Cozy Murder Mystery CAL ~ March 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

Spring “officially” starts in March and gets people in the mood for gardening and planting. Well, that’s what I start thinking about anyway! The book I picked is set in the Florida Keys and is about an organic farmer. Perfect way to escape the lingering winter in some areas!

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 #3, March

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
• sl st – slip stitch
• picot – chain 3, sl st to top of tr
• clusters – {3 dc} OR {dc, tr with picot, dc}
• 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, [between clusters below {dc, trc into top of middle dc in round below, picot, dc}; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner] repeat [ to ] to last corner; {3 dc, ch 2} into last ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see picture below for visual}

R4 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, [between clusters below {dc, trc into top of middle dc in round below, picot, dc} across to corner; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner] repeat [ to ] to last corner; {3 dc, ch 2} into last ch 2 corner, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 {see picture below for visual}

R5 thru R8 – ch 3, 2 dc into 1st corner, [between clusters below {dc, trc into stitch behind picot in row below, picot, dc} across to corner; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner] repeat [ to ] to last corner; {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, [between clusters below {3 dc} across to corner; {3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc} into ch 2 corner] repeat [ to ] to last 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 three squares together….

If you want to make a bigger square, just keep repeating row 8 and add row 9 to finish off. I’ve also seen someone in the group continue on to make a baby blanket! This would be pretty with the picots on the outer edge as well.

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