Crochet a block: Three innovative designs

Three new blocks

With these three innovative designs you can use your creativity to crochet a blanket, beanie or jersey that you can donate to a charity or to help out someone in need.

project GINA ROSS

DIFFICULTY Advanced beginner

SIZE Approximately 9 x 9cm blocked

YOU WILL NEED ♥ African Expressions Harmony, approximately 8g of yarn per square (colours used for samples: 2552, 2281, 2052, 2127, 2131, 2011, 2126, 2119) ♥ 4,5mm crochet hook ♥ scissors ♥ darning needle or thinner crochet hook for joining and working ends away

ABBREVIATIONS (American crochet terms) ch ‒ chain dc ‒ double crochet hdc ‒ half double crochet rnd ‒ round sc ‒ single crochet sl st ‒ slip stitch sp ‒ space

NOTE Break yarn = cut yarn and pull the end through the current slip knot to secure. BLOCK 1 Make a magic circle. Rnd 1: Work in magic circle ch3 and 11dc, sl st into 3rd ch to join. Break yarn. Rnd 2: Start rnd by working into a ch-sp from rnd 1, join in new colour and ch4, (sc into next ch-sp, ch1) x 3, ch2, (sc into next ch-sp, ch1) x 3, ch2, (sc into next chsp, ch1) x 3, ch2, (sc into next ch-sp, ch1) x 2, sl st to 2nd ch of ch4 to close rnd. Rnd 3: Start rnd by working into a ch3-sp from rnd 2, ch3, 2dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1, (into next ch3 work 3dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1) x 3, sl st into the top of the first ch3 to join. Break yarn. Rnd 4: Start rnd by working into a ch2-sp from rnd 3, join in new colour, ch3, 2dc, ch2, 3dc, (dc into next ch1 from rnd 3, dc into next ch-sp from rnd 2, dc into next ch1 from rnd 3, then into next ch2-sp, 3dc, ch2, 3dc) x 3, dc into next ch1 from rnd 3, dc into ch-sp from rnd 2, dc into next ch1 from rnd 3, sl st into the top of the first ch3 to join. Break yarn. Rnd 5: Start rnd by working into a ch2-sp from rnd 4, join in new colour, ch3, hdc, ch2, 2hdc, (hdc into next 8 dc, into the next ch2-sp work 2hdc, ch2, 2hdc) x 3, hdc into next 8 dc, sl st into the top of the first ch3 to join. Break yarn. BLOCK 2 Make a magic circle. Rnd 1: Work in magic circle ch3 and 7dc, sl st into top of ch3 to join. Rnd 2: ch 7, (sc into 2nd available crochet sp, ch6) x 3, sl st to 2nd ch of ch7 to close rnd. Break yarn. Rnd 3: Start rnd by working into the ch7-sp from rnd 2, join in new colour, ch3, 2dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1, (into next ch3 work 3dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1) x 3, sl st into the top of the first ch3 to join. Break yarn. Rnd 4: Start rnd by working into a ch2-sp from rnd 3, join in new colour, ch3, 2dc, ch2, 3dc, (3dc into next ch1 from rnd 3, then into next ch2-sp work 3dc, ch2, 3dc) x 3, 3dc into next ch1 from rnd 3, sl st into the top of the first ch3 to join. Break yarn. Rnd 5: Start rnd by working into a ch2-sp from rnd 4, join in new colour, ch3, hdc, ch2, 2hdc, (hdc into next 8 dc, into the next ch2-sp work 2hdc, ch2, 2hdc) x 3, hdc into next 8 dc, sl st into the top of the first ch3 to join. Break yarn.

BLOCK 1

BLOCK 2

BLOCK 3

BLOCK 3 Make a magic circle. Rnd 1: Work in magic circle ch3, 2dc, (ch1, 3dc) x 3, sl st into top of ch3 to join. Break yarn. Rnd 2: Start rnd by working into any sp from rnd 1, join in new colour, in first sp work ch3, 2dc, ch2, 3dc, (ch1, into next 2ch from rnd 1 work 3dc, ch2, 3dc) x 3, sl st to top of ch3 to close rnd. Break yarn. Rnd 3: Start rnd by working into a ch2-sp from rnd 2, join in new colour, ch3, 6dc, (ch2, dc into next ch1 from rnd 2, ch2, then into next 2ch-sp from rnd 2 work 7dc) x 3, sl st into the top of the first ch3 to join. Break yarn. Rnd 4: Start rnd by working into the ch2-sp from rnd 3 at the top left of the square, join in new colour, in the same ch2-sp work ch3, 2dc, (dc into next 3 dc, ch3, dc into the next 3 dc, 3dc into next ch2-sp, 3dc into the next ch2-sp) x 3, 3dc into the last 2ch-sp, sl st into the top of the first ch3 to join. Break yarn.

FINISHING Work in loose yarn ends at back of work and block lightly. Join the blocks together by sewing or working sc.

Chain (ch) Single crochet (sc) Half double crochet (hd) Double crochet (dc) Join new colour

Joining bar (slip stitch)