Block 33 of the Block a Week CAL (hosted by Kimberly Slifer) is Chris Simon’s Flower Burst Square. I am sure the whole world knows by now that I love Chris’ designs.  And obviously Kimberly does too, because this is the fifth Chris Simon square we have used in the CAL (if I am not mistaken).

The Flower Burst Square is extremely easy.  In fact, I think it is the easiest square so far.  I have not done a step-by-step tutorial this week, but I have included a photo of each completed round, should you need it.  Stitch counts have been provided as well.

Flower Burst Crochet Square

{Pattern © 2005 Chris Simon. Photo tutorial done with kind permission}

Pattern

You can find the pattern HERE or HERE (as a Ravelry Download).

Suggested Materials

• 5 mm Clover Amour Crochet Hook (US H/8 UK 6)
• Worsted weight yarn

Size

• Using the hook and yarn specified, your square should be a nice even 12″ when you are done.
• Using a 4 mm crochet hook (US G/6 UK 8) and double knit yarn, as I have done, your finished square will be about 8.5″ big.

My Yarn and Colour Choices

I am using Stylecraft Special DK.

• Magenta (Round 1)
• Turquoise (Round 2)
• Meadow (Round 3)
• Saffron (Round 4)
• Fondant (Rounds 5 and 10)
• Pomegranate (Rounds 6 and 11)
• Sherbet (Rounds 7-9)
• Lipstick (Optional Round 11)

Notes

US Crochet Terminology used. (See this comparative chart if you need help transcribing from US to UK)

Corrections

Round 3:  Ch1, 2 dc should be in parenthesis, so (Ch 1, 2 dc).

Round 7:  Stitch count should read:  28 ch-2 spaces.

Flower Burst Square Photo Tutorial

This photo-walkthrough is NOT the actual pattern and should not be used instead of the pattern, but rather in conjunction with it.

Thank you very much to Chris Simon for giving us permission to do this photo-tutorial for her Flower Burst Square. And a special thank you to Kimberly Slifer for letting me do these tutorials and for obtaining the necessary permission.

Round 1

You can start this round with a magic ring instead of the initial ch-4 ring.

Magic Ring Instructions for Round 1

Into a magic ring: ch 3 (this counts as your first dc). Dc x 13 into the ring and pull the ring tight. Join to the top of the initial ch-3 with a sl st.

If you feel like practising the invisible join I talked about last week, feel free to use it instead of the sl st join. Make sure that you understand which stitch to join to if you do use it!

If you are not familiar with working into a magic ring, this video tutorial from Moogly is clear and easy to follow.

Please remember, when working into a magic ring you HAVE to work away your initial tail very well. If you just cut it, your whole square might unravel!

Stitch count: 14 dc’s

Round 2

Stitch count: 14 sc’s and 14 ch-1 spaces

Round 3

• If you are using the same colour, sl st into the next ch-1 space.  Ch 3 and dc in the same space.
• If you are using a new colour, join your yarn by making a standing double crochet in any ch-1 space around.  Dc in the same ch-1 space.

(Ch 1, 2 dc) in each of the next 13 ch-1 spaces.  Ch 1 and join to the third ch of the initial ch-3 with a sl st.

Stitch count: 28 dc’s and 14 ch-1 spaces

Round 4

Stitch count: 14 sc’s and 14 ch-4 spaces

Round 5

Stitch count:  56 sc’s and 14 ch-2 spaces

Round 6

Stitch count:  84 dc’s and 14 ch-2 spaces

Round 7

Stitch count: 14 sc’s, 14 dc’s, 28 ch-2 spaces

Round 8

Stitch counts: 

• Per Side: 22 st’s and 1 ch-1 space  {4 sc’s, 6 hdc’s, 6 dc’s, and 6 tr’s}
• Total:  88 st’s and 4 ch-1 spaces  {16 sc’s, 24 hdc’s, 24 dc’s, and 24 tr’s}

Round 9

I was just beginning to worry that I wouldn’t get to use my “hidden stitch” mantra in this square…and then I got to this round :)

Here you go, Carolyn:

When making the first dc after the corer, make sure that you don’t accidentally skip the first “hidden” stitch.

Stitch count:  116 dc’s and 4 ch-2 corners  {29 dc’s per side}

Round 10

Stitch counts: 

• Per Side: 18 dc’s and 15 ch-1 spaces
• Total:  72 dc’s and 60 ch-1 spaces

Round 11

Stitch count: 148 st’s and 4 ch-2 corners  {37 dc’s per side}

I added an optional Round 12 to get my square to the same size and stitch count as the first square, which was the largest.  You can find the optional additional round here.

Join the Block a Week CAL

If you would like to be part of the Block a week CAL on Facebook, please join the Official CCC Social Group (you must be logged into Facebook to do so) so that you can access and utilize the support and encouragement of all the lovely ladies on there.

You can also join the Block a Week CAL Flickr Group so that you can inspire others and be inspired yourself.

For those of you who do not like Facebook, you can always follow along with me here. I will be posting the blocks every week.

Remember to subscribe to my Weekly Newsletter if you would like to be kept in the loop. You can also like my Facebook page or follow me on Bloglovin, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, or Instagram.

More Blogs Following the CAL

• San from Loopsan – using Stylecraft in sophisticated Parchment, Denim, Mocha and Meadow
• Lou Mander from Tea, Crochet and Me – using Stylecraft in White, Mocha and Raspberry
• Wendy from Little Wendy Crochet (Dutch photo tutorials)

Happy Hooking!