Project Photos:
Before you crochet this design, I recommend taking a look at the following pages:
- Nested squares block with cross stitched heart design -- This is a photo of the afghan square after the cross stitching has been completed. The photo also shows optional details worked in surface crochet.
- Nested squares afghan block -- This is a photo of how the afghan square looks before any cross stitching is added.
- Chart and pattern for the nested squares afghan block
How to Use This Chart:
There are different ways you could use the chart. I invite you to use your creativity and adapt it any way you like!
Having said that, here is how I used it:
Each square on the chart represents one single crochet stitch. This is true whether or not the square has an X over it. The green squares will be worked in green yarn (or the yarn color of your choice -- feel free to make substitutions.) The tan squares will be worked in tan yarn, even the tan squares that have an x over them.
So, the afghan square is crocheted in two colors, and then the third color, blue, is added afterwards. The Xs represent where the blue yarn is added by cross stitching on top of the single crochet stitches.
When you're crocheting, if you think you'd get confused by the Xs, feel free to work from the plain nested squares chart. No cross-stitching is marked on that chart, which makes it easier to crochet from. You can also print it out and mark your own cross stitch designs in the center, if you'd prefer to do a different design than the ones I've created.
At the end, I added some slip stitch details in surface crochet. I used tan yarn to crochet around the heart motif, and I also used tan yarn to crochet a border between the green and the blue, to visually separate them and make them stand out from each other more. These finishing touches are optional, but I think they enhance the afghan square.
More About Cross Stitch:
- Learn how to cross stitch on single crochet
- Cross stitch basics
- Free cross stitch patterns
- Connie Barwick's cross stitch blog
- Free cross stitch newsletter
Surface Crochet
- Surface crochet tutorial
- Sandi Marshall's instructions for embroidering a chain stitch on the surface of a fabric. This technique could be used instead of the surface crochet technique; the end result looks the same either way.
