I love Aurora Suominen's Open Cross Square and constantly send people to it, especially if they are new to crochet... I've had a few people ask me for a written version (no abbreviations, full explanation)... So I thought I would add it here...
Open Cross Square:
Chain 4 and join to form a ring
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| Round 1 and 2 |
Round 1. Chain 3 (counts as the first double crochet), the make 15 more double crochet in the ring, join with the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3
Round 2. Chain 3, Double crochet in same stitch, stitch **chain 3 and skip the next stitch, single crochet in the next stitch, chain 3 and skip the next stitch, 2 double crochet in next stitch** repeat inside the ** 3 more times, ending with the second chain 3, slip stitch to top of beginning chain 3.
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| Round 3 before joining |
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| Round 4 and 5 |
Round 4: Chain 3, double crochet in next, **(2 double crochet, chain 2, 2 double crochet) all in chain 1 space, double crochet in next 2, Chain 3, Single crochet in next single crochet, Chain 3, double crochet in next 2** Repeat inside the ** 3 times ending on second chain 3 and join with slip stitch to top chain of beginning chain 3.
Round 5: Chain 3, double crochet in next 3 double crochet, **(2 double crochet, chain 2, 2 double crochet) all in chain 2 space, double crochet in next 4 double crochet, Chain 3, single crochet in next single crochet, Chain 3, double crochet in crochet next 4 double crochet** Repeat 3 times inside the ** ending with second chain 3 and join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain 3.
Round 6: chain 1, **single crochet in next 6 double crochet, 3 single crochet in corner, single crochet in next 6 double crochet, 3 single crochet in chain 3, single crochet in next single crochet, single crochet in next chain 3** Repeat 3 times in the ** and join with a slip stitch to first single crochet.
The written instrutions kind of pull in at the chain 3 parts, so I modify it a bit (which does make it a little more complicated... Here is a picture of both methods and I will write my way second, so you can ignore it if you want...
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| Left: as written using single crochet only Right: using my modifications that include single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet |
Modified Round 6. Chain 1, **single crochet in next 6 double crochet, 3 single crochet in corner, single crochet in next 6 double crochet, (2 single crochet, 1 half double crochet) in chain 3, double crochet in next single crochet, (1 half double crochet, 2 single crochet) in next chain 3** Repeat 3 times in the ** and join with a slip stitch to first single crochet.
Half Double Crochet explanation: Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops at once.
