From crochet.about.com - Stairsteps Texture UpDown Afghan Square
Fifth Variation Afghan Square In The Series
Designed by Sandi Marshall

Here's another afghan square that I created where I used the up-down stitch, which I combined with other stitch combinations, to give this one a line of texture patterning (different than the others). I used some crossed dc stitches in this one. This is the same size as the other up-down variation squares that I came up with and could be combined for a sampler afghan.

The photo on the right above also shows how joined multiples of this square combined with the UpDown and Open Path Square will look for an afghan. How To Join Crocheted Squares With Slip Stitch: http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa010999.htm

Printing This Page: Scroll to below the pattern directions, for hints for printing pages from this site.

Abbreviations: ch = chain, crdc = crossed dc, dc = double crochet, sc = single crochet, sp = space, st = stitch, sts = stitches

Example is made with worsted weight yarn and a U.S. size G hook (a size H hook also works well with worsted weight yarn). A 7 oz. skein will make about 6 squares.

Finished Size: about 8 inches

How To Do The Crossed dc (crdc): skip next st, dc in next st, then dc in the skipped st. Note: In this pattern, the dc is worked in the back loop only. It's helpful to bend the dc just made forward, when crossing the hook in back of that dc, making it easier to see the skipped stitch to work into (insert the hook from front to back in the back loop of the skipped stitch to begin making the dc in the skipped stitch). Photos showing how to do the crossed dc at: http://crochet.about.com/library/blcrosseddc.htm

Understanding Pattern Directions: What Do The Parenthesis Mean? - http://crochet.about.com/library/blrepeats2.htm
How To Crochet In The Back Loop Only - http://crochet.about.com/library/blbackfrontloop.htm

Pattern Directions
Created by Sandi Marshall
Starting chain: With color A, chain 27.

Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, (dc in next ch, sc in next ch) 3 times, dc in next ch, sc in ea of next 10 chs, (dc in next ch, sc in next ch) 4 times.
Row 2: Ch 1 to turn, sc in first sc, (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next dc, (crdc in back loop only over next 2 sc, dc in back loop only of ea of next 2 sc) twice, crdc in back loop only over next 2 sc, then working in both loops of each stitch again, (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next dc, sc in last sc.
Row 3: Ch 1 to turn, sc in first sc, (dc in next sc, sc in next dc) 3 times, dc in next sc, sc in back loop only of ea of next 10 dc, then working in both loops of each stitch again, (dc in next sc, sc in next dc) 3 times, dc in next sc, sc in last sc.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: Repeat Row 3.
Rows 6 - 23: Repeat Rows 2 and 3, consecutively.
Outside Round: Work one round of single crochet all around the four sides of the outside edge, with a ch 2 each time you come to a corner.

Copyright - This pattern was designed by Sandi Marshall. These afghan square pattern directions and the pattern photos are copyright 2006 by Sandi Marshall, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Free for your own personal (not for profit) use only.
Per copyright law, do not redistribute (with or without charge) in any form. (Redistributing by reproduced copies to others includes by photocopies, scanning, emailing, putting on a CD, posting the pattern directions in Internet forum messages, putting on another web site and any other manner of distribution.) Instead, you may give others the URL of this pattern page so that they may come to this site to print out the pattern for themselves.

You are welcome to link to this pattern but, per copyright law, do not place the actual content of the pattern page on another website; do not redistribute the actual content of the page in any form (even for free)! It makes a world of difference. Thank you!

URL of the main page for this pattern is http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa050106.htm
URL of this printing page is http://crochet.about.com/library/n050106.htm

U.S. Government Copyright Law Web Site - http://www.loc.gov/copyright
Owner of Some Well-Known Pattern Companies Talks About Copyright Law Regarding Patterns: www.drgnetwork.com/pages/copyrights/index.html

The following photo shows how joined multiples of just this square will look for an afghan, with the direction of the squares alternated, when joining.
Printing This Page: If your printer only shows the ad at the top of the page when you try to print, try clicking somewhere on a blank area of the center portion of the page (the pattern portion), then click on File at the top of your Internet browser and choose Print. Having clicked on the pattern part of the page first tells your printer what part of the page you want to print.

First Up-Down Variation Square Free Pattern - http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa041506.htm
Second Up-Down Variation Square Free Pattern - http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa042106.htm
Third Up-Down Variation Square Free Pattern - http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa042206.htm
UpDown and Open Path Variation Square Free Pattern - http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa043006.htm