Update November 2022: I have worked the square again and updated the pattern. When I made the square in 2019, I just did - not knowing much about pattern requirements, english crochet terms, stitch counts, testing and so on. Nevertheless it`s a nice square and worth getting a nice pattern. So I have checked again if terms are used correctly and if everything is understandable. I also added the stitch count and checked the size so that you can sure to get a nice 12'' . I also added some new pictures. Hope you like it.
A litlle fun fact to the name of the square: It's named after a character from a video game my son played in this time very often.
Abbreviations (US terms used):
bldc
– back loops only double crochet
blhdc- back loops only half double crochet
blsc – back loops only single crochet
ch- chain
dc- double crochet
fpsc- front post single crochet
hdc- half double crochet
sc- single crochet
sk- skip
slst – slip stitch
st
- stitch
tr-
treble crochet
Special
stitches:
dc3tog-
double crochet 3 together: (Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch,
yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops)
3 times, yarn over, draw through all loops on hook.
dc4tog-
double crochet 4 together: (Yarn
over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop,
yarn over and draw through 2 loops) 4 times, yarn over, draw
through all loops on hook.
pic-
picot: ch 3, slst to the back bump of first ch
Colours:
C1:
yellow
C2:
blueviolet
C3:
dark blue
C4:
light green
C5:
dark green
C6:
turquoise
Beginning
and finishing a round:
Beginning:
it is your choice: you can begin by chain (ch 1 instead of sc, ch 2
instead of hdc, ch 3 instead of dc, ch 4 instead of trc) or you start
by using standing stitches. I prefer standing stitches.
Finishing:
every round ends by a slst into the first stitch of the round.
Round
by round pattern:
Rd.1,
(C1): ch 6, slst to close circle
Rd.
2, (C1): [dc3tog, ch 2] x6, all worked in the circle. (6 dc3tog, 6 ch
2- spaces)
Rd .3, (C2): start in any ch 2- space: [dc4tog (first 2 dc are worked before the dc3tog of Rd.2 and the second two 2 dc are worked behind the dc3tog of Rd.2 in the next ch 2- space), pic, ch 3, sc in same ch 2-space, ch 3] x6. (6 cd4tog, 6 pic, 6 sc, 12 ch 3- spaces)
Rd.4, (C3): start in any ch 3- space before picot: [4 sc, ch 1 (placed behind pic), 4 sc into next ch 3- space, fpsc around sc] x6. (48 sc, 6 ch 1, 6 fpsc)
Rd.5, (C4): start in pic of R.3: [tr, now change to rd.4: skip first sc after the ch 1- space behind the rd. 3 pic, bldc, blhdc, blsc, fpsc around fpsc, sk first sc after the fpsc (maybe slightly hidden), blsc, blhdc, bldc] x6. (6 tr, 12 bldc, 12 blhdc, 12 blsc, 6 fpsc)
Rd.6, (C5), start in any fpsc: [sc in next 2 st, slst into next st, ch 3, dc into next st, (dc, ch 2, dc in next st – should be the tr), dc, ch 3, slst into next st, sc) x6 (18 sc, 12 slst, 24 dc, 12 ch 3, 6 ch 2- spaces)
Rd. 7, (C1), start in the first one of any 3 sc: [3 bldc, slst to 3rd ch of ch 3, ch 5, slst to 3rd ch of next ch 3] x 6. (18 bldc, 6 ch 5, 12 slst)
Rd.8, (C6), start in the first dc of any 3 dc: [dc, dc, ch1, dc directly in the next st, dc, ch 1, 2 dc in ch 5, ch 1, 2 dc into ch- spaces of Rd.6 AND Rd.7, ch 1, dc in ch 5, dc in slst, ch 1] x6. (60 dc, 30 ch 1)
Rd. 9, (C3), start in any ch 1: [2 dc in ch 1, dc, dc]. Repeat all around. (120 dc). At this point, your square may curl a little bit. Don't panic. It will flatten out during the next rounds. And if that's not enough for you, you can still block it in the end.
Rd.10, (C2), start in any dc: [5 dc in one st, sk 4 stitches]. Repeat all around (120 dc)
Rd.11, (C4). This is the squaring round. Start in the gap between any two dc- groups: [ (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr = corner made), sk the next st ( maybe hidden), 4 dc, 5 hdc, 11 sc, 5 hdc, 4 dc] x4 (33 st per Side)
Rd.12, (C4), start in any corner ch- space: [ (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr = corner made) , 6 dc, 5 hdc, 11 sc, 5 hdc, 6 dc] x4 (37 st per side)
Rd.13, (C5), start in any corner: [(sc, ch2, sc) into corner ch- space= corner made, 37 blsc] x4 (39 st per side)
Weave in all ends. Give your square a slight blocking if required. Have fun with your new square!