Celestial Square - Free Pattern.

A long, long time ago.....
*music starts*

A long time ago, I started a blanket, and even began joining it! Then I decided I wanted it to be just a big bigger, so the joins were undone and the squares packed into a box.

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A post shared by Emma Wilkinson Designs (@emma_crochets) on Jan 22, 2019 at 5:43pm PST

Eventually I got some more yarn, and decided to introduce a new subtle element to the blanket, and the Celestial square was born!

The original square was the Nebula square, and the Celestial square is her companion. I have almost 100 nebula squares, and will be making approximately 30 celestial squares to join into a blanket (it will be a square number!)

The yarn I am using plays a fairly integral part of the design- Papatya Batik #31. Which can be purchased in Australia at Yarnish.

I am not joining as I go (which is why I had to unpick) as they overall layout is colour based. I will have a complete post on the blanket once it is finished, an I have a deadline, so it won't be long!

This pattern is just for the new square, but I will write out a separate post explaining all the steps to make the blanket. The front post stitches create a 'dip' in the sides of the squares, but they flatten out once joined.

This pattern uses US terms and contains fpdc - front post double crochet, an explanation is given at the end.

Celestial Square - the pattern:

Yarn: Paptya Batik #31. 100% acrylic, 8 ply/dk, 360 m
Hook: 5 mm

Make a magic ring - or chain 5 and sl st join.

Round 1: Chain 3 (counts as dc) 2 dc, *3 ch, 3 dc, repeat from *twice more, sl st  into the top of the first dc. (12 dc, 12 ch)

Round 2: Chain 3 (does not count as a stitch) dc into same st (centre dc from round 1) fpdc around next dc; *(2 dc, 3 ch, 2 dc) in corner sp, fpdc into next dc, dc in next st, fpdc in next st, rep from * twice, (2 dc, 3 ch, 2 dc) in corner sp, fpdc around ch 3 from round 1, sl st into top of first dc. (20 dc, 8 fpdc, 12 ch)

Round 3:  Chain 3 (does not count as a stitch) dc into same st (centre dc from round 2) fpdc around next fpdc, 2 dc, *(2 dc, 3 ch, 2 dc) in corner sp, 2 dc, fpdc into next fpdc,  dc in next st, fpdc in next fpdc, 2 dc; rep from * twice, (2 dc, 3 ch, 2 dc) in corner sp, 2 dc, fpdc in next fpdc, sl st into top of first dc. (36 dc, 8 fpdc, 12 ch)

ch - chain
dc - double crochet
fpdc - front post double crochet:
st/s - stich/es
sp- space
yo - yarn over

front post double crochet: yo, insert hook front to back around crochet stitch post, yo and pull through, yo, pull through 2 sts, twice.

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Competition Time! Win a Pattern.

I'm running a fun competition at the moment, which has been announced on Facebook and Instagram.

Recently I've been paying attention to my free patterns on Ravelry- how many downloads, which ones are popular and so on.

I have a handful of free patterns, some started out as blog posts, others were components, and some I just wanted to have as a taster to my style of writing.

So the competition is to make something from a free pattern, and upload the project to Ravelry, between now and the 10th March 2018. Simple!

You will go in the running to win any paid pattern (of mine) of your choice.

I would love to be tagged to be shown what you are making!

The winner be be decided by myself and announced on Facebook, Instagram and here on the blog. All results are final.

Any questions? Please don't hesitate to ask!

Finally the link >> Ravelry Patterns.

Any free pattern is eligible, like the three pictured.


Competition not affiliated with Instagram, Facebook or Ravelry.




Winner has been selected! Lee, who has been contacted with the prize.

Zipper Join - joining crochet motifs

Today I am showing you how I will join the Nebula Squares I made. (Find the pattern here.)

I am using the Zipper Join method, which is my favourite join.

I like this join because it makes a feature of the join, but It can be a bit fiddly. If you prefer a seamless join, or something quicker, then maybe this is not the join for you.

I have used a contrasting colour to show the join, but it is not what I will be using on the final blanket.

The Zipper join works into the back loops of both squares, and this first picture shows the back loops.

The second picture shows the direction the hook will go: front to back on first loop, the front to back on second. Right side of both squares are facing you.

Starting at the corner chain, place hook as just described; through front to back of both loops and pull up a loop. Keep your yarn at the back of the work.

Place hook through next two back loops, and pull a loop through all three loops on hook.

This is the same method as surface crochet, but with two pieces of fabric, rather than one.

Continue into each loop pair

If you have planned out your blanket layout, you can continue to join squares along the vertical axis, and then the horizontal, so joining can be done without cutting the yarn!

I hope you enjoy this join as much as I do! 

Happy Crocheting,

Emma