Circle In a Square Crochet Pattern for a Baby Afghan

Use this circle in a square crochet pattern to make a baby afghan or a full-sized blanket. For the baby blanket I used 36 squares, but you can continue to add as many as you like until you have a desired size. It’s easy to make this into a crib blanket as well.

I found this to be quite a bit of work due to the stitch pattern used. Each square is started off in a circle, then worked into a square over the last few rounds. The front, in my opinion, is very pretty, but the back side looks a bit funny. I’ve posted the pictures, so you can see what it looks like before you start the afghan. Or, simply add a liner on the back side for a super cozy blankie.

You might also enjoy this motif blanket, the cotton baby blanket or this one in stripes.

Circle In a Square Crochet Pattern for a Baby Afghan

Skill Level: Intermediate

Materials: Yarn: Loops & Threads – Snuggly Wuggly Big! 14oz/396g ball – 2 Colors.
Hook Size: G/4.00mm

Measurements: 
Finished Size: 1 square measures 5.25″ and the finished blanket measures approximately 35″ by 35″ with 36 squares.

Abbreviations:
CA = Color A
CB = Color B

Puff St = Puff Stitch

Bet = Between
Ch/Chs = Chain/Chains
Cl = Cluster
Dc = Double Crochet
FO = Fasten Off
Fpdc = Front Post Double Crochet
Hdc = Half Double Crochet
Hk = Hook
Lp/Lps = Loop/Loops
Rep = Repeat
Rnd/Rnds = Round/Rounds
Sc = Single Crochet
Sk = Skip
Sl St = Slip Stitch
Sp/Sps = Space/Spaces
St/Sts = Stitch/Stitches
YO = Yarn Over

Notes and Special Stitch Instructions:

Puff St: (Yo, insert hk in sp indicated, yo and pull through) 3 times, 7 lps on hook. Yo and pull through all 7 lps, ch 1 to secure.

• When the pattern says (puff st, ch 1), work the puff stitch as instructed and secure with a chain 1. Then make another chain for a total of two chains.
• I carried my yarn at the back in order too avoid unnecessary loose ends.

Pattern Instructions

Rnd 1: With CA, Ch 2, (hdc, ch 1) 8 times into 2nd ch from hk; join with sl st to first hdc. (8 ch-1 sps)

Rnd 2: Sl st into next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (puff st, ch 1) in same ch-1 sp and into each ch-1 sp around; join with sl st to first puff st. (8 puff sts)

Rnd 3: Join CB in sp bet next puff st, ch 1, sc in same sp, fpdc around corresponding hdc below, sc once more into same sp, ch 3, *sc in next sp, fpdc around corresponding hdc below, sc once more into same sp, ch 3; rep from * around; join with sl st to first sc. (8 ch-3 lps)

Rnd 4: Join CA in first fpdc, ch 1, sc in same st, Working at the back of the ch-3 lp, work 4 dc into puff st, *sc into next fpdc, 4 dc into next puff st; rep from * around; join with sl st to first sc. (40 sts)

Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, *ch 3, going in underneath and catching the ch-3 lp of rnd 3, sk next 2 dc, sc in sp before next dc (See illustrations 1-3 below), ch 3**, sc in next sc; rep from * around ending last rep at **; join with sl st to first sc. (16 ch-3 lps)

Rnd 6: Join CB in next lp, ch 1, (sc, ch 3) into same lp and into each lp around; join with sl st to first sc. (16 ch-3 lps)

Rnd 7: Sl st into ch-3 lp, ch 1, (sc, ch 4, sc) in same lp, ch 3 *(sc in next lp, ch 3) 3 times**; (sc, ch 4, sc) in next lp, ch 3; rep from * around ending last rep at **; join with sl st to first sc. (20 lps)

Rnd 8: Sl st into next lp, ch 3 (counts as first dc), work another 6 dc into same lp, *(3 dc in next lp) 4 times**, 7 dc in next lp; rep from * around ending last rep at **; join with sl st to first dc. (76 sts) FO.

Joining Rounds:

Squares are joined using the flat-braid method.

First Square: Join CA to any corner st, ch 1, *(sc, ch 5, sc) into corner st, ch 3, [sk next 3 dc, sc in sp before next dc, ch 3] 5 times, sk next 3 dc; rep from * around; join with sl st to first sc. FO.

Tips:

When joining 2 or more squares, the dropped lp is picked up from the corresponding lp of the completed square. The hook is inserted from the top (right side) of the completed square. For this pattern, always start the joining at a corner.

When joining at a corner where 3 corners have already been joined, pick up the dropped lp in the first corresponding corner lp, ch 2, drop the lp once more, and pick it up from the next corner lp of corresponding square (the corner lp of the square to the top left that corresponds to the next side of the current square).

Joining 1 Side: Join CA to any corner st, ch 1, *(sc, ch 5, sc) into corner st, ch 3, [sk next 3 dc, sc in sp before next dc, ch 3] 5 times, sk next 3 dc, rep from * once; sc in corner st, **ch 2, drop the lp and pick it up from the corresponding corner lp of completed square, ch 3, sc once more into corner st of current square**, [ch 1, drop the lp and pick it up from the next lp of completed square, ch 2, sk the next 3 dc on current square, sc in sp before next dc of current square] 6 times working the last sc into the corner st instead of sp; rep bet ** ** once, ch 3, [sk next 3 dc, sc in sp before next dc, ch 3] 5 times; sk next 3 dc; join with sl st to first sc. FO.

Joining 2 Sides: Join CA to any corner st, ch 1, (sc, ch 5, sc) into corner st, ch 3, [sk next 3 dc, sc in spe before next dc, ch 3] 5 times, sk next 3 dc, sc in corner sp, *ch 2, drop the lp and pick it up from the corresponding corner lp of completed square, ch 3, sc once more into corner st of current square*, **[ch 1, drop the lp and pick it up from the next lp of completed square, ch 2, sk next 3 dc on current square, sc in sp before next dc of current square] 6 times working the last sc into the corner st instead of sp**; [ch 2, drop the lp and pick it up from the next corresponding corner lp of completed square] twice, ch 3, sc once more into corner st of current square; rep bet ** **, then rep bet * * once, ch 3, [sk next 3 dc, sc in sp before next dc, ch 3] 5 times; sk next 3 dc; join with sl st to first sc. FO.

Edging:

Rnd 1: With RS facing, Join CA to any corner lp. Ch 1, *(sc, ch 3) twice in corner lp, (sc, ch 3) in next lp and in each lp up to the corner lp; rep from * around; join with sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2: Join CB in corner ch-3 lp, ch 3 (counts as first dc), work another 6 dc in same corner lp, *3 dc in each lp up to next corner lp**, 7 dc in next corner lp; rep from * ending last rep at **; join with sl st to first dc.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in first st and in each st around working 2 sc into each corner st; join with sl st. FO.