This afghan square features vertical lines of offset shells, along with a line of v-stitches at the center of the square.
There are links below to help photos for crocheting my variation of the traditional offset shell stitch.
Abbreviations: ch = chain, chs = chains, dc = double crochet, ea = each, sc = single crochet, sp = space, st = stitch, sts = stitches
Materials: about 1 oz. any worsted weight yarn, US size H hook
Pattern Notes: Finished size is 10 1/2 inches with one outside round in single crochet. If you want an 11 inch square, add one additional outside round in single crochet.
To see a close look at where the stitches are made for the Offset Shell part of this pattern, see Row 1 Close Look Photo and Row 2 Close Look Photo.
Starting Chain: Leaving a length to weave in later, chain 41.
Row 1: dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in ea of next 7 chs,
skip 2 chs, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all in next ch, ch 2, skip next 3 chs, dc in ea of next 2 chs, ch 1, skip next 2 chs, (dc, ch 1, dc) all in next ch, ch 1, skip next 2 chs, dc in ea of next 2 chs, skip 2 chs, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all in next ch, ch 2, skip next 3 chs, dc in ea of last 9 chs.
Row 2: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in ea of next 8 dc, skip next ch-2, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all in next dc, ch 2, skip next dc, skip next ch-1, skip next 2 dc, dc in ea of next 2 dc, ch 1, skip next ch-1 sp, skip next dc of v-st,(dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-1 sp (in center of v-st), ch 1, skip next dc of v-st, skip next ch-1 sp, dc in ea of next 2 dc, skip next ch-2, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all in next dc, ch 2, skip next dc, skip next ch-1, skip next 2 dc, dc in ea of last 9 dc.
Additional Rows: Repeat Row 2 until the square is one row away from being as tall as it is wide. I crocheted 17 rows total before doing the Last Row directions but you may need more rows or less rows, depending on your own individual crochet tension.
Last Row: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in ea of next 8 dc, ch 2, skip ch-2 sp, skip next dc, sc in next dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in ea of next 2 dc, ch 1, skip next ch-1 sp, skip next dc of v-st, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-1 sp (in center of v-st), ch 1, skip next dc of v-st, skip next ch-1 sp, dc in ea of next 2 dc, ch 2, skip ch-2 sp, skip next dc, sc in next dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in ea of last 9 dc.
Begin Outside Round: ch 1, then (working down the side of the piece), make 2 sc around post of ea dc along the side, ch 2 for corner,
Outside Round, Bottom Edge: sc in remaining loop of each starting chain along bottom side, as follows: sc in ea of first 9 chs, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in next ch, 2 sc in ch-3 sp, sc in ea of next 2 chs, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in next ch, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in ea of next 2 chs, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in next ch, 2 sc in ch-3 sp, sc in ea of next 9 chs, ch 2 for next corner,
Outside Round, Next Side: 2 sc around ea dc post
on that side, ch 2 for corner,
Outside Round, Top Edge: then work across the top with an sc in ea of first 9 dc, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in ea of next 3 sc,
sc in ch-1 sp, sc in ea of next 2 dc, (sc in ch-1 sp, sc in next dc) twice, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in ea of next 2 dc, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in ea of next 3 sc, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in ea of next 9 dc, then ch 2 for corner, ending with a slip stitch in the first sc of this outside round.
Outside Round 2: If you wish to add another one-half inch to the size of the square, this outside round adds about one-fourth inch to each side, resulting in an additional one-half inch added to the diameter overall. ch 1, sc in ea sc around, with (sc, ch 2, sc)
worked in ea corner ch-2 space. End with a slip stitch in the first sc of this round.
End off, leaving a length to weave in. Weave in ends securely, weaving back and forth several times on the back of the square, working under back part of a number of stitches so that the ends will not unravel over time.
