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Charlotte – Large Crochet Square

This is one of those ‘Look at what I made!’ moments that prompted me to start blogging in the first place. I have been sitting on this large crochet square for quite some time now.  Not literally sitting, but you know what I mean.  Today I finally get to show it to you and I can barely contain myself.

Aquarel Yarn Large Crochet Square
Charlotte {Large Crochet Square}

This square is made in three parts using Scheepjes Aquarel and a 4 mm Clover Amour crochet hook (US G/6  UK 8).  Using this hook and yarn, the final square is 44cm (17.3″).  If you use worsted weight and a 5.5 mm crochet hook, your square should be 24″ or more (depending on your personal gauge).  I have seen some truly GIANT ones!!

Materials

  • 4 mm Clover Amour crochet hook (US 6/G  UK 8)
  • Scheepjes Softfun Aquarel (60% cotton/40% acrylic), 50g/140m/153yds
    • Colour A – Cloudscape (804) – 162m
    • Colour B – Riverscape (802) – 62m
    • Colour C – Cityscape (806) – 112m

Gauge

Your motif should measure:

  • At the end of Round 13:  16.5cm (6.5″)
  • At the end of Round 18:  22.5cm (8.8″)
  • At the end of Round 36:44cm (17.3″)

Instructions

You can find the instructions for the Large Charlotte Square here:

Translations

Written Only

These written-only translations have been done by the wonderful group of translators in the CAL – Crochet A Long Facebook group.

Step-by-step Translations

You can find additional step-by-step translations for the following languages at the start of each Part.

  • Dutch
  • French
  • German
  • Hebrew
  • Korean
  • Spanish
  • Swedish

You can add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue HERE and you can find more information about the square below.

If you enjoyed making this square and would like to continue growing it, please have a look at Charlotte’s Sunshine Baby and Charlotte’s Universe.

How This Square Came About

(Also know as:  The Blogpost I Wrote Before I Published the Pattern)

Some of you will have seen the Mandala Rug I made using my friend John’s Blooming Mandala pattern.  I just love that rug so much!  It lives on the back of our couch and I often look at it while I crochet.  Every time I look at it, I can see it growing bigger and bigger in all sorts of dimensions and shapes.  When I received a few skeins of the new Scheepjes Aquarel to try out (top secret at the time), all I could think of was John’s mandala.

So I messaged John and asked him if I could use a smaller version of his central flower in my new square.  John kindly agreed and so I am once again embarking on a project that started its life as a seed from someone else’ tree.  But you know what?  I love the fact that Sophie started life as the central flower of Chris Simon’s Lace Petals Square and I love the fact that this, my new baby, started its life as a much-loved design by a dear friend.

Aquarel Yarn Large Crochet Square

I created a small square first (equivalent to 12″ if using worsted weight yarn and a 5.5 mm hook). It is a marriage of dense stitches and lacy bits. Mr. Lookatwhatimade was not at all sure that what I was doing would work (and nor was I, truth be told), but he grudgingly conceded that he liked the square once it was completed.  It really rattles me when he doesn’t like a design half-way.  I keep forgetting that he can’t see my thoughts and therefore doesn’t ‘see’ what I see.

I then added 4 triangles and a border to create a large crochet square equal to 4 of the ‘small’ squares.  Before the border went on, Mr. Lookatwhatimade once again found it necessary to tell me that it wasn’t working, but as soon as the border was added, he liked it again.  So fickle!

Aquarel Yarn Large Crochet Square

Using Scheepjes Softfun Aquarel and a 4 mm crochet hook (US G/6  UK 8), the final square worked up to a size of 17″ (42 cm).  Aquarel has just been ‘launched’, so it should be available to buy by the time I start posting the pattern in a week or two.

I have to tell you that I love the yarn!  It has a stonewashed, ombre, hand-dyed vibe, all rolled into one. It feels modern and ancient at the same time;  substantial and light as air.  It really messes with my head!

The square itself also feels ‘old’.  Not vintage or historical or classic… It feels as if each stitch aged a hundred years the moment it slipped off my hook.  I don’t know how to explain it.

Aquarel is available in 11 gorgeous colours.  I am using Cloudescape (804), Cityscape (806) and Riverscape (802).

Update:  Aquarel is now available from Wool Warehouse.  You can find a list of other Scheepjes retailers HERE.

Scheepjes Softfun Aquarel Yarn

The pattern for this square will be released in a couple of weeks.  In the meantime I am contemplating names (I have a favourite already, but there are complications) and imagining growth (so many options).

Update:  It has a name now, although not the name I had originally wanted to use.  I really really REALLY wanted to call this square ‘Anna Begins’, but after contacting Counting Crows to no avail, I settled on my second choice:  Charlotte!  I think it was a better choice anyway :)

Scheepjeswol Softfun Aquarel Yarn

This square was designed for 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day.

You can find me on Facebook, Bloglovin, Pinterest, Twitter, or Instagram.

Happy Hooking!

Dedri

This blog post contains affiliate links. I only link to products I personally use or would use.  All opinions are my own.

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Comments

    • Hi Rosemarie. I do not know of a deer pattern of Dedri’s designing. Maybe have a look through the patterns section to see if you can find it. I have looked and can’t find one.

  2. Hi Dedri.

    This pattern and video tutorial are great. I was wondering if you had you would be able to let me know which rows are what colors. I am using the Vintage pattern. I bought the kit and I don’t want to run out of yarn. Thank you for your help.

    Reply

    • Hi Lori.
      In the pattern for the Vintage colour way, each and every round states which colour is used, ie A, B or C, and the key is in the pattern description under Vintage Charlotte.

    • Not yet, Lori.
      It will be a big feature in the blog when Dedri is ready to reveal the full blanket and release the pattern.
      BW. Jenny :)

  6. Hi, there used to be two extra rows on this entry to add to the final border in part three but they appear to have been removed, I’ve come back to this square and can’t recall if it was a row of double crochet followed by a row of bpdc or, a row of hdc followed by a row of bphdcs. Could somebody clarify please?

    Reply

    • Hi.

      I think you are referring to the extra rows used when making this square for Charlotte’s Dream? If you have a look at the instructions for Charlotte’s Dream HERE, you will see what I mean.

    • Hi Barbara. This IS the pattern for the large Charlotte square (pictured in the featured photo of this post). If you scroll down to Instructions, you will see the links to the three parts of the photo tutorial that make up this square. There is also a slightly larger version (Charlotte’s Sunshine Baby) which you can find HERE. I suspect that you may have seen a different (larger) version on Pinterest or a pattern farming site, though. If that is the case, it will have been a photo of a square that someone else has grown and you would have to contact the individual who created it to find out which stitches or pattern they added to this original square.

      I hope you find the one you are looking for.

      Dedri

  8. What do you think of this Idea;?;
    I was thinking of making a baby blanket from this square, However it isn’t big enough, so maybe make four of them to join together? How would you suggest I loin them to make the blanket? Or what stitch would you use to continue making the square bigger? Maybe just keep doing the last two rows over and over again? A friend of mine is pregnant with Twin Girls, However she is having a lot of complications with the pregnancy. She is very high risk. I saw this and wanted very much to do this pattern for her babies afghans. I have her afghan almost done. They are surprises for her. Any suggestions would be wonderful. Thanks so much. have a wonderful day.
    Danielle

    Reply

    • Danielle, have a look at Charlotte’s Dream. I have joined the Charlotte squares and it will give you the instructions for exactly how I did it.
      Jenny :)

  9. I would like to find a pattern for the 35”Charlotte Crochet square. There is an extra border with the dark red bubbles that I would like to add. Can you tell me where to find the pattern for the extra border?. Love this pattern !

    Reply

  10. I have been on this computer for hrs trying to find the end of this pattern . I have gotten to row 37 and then it ends I tried to get the rest of the pattern om ravelry charlottes sunshine baby but it just gives some notes starting with row37 then to the sunshine owl pattern I am at my whits end I love the blanket but I am at a stand still heere. all I have done was the original square. help

    Reply

    • Dedri has not yet released her extended Charlotte square which is called Simply Charlotte. That is why you can’t find it :)
      Watch the blog for the pattern release. Even I don’t know when that will be as yet!

      Jenny :)

  11. Hi Dedri,

    First, thank you for sharing this pattern! My house is currently undergoing a complete renovation (which is dusty and dirty and driving me crazy!), and beginning this Charlotte’s Dream project is just what I needed to take my mind of the mess and focus on something beautiful. Hopefully I’ll have this blanket finished to use as the perfect touch in my new bedroom. I’m here in Key West, Florida, USA and I was SO EXCITED to receive my package of yarn and pattern from Wool Warehouse. My coworkers thought I bought a new pillow when the package came. Haha. Anyway, I’m that gal who is still crocheting even though it’s 80 degrees F outside in January. The downside is I have nobody to help with some basic (maybe silly) questions. I hope you don’t mind helping… In switching colors, are you cutting the yarn or are you weaving it in somehow? I’d love some help on how to best hide the color change in the work. Any advice is greatly appreciated and I hope you’ll keep sharing your beautiful and creative designs.

    Briana

    Reply

    • Hi Briana :) Renovations sound challenging! I’m sure crochet will help take your mind off that. There are ways to carry the yarn for this pattern, but I chose not to go into that in this pattern, as I wanted it aimed at adventurous beginners, not super experienced crocheters. I just cut the yarn when the pattern instructs you to fasten off. And then weave away the ends by going forwards and backwards and forwards again before cutting. You might find the following two posts helpful: Invisible Join and Working Away Ends.

  12. Dear Dedri,
    Thank you so much for writing the pattern for “Charlotte” and sharing it with the whole world! I just finished mine, and I’m happy to show it to you and everyone else who is interested in seeing another version of this gorgeous piece.

    I found your instructions clear and easy to follow, so I’m hoping to see plenty of new ideas in the future.

    I’m also working on your other pattern – Sophie’s Universe CAL 2015, and I’m enjoying it a lot since every row is different, but also because I’m learning so many new stitches. I especially like the parts in which I work new rounds by inserting the hook into stitches a few rounds before that one. I’ve never done anything like this before. And I really like the 3D look of the whole piece, overlapping of some sts is so cool.

    Please be free to visit the English version of my blog and check out how my “Charlotte” turned out.
    https://krpenalutkica-ragdoll.blogspot.com/2019/12/charlotte-square.html

    Wishing you all the best!
    Greetings from Serbia!
    Jelena

    Reply

  13. Hi Charlotte
    I would love to have the pattern. I’m not sure where to find it. Can you help. I think it’s just gorgeous and I’m sure my mum would love to make it. She is 84 in January and still doing well.
    Rosemarie

    Reply

    • Hi Rosemarie

      If you scroll down to where it says instructions, you will find the links to the three parts that make up the square. Happy birthday to your mom!

      Dedri

  14. How do you think this would look in worsted weight yarn? I love the pattern, but I promised myself I would use up my stash before buying more yarn, and I have a lot of WW — and it’s in the colors I would like to use — but I don’t have much DK.

    I’ve found that often, WW just does not produce the same effect as DK. I’ve ended up totally scrapping projects I started in WW because I just didn’t like the way they looked.

    Reply

    • Hi Lynn. I’ve seen loads of Charlotte blankets made in worsted weight and they look great. They are quite heavy, though, and I personally prefer the thinner blanket created by using double knit. BUT, like my mom always says, there’s only one way to find out :)

  15. DEAR FRIEND,
    I SORRY, BUT YOU MUST PUT A SCHEMA TO DO THIS.
    THIS WAY TO MAKE THE PATTERNS IS VERY COMPLICATED, VERY HARD TO DO.
    PLEASE, MAKE A SACHEMA, DESIGN IT, LIKE THE CHINESE DO.

    Reply

    • Hi Carlota. The pattern has three-dimensional elements (overlay), which makes it tricky to chart. There are step-by-step videos, which you might find helpful?

  16. I am very disappointed with Jenny’s response to Jan Swindle. Not nice posting a picture of that beautiful blanket without instructions to make it. Very misleading.

    Reply

    • Hi Michelle. I think that you might have misunderstood Jenny’s response to Jan. Maybe I can clarify what she was saying.

      This IS the Charlotte pattern as far as I have published it to date (I am working on an extension and collaborating on another extension at the moment). The photo that Jan saw on Pinterest was posted by a pattern farming site, not by us. It is a photo of someone else’s extension of my Charlotte, used (without that person’s permission) by the pattern farming site as click bait to make money from ads. The only way to find out how to make that extension is to find out who actually made that specific version and contact them to ask them how they extended the pattern. If you look at the Ravelry projects for this square (HERE), you will see that people have extended this square in many different ways. There are 400-odd projects using this square, and more than 50 ‘extensions’, so it is quite possible that the one you are looking for will be there.

      I sincerely hope that you find it.

      Dedri

    • Hi Michelle. I hope Dedri clarified my response to Jan a bit more for you.
      I have located the maker of the blanket Jan was referring to via Dedri’s link. As suspected, she has incorporated elements of Around the Bases extension pattern by Chi Chi Allen for any 12” crochet square.
      Here is the maker’s Ravelry listing
      HERE
      and here is the link for Around the Bases so there is hopefully no further upset
      HERE

      Hope this helps you both.
      Jenny :)

  17. This is not even close to the photo shown called 35 inch Charlotte Square that is displayed on the Pinterest site. Where is the pattern that is shown? Please update your information to alleviate the frustration for many of us that are trying to find the correct site. Would really love to have the pattern that is displayed. Is that possible? I don’t know how long ago it was first posted. Thank you.

    Reply

    • Jan, Dedri has only designed the original Charlotte square, and this is the original pattern here. ALL currently extended versions using Charlotte squares as the central motif are grown by other designers/crocheters, and as such are patterns that are not Dedri’s creation. For example, many people use ‘Around the Bases’ with Charlotte as the central motif.

      Jenny :)

  18. OMG!!! my heart just stopped when i saw this! it is BEAUTIFUL! my plan is to make afghans for my 2 girls and 2 grands and i and am most definitely making one of them ‘charlotte’. btw, i like ‘charlotte’ better than ‘anna begins’. lol thank you for sharing your wonderful creativity with us.

    Reply

    • Hi Jeane! Have you seen Charlotte’s Dream blanket made of lots of Charlotte squares? Dedri is planning to naturally grow Charlotte, but in the mean time, her Dream blanket is a joy to male.
      Jenny :)

    • You will find that the extended pattern is not one of Dedri’s creations, Lisette. It will use Charlotte as a central motif, but that is as far as Dedri’s involvement goes.
      Dedri is growing Charlotte, but her pattern design has not been finished yet, let alone released for publication.

      Jenny :)

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