This square is accented by two lines of my variation of offset shells. There are links 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, st = stitch, sts = stitches
Materials: about 1 oz. worsted weight yarn, US size H hook. I used Red Heart Super Saver, color Baby Print, in the example.
Pattern Notes: When made with the materials listed above, the finished size is about 11 1/2 inches with one outside round in single crochet. If you want a 12 inch square, add one additional outside round in single crochet. You could add any further rounds whenever you want the overall size to be increased by one-half inch for each single crochet round.
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 9 chs **, repeat the directions between * and ** once more.
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 9 dc **, repeat the directions between * and ** once more.
Additional Rows: Repeat Row 2 until the square is one row away from being as tall as it is wide. I crocheted 19 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 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 9 dc **, repeat the directions between * and ** once more.
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, sc in remaining loop of each starting ch along bottom side, ch 2 for next corner, 2 sc around ea dc post on that side, ch 2 for corner, 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 9 dc **, repeat the directions between * and ** one time, 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.
