Iโm excited to share my version of an easy, beautiful, openwork crochet square. Iโve created a step-by-step guide to help you learn how to crochet these squares and join them together.
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Openwork squares feature airy designs that blend chains with basic crochet stitches, such as double and single crochets. They add a drapey, breezy feel to your projects.
Openwork crochet is typically used to create light blankets, garments, shawls, and home decorations, where the gaps and holes add visual appeal and uniqueness.
These square patterns are perfect for whipping up some lightweight yarn summer crochet projects. I’m thinking of using this design for my next blanket. Hopefully, this blog post will inspire you to dive into your next crochet project, too!
Explore More Patterns & Tutorials
Why Youโll Love These Openwork Squares
- Quick and Easy: Lacy and open stitches are the fastest to crochet. You can create a square in about five minutes, depending on your skill level.
- Fewer Ends to Weave In: Unlike other squares, this project requires only two colors of yarn to look appealing. Using fewer colors means fewer ends to deal with.
- Unique Designs: Experimenting with colors and textures can make each square unique. Personalize your work by using your favorite colors to create unique projects.
Openwork Crochet Square Pattern
This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology.
Level of difficulty: easy.
Materials:
- Approximately 25 yards (23 m) of medium-weight yarn (#4) for a square. I used I Love This Yarn by Hobby Lobby in the pictured sample.
- 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle
Pattern Notes:
This openwork crochet square pattern works best with medium-weight or lighter yarns.
Stitch Tension: the first three rounds of the square will be approximately 3 ยพ inches (8.5 cm) with the recommended yarn weight and hook size.
Square Size: approximately 5.5 x 5.5 inches (14 cm).
Stitches & Abbreviations:
- C1: yarn color 1
- C2: yarn color 2
- ch(s): chain(s)
- dc: double crochet stitch
- Rnd: round
- sc: single crochet stitch
- shell st: a group of seven double crochet stitches in the same stitch
- sl st: slip stitch
- sk: skip
- sp(s): space(s)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- tr: treble stitch
- [ ]: the numbers shown are stitch counts in a round
Instructions
Crochet the first four rounds with yarn color #1 (C1), switch yarns, and crochet the remaining two rounds with color #2 (C2). Scroll down for the printable card with the abbreviated instructions.
Round #1
16 single crochet stitches in a magic circle, pull to cinch, and slip stitch to join.
Round #2
Chain 5 (counts as a treble and a chain 1 space). Then, (treble, chain 1) around.
Slip stitch to the initial chain 4 to join. [16 tr, 16 ch 1 sps]
Crocheting a treble (tr) stitch:
- Yarn over 2x (three loops on hook), then insert the hook in the stitch.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook).
- (Yarn over and pull through two) three times to complete the treble stitch.
Round #3
(Single crochet in the treble stitch, single crochet 2 into the next chain 1 space) around. Then, slip stitch to join and chain 1 (doesnโt count as a stitch). [48 sc]
Round #4
(Single crochet, skip 2 stitches, shell stitch, skip 2 stitches) around. Then, slip stitch to join. [8 shells]
Cut the yarn. Fasten off. Switch to color #2 (C2).
Round #5
*Insert the hook into the treble stitch between the next two shells, three rounds below. Then, pull up a loop, and make an extended single crochet stitch.
Next, chain 4, skip 3 double crochet stitches, single crochet, chain 4, skip 3 double crochet stitches.
Repeat instructions from the asterisk around and slip stitch to join the round.
Round #6
Slip stitch in the next 4 chains, then *single crochet in the next single crochet stitch, chain 7.
Then, (double crochet 3, chain 2, double crochet 3) into the single crochet stitch on top of the next shell and chain 7.
Repeat the instructions from the asterisk 3 more times and slip stitch to join the round.
Tip: Join your squares using the join-as-you-go method before you complete the second square and beyond (see the instructions below).
Your openwork crochet square is done. Use the pattern and the joining details below to make a blanket, a crochet wrap, or an airy beach top.
Method to Join Openwork Crochet Squares
The join-as-you-go method is the best way to join openwork crochet square projects. Youโll join these squares in three points on the sides. Here is how:
- Starting with the second square, pair the wrong side of one square with the wrong side of the other square.
- Next, crochet the first 3 dc sts in the first joining corner of the working square, then sl st into the corresponding corner of the second square, and chain 1.
- Then, complete the corner of the working square and ch 7.
- Crochet the next sc st on top of the next shell of the working square, then slip st into the corresponding sc st on the 2nd square, chain 6.
- Dc 3 into the next corner of the working square and join with a sl st into the corner of the 2nd square and chain 1. Complete the square as usual.
- Join as many squares as needed to your project size. Then, start a new row of squares and follow the above steps to join all sides.
More Airy Crochet Patterns
If you enjoyed this open work crochet square, you might also like these projects here on the blog:
- Lace Summer Crochet Top
- Lace Crochet Triangle Shawl
- Lace Baby Girl Crochet Blanket
- Classic Granny Square Blanket
- Diamond Lace Stitch Tutorial
- Stacked Shell Lace Stitch Tutorial
What to do next
- Comment on this post: I always read comments and reply to all questions posted on the blog and I love it when you stop by to say hello.
- Share your project: if you make this or any of my other patterns, tag me on Instagram or Facebook, or use the hashtag #zamiguzmakers. I love seeing what you make.
- Pin it now: Are you not ready to make it yet? You can use the above image to Pin it to your crochet boards, or follow me on Pinterest for more.
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Openwork Crochet Square
Here is a printable card with instructions for making an Openwork Crochet Square.
Materials
- Medium Weight Yarn (#4)
- Tapestry Needle
Tools
- 4.5 mm (US G/7) Crochet Hook
- Scissors
Instructions
- Rnd #1: 16 sc sts in an mc, pull to cinch, and sl st to join.
- Rnd #2: ch 5 (counts as a tr and a ch 1 sp), (tr, ch 1) around, sl st to initial ch 4 to join. [16 tr, 16 ch 1 sp]
Crocheting a treble (tr) stitch:
•Yarn over 2x (three loops on hook), then insert the hook in the st.
•Yarn over and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook).
•(Yarn over and pull through two) three times to complete the treble stitch. - Rnd #3: (sc in the tr st, sc 2 into the next ch 1 sp) around, sl st to join, ch 1 (doesn’t count as a st). [48 sc]
- Rnd #4: (sc, sk 2 sts, shell st, sk 2 sts) around, sl st to join. [8 shells]. Cut the yarn. FO. Switch to C2.
- Rnd #5: *insert the hook into the tr st between the next two shells, three rounds below, pull up a loop, and make an extended sc st, ch 4, sk 3 dc sts, sc, ch 4, sk 3 dc sts, rep from the asterisk around, sl st to join.
- Rnd #6: sl st in the next 4 chs, *sc in the next sc st, ch 7, (dc 3, ch 2, dc 3) into the sc st on top of the next shell, ch 7, rep from the asterisk 3 more times, sl st to join.
Notes
- This open work crochet square pattern uses US crochet terms.
- Stitch Tension: the first three rounds of the square will be approximately 3 ยพ inches (8.5 cm) with the recommended yarn weight and hook size.
- Square Size: approximately 5.5 x 5.5 inches (14 cm).
- This lacy crochet pattern works best with medium-weight or lighter yarns.
- Use the join-as-you-go method to join the squares. See the blog post above for the details.
- Color change: work the first four rounds with color #1 and the remaining with color #2.