Alter Nate Crochet Square

As my geometric designs seem to have achieved the most attention I am aiming to produce a few more for your delight and delectation. This square builds upon Alter Ego, but with a square result. It is a very basic solid square, with minimal weaving of ends, despite working with 4 colours at once.

The example was made with 4 colours (plus border) of 4 ply BFL sock yarn on a 3 mm hook. It could also be worked with double knitting yarn on a 4.5mm hook, or worsted weight yarn and a 5.5mm (I) hook. Repeat rounds until the required measurements are reached.

You will require 4 stitch markers.

American terminology used throughout.

Special terminology: For this design “corner” = 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in same stitch or chain space

Set-up: With Colour A ch 4, join into ring with slip stitch into first ch.

Rnd 1: ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc into ring 2 times, place marker in working loop. Join Colour B into ring, ch 2 (counts as a dc) dc into ring 2 times, place marker in working loop. Join Colour C into ring, ch 2 (counts as a dc) dc into ring 2 times, place marker in working loop. Join Colour D into ring, ch 2 (counts as a dc) dc into ring 2 times,join with slip stitch into 2^nd chain of Colour A, and place second marker in working loop. (12 stitches)

This is a bit fiddly to start, but here's a photo to explain:

From now on, each stitch worked will be into a stitch of a different colour. This should produce straight lines of colour division, one horizontal and one vertical.

Rnd 2: Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour A. Join to 2^nd chain of Colour B on previous round. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), “corner” in next stitch, then dc in last stitch of that colour, place marker in working loop. Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour B. Join to 2^nd chain of Colour C on previous round. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), “corner” in next stitch, then dc in last stitch of that colour, place marker in working loop. Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour C. Join to 2^nd chain of Colour D on previous round. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), “corner” in next stitch, then dc in last stitch of that colour, place marker in working loop. Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour D. Join to 2^nd chain of Colour A on previous round. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), “corner” in next stitch, then dc in last stitch of that colour, join with slip stitch into 2^nd chain of Colour A on current round, and place marker in working loop. (24 stitches)

That was a lot of words, so this is what is should look like at this point:

Rnd 3: Keeping the pattern of colour changing going, dc once in each stitch of previous round and “corner” in each chain space. Remember to join colours with slip stitches to hold the fabric together.

Repeat round 3 until you reach your desired measurements.

(Design note: It would be possible to work this design in 2 colours where colour 1 = colour A and B, and colour 2 = colour C and D.)

Copyright Dec 2010 Catkitbob designs