Dally Dahlia Crochet Granny Square Photo Tutorial

Dally Dahlia is based mainly on clusters of Treble Crochet (Double Crochet if you're used to US terms). If you're new to those, this is a great pattern for you because you'll get lots of practice!

I love how versatile this square is and how playing around with different colour sequences gives you a completely different effect. The blue and green ones are quite soft and emphasise the six-pointed star shape in the centre. The dark yellow one, on the other hand, is striking and moody. Or you could just do all the clusters in the same colour and get a central part that looks like a dahlia, which is where this square got its name from.

Learn how to crochet the Dally Dahlia Granny Square with this photo tutorial.

Materials

• 3.0 mm (D/3) hook
• DMC Natura Just Cotton (fingering weight)
• Colours: Ivory (A), Aswan (B), Blue Jeans (C), Gris Argent (D)

Square Size

• 11 cm x 11 cm (ca. 4.5" by 4.5")

Notes

• The abbreviations are given in UK terms (with US terms in brackets)

Abbreviations

• treble crochet - TC (double crochet - DC);
• treble crochet cluster- TC cluster (double crochet cluster - DC cluster);
• half treble crochet - HTC (half double crochet - HDC);
• double crochet - DC (single crochet - SC);
• chain - ch (chain stitch - ch);
• slip stitch - sl.st.

Instructions

Round 1

With colour A make a starting chain of 6, then make into a circle with a sl.st into the first ch.

Round 2

To make your first 3-TC (DC) cluster, begin with a chain 2 (counts as first TC (DC)). YO, insert hook into circle and pull up a loop.

 YO again and pull through the first two loops on your hook. You should now have two half-finished TCs (DCs).

YO again, pull up a loop, YO and pull through the first two loops on your hook. You should now have three half-finished TCs (DCs).

To finish the cluster, YO and pull through all 3 loops on your hook. Ch 1.

To continue the round, make 7 more [3-TC clusters (3-DC clusters) + ch 1], giving you 8 clusters in total. To close the circle, join to the ch 1 after the first cluster with a sl.st. Pull through and cut yarn.

Round 3

Pull colour B through any ch 1 gap made by the previous round, and ch 2 (counts as first TC (DC)).

In the same space, work 4 more half-finished TCs (DCs), ch 1 to complete the cluster of 5 TCs (DCs), then ch 1 again.

To continue the round, make 7 more [5-TC clusters (5-DC clusters) + ch 2] in each ch 1 space, giving you 8 clusters in total. To close the circle, join to the ch 1 after the first cluster with a sl.st. Pull through and cut yarn. At the end of this round your "square" will look more like a bowl than a flat square - don't panic! The next round as well as blocking at the end will sort that out.

Round 4

Pull colour C through the first ch 1 you made after any cluster of the previous row and ch 2 (counts are first TC (DC))). Make this into a 4-TC cluster (4-DC cluster) in the same st, then ch 2.

Make the next 4-TC cluster (4-DC cluster) into the top of the first TC (DC) of the next cluster.

To continue the round, make 15 more [4-TC clusters (4-DC clusters) + ch 2] in each st as described above, giving you 16 clusters in total. To close the circle, join to the ch 1 after the first cluster with a sl.st. Pull through and cut yarn.

Round 5

Pull colour A through any ch 2 gap in the previous round and ch 4 (counts as first HTC (HDC) + ch 2). DC (SC) 1 in the next space and ch 2. HTC (HDC) 1 in the next space and ch 2. To make a corner, in the next space TC (DC) 1, ch 4, TC (DC) 1 in the same space.

Continue going round until you've made a square. Join to 2nd ch with a sl.st.

Round 6

Pull colour D through any ch 2 gap that is not on a corner, and ch 3 (counts as first TC (DC)). TC (DC) 2 in the same space. Continue making 3 TCs (DCs) in each space until you get to a corner. On the corner, TC (DC) 2, ch 4, TC (DC) 2.

Continue until you've gone all the way around the square. Join to the 3rd ch with a sl.st. Pull through and cut yarn.

Round 7

Pull colour C through any st in the previous row that is not a corner and ch 2 (counts as first DC (SC)). DC (SC) 1 in each stitch until you get to a corner. Around the 4 chains on the corner, DC (SC) 2, ch 1, DC (SC) 2. Continue until you've gone all the way round the square. Join to the 2nd ch with a sl.st. Pull through and cut yarn.

Finishing

And you're done! Now it's time to sew in and trim any ends on the reverse side and block the square by laying it out on a foam block or mat, spraying with water until soaked, and pinning it into shape. Leave it to dry completely (away from direct sunlight).