Circles in Squares

Remember when I shared with you how to make a Geometric Crochet Pillow? A new crochet tutorial is so over due. I’ve been obsessing over circle granny squares lately. I recently made my niece a blanket with this pattern, and now I’m finishing up a new pillow for the parlor.

 

Below is a picture of the baby blanket. For the edging, I single crocheted around the blanket once and then double crocheted around the blanket to finish. I like the simple edging, each square makes a cute scallop. For this blanket I used an H crochet hook.

This tutorial will be how to make the pillow below. You can easily make the blanket above though. I will teach you how to connect each circle square and that’s really all you need for the blanket.

I don’t usually use a pillow form when I crochet pillows, but I decided to be fancy and made one for this pillow.

For this pattern I used a J crochet hook and Vanna’s Choice yarn rust, oatmeal, olive, mustard and barley. You will need to know how to Chain, Slip Stitch, Double Crochet, Single Crochet & Treble Crochet. Let’s get started!

(Please review this video if you don’t know how to Chain)

Allow a generous tail. Chain four and Slip Stitch into the first Chain to create a circle. This will be the center of your circle.

 (Please review this tutorial if you don’t know how to Slip Stitch)

Slip Stitch into the middle of your circle, then Chain two this will be your first “double crochet” (Please review this video if you don’t know how to Double Crochet)

— Chain again. Double Crochet + Chain eleven more times. 

It’s important to learn what everything looks like. Chain Spaces will play an important part on the next level of your circle.

*Tip: Pull the tail when you have six Double Crochets. This will tighten the center of your circle.

You should have twelve Double Crochets and twelve Chains. To complete your circle, Slip Stitch into the first Double Crochet Post.

Tie new yarn color to an existing small circle. This oatmeal yarn is pretty easy to see details, so I’m going to use it again. Turn your circle around for the next step.

It’s important to seamlessly hide the next color you are adding. There should be no sign of color change in the existing rust circle.

As you can see above, Slip Stitch into the first Chain to your left.

*Tip: make sure you slip stitch into the chain and not the chain space.

Nice huh? There’s one more step…

Now you can Slip Stitch into the Chain Space. This completes changing the color of your yarn seamlessly. Now let’s get started on the second level of your circle.

Chain three to make a fake “Double Crochet” post.

As you can see above the pattern will be two Double Crochets in each Chain Space. Then Chain.

Two Double Crochets in the next Chain Space, then Chain. Repeat all the way around your circle. Slip Stitch into your first Double Crochet Post (the fake one) to complete your circle.

Add a new color to your circle to complete the third level. This circle has  barley, olive and for the third level oatmeal. *Review above for more details on changing colors.

Tie a new color to the back. Slip Stitch into the Chain to the left of your hook. Slip Stitch again into the Chain Space. BOOM it’s seamless!

Chain three, then two Double Crochets into the same Chain Space. Chain one.

Double Crochet three times into next Chain Space. Chain one. Repeat all the way around your circle. Complete by Slip Stitching into the first fake “Double Crochet“.

Your circle is complete! Pat yourself on the back :) Now let’s make the edging to turn this circle into a square.

Okay, tie a new color to the back, I’m using mustard. Slip Stitch into the Chain to the left of your hook. Slip Stitch again into the Chain Space.

Chain three (fake double crochet post) one Double Crochet into same Chain Space. Chain one. Two Double Crochets into SAME Chain Space. Chain one. Repeat in next Chain Space.

This makes a side of your square. Now let’s move on to the first corner of your square.

(Please review this video if you don’t know how to Treble Crochet)

Wrap yarn around twice to begin your first Treble Crochet.

Two Treble Crochets in next Chain Space. Chain two.

Two Treble Crochets in SAME Chain Space, then Chain one. Your first corner is complete.

Pattern: Next Chain Space —> Two Double Crochets + One Chain + Two Double Crochets in SAME Chain Space. Next Chain Space —> Repeat.

Your next Chain Space will be a corner. Two Treble Crochets + Two Chains + Two Treble Crochets in SAME Chain Space. Chain one.

Connecting Squares goes by quickly, so you are almost finished!

Line up right (front) sides. We’re going to crochet these squares together.

(Review this video if you don’t know how to Single Crochet)

Your squares will connect at each Chain Space by using a Single Crochet.
Slip Stitch into each Double Crochet Post and Treble Crochet Post.

Each circle indicates where I Single Crocheted in each Chain Space. Each dash indicates where I Slip Stitched in each post.

Here are my rows before I stitched them together.

 You can see why it’s important to make two Single Crochets in each corner. It makes a pretty star shape!

Once you have both sides of your pillow stitched, place the front sides together and stitch around the pillow with the connecting technique I showed you above.

Remember to leave a space big enough to turn your pillow right side out and stuff! After you stuff your pillow, simply stitch it up with a basic blanket stitch.

Comment below if you have any questions :)