Welcome to my first CAL! Do you like murder mystery books? So do I! I thought it would be fun to do a CAL {crochet a-long} where we make a square and read a cozy murder mystery book each month. If this sounds fun, keep reading for the details!
Now I love a good murder mystery no matter the kind, but cozy murder mysteries are a little tamer than most. Plus they are usually easy to get through in a limited time frame. Here’s the details for the CAL:
- I’ll post a new book to read & new crochet block pattern here on the blog the first Friday of the month. This first post is technically on the 2nd Friday, but I had another post to do the first day of the month. : )
- The books will be digital books from Amazon. All the books I’ve picked are under $5 and some are even free if you have Amazon Prime.
- I’m doing granny squares with a twist for each block. This will make them easy but still interesting. {I hope!} The pattern will be free here on the blog each month. See the yarn and book section for yarn and block size.
- You can share your finished blocks in my Teadoddles Makers Facebook group for now. If I have enough people join in, I’ll create a group just for the CAL.
- Everyone that shares their finished square in the Facebook group will be entered to win a Mini Maker bag made by me. I will post a pick in the group once I get it made. : )
I hope everyone enjoys the patterns even if you decide you don’t want to read the book. Let’s get started super sluethes!
Yarn and Book
Somehow this year has flown by! While I do apologize for being behind on things, sometimes life just has other plans. These will be the final two squares of the year and I will work on the joining information during my break from school. That will come out after the first of the year. For now, here are two more books and blocks to round out 2021.
I’ve been using Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran {acrylic} in various colors for my squares. This is listed as a #4 yarn, but not listed in their worsted weight category. It feels a little thinner than the standard Red Heart yarn, but thicker than Caron Simply Soft. I’ve run out of the yarn and need to get more {such a tragedy, lol}. I decided to try out this King Cole tweeded yarn I have in several colors, then I’ll have squares started for a fall blanket too. These are all the squares except September’s, which I still need to make.
Each block will be 10″ x 10″ {26 cm x 26 cm} and I will be making two of them each month. This will give me 24 squares total, so I can lay them to make a 40″ x 60″ afghan. If you make one block each month, you can make a 30″ x 40″ afghan.
You can use whatever yarn fiber and/or weight you would like to use. The pattern can be adjusted for different yarn weights. For example, add more rounds for lighter yarns if needed or leave off rounds for heavier yarns if needed to make the 10″ square. You could also just make smaller or bigger squares if you like. : )
Pattern – Basics
This pattern starts off as a basic granny square for the first two rounds. Then we’ll add some different stitches to spice things up a bit!
Supplies:
- Yarn – King Cole Fashion Aran {acrylic}, #4 worsted weight {use the weight, fiber, & color you prefer}
- Hook – 5.5mm {I9}
Abbreviations:
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- trc – treble crochet
- ps – puff stitch – yo, insert hook into stitch & pull up long loop {3 loops on hook}, yo, insert hook into stitch & pull up long loop 4 more times {11 loops on hook}, yo & pull loop through all 11 loops, ch 1 to close
- You can start the granny square off any way you like. I just prefer the magic circle.
See January’s square for 1st two rounds instructions.
R1 – Make a magic circle and ch 3; 2 dc, ch 2, *3 dc, ch 2* repeat * to * 2 more times; sl st to top of beginning ch 3
R2 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *{3 dc , ch 2, 3 dc} into next ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; sl st to top of beginning ch 3
NOTE: I start my stitches in the first corner versus slip stitching to the next corner. Please use what works best for you.
Round 2 complete.
Every block in the CAL will begin with these 2 rows, so you can get them all started if you want to!
Pattern – Square #11, November
R3 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *{hdc, dc, trc} between clusters; {3 dc , ch 2, 3 dc} into next ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; {hdc, dc, trc} between clusters; {3 dc, ch 2} into beginning ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see pictures below for visual}
R4 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *3 trc in top of cluster in row below, 3 hdc between clusters; {3 dc, ch2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; 3 trc in top of cluster in row below, 3 hdc between clusters; {3 dc, ch2} into ch 2 corner; sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see pictures below for visual}
R5 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *{hdc, dc, trc} between clusters to corner; {3 dc , ch 2, 3 dc} into next ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; {hdc, dc, trc} between clusters to corner; {3 dc, ch 2} into beginning ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3
R6 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *[3 trc in top of cluster in row below, 3 hdc between clusters] repeat [ to ] to corner; {3 dc, ch2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; [3 trc in top of cluster in row below, 3 hdc between clusters] repeat [ to ] to corner ; {3 dc, ch2} into ch 2 corner; sl st to top of beginning ch 3
R7 – Repeat R5
R8 – Repeat R6
R9 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *3 dc between clusters to the corner; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; 3 dc between clusters to the corner; {3 dc, ch 2} into last ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3
Pattern – Square #12, December
R3 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between clusters, *{3 dc , ch 2, 3 dc} into next ch 2 corner, {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between clusters* repeat * to * 2 more times; {3 dc, ch 2} into beginning ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3
R4 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *{hdc, dc, trc} between cluster & ps, {trc, dc, hdc} between ps & cluster; {3 dc, ch2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; {hdc, dc, trc} between cluster & ps, {trc, dc, hdc} between ps & cluster ; {3 dc, ch2} into ch 2 corner; sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see pictures below for visual}
R5 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *{ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between clusters, sc between trc, {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between clusters; {3 dc , ch 2, 3 dc} into next ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between clusters, sc between trc, {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between clusters ; {3 dc, ch 2} into beginning ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see pictures below for visual}
R6 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *[{hdc, dc, trc} between cluster & ps, {trc, dc, hdc} between ps & cluster] repeat [ to ] once; {3 dc, ch2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; [{hdc, dc, trc} between cluster & ps, {trc, dc, hdc} between ps & cluster] repeat [ to ] once; {3 dc, ch2} into ch 2 corner; sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see pictures below for visual}
R7 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *[{ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between clusters, sc between trc] repeat [ to ] once, {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between clusters; {3 dc , ch 2, 3 dc} into next ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; [{ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between clusters, sc between trc] repeat [ to ] once, {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between clusters; {3 dc, ch 2} into beginning ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see pictures below for visual}
R8 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *[{hdc, dc, trc} between cluster & ps, {trc, dc, hdc} between ps & cluster] repeat [ to ] 2 more times; {3 dc, ch2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; [{hdc, dc, trc} between cluster & ps, {trc, dc, hdc} between ps & cluster] repeat [ to ] 2 more times; {3 dc, ch2} into ch 2 corner; sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see pictures below for visual}
R9 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *3 dc between clusters to the corner; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; 3 dc between clusters to the corner; {3 dc, ch 2} into last ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Finished Squares
Completed square!
Check out the past month’s posts for all the squares so far!
In case you missed it in the Facebook group, here’s a picture of the Mini Maker Bag up for grabs each month.
I hope y’all enjoy the pattern and the book I picked this month. I can’t wait to read it! Let me know if you find any errors & I will correct them. This pattern has not been tested by anyone but me. : D
