13 (Color 3): Join in any corner (middle hdc of corner), ch2 (counts as hdc), 2hdc in same corner st, [ch1, hdc in next ch1 space] to last ch1 space before corner, ch1, *3hdc in corner st, [ch1, hdc in next ch1 space] to last ch1 space before corner, ch1*, repeat between * to end, join. (80 hdc + 72 ch1 spaces)
Round 14 (Color 1): Join in any corner, ch1, *3sc in corner, 2sc in each ch1 space to next corner*, repeat between * to end, join. Gauge Check = 10.5” diameter (156 sc)
Round 15 (Color 2): Join in any corner, ch5 (counts as dc + ch2), dc in same st, dc in each sc to next corner, *[dc, ch2, dc] in corner, dc in each sc to next corner, repeat between * to end, join. (160 dc + 4 corner spaces)
Round 16: Sl st into corner ch space, ch1, *3sc in corner, working in back loop only, sc in each st to next corner*, repeat between * to end, join. (172 sc)
Adding Circle of Life Round – worked around the hdc in Round 5.
- With Color 3, join around any hdc of Round 5, ch11, sl st in first ch made, ch3, *sl st around next hdc of Round 5, ch11, sl st in first ch made, ch3*, repeat between * until you have 15 loops, sl st around last hdc of Round 5, ch11, fasten off leaving a 6 inch tail.
- Working counter clockwise, slip second loop made through first loop, slip each loop through the previous one until only the chain 11 remains. Thread yarn tail onto a tapestry needle, insert ch11 through last loop, slip ch11 around base of first loop, insert ch11 back through same spot where you inserted it in the last loop, secure in back of square.
(See photo tutorial below)
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