Star Crossed

The third design in my new collection of afghan squares is Star Crossed.

Why a star?
Because you are all stars and I love stars, quite simple really 🙂

And the great news is…… this is FREE.

You can follow the photo tutorial here or once you have read through there is an option to download a pdf copy for you to keep or print off.

With all of the new designs, and most of my designs, there is lots of texture. Star Crossed has a 3D star in the middle, with a fairly simple border. As with all of the new collection the final stitch count is 40 stitches per side.

If you have not done Crossed Double Crochet before, I suggest checking out youtube for a quick tutorial. It is a fairly simple stitch, and I think very effective.

Should you wish to make the square smaller, simply omit some of the rounds after squaring off.

Copyright: Helen Shrimpton, 2016.
All rights reserved.
By: Helen at www.crystalsandcrochet.com

12” Afghan Square
Using worsted/Aran weight Yarn
with a 5 to 5.5mm hook.

Approx 10” with Double Knitting
and 4 to 4.5 hook

US terms used throughout.

Abbreviations

St, sts Stitch, stitches
R Round
Ch Chain
Sl-st Slip stitch
Sc Single crochet
Hdc Half double crochet
Dc Double crochet
Tr Treble crochet
Dtr Double treble crochet
Fp Front post
Bp Back post

[ ]Hints: Are typed in italics and coloured purple, they are to help and guide you and
hopefully make life a little easier, especially for beginners.

Reference to photos is [P] with the relevant photo number

* * Repeat instructions between asterisks the amount of times specified.
This is normally a repeat for a complete side and will consist of multiple instructions.

() Repeat instructions between parentheses the amount of times specified.
This is a lower level repeat.

Special Stitches

Crossed Dc: Skip one stitch and dc in next st. Working in front of dc just made, make a dc into skipped stitch.

Hint: Working in the back loop of stitches, gives definition to the star, there is a little trick I use, which you can find here, this will help to stop you getting “stretched” loops when working in the back loop.

Ok, so let’s get hooking…..

1. Starting with a magic ring, ch 5 [counts as dc plus ch-2],
(dc, ch 2) 5 times.
Join to 3rd chain with a sl-st.
Stitch count: 6 dc, 6 ch-2 spaces.

2. Sl-st into next ch-2 space, ch 1,
(in ch-2 space (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc), skip next st) 6 times.
Join to 1st sc, fasten off, and secure ends.
Stitch count: 6 shells. Per shell: 2 sc, 2 hdc, 1 dc.

3. Join with a standing bpdc around any dc [R1],
(ch 3, bpdc around next dc [R1]) 5 times, ch 3.
Join to standing bpdc with a sl-st.
Stitch count: 6 bpdc, 6 ch-3 spaces.

4. Sl-st into next ch-3 space, ch 1,
(in ch-3 space (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc), skip next st) 6 times.
Join to 1st sc, fasten off, and secure ends.
Stitch count: 6 shells. Per shell: 2 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc.

5. Join with a standing bpdc around any dc [R3],
(ch 4, bpdc around next dc [R3]) 5 times, ch 4.
Join to standing bpdc with a sl-st.
Stitch count: 6 bpdc, 6 ch-4 spaces.

6. Sl-st into next ch-4 space, ch 1,
(in ch-4 space (sc, hdc, 2 dc, bltr in dc [R2] [P2], 2 dc, hdc, sc), skip next st) 6 times.
Join to 1st sc with a sl-st.
Stitch count: 6 shells. Per shell: 2 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, 1 bltr.

7. Blsc in 2nd [middle] dc of shell [R4], [P1]
*sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, 3 dc in next st [bltr], hdc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, blsc in 2nd [middle] dc of shell [R4], skip next 2 sts [R6]. *
Repeat from * to * 6 times, omit last blsc.
Join to 1st blsc, fasten off, and secure ends.
Stitch count: 24 sc, 6 blsc, 12 hdc, 18 dc.

8. Join with a standing bldc in 2nd [middle] dc of any 3 dc point group, make 2 more bldc in same st,
*blhdc in next st, blsc in next 2 sts, blsc3tog over next 3 sts, blsc in next 2 sts, blhdc in next st, 3 bldc in next st [2nd [middle] dc of 3 dc point group]. *
Repeat from * to * 6 times, omit last 3 bldc.
Join to standing bldc with a sl-st.
Stitch count: 24 blsc, 6 blsc3tog, 12 blhdc, 18 bldc.

9. Ch 1 and hdc in same st,
*3 dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, sc3tog over next 3 sts, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st. *
Repeat from * to * 6 times, omit last hdc.
Join to 1st hdc, fasten off, and secure ends.
Stitch count: 24 sc, 6 sc3tog, 12 hdc, 18 dc.

10. Join with a standing blsc in 2nd [middle] dc of any 3 dc point group, ch 1, blsc in same st, [P1]
*blhdc in next st, bldc in next st, bltr in next 2 sts, bldtr in next st, bltr in next 2 sts, bldc in next st, blhdc in next st, in next st (blsc, ch 1, blsc). *
Repeat from * to * 6 times, omit last sc, ch-1, sc.
Join to standing blsc with a sl-st.
Stitch count: 12 blsc, 12 blhdc, 12 bldc, 24 bltr, 6 bldtr, 6 ch-1 spaces.

11. Ch 3 [counts as dc],
(2 dc in ch-1 space, dc in next 5 sts [taking care not to skip the 1st st], 2 dc in next st [dtr], dc in next 5 sts) 6 times, omit last dc.
Join to top of ch-3, fasten off, and secure ends.
Stitch count: 84 dc.

Hint: before starting to square up I recommend taking the time to place stitch markers, to avoid mistakes. Lay out your work with 1 point at the top, count back 10 sts and place 1st marker, count 21 sts and place next marker, continue until you have 4 markers. Your star will sit evenly with 1 point at the top, 1 at the bottom and 2 on each side.
You may find it helpful to place a marker in the dtr of each corner group , to help identify the stitch in the next round.
12. Join with a standing tr in st before any marker, [P2]
*in marked st (2 tr, dtr, 2 tr), tr in next 2 sts, dc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 6 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 3 sts, tr in next 2 sts. *
Repeat from * to * 4 times, omit last tr.
Join to standing tr with a sl-st.
Stitch count: Per side: 6 sc, 4 hdc, 6 dc, 8 tr, 1 corner dtr.

13. Ch 3 [counts as dc], dc in next 2 sts,
*in corner dtr (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc), dc in next 4 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, sc in next 10 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, dc in next 4 sts. *
Repeat from * to * 4 times, omit last 3 dc.
Join to top of ch-3, fasten off, and secure ends.
Stitch count: Per side: 10 sc, 6 hdc, 12 dc, 1 ch-3 corner space.

14. Join with a standing dc in any ch-3 corner space, dc, working in front of ch-3 space dtr between pairs of dc into dtr [R12], 2 dc in same corner space,
(skip next st, dc in next st, dc in skipped st) forming a crossed dc, 14 times,
in ch-3 corner space, (2 dc, working in front of ch-3 space dtr between pairs of dc into dtr [R12], 2 dc). *
Repeat from * to * 4 times, omit last corner group.
Join to standing dc with a sl-st.
Stitch count: Per side: 4 dc, 14 crossed dc, 1 corner dtr.

15. Sl-st into next st [last dc before corner dtr], ch-3 [counts as dc],
*in corner dtr (dc, ch 3, dc), dc in next st, (skip next st, dc in next st, dc in skipped st) forming a crossed dc, 15 times, dc in next st. *
Repeat from *to * 4 times, omit last dc.
Join to top of ch-3, fasten off, and secure ends.
Stitch count: Per side: 4 dc, 15 crossed dc, 1 ch-3 corner space.

16. Join with a standing dc in last dc before any ch-3 corner space,
*in ch-3 corner space (dc, working in front of ch-3 space ttr [4 times round hook]
between dc pairs in ch-3 space [R14], dc), dc in next 34 sts. *
Repeat from * to * 4 times, omit last dc.
Join to standing dc with a sl-st.
Stitch count: Per side: 36 dc, 1 corner ttr.

17. Ch 3 [counts as dc], dc in next st, *in corner ttr (2 dc, tr, 2 dc), dc in next 36 sts.*
Repeat from * to * 4 times, omit last 2 dc.
Join to top of ch-3, fasten off, and secure ends.
Stitch Count: Per side: 40 dc, 1 corner tr.

I always recommend blocking your squares, once finished. Firstly it makes them easier to join together, and it also gives your work a much more polished finish.
You can learn more about blocking here.

Thank you for choosing this pattern.
I would love to see examples of your Star Crossed, please feel free to share on my
facebook page. Crystals and Crochet

Download pdf Star Crossed

♥ Please remember this is my design and is covered by copyright law. You may share a link to this page with anyone, or to my Ravelry store, where you will find all of my patterns. You may do what ever you like with your finished items, but please do not copy or reproduce the pattern in any way.

Please love and respect me as I love and respect you.♥

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Here are a few more examples of Star Crossed

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