I cannot believe that I have not designed a sunflower square before now! It seems awfully remiss of me …. When Claire from E’Claire Makery invited me to join in her Flower Garden CAL I immediately knew that I would do a Sunflower square. In …
Donut Square anyone??? Do you love a sweet treat too? I have to admit that donuts are not my go-to when it comes to a sugar rush. I much prefer cheesecake … or a nice red velvet cake. Part of the Kinship CAL 2022 …
The Bouquet of Flowers Afghan CAL is here!
Last year lots of you loved the Friendship blanket so much. This year the designers were asking me to organise another one! So I did.
It’s been a long autumn and winter here and I am desperately looking forward to the spring for the blooms to show themselves, lambing season (being a country girl at heart) and some warmer weather and sunshine! I am also eagerly waiting being able to hang my washing on the line in the garden!! I guess that is a sign of age LOL. So this year I picked the theme of flowers (last year was texture).
Every week we will release 3 squares for you to make. They will all measure 10″ (once finished and blocked if necessary) and in total there are 20 squares … I took onboard the feedback that last year with 41 squares it was a little long for some of you! As per last year, there is a variety of stitches and techniques so there should be something new for most of you during this CAL.
With 18 designers, 20 squares and 6 weeks of crocheting fun I hope you love this bouquet of flowers afghan as much as I do.
If you would like additional help and support then please join our FB Community group by clicking on the button below and answering the 3 simple joining questions. Throughout this event we will be answering questions, going live to help and chat to you about each square.
If you would like an email each day a square is released so you don’t miss any of them you can sign up to our Events and CALs email. This is different from our standard newsletter – which you can sign up to with the pop up box when you access our blog, or add your details in the box in the footer!
Note: this list contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you!
For my version I used:
The Bouquet of Flowers CAL bundle will be always be available to purchase.
Kicking off the CAL is this iris stitch square. Let’s ease you in … If you can chain and double crochet then you can make this square!
Blog post includes written, photo and video tutorials.
COUPON CODE – PRETTY
This square was such a fun one to make. The mitered technique was a little different for me which I loved!
If your gauge isn’t quite right with this one it is easy to adjust by adding rows or removing rows.
Coupon code: CORNERTULIP
The Sweet Flora Square is a beautiful sampler square with elegant shapes and beautiful puff stitches. It is worked in the round using simple stitch combinations to create a variety of textures and floral lines within the square.
Coupon Code – not needed! You will be taken to another page on Lisa’s blog where there is a direct download!
This square is so pretty. I love the way that it looks like the flowers are hanging in the square.
The outside of this one also makes it very easy to add or subtract rounds to get to 10″ if you have issues with gauge.
Coupon Code: Bouquet
I had so much fun with this square. It is a bit more of an intermediate pattern compared to what we have had so far but Shannon has some fabulous photo tutorials in her pattern to help you out with the ‘trickier’ bits!
Coupon Code: no code needed – direct download from blog
This pattern is suitable for advanced beginners / intermediate crocheters. It uses the V stitch, puff stitch and a couple of other techniques.
I do however have a left and right handed video tutorial for the whole pattern available to help you through it if you want to give it a go.
Please note that I do not slow down for the easy parts e.g. DC in next 4 sts but I do show you the more difficult stitches at a slower pace!
Coupon Code – BUDS
We have some absolutely stunning designs coming up, and this one is absolutely gorgeous! Susanna is such a talented designer.
Click the photo to be taken to the blog post
Coupon code – not needed!
I enjoyed making this square. It has a lot of beautiful texture that I think you will love too! It is inspired by a Topeka rose garden.
The leaf stitch took me a second to fathom, but only a second!
Coupon Code – Olivia
This beautiful lacy design will work up quickly and looks fantastic once it is blocked. The flower in the centre is really pretty.
Jo has a good photo step by step in her blog post and on the pdf.
Coupon Code: CN/A – this one is now available as a free pattern on the designer’s blog
Suzanne has chosen a slightly different technique to create the flowers on this square, but it is just adorable!
I love the way that the subtle stripes of colour break up the background on this one.
Coupon Code – BLOOMING
This square is just beautiful … or should I say simply elegant?
The Papavero Square is an easy double crochet blanket square with a poppy flower slip stitched on to the center. Both the flower and square are easy to make and customize to your colors and decor.
Coupon Code – PAPAVERO
The Dahlia Square is designed with a variety of stitches to add beautiful texture for a full floral look. Use one or more colours to really add personality to each square!
This square is gorgeous. I used green for the centre and last round and yellow for the double crochet section.
Coupon Code DAHLIA22
There is nothing better than a flower to brighten someone’s day and raise a smile on their face. This 3D square is a perfect addition to any square blanket with it’s pretty petals and luscious leaves.
This design also made me realise that I need to use the spike stitch in some of my designs LOL
Coupon Code – This square is only available va the Designer’s blog post and video tutorial now.
Cat is another designer that I am in awe of! Have you seen her flower blanket CALs?
This square is just gorgeous. There is a little bit of sewing involved but I promise you it is absolutely worth the effort!!
Coupon code – PATCHWORK
The Daisy Square uses four colours and I love how the borders add interest to the beautiful daisy sitting in the middle. I hope you enjoy this pattern.
Coupon Code – DAISYDAISY
With so many gorgeous squares having already been released I wanted to give you another simpler square which will work up quickly and allow you to catch up a little if you have fallen behind by a couple of squares. The blossom stitch uses a beautiful lacy stitch combination that I think you will love!
Coupon Code : BLOOM
This stunning square uses a little bit of cabling to create the vines that come off the flower in the centre of this one. The texture is subtle and gorgeous.
Erin has included photo tutorials and links in her post to where you can get additional help if you are new to cabling.
Coupon Code: CABLESQUARE
This was one of the first 2 squares I made when I sat down to work up the finished blanket, and it was so much fun!
It is a floral block, worked centre out, with a little bit of 3d texture that is absolutely gorgeous when it is made and I thought it was much easier than it looked.
Coupon Code: BUTTERCUP
This lovely little four petal flower square is perfect for adding to your springtime projects. Works great as a potholder or incorporate it into a pillow, blanket, or other home decor crochet projects.
Before you start, you will need to check your gauge on this one. Raelynn is an even tighter crocheter than me!!
Coupon code: Not necessary – direct download from designer’s site.
I asked all of the designers to describe their square for me for promo purposes. Raffaella wrote ‘ Several stitches and lots of popcorns’!
Oh my goodness …. how understated is that description?? This square is right up my alley and I wish I had the talent to create these types of designs. Don’t get me wrong – all of the designs have been stunningly beautiful! For me, this square was the perfect one to finish the squares on.
Coupon code – ROCOCO
Learn to crochet the flat braid join with my written and video tutorial.
You can use any join for this afghan, but if you haven’t tried this one before you may well be glad that you did! I found it fun to crochet.
Coupon code: not needed – direct download
This border consists of 10 rows and I walk you through step by step how to do each row and the colour changes. Although this one looks great in one colour or several!
Coupon Code: not needed – direct download
Say hello to the Art Square. This one is the square for April in my 2022 Corner to Corner CAL. April 15th is World Art Day. It was started in 2019 to celebrate fine art – but let’s face it, there are so many forms …
The ornamental Garden Square is the 6th square to be released in the Bouquet of Flowers CAL. I designed it specifically for the event and love how it turned out. It has a slightly vintage feel to it I think, especially in the second version I …
Do you have a box full of scrap yarn or part used skeins that you just don’t want to get rid of? The Logic Square is the perfect way to use some of those smaller scraps that you just couldn’t throw out.
Last week I came up with the idea to have a scrap busting CAL using one of my favourite techniques, Corner to Corner.
Luckily Anita, a C2C pro and awesome friend was so encouraging. Anita is also one of my moderators in our Facebook community group. I ran the concept by her and she loved it offering to test the squares as I had them designed!
During the first week of every month I will be releasing a new 25 x 25 block square on the blog with the theme of International Days.
Why international days? Our Community is from around the world, with different national holidays and of course different religions. I wanted as many people as possible to feel included so I decided on international days that can be celebrated by anyone.
If you have never worked corner to corner before, don’t worry …. I have a full and comprehensive mini course which includes a free complete pattern. Learn how to Corner to Corner here.
I found a great international day calendar online and have picked out a few of the days ready to get ahead with this project …. I mentioned that I only thought of it last week didn’t I?
Ad soon as I saw that Friday 14th January was World Logic Day the idea for this square just came to me. It became an idea that would not leave me alone and demanded that I work it up and get this mystery CAL going asap. after all, we are now more than half way through January (EEEEK).
So raid your scrap buckets and let’s get them used up!!
For this square you will need :
Sizing: Gauge does not matter as long as you are consistent. If you use HDC your block will be approximately 12” square depending on tension. If you opt for DC blocks then you will find that it will be between 16-18″
To work out how much yarn you will need you will need to do a sample swatch with the stitch you intend to use (HDC or DC) and then measure how much yarn you used per stitch multiplying that by the number of stitches of that color and adding some for the tails to be worked in at the end.
Color charts with stitch totals are listed under the graph below.
Written instructions:
↙ Row 1: (pink) x 1 (1 square)
↗ Row 2: (pink) x 2 (2 squares)
↙ Row 3: (pink) x 3 (3 squares)
↗ Row 4: (pink) x 4 (4 squares)
↙ Row 5: (pink) x 5 (5 squares)
↗ Row 6: (pink) x 6 (6 squares)
↙ Row 7: (pink) x 7 (7 squares)
↗ Row 8: (pink) x 4, (red) x 1, (pink) x 2, (red) x 1 (8 squares)
↙ Row 9: (red) x 2, (pink) x 1, (red) x 2, (pink) x 4 (9 squares)
↗ Row 10: (pink) x 4, (red) x 6 (10 squares)
↙ Row 11: (red) x 7, (pink) x 3, (green) x 1 (11 squares)
↗ Row 12: (green) x 2, (pink) x 3, (red) x 6, (purple) x 1 (12 squares)
↙ Row 13: (purple) x 2, (red) x 5, (pink) x 3, (green) x 3 (13 squares)
↗ Row 14: (green) x 4, (pink) x 3, (red) x 4, (purple) x 3 (14 squares)
↙ Row 15: (purple) x 3, (red) x 5, (pink) x2, (green) x2, (yellow) x 1, (green) x 2. (15 squares)
↗ Row 16: (green) x2, (yellow) x2, (green) x1, (orange) x 1, (pink) x 1, (red) x 6, (purple) x 3. (16 squares)
↙ Row 17: (purple) x 3, (red) x 7, (orange) x 2, (yellow) x 3, (green) x 2 (17 squares)
↗ Row 18: (green) x2, (yellow) x3, (orange) x3, (red) x6, (green) x1, (purple) x2, (orange) x1 (18 squares)
↙ Row 19: (orange) x2, (purple) x1, (green) x2. (red) x2, (yellow) x1, (red) x2, (orange) x4, (yellow) x3, (green) x2. (19 squares)
↗ Row 20: (green) x2, (yellow) x3, (orange) x5, (red) x1, (yellow) x2, (red) x1, (green) x3, (orange) x3. (20 squares)
↙ Row 21: (orange) x4, (green) x3, (yellow) x3, (orange) x 6, (yellow) x 3, (green) x2 (21 squares)
↗ Row 22: (green) x2, (yellow) x4, (orange) x5, (yellow) x 3, (green) x 3, (orange) x 5 (22 squares)
↙ Row 23: (orange) x6, (green) x3, (yellow) x3, (orange) x4, (yellow) x4, (blue) x1, (green) x2 (23 squares)
↗ Row 24: (blue) x1, (green) x1, (blue) x2, (yellow) x4, (orange) x 3, (yellow) x 3, (green) x 3, (orange) x 7 (24 squares)
↙ Row 25: (orange) x7, (green) x3, (yellow) x 3, (red) x 1, (orange) x 2, (red) x 1, (yellow) x 3, (blue) x 5 (25 squares)
Corner from both sides
↗ Row 26: (blue) x4, (yellow) x3, (red) x 2, (orange) x 1, (red) x 2, (yellow) x 3, (green) x 3, (orange) x 6 (24 squares)
↙ Row 27: (orange) x5, (green) x3, (yellow) x3, (red) x6, (yellow) x3, (blue) x 3 (23 squares)
↗ Row 28: (blue) x2, (yellow) x3, (red) x7, (yellow) x3, (green) x2, (grey) x1, (orange) x4. (22 squares)
↙ Row 29: (orange) x3, (grey) x2, (green) x1, (blue) x1, (yellow) x3, (red) x6, (green) x1. (yellow) x2, (grey) x1, (blue) x1 (21 squares)
↗ Row 30: (grey) x2, (yellow) x1, (green) x2, (red) x5, (yellow) x3, (blue) x2, (grey) x 3, (orange) x 2 (20 squares)
↙ Row 31: (orange) x1, (grey) x3, (blue) x3, (yellow) x3, (red) x4, (green) x3, (grey) x2 (19 squares)
↗ Row 32: (grey) x1, (green) x3, (red) x5, (yellow) x 2, (blue) x 4, (grey) x 3 (18 squares)
↙ Row 33: (grey) x 3, (blue) x 4, (yellow) x 1, (red) x 6, (green) x 3 (17 squares)
↗ Row 34: (green) x 2, (red) x 7, (blue) x 4, (grey) x 3 (16 squares)
↙ Row 35: (grey) x 3, (blue) x 4, (red) x 6, (green) x 2 (15 squares)
↗ Row 36: (green) x2, (red) x2, (purple) x1, (red) x2, (blue) x4, (grey) x3 (14 squares)
↙ Row 37: (grey) x3, (blue) x4, (red) x1, (purple) x2, (red) x1, (green) x2 (13 squares)
↗ Row 38: (green) x 2, (purple) x 3, (blue) x 4, (grey) x 3 (12 squares)
↙ Row 39: (grey) x 2, (pink) x 1, (blue) x 3, (purple) x 4, (green) x 1 (11 squares)
↗ Row 40: (purple) x 5, (blue) x 2, (pink) x 2, (grey) x 1 (10 squares)
↙ Row 41: (pink) x 3, (blue) x 1, (pink) x 1, (purple) x 4 (9 squares)
↗ Row 42: (purple) x 3, (pink) x 5 (8 squares)
↙ Row 43: (pink) x 5, (purple) x 2 (7 squares)
↗ Row 44: (purple) x 1, (pink) x 5 (6 squares)
↙ Row 45: (pink) x 5 (5 squares)
↗ Row 46: (pink) x 2, (grey) x 1, (pink) x 1 (4 squares)
↙ Row 47: (grey) x 2, (pink) x 1 (3 squares)
↗ Row 48: (grey) x 2 (2 squares)
↙ Row 49: (grey) x 1 (1 square)
Don’t forget to share your squares with me in our FB group or via email (helenw@sunflowercottagecrochet.com)
Whether you are hosting a family Christmas party this year or just sitting by the log fire with the tree lights on watching a Hallmark movie you NEED to make the Snowfall Tree Skirt! The Snowfall Tree Skirt CAL is a project that I have …
I designed this corner to Corner Nordic Tree Square to be part of the Nordic Winter Afghan C2C CAL, hosted by Juniper and Oaks. Each square in this event is 25 x 25 blocks. And they are all really cute. Not as easy as …
Welcome to the first stitch tutorial of our Tunisian CAL: Tunisian Simple Stitch, or TSS for short. In this tutorial, we’re going to learn how to make this stitch and identify each place you need to insert your hook. This is the easiest and most basic stitch of the Tunisian stitches, and is fundamental in building other Tunisian projects.
Now we’re getting into it! In this section, I’m going to teach you how to read the pattern and how to work the first stitch which is the main stitch you will need to know for every project: Tunisian Simple Stitch–TSS.
The TSS is used to get all projects started off, which is called your starting or foundation row. This does not count as your first row when following patterns or row counting. You also will not count your bind off row at the top unless the pattern states that you will.
Note: this list contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you!
I used:
Worsted/Aran/#4 weight yarn–Brava Worsted by Knit Picks in Cornflower, Tidepool, Alfalfa, and mint. I was able to get 2 squares out of each skein. As there are 12 squares, if you are using the same yarn, you will need 3 of each. I also used Brava Worsted Speckle in Tidal for borders and joining.
You can find Brava Worsted at WeCrochet
Fiber: 100% premium acrylic
Weight: Worsted
Crochet Gauge: 11-14 sc = 4″ on I-K hooks (5.5mm-6.5mm)
Yards: 218
Grams: 100
Machine was and dry
I used a 6.5mm Tunisian hook from Furls and also one from Love To Crochet–a set I bought on Amazon.
For our first stitch lesson, we are only working one stitch: TSS. The swatch we will work will only be 4″ X 4″ (a standard gauge swatch) which you will then use to as practice for making that first square of the CAL!
For the CAL, you only need to work up a 12″ x 12″ square.
For Tunisian Crochet, you will need to know that a row consists of both the forward pass and the return pass (refer to our Introduction post to remind yourself). You must have completed both to consider that row complete. I’d like you to mark the very end stitch (farthest left stitch, two loops) which will mark where you work your last “ending” stitch (refer back to the Introductory post to be reminded of what that is). At this point, I would also like to show you how a Tunisian pattern looks:
Forward Pass–TSS across
Return Pass– Normal return.
Did you understand that? I’ll help. For the Forward Pass, we need to work the indicated stitch. To do this, we need to grab up loops again. But WAIT! Not just any ol’ spot will do! Each different stitch will have a specific spot you need to insert your hook into: what we call “bars”. These are the vertical “bars” along the row as shown in the next picture:
Each different Tunisian stitch will have a different bar to pick up however, do NOT pick up the very very first one that is right below the loop on your hook. If it helps you to know where to start, count your bars from the opposite end of the work–INCLUDING THE VERY END STITCH THAT WE MARKED. When you reach the number of stitches you counted for your chain, you will know where to start. Here’s another picture:
In the picture above, where I show you where to find the first bar, you can see that I skipped the bar directly below my loop that was already on the hook and went into the next bar. Here’s the instructions:
Now we have completed our first forward pass.
To work the next part of this row, complete the return pass as follows:
You now have completed both your foundation row and first row of TSS!
To continue, you need only keep working row 1 until you have the desired sizing.
Get the PDF pattern on Ravelry for free for the month of May. Use code TSS at check out. Click the button below to go to the pattern and enter the code.
Learn Tunisian Series (round up post and CAL information)
Tunisian Reverse Stitch (TRS)
Tunisian Half-Double Crochet Stitch (THDCS)
Tunisian Double Crochet Stitch (TDCS)
The Friendship Blanket CAL is here! I can hardly believe it. This is something that I have been thinking about for almost a year, and have been working on since September. Yet it seems to have come round so quickly! Why call it the Friendship …
