New Year Resolutions

I really enjoy the time spent reflecting around the new year. I wasn't sure I was going to set any goals or resolutions this year, but it seems I just needed a little more time.

I have a professional goal; which for the time being, is going to be kept secret. I have a personal crochet goal that this year I will be more charitable. Making things to be donated, or donating yarn.

I have come across a program that is after 8 inch squares in cotton, for Australian farmers.
You can find the original post on instagram:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by gumleaf_crochet (@gumleaf_crochet) on Jan 5, 2019 at 1:59pm PST

I happen to have a pattern to make 8 inch squares back from 2016. Big Circle Grannies. It needed a couple of tweaks, but perfect for this appeal. You can find the pattern here

Have you got any regular charities you crochet for, or do you like to be spontaneous?

Big Circle Grannies - revised.

I needed to donate some 8" squares, and came up with this pattern. Originally published in 2016 - and revised in Jan 2019. Written in US terms. Abbreviations at end of pattern.

You will need a 4 mm hook, stitch marker, and dk/ 8 ply oddments.

Each round joins a new colour. Rotate your starting point to create a less noticeable seam.

Make a magic ring, or ch 4, and sl st to create a ring.

Round 1: Ch 4 (1 dc and a chain) * 1 dc, 1 ch, repeat (from *) 11 times, sl st into 3rd chain from beginning, fasten off. {12 dc and 12 ch}

Round 2: Ch 3 and 1 dc into any chain space, (ch 1, 2 dc) into next chain space and each ch sp around, 1 ch, sl st into 3rd chain from beginning, fasten off. {24 dc 12 ch}

Round 3: Ch 3 and 2 dc into any chain space, (ch 1, 3 dc) into next ch sp and each chain space around, 1 ch, sl st into 3rd chain from beginning, fasten off. {36 dc, 12 ch}

Round 4: (3 ch, 3 dc), in any ch sp, (1 ch, 4 dc) in next chain space, and each ch sp around, 1 ch, sl st into 3rd chain from beginning. {48 dc, 12 ch}

Round 5: (3 ch, 1 dc, 1 ch, 2 dc) in any ch sp, (2 ch, 2 dc, 1 ch, 2 dc) into next ch sp, and each ch sp around, 2 dc, sl st into 3rd chain from beginning. {48 dc, 24 ch}

Round 6: (3ch, 3dc) in any ch-2 sp, (1 ch, 1 dc) into next ch-1 sp, * (1 ch, 4 dc) in ch-2 sp, (1 ch, 1 dc) in ch-1 sp, rep from * around, 1 ch,  sl st into 3rd chain from beginning. {60 dc, 24 ch}

Round 7: Mark any space to the right  of the single dc, (4 ch, 1 tr) in marked sp, (5 ch, 2 tr)in next ch-1 sp, *[(3 ch, 2 dc) into next space, (2 dc) into next space] twice; (3 ch, 2 tr) in next ch sp, (5 ch, 2 tr) in next sp; rep from * 3 times, 3 ch, sl st into 3rd ch from beginning. {32 dc, 12 tr, 56 ch}

Round 8: (3 ch and 2 dc, 3 ch, 3 dc) in any corner sp, *(1 ch, 4 dc) into next sp, [(3 ch, 4 dc) into next space] twice, (1 ch, 3 dc, 3 ch, 3 dc) in next space, repeat from * two times; (1 ch, 4 dc) into next sp, [(3 ch, 4 dc) into next space] twice, 1 ch, sl st to 3rd chain from beg.{72 dc, 33 ch}

Round 9: (3ch and 2dc, 3ch, 3dc) in any corner sp, *(1 ch, 2 dc) into next sp, [(2 ch, 5 dc) into next sp] twice, 2 ch, 2 dc into next sp; (1 ch, 3 dc 3 ch 3 dc) into next space, repeat from * two times, *(1 ch, 2 dc) into next sp, [(2 ch, 5 dc) into next sp] twice, 2 ch, 2 dc into next sp, 1 ch, sl st to 3rd ch from beg. { dc,  ch}

Abbreviations used

ch - chain

dc - double crochet

tr - treble crochet

sp - space

sl st - slip stitch

st/s - stitch/es

beg - beginning

rep - repeat

( ) indicate stitches to be worked in same st/sp

[ ] indicate section to be repeated. 

If you are in a position to donate - please consider buying me a coffee. Your support allows me to produce free patterns.