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
Y’all, I have a confession….I didn’t read last month’s book! Last month really got away from me and I took some time off just for me. I’m hoping it was a good pick and everyone enjoyed it. Now I’ll be reading two books this month! The book for June has a librarian, a murder society, and it’s set in my home state of Georgia – sounds like a winner!
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 40″ x 60″ 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 #6, June
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
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- trc – treble crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- clusters – 3 dc OR grouping of 3 stitches like {2 dc, trc}, etc.
- You can start the granny square off any way you like. I just prefer the magic circle.
See January’s square for 1st two rounds instructions.
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 3, sc between clusters, ch 3, {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; ch 3, sc between clusters, ch 3, {3 dc, ch2} into ch 2 corner; sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see picture below for visual}
R4 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *{2 dc, trc} into ch 3 space, skip sc, {trc, 2 dc} into ch 3 space; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; {2 dc, trc} into ch 3 space, skip sc, {trc, 2 dc} into ch 3 space; {3 dc, ch 2} into last ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see picture below for visual}
R5 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *3 dc between clusters, dc between trc, ch 4, sl st in sc from R3, ch 4, dc between trc, 3 dc between clusters, {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; 3 dc between clusters, dc between trc, ch 4, sl st in sc from R3, ch 4, dc between trc, 3 dc between clusters; {3 dc, ch 2} into last ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see picture below for visual}
R6 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *3 dc between clusters, sc in dc, ch 5, sc in dc, 3 dc between clusters; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; 3 dc between clusters, sc in dc, ch 5, sc in dc, 3 dc between clusters; {3 dc, ch 2} into last ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see picture below for visual}
R7 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *3 dc between clusters, 3 dc between cluster & sc, {sc, 2dc} into ch 5 space, trc into space between 2 dc from R5, {2dc, sc} into ch 5 space; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; 3 dc between clusters, 3 dc between cluster & sc, {sc, 2dc} into ch 5 space, trc into space between 2 dc from R5, {2dc, sc} into ch 5 space; {3 dc, ch 2} into last ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see picture below for visual}
R8 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *3 dc between clusters twice, dc between cluster & sc, trc into dc from R5, dc in same space as previous dc, 3 dc into center trc, dc between sc & cluster, trc into dc from R5, dc in same space as previous dc, 3 dc between clusters twice; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; 3 dc between clusters twice, dc between cluster & sc, trc into dc from R5, dc in same space as previous dc, 3 dc into center trc, dc between sc & cluster, trc into dc from R5, dc in same space as previous dc, 3 dc between clusters twice; {3 dc, ch 2} into last ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see picture below for visual}
R9 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, *3 dc between clusters to the corner; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner* repeat * to * 2 more times; 3 dc between clusters to the corner; {3 dc, ch 2} into last ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Finished Squares
Completed square!
Here’s the 1st six squares together….
In case you missed it in the Facebook group, here’s a picture of the Mini Maker Bag up for grabs each month.
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
