Sun Squares crochet + pattern

We've been enduring a coooooold snap here in South Carolina, so most evenings I want nothing more than to cozy up on the sofa with some soft yarn to spin up sun squares crochet.  Yep, I've been making steady progress on my resurrected crochet project!

Sun Squares crochet progress

Today I decided to find a way to get these pretties on my wall.  It's a crochet design wall!  Courtesy of masking tape.

Sun Squares crochet progress

Sun Squares crochet progress

Ok, so maybe it was an excessive use of masking tape, but now I can really see how much I've done and which color combos I'd like to repeat.  

Sun Squares crochet progress

It totally was not an excuse to spend my morning in the warmest room in the house.  I would never do that.

What do you think?  Looks like about half a blanket to me!

Sun Squares crochet progress

By the way, I wanted to link you to the crochet tutorial I began following years ago when I started this project, but the site has been taken down.  Sad face.  It was the "circle-in-a-square granny pattern" by 1/4 of an Inch.  I have changed the pattern just a tad, so I'll record it here in crochet-speak for those who are familiar with American-style crochet patterns.  Change color after each round.

{Sun Square Crochet Pattern}

Foundation Ring:  Chain 4, join with slip stitch to form ring.

Round 1:  Chain 3 (counts as 1 triple), 11 triple into the ring, join with slip stitch into 3rd of starting chain.  Round one appears as 12 triple crochet all into the center of the ring.

Round 2: Join yarn into space between any triple crochet.
  • Starting shape:  Chain 2, yarn over and insert hook in same space between triple crochet, yarn over, draw the yarn through space (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 2 loops, leaving one on the hook (counts as 1 bobble). Chain 1.
  • Bobble:  Yarn over and insert hook in next space between triple crochet, yarn over, draw the yarn through space (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over and insert hook in same space between triple crochet, yarn over, draw the yarn through space (4 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through all 3 loops, leaving one on the hook.  Chain 1.
  • Repeat all thew way around, making 11 Bobbles total.  Join with slip stitch into 2nd of starting chain.  Round two appears as 12 bobble stitches in the space between each triple crochet. 
Round 3:  Join yarn into space between any bobbles.
  • Starting shape:  Chain 3, 2 triple crochet (counts as 1 triple cluster). Chain 1.
  • Triple Cluster:  3 triple crochet in next space between bobbles.  Chain 1.
  • Repeat all the way around, making 11 triple clusters total.  Join with slip stitch into 3rd of starting chain.  Round three appears as 12 triple clusters in the space between each bobble.
Round 4:  Join yarn into space between any triple cluster.
  • Starting shape:  Chain 2, 2 double crochet (counts as 1 double cluster). Chain 1.
  • Double Cluster:  3 double crochet in next space between triple clusters.  Chain 1.
  • Corner Cluster:  3 triple crochet, chain 3, 3 triple crochet in next space between triple clusters.  Chain 1.
  • Continue around, alternating 2 double clusters with 1 corner cluster.  Join with slip stitch into 2nd of starting chain.  Round four transforms the circle into a square with 4 evenly spaced corner clusters, each separated by 2 double clusters.  Fasten off.
Happy hooking!

p.s. I'm working in Cascade 220 yarn, which you can find at The Loopy Ewe in 243 delectable shades!