This frosty granny square features a big white snowflake with eight branching arms, set on a rich blue background of textured shell stitches. Little cream fans bloom in each corner, and a soft cream border frames the whole square for a crisp winter look. It is perfect for winter blankets, pillows, coasters, and Christmas decorations.
The square is made in two parts. First you crochet the blue shell stitch square with its cream corner fans and border, then you make the white snowflake and sew it on top for a raised, dimensional look.
Materials
Worsted weight cotton or acrylic yarn in medium blue, about 35 g
Worsted weight cotton or acrylic yarn in cream or white, about 20 g
Crochet hook 4.0 mm
Tapestry needle, scissors, and stitch markers
Finished Size
About 18 by 18 cm (7 by 7 inches)
Stitches Used (US Terms)
ch chain
sl st slip stitch
sc single crochet
hdc half double crochet
dc double crochet
tr treble crochet
MR magic ring
shell 5 double crochet worked into the same stitch or space
fan 7 double crochet worked into the same stitch or space
cluster 3 double crochet worked into the same space
Part 1: The Blue Shell Square
With blue, chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.
Round 1: Chain 3 (counts as a double crochet), work 2 double crochet in the ring, and chain 2. Work 3 double crochet and chain 2 three more times. Join. You have 4 corners.
Round 2: Slip stitch into the corner space. Chain 3 and work 2 double crochet, chain 2, and 3 double crochet in the same space. Chain 1. In each remaining corner, work 3 double crochet, chain 2, and 3 double crochet, with chain 1 between corners. Join.
Round 3: Chain 1 and single crochet in the first stitch. Work a shell in each chain 1 space along the sides, with a single crochet in the center stitch of each group between them. In each corner space, work a shell, chain 2, and a shell. Join.
Round 4: Slip stitch to the center of the first shell. Chain 3 and work 2 double crochet in the same stitch. Single crochet in the next single crochet. Work 3 double crochet in the center of each shell along the sides, with a single crochet in each single crochet between. In each corner space, work a shell, chain 2, and a shell. Join.
Rounds 5 to 7: Repeat Rounds 3 and 4, working shells into the single crochets of the previous round so the shells stagger like bricks. This makes the dense textured background shown in the photo. Do not work the corners yet on Round 7. Instead, skip each corner space and fasten off blue.
Part 2: The Cream Corner Fans
Join cream in any corner space.
Round 1: Chain 3 and work a fan in the corner space. Single crochet in the next 3 stitches. Then work single crochet in each stitch along the side to the last 3 stitches before the next corner. Single crochet in the last 3 stitches and work a fan in the corner space. Repeat around. Join.
The fans make the small cream blooms you see in each corner.
Part 3: The Cream Border
Round 1: Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch around, with 3 single crochet in the center stitch of each corner fan. Join.
Round 2: Chain 2 (counts as a half double crochet) and half double crochet in each stitch around, with 3 half double crochet in the center stitch of each corner. Join.
Round 3: Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch around, with 3 single crochet in each corner. Join and fasten off.
Your square should measure about 18 cm across.
Part 4: The White Snowflake
The snowflake is worked in one piece from the center out.
Round 1: With white, make a magic ring. Chain 1 and work 8 single crochet in the ring. Join. You have 8 stitches.
Round 2: Chain 3 (counts as a double crochet) and double crochet in the same stitch. Work 2 double crochet in each stitch around. Join. You have 16 stitches.
Round 3: Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch around. Join.
Round 4 (the eight arms): In