My, my - Mitred Square!

So, here's what happened...

                                  (made with Red Heart Strata "Cherry Berry")

...Someone in one of the (many) online crochet groups I belong to posted a link to a mitered/mitred square pattern worked in single crochet. I liked the look of it so I gave it a try. Very nice... but perhaps a bit too solid. I needed something a bit softer. I tried using a larger hook but it lost the nice stitch definition. Hmm, I wonder what half-double crochets would be like?

Those of you who have worked with HDC's know that they have a tendency to "lean" - that is, the top of the stitch appears to be slightly to the right of the stitch rather than sitting directly on top of it. I took advantage of this to allow for a 4 hdc corner. Normally an even number wouldn't work, because you wouldn't have a "corner" stitch to work your next corner into, if you get my drift. But because of the lean, the 2nd hdc of the previous row's corner angles into the middle, so that's the stitch you work your next 4 hdcs into.

One of the things you'll need to be aware of is that, as a result of this corner business, the even-numbered rows will have a different number of stitches either side of the corner, so you'll have to watch your stitch count. What's she on about?? Don't worry, I've given stitch counts for the first 7 rows. Hopefully all will become clear.

Half-Double Crochet (HDC) Mitred Square
(American Notation)

Use whatever yarn and hook combination works for you. I used WW and an H/5mm hook, and 14 rows was just under 7".

Don't forget to work a stitch into the turning chains. They're easy to miss as the hdc next to them leans into them.


Row 1 - ch3, in 3rd ch from hook work 3 hdc (remaining ch2 at beginning counts as a hdc).
    = 4 hdc

Row 2 - ch2, turn (counts as a hdc throughout), 4 hdc in nxt st (corner made), hdc in nxt 2 st.
    = 1 hdc, 4hdc corner, 2 hdc

Row 3 - ch2, turn, hdc in nxt 2 st, 4 hdc in nxt st, hdc in nxt 3 st.
    = 3 hdc, 4hdc corner, 3 hdc

Row 4 - ch2, turn, hdc in nxt 3 st, 4 hdc in nxt st, hdc in nxt 5 st.
    = 4 hdc, 4hdc corner, 5 hdc

Row 5 - ch2, turn, hdc in nxt 5 st, 4 hdc in nxt st, hdc in nxt 6 st.
    = 6 hdc, 4hdc corner, 6 hdc

Row 6 - ch2, turn, hdc in nxt 6 st, 4 hdc in nxt st, hdc in nxt 8 st.
    = 7 hdc, 4hdc corner, 8 hdc

Row 7 - ch2, turn, hdc in nxt 8 st, 4 hdc in nxt st, hdc in nxt 9 st.
    = 9 hdc, 4hdc corner, 9 hdc

Can you see the pattern forming? Even-numbered rows have one less stitch to the right of the corner than to the left of the corner; odd-numbered rows have the same number of stitches on both sides.

To continue:
- ch2, turn, hdc in ea st to corner, hdc in nxt st (i.e. 1st st of corner), 4 hdc in nxt st (i.e. 2nd st of corner), hdc in ea st to end.
Repeat the above until the square is the required size.

If your square is the size you want it at the end of an even-numbered row, skip the turning chain (i.e. don't work the last hdc into that st) and finish off - you'll then have an even number of stitches on both sides.

I worked a border of sc around my squares to finished them off. Not necessary, but I like the look. Work 1 sc in each hdc , 3 sc at the corners and work an equal number of stitches evenly along the other two sides of the square.

Copyright © 2008, Judy M Kerr.
All Rights Reserved.

Struggling? Feel free to email me.

Snowflake Monday+2

(i.e. Snowflake Wednesday - better late than never)


This little guy is called Crystal Snowflake and is from a book called I-know-not-what. I just have a copy of it that someone gave me (copyright? ¿que?).

This one, on the other hand, is online - it's #8 and it's here.

And here is one still at the Voodoo stage, as my friend Sus puts it. This is Snowflake No.12 from ASN Crocheted Snowflakes, book 1025(25).

Roi Ankhkara Kwabena, 1956 - 2008

Roi Ankhkara Kwabena - poet, story-teller, musician, educator, cultural anthropologist/activist and my dear, dear friend - crossed over 9 January 2008, after several months of illness.

He leaves behind a precious wife and a beautiful little girl about to turn two - as well as a wealth of poetry, music, inspiration, empowerment and loving memories.


Official Site

Commissioned Poetry

Cultural Literacy

Re-Evaluate

Literature of the Caribbean: Kwabena

Available publications and music

May the ancestors be pleased with his efforts.

Happy 2008!

Welcome to my first post of 2008. I hope there will be many more (and I'm sure you hope they'll be at least moderately interesting. No promises).

Here's a link to my inaugural 2008 post on the No-End-In-Sight Ripple-Along blog. I started this ripple afghan on New Year's Day, 2007.


True, not much progress, but you all know what a busy year I had (come on, I moaned about it enough!). Anyway, I'm going to switch this computer off now and go do some work on it.

Have a Great
Two-Double"O"-Eight!