Kata - free crochet square pattern

Kata

File has been modified - version 5 here.

This pattern is a flower – created by crocheting clusters. Although the instructions are long, once you master a cluster it will all seem easy.

American terminology used.

12’ square

Worsted weight yarn

5.50mm hook

Gauge – Round 1 = 2”

9 ½’ square

DK yarn

4.0mm hook

Gauge – Round 1 = 1 3/8”

Abbreviations:

Ch - chain

Sc – single crochet

Dc – double crochet

HDc –half double crochet

Tc – treble crochet

Lp(s) – loop/loops

Sp(s) – space/spaces

St(s) – stitch/stitches

Yo – yarn over

Special Stitches

These stitches are all variations on clusters. Be aware that one cluster (trc) is split across 2 spaces.

Beg 3dc cl*- First 3 double crochet cluster

Chain 3

Yo, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (3lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (2lps stay on hook)

Yo, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (4lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (3lps on hook)

Yo and pull through all three loops on hook.

3dc cl - 3 double crochet cluster

Yo, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (3lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (2lps stay on hook)

Yo, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (4lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (3lps on hook)

Yo, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (5lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (4lps on hook)

Yo and pull through all four loops on hook.

Beg 4dc cl* -First 4 double crochet cluster

Chain 3

Yo, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (3lps on hook),{yo and pull through 2 lps (2lps stay on hook)

Yo, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (4lps on hook),yo and pull through 2 lps (3lps stay on hook)

Yo, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (5lps on hook),yo and pull through 2 lps (4lps stay on hook)

Yo and pull through all four loops on hook.

4dc cl - 4 double crochet cluster

Yo, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (3lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (2lps stay on hook)

Yo, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (4lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (3lps on hook)

Yo, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (5lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (4lps on hook)

Yo, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (6lps on hook),{yo and pull through 2 lps (5lps on hook)

Yo and pull through all five loops on hook.

Beg trc cl -First treble crochet cluster (5trc spread across 2 spaces)

Chain 4

Yo twice, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (4lps on hook), {yo and pull through 2 lps}two times (2lps stay on hook)

Yo twice, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (5lps on hook), {yo and pull through 2 lps}twice (3lps on hook)

Yo twice, and insert hook into NEXT sp, yo, pull through (6lps on hook), {yo and pull through 2 lps}twice (4lps on hook)

Yo twice, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (7lps on hook), {yo and pull through 2 lps}twice (5lps on hook)

Yo and pull through all loops on hook.

trc cl - treble crochet cluster (5trc spread across two spaces)

Yo twice times, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (4lps on hook), {yo and pull through 2 lps}twice (2lps stay on hook)

Yo twice times, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (5lps on hook), {yo and pull through 2 lps}twice (3lps stay on hook)

Yo twice, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (6lps on hook), {yo and pull through 2 lps}twice (4lps on hook)

Yo twice, and insert hook into NEXT sp, yo, pull through (7lps on hook), {yo and pull through 2 lps}twice (5lps on hook)

Yo twice, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (8lps on hook), {yo and pull through 2 lps}twice (6lps on hook)

Yo and pull through all six loops on hook

Beg outside cl-First outer cluster (3dc cluster)

Chain 3

Yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull through space (3lps on hook),{yo and pull through 2 lps (2lps stay on hook)

Yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull through space (4lps on hook),yo and pull through 2 lps (3lps stay on hook)

Yo and pull through all three loops on hook.

outside cl - outside cluster (3dc cluster)

Yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull through space (3lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (2lps stay on hook)

Yo, insert hook into next st, yo, pull through (4lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (3lps on hook)

Yo, insert hook into next st, yo, pull through (5lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (4lps on hook)

Yo and pull through all four loops on hook.

You can change colour at any point in the square by finishing off and joining a new colour at your finish point then continuing with instructions.

Start with a magic loop

R1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 15 dc into magic loop, close with a sl st to the 3rd ch of beginning ch 3 [16DC] (2 inches in 10ply) (1.5 inches in DK)

R2: Starting in any Dc (or continuing from the stitch you finished in) Ch 4 (counts as dc ch 1), dc ch 1 into each of the next 15 dc. Join with sl st to 3^rd ch of beginning ch 4 [16Dc 16 Ch1Sp]

R3: Sl st to next ch1 sp (or start new colour in ch1 sp) Beg 3dc cluster*(see special stitch instructions) ch2, {3dc cl ch2} into each of the next 15 ch1 sps. Join with a sl st to top of first cl. [16 3dc cl, 16 ch2 sps]

R4: Sl st to next ch sp, Beg 4dc cluster* ch 3, {4dc cl ch 3} into each of the next 15 ch sps. Join with a sl st to top of the first cl [16 4dc cl, 16 ch sps]

R5: Sl st twice into chain space, Beg trc cluster* ch4, start next trc cl in the same space you finished last tr cl {trc cl ch4} into each of the next 15 ch sps. [Note that trc cluster is done across 2 spaces] You should finish the last trc cl in the space you started the first. Join the last trc cl to the first in the top loop.

R6:Sl st to ch 4 space or Join new colour starting in any ch 4 space, ch 1 **5 sc ch 1 in first ch 4 space, (1 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc) ch 1 in next ch 4 space, (2 dc, 2 trc, ch 2, 2 trc, 2 dc) ch 1 in next ch 4 space, (2 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc) ch 1 in next ch 4 space,** repeat 3 more times. Slip stitch to first sc.

R7: ch 1, sc into the next 5 sc, sc in ch 1 sp, sc into next 5 stitches, hdc into ch 1 sp, hdc in next 4 stitches, (2dc ch2 2dc) in corner space, hdc in next 4 stitches, hdc into ch 1 sp, sc in next 5 stitches, sc in ch 1 sp, *{sc into the next 5 stiches, sc in ch 1 sp, sc into next 5 stitches, hdc into ch 1 sp, hdc in next 4 stitches, (2dc ch2 2dc) in corner space, hdc in next 4 stitches, hdc into ch 1 sp, sc in next 5 stitches, sc in ch 1 sp, }* repeat this* until square is complete and slip st to first stitch

R8: sl st in next 2 st Ch 3 (counts as DC) 2 dc in same stitch , {skip 3 st, 3dc in next stitch} 3 times to corner, (3 dc ch2 3 dc) in corner, sk 3 st 3dc,{ skip 3 st, 3dc in next stitch} to corner (3 dc ch2 3 dc) in corner. Join with a slip stitch to third chain of first ch3.

R9: sl st in next 3 st, Beg outside cl, ch2, {outside cl ch 2} repeat to corner, in corner (2dc ch 2 2 dc ch 2). Join with a slip stitch to third chain of first ch 3.

R10: 2sc in each ch2 space, sc at the top of each cluster, at corner sc in each dc, 2sc in ch 2 space, sc in each dc (you can replace the sc with hdc or dc if your square needs to be bigger) Join with slip stitch to first sc. If you are continuing in the same colour - At start of round sc at top of cl, then 2sc in ch2, continue with sc at top of each cluster, 2sc in each ch 2 space and at corners sc in each dc, 2sc in ch 2 space, sc in each dc and join with a slip stitch to first sc at end of round.

(Many thanks to Cathy for helping to edit this pattern.)