Cozy Murder Mystery CAL – January 2021

Welcome to my first CAL! Do you like murder mystery books? So do I! I thought it would be fun to do a CAL {crochet a-long} where we make a square and read a cozy murder mystery book each month. If this sounds fun, keep reading for the details!

Now I love a good murder mystery no matter the kind, but cozy murder mysteries are a little tamer than most. Plus they are usually easy to get through in a limited time frame. Here’s the details for the CAL:

• I’ll post a new book to read & new crochet block pattern here on the blog the first Friday of the month. This first post is technically on the 2nd Friday, but I had another post to do the first day of the month. : )
• The books will be digital books from Amazon. All the books I’ve picked are under $5 and some are even free if you have Amazon Prime.
• I’m doing granny squares with a twist for each block. This will make them easy but still interesting. {I hope!} The pattern will be free here on the blog each month. See the yarn and book section for yarn and block size.
• You can share your finished blocks in my Teadoddles Makers Facebook group for now. If I have enough people join in, I’ll create a group just for the CAL.
• Everyone that shares their finished square in the Facebook group will be entered to win a Mini Maker bag made by me. I will post a pick in the group once I get it made. : )

I hope everyone enjoys the patterns even if you decide you don’t want to read the book. Let’s get started super sluethes!

Yarn and Book

The book each month will be themed around something happening that month. January is all about new beginnings, so I thought this book was a perfect fit. By the way, I’m waiting to read these along with y’all each month. That way we can find out what happens together!

I’m using Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran {acrylic} in various colors for my squares. This is listed as a #4 yarn, but not listed in their worsted weight category. It feels a little thinner than the standard Red Heart yarn, but thicker than Caron Simply Soft.

Each block will be 10″ x 10″ {26 cm x 26 cm} and I will be making two of them each month. This will give me 24 squares total, so I can lay them to make a 60″ x 80″ afghan. If you make one block each month, you can make a 30″ x 40″ afghan.

You can use whatever yarn fiber and/or weight you would like to use. The pattern can be adjusted for different yarn weights. For example, add more rounds for lighter yarns if needed or leave off rounds for heavier yarns if needed to make the 10″ square. You could also just make smaller or bigger squares if you like. : )

Pattern – Square #1, January

This pattern starts off as a basic granny square for the first two rounds. Then we’ll add some different stitches to spice things up a bit!

Supplies:

• Yarn – Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran {acrylic}, #4 worsted weight {use the weight, fiber, & color you prefer}
• Hook – 5.5mm {I9}

Abbreviations:

• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• trc – treble crochet
• ps – puff stitch – yo, insert hook into stitch & pull up long loop {3 loops on hook}, yo, insert hook into stitch & pull up long loop 4 more times {11 loops on hook}, yo & pull loop through all 11 loops, ch 1 to close
• You can start the granny square off any way you like. I just prefer the magic circle.

R1 – Make a magic circle and ch 3; 2 dc, ch 2, *3 dc, ch 2* repeat * to * 2 more times; sl st to top of beginning ch 3

R2 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *{3 dc , ch 2, 3 dc} into next ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; sl st to top of beginning ch 3

NOTE: I start my stitches in the first corner versus slip stitching to the next corner. Please use what works best for you.

Round 2 complete.

Every block in the CAL will begin with these 2 rows, so you can get them all started if you want to!

R3 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between 3 dc sets, *{3 dc , ch 2, 3 dc} into next ch 2 corner, {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between 3 dc sets* repeat * to * 2 more times; {3 dc, ch 2} into beginning ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3

NOTE:

Be sure to pull your loops up even with the other stitches for the puff stitch.

R4 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *[dc into space between 3 dc set & ps below, trc into top of middle dc 2 rows below, dc into space between 3 dc set] repeat [ ] once; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; [dc into space between 3 dc set & ps below, trc into top of middle dc 2 rows below, dc into space between 3 dc set] repeat [ ] once; {3 dc, ch 2} into ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see picture below for visual}

Finished {dc, trc, dc}

Round 4 completed.

R5 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *{ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between {dc, trc, dc} sets, {dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set below, trc into top of ps 2 rows below, dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set}, {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between {dc, trc, dc} sets, {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between {dc, trc, dc} sets, {dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set below, trc into top of ps 2 rows below, dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set}, {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between {dc, trc, dc} sets, {3 dc, ch 2} into ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see picture below for visual}

First side complete.

Round 5 complete.

R6 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *{dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set & ps below, trc into top of ps 2 rows below, dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set} repeat { } 3 more times; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; [dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set & ps below, trc into top of ps 2 rows below, dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set] repeat [ ] 3 more times; {3 dc, ch 2} into ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3

Row 6 complete.

R7 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *[{ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between {dc, trc, dc} sets, {dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set below, trc into top of ps 2 rows below, dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set] repeat [ ] once; {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between {dc, trc, dc} sets, {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; [{ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between {dc, trc, dc} sets, {dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set below, trc into top of ps 2 rows below, dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set] repeat [ ] once; {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between {dc, trc, dc} sets, {3 dc, ch 2} into ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3

R8 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *[dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set & ps below, trc into top of ps 2 rows below, dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set] repeat [ ] 5 more times; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; [dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set & ps below, trc into top of ps 2 rows below, dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set] repeat [ ] 5 more times; {3 dc, ch 2} into ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3

R9 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *[{ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between {dc, trc, dc} sets, {dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set below, trc into top of ps 2 rows below, dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set] repeat [ ] 2 more times; {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between {dc, trc, dc} sets, {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; [{ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between {dc, trc, dc} sets, {dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set below, trc into top of ps 2 rows below, dc into space between {dc, trc, dc} set] repeat [ ] 2 more times; {ch 1, ps, ch 1} into space between {dc, trc, dc} sets, {3 dc, ch 2} into ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3

Finished block!

Once you get the hang of the repeat, you can go on and on and on, making it as big as you like. The written part is a bit much, but if someone needs a video tutorial, let me know.

I really love the texture the bobbles and dropped treble stitch give the basic granny square!

I hope y’all enjoy the pattern and the book I picked this month. I can’t wait to read it! Let me know if you find any errors & I will correct them. This pattern has not been tested by anyone but me. : D

If you enjoy the puff stitch, be sure to check out my washcloth & soap sack pattern.