(Pour la traduction française, cliquez ici. Traduit par Véronique Malanda Mavouala de Chez Horaive.)

After a lot of back-and-forth between the seasons here in Michigan, I think (I said think) it’s safe to say that Spring has officially sprung. So I’m excited to reveal this year’s contribution to the Moogly 2016 Afghan CAL: the Zinnia 12″ Crochet Square!

If you followed along with the CAL last year, you might think this square looks very familiar. And you’re right! I took my inspiration from my 2015 submission, the Neverending Wildflower 12″ Square.

This flower is built similarly, but has a significant difference: instead of petals that increase in width, as in last year’s square, this one has petals that stay the same size and only increase in quantity, resulting in a mass of tiny petals — much like a Zinnia flower. It’s a great match to the 2015 square, and the two together might make a stunning blanket of their own!

ZINNIA 12″ SQUARE

(Pour la traduction française, cliquez ici.)

Difficulty: Easyish
Final Size: 12″x12″
Hook: I (5.50mm)
Yarn: Vanna’s Choice, or your favorite #4 aran weight yarn. I used about 130 yards (total) of Vanna’s Choice, in colors Linen, Dusty Purple, Purple, and Taupe.
You’ll also need: Yarn needle, small button and tools to attach it (optional)
Gauge: Circle after Round 3 should measure 3.75” in diameter.

Notes:


• This pattern is written in American Standard Terms.
• The flower, including its petals, are worked as a part of the granny square as a whole. Rounds will alternate between increase rounds and petals. Increase rounds will be called “round 1, 2, 3” etc, and petal rounds will be referred to as “1^st round of petals, 2^nd round of petals,” etc. Because each petal round shares its space with the increase round below it, they are not counted as part of the pattern’s total rounds.
• CH1 on the increase rounds does not count as a stitch.
• Be mindful that the pattern alternates in calling for FLO (Front Loops Only) and BLO (Back Loops Only).
• If doing a multi-colored flower, the best place to change colors is on the increase rounds (not the petal rounds).

PART 1: THE FLOWER

Begin with a Magic Circle; CH1.

Round 1: 12 DC in MC. Join with a SL ST to first DC. (12)

1^st Round of Petals (FLO – don’t miss this!): CH2. In same St, 2DC, CH2, SL ST. This is your first petal. (SL ST to next St. In same St, CH2, 2DC, CH2, SL ST to same St) around. SL ST to base of 1^st CH2. (12 petals)

Round 2 (BLO – You’re now going to work around Round 1 again, this time working in the loop that you ignored during the first round of petals): SL ST to 1^st back loop of Round 1. CH1. 2DC in same ST. 2 DC in each ST around. Join with a SL ST to first DC. (24)

2^nd Round of Petals (FLO): CH2. DC in same ST. In next ST, DC, CH2, SL ST. (SL ST to next St, CH2, DC in same ST. In next ST, DC, CH2, SL ST) around. SL ST to base of 1^st CH2. (12 petals)

Round 3 (BLO): SL ST to 1^st back loop of Round 2. CH1. 2DC in same ST, DC in next ST. (2DC in next ST, DC in next ST) around. Join with a SL ST to first DC. (36)

3^rd Round of Petals (FLO): CH2. DC in same ST. In next ST, DC, CH2, SL ST. (SL ST to next St, CH2, DC in same ST. In next ST, DC, CH2, SL ST) around.  SL ST to base of 1^st CH2. (18 petals)

Round 4 (BLO): SL ST to 1^st back loop of Round 3. CH1. 2DC in same ST, DC in each of the next 2 STS. (2DC in next ST, DC in each of the next 2 STS) around. Join with a SL ST to first DC. (48)

4^th Round of Petals (FLO): CH2. DC in same ST. In next ST, DC, CH2, SL ST. (SL ST to next St, CH2, DC in same ST. In next ST, DC, CH2, SL ST) around.  SL ST to base of 1^st CH2. To complete flower, SL ST to 1^st BLO of Round 4. (24 petals)

PART 2: THE SQUARE

Round 5 (BLO): CH2 (does not count as a stitch, here and throughout the rest of the pattern). In same ST, 2DC, CH2, 2DC. DC in next. HDC in each of the next 3 STS. SC in each of the next 3 STS. HDC in each of the next 3 STS. DC in next ST. (In next ST, 2DC, CH2, 2DC. DC in next. HDC in each of the next 3 STS. SC in each of the next 3 STS. HDC in each of the next 3 STS. DC in next ST) 3 times. Join to 1^st DC of the round with a SL ST. (Total STS per side, not including the corner CH2s, is 15.)

Round 6: CH2. DC around, putting (2DC, CH2, 2DC) in each corner chain space. Join to 1^st DC of the round with a SL ST. (Total STS per side, not including the corner CH2s, is 19.)

Round 7: CH2. DC around, putting (2DC, CH2, 2DC) in each corner chain space. Join to 1^st DC of the round with a SL ST. (Total STS per side, not including the corner CH2s, is 23.)

Round 8: CH2. DC around, putting (2DC, CH2, 2DC) in each corner chain space. Join to 1^st DC of the round with a SL ST. (Total STS per side, not including the corner CH2s, is 27.)

Round 9: CH2. DC around, putting (2DC, CH2, 2DC) in each corner chain space. Join to 1^st DC of the round with a SL ST. (Total STS per side, not including the corner CH2s, is 31.)

Round 10: CH2. DC around, putting (2DC, CH2, 2DC) in each corner chain space. Join to 1^st DC of the round with a SL ST. (Total STS per side, not including the corner CH2s, is 35.)

Round 11: CH2. DC around, putting (2DC, CH2, 2DC) in each corner chain space. Join to 1^st DC of the round with a SL ST. (Total STS per side, not including the corner CH2s, is 39.)

Fasten off and weave in all ends.