Shells Aflutter 12 Inch Afghan Square – Free Crochet Pattern

I absolutely love designing afghan squares! I love when an idea starts to form and ends up flourishing into something breathtaking. My Shells Aflutter 12 inch afghan square started out as something totally different than what it is now and I couldn’t be happier with it! It wasn’t easy to create but that was the fun of it, just seeing where the stitches would take me. I hope you enjoy this gorgeous square and turn it into an amazing afghan! Happy crocheting!

UPDATE: I am excited to announce that my Shells Aflutter square is the 11th block of the #MooglyCAL2017! You can see Tamara’s gorgeous version of my square here. I love participating in Tamara’s CALs and I am so honored that she invited me to participate again this year! I hope you will follow along with her as she creates another stunning afghan with blocks designed from some absolutely amazing designers!

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Shells A Flutter 12 Inch Afghan Square

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Materials:

• Approximately 101 yds of Category 4 Medium Worsted Yarn in 4 colors:
  • Approximately 24 yds of Color A – I used Vanna’s Choice in Mustard*
  • Approximately 29 yds of Color B – I used Vanna’s Choice in Pink Grapefruit*
  • Approximately 29 yds of Color C – I used Vanna’s Choice in White*
  • Approximately 19 yds of Color D – I used Vanna’s Choice in Aquamarine*
• Size J 6mm Crochet Hook*
• Yarn Needle* for weaving ends
• Scissors*
• Blocking board and pins

*affiliate link

Skill Level:

Intermediate

Abbreviations:

ch – chain
CL – cluster
dc – double crochet
hdc – half double crochet
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
sl st(s) – slip stitch(es)
sp(s) – space(s)
st(s) – stitch(es)
t-ch – turning chain
X-dc – crossed double crochet
() – indicates stitch counts
* – indicates instructions to be repeated

Gauge:

16 stitches & 8 rows = 4″ (in dc sts)

Finished Size:

Approximately 12″ x 12″

Notes:

• This pattern is written in US terms.
• Sizing will vary depending on how tightly or loosely you crochet. If you would like to keep the sizing the same, please check your gauge before starting this project.
• Color changes are made in the last yarn over of the last stitch unless otherwise noted.
• This project will be a bit wavy while you are crocheting and will most likely need to be blocked for a finished look.

Special Stitches:

3-dc CL – [yo, insert hook into indicated st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops] 3 times, yo, pull through all remaining loops on hook.

Crossed Double Crochet (X-dc) – sk 1 st, work 1 dc into the next st, work 1 dc into the st just skipped.

Instructions:

With Color A,
Round 1: Magic circle ch 1, 8 hdc into magic circle, join in beginning hdc with a sl st. (8 sts)

Round 2: Ch 1, *1 sc into the next st, ch 3, sk the next st; Repeat from * 3 more times, join in beginning sc with a sl st. (4 sc, 4 ch-3 sps)

Change to Color B

Round 3: Ch 1, *1 sc into the next st, [1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] all into the next ch-3 sp; Repeat from * 3 more times, join in beginning sc with a sl st. (32 sts)

Round 4: Ch 1, 1 sc into the first st, ch 5, sk the next 7 sts, *1 sc into the next sc, ch 5, sk the next 7 sts; Repeat from * 2 more times, join in beginning sc. (4 sc, 4 ch-5 sps)

Join Color C in any ch-5 sp with a sl st

Round 5: Ch 1, 2 sc into the ch-5 sp, 5 hdc into the next sc, *[2 sc, ch 1, 2 sc] into the next ch 5 sp, 5 hdc into the next sc; Repeat from * 2 more times, 2 sc into the first ch-5 sp, ch 1, join in beginning sc with a sl st. (4 shells, 16 sc, 4 ch-1 sps)

Round 6: *Ch 6, sk the next 9 sts, 1 sc into the next ch-1 sp; Repeat from * 3 more times, join in beginning ch-6 sp with a sl st. Fasten off Color C. (4 sc, 4 ch-6 sps)

Join Color D in any ch-6 sp with a sl st

Round 7: Ch 1, 6 sc into the same ch-6 sp, [1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] into next sc; *6 sc into the next ch-6 sp, [1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] into next sc; Repeat from * 2 more times, join in beginning sc with a sl st. (44 sts)

Round 8: *Ch 1, 1 sc into each of the next 6 sc, ch 6, sk the next 5 sts (the shell st); Repeat from * 3 more times, join in beginning sc with a sl st. (24 sc, 4 ch-6 sps)

Change to Color A

Round 9: Ch 3 (count as 1 dc), 1 dc into each of the next 5 sts, (3-dc CL, ch 3, 3-dc CL) into the next ch-6 sp, *1 dc into each of the next 6 sts, (3-dc CL, ch 3, 3-dc CL) into the next ch-6 sp; Repeat from * 2 more times, join in beginning ch-3 with a sl st. Fasten off Color A. (32 sts, 4 ch-3 sps)

Round 10: Join Color C in any ch-3 sp, [2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc] in ch-3 sp, 1 hdc into each of the next 8 sts; Repeat from * around, join in beginning hdc with a sl st. Fasten off Color C. (48 sts, 4 ch-2 sps)

Round 11: Join Color B in any ch-2 sp with a sl st. Ch 1, *5 hdc into the ch-2 sp, ch 2, sk 2 sts, 1 hdc into each of the next 8 sts, ch 2; Repeat from * 3 more times, join in beginning hdc with a sl st. (52 sts, 8 ch-2 sps)

Change to Color D

Round 12: *Ch 6, sk the next 5 sts, 1 dc into each of the next 2 sts from round 10 (work sts over the ch), 1 hdc into each of the next 8 sts, 1 dc into each of the next 2 sts from round 10 (work sts over the ch); Repeat from * 3 more times, join in beginning ch-6 with a sl st. (48 sts, 4 ch-6 sps)

Change to Color C

Round 13:  Ch 1, [1 sc, 5 dc into the same ch-6 sp, 1 dc into each of the next 2 sts, 1 X-dc over the next 2 sts, [ch 1, sk 1 st, 1 X-dc over the next 2 sts] twice, 1 dc into each of the next 2 sts, *[5 dc, 1 sc, 5 dc] into the next ch-6 sp, 1 dc into each of the next 2 sts, 1 X-dc over the next 2 sts, [ch 1, sk 1 st, 1 X-dc over the next 2 sts] twice, 1 dc into each of the next 2 sts; Repeat from * two more times, 5 dc into beginning ch-6 sp, join in beginning sc with a sl st. (92 sts)

Change to Color A

Round 14: *1 hdc into the sc from Round 13 (between the shells), ch 3, sl st into the last dc of the corner shell from Round 11, ch 3, sk the next 5 sts (the shell) of Round 13, 1 hdc into each of the next 12 sts of Round 13, ch 3, sl st into the first dc of the next corner shell from Round 11, ch 3, sk the next 5 sts (the shell) from Round 13; Repeat from * around, join in beginning hdc with a sl st. Fasten off Color A. (52 sts, 16 ch-3 sps)

Round 15: Join Color C in any corner hdc st from Round 14, ch 9, (count as 1 dc and ch-6) sk the next 5 sts, *1 dc into each of the next 12 sts, ch 6, 1 FPdc around the post of the next hdc, ch 6; Repeat from * 2 more times, 1 dc into each of the next 12 sts, ch 6, join in beginning ch with a sl st. (52 sts 8 ch-6 sps)

Change to Color D

Round 16: Ch 3 (count as 1 dc), [1 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] into the first st, 6 dc into the next ch-6 sp, *1 dc into each of the next 12 sts, 6 dc into the next ch-6 sp, [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] into the next st, 6 dc into the next ch-6 sp; Repeat from * 2 more times, 1 dc into each of the next 12 sts, 6 dc into the next ch-6 sp, join in beginning ch-3 with a sl st. Fasten off Color D. (112 sts, 4 ch-2 sps)

Round 17: Join Color B in any ch-2 sp with a sl st, ch 3 (count as 1 dc), [1 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] into the ch-2 sp, *1 dc into each of the next 28 sts, [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] into the next ch-2 sp; Repeat from * 2 more times, 1 dc into each of the next 28 sts, join in beginning ch-3 with a sl st.  (128 sts, 4 ch-2 sps)

Round 18: Join Color A in any ch-2 sp with a sl st, ch 1, [2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc] in ch-2 sp, 1 sc into each of the next 32 sts, *[2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc] into the next ch-2 sp, 1 sc into each of the next 32 sts; Repeat from * around, join in beginning sc. (144 sts, 4 ch-2 sps)

Finish:

• Fasten off, weave all ends using yarn needle.
• Wet block for a more even square.