If you’d like some color inspiration, take a look at the testers’ versions in the gallery below.

Abbreviations

• BLO – back loop only
• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• mc – magic circle
• r(#) – round/row number
• sc – single crochet
• sk – skip
• slst – slip stitch
• sp – space
• st – stitch
• tr – treble crochet
• yo – yarn over

Special Stitches

Dc2tog – {double crochet two together}

Yo and insert hook into indicated sp, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through two loops on hook, yo and insert hook into next indicated sp, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through two loops on hook, yo and pull through remaining 3 loops on hook.

Fpdc/fptr – {front post double/treble crochet}

Just like regular dc/tr, but instead of inserting your hook in the top two loops of indicated st, insert from front to back around the post of the st.

Sbpsc/sbhdc – {shallow back post sc/hdc}

Just like regular sc/hdc, but insert hook under top two loops of indicated st from back to front and then under top two loops of next st from front to back.

V – {V-stitch}

Dc, ch1, dc.

Standing Stitches

{Note: Standing stitches are totally optional! See the note in italics at the end of each standing stitch for the alternative beginning stitch.}

Standing dc

To start a round, with slip knot on hook, hold slip knot in place with thumb or finger, yo and hold that in place too, insert hook in indicated stitch, yo and pull up a loop, carefully yo and draw yarn through two loops on hook twice.

{Alternatively, slst to join yarn then ch3 to count as your first dc.}

Standing hdc

To start a round, with slip knot on hook, hold slip knot in place with thumb or finger, yo and hold that in place too, insert hook in indicated stitch, yo and pull up a loop, carefully yo and draw yarn through all three loops on hook.

{Alternatively, slst to join yarn then ch2 to count as your first hdc.}

Standing sbphdc

To start a round, with slip knot on hook, hold slip knot in place with thumb or finger, yo and hold that in place too, insert hook under top two loops of indicated st from back to front and then under top two loops of next st from front to back, yo and pull up a loop, carefully yo and draw yarn through all three loops on hook.

{Alternatively, slst to join yarn then ch2 to count as your first sbphdc.}

Standing sc

To start a round, with slip knot on hook, insert hook into indicated stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through two loops on hook.

Standing tr

To start a round, with slip knot on hook, hold slip knot in place with thumb or finger, yo twice and hold those in place too, insert hook in indicated stitch, yo and pull up a loop, carefully yo and draw yarn through two loops on hook three times.

{Alternatively, slst to join yarn then ch4 to count as your first tr.}

Pattern

Round 1

Magic circle start: Begin with magic circle. {Click here for my double magic circle tutorial.} Ch3 {counts as first dc here and throughout}. 2dc into mc, ch2. [3dc into mc, ch2] 3 times. Slst to top of beginning ch3 to join.

Alternatively, Chain loop start: Ch4 and slst to first ch to join and form a loop. Slst into ch loop and ch3 {counts as first dc here and throughout}. 2dc into loop, ch2. [3dc into loop, ch2] 3 times. Slst to top of beginning ch3 to join.

20 st around (12 dc, 4 ch2 sp)

Round 2

With new color: Standing dc in middle dc of any 3dc group, ch1, dc again in same st {counts as first V}.

Or, with same color: Slst into next st, ch4 and dc in same st {counts as first V}.

Ch2, V again in same st as first V.

*^Ch1, sk next dc, sc in next ch2 sp, ch1, sk next dc,^ (V, ch2, V) in next dc.*

Repeat from * to * twice more and from ^ to ^ once more.

Slst to first dc {or 3^rd ch of beginning ch4} of first V to join.

44 st around (8 V, 4 sc, 4 ch2 sp, 8 ch1 sp)

Round 3

This round only, when working into V sts, work into their ch1 sps and sk the dcs.

With new color: Standing dc in ch1 sp of first V after any sc, ch1, dc again in same sp {counts as first V}.

Or, with same color: Slst into ch1 sp of first V, ch4 and dc in same sp {counts as first V}.

*^Ch1, (dc, ch2, dc) in next ch2 sp, ch1, V in next V, ch1, sk next ch1 sp, sc in next sc, ch1, sk next ch1 sp,^ V in next V.*

Repeat from * to * twice more and from ^ to ^ once more.

Slst to first dc of first V to join {or 3rd ch of beginning ch4}.

60 st around (8 V, 8 dc, 4 sc, 4 ch2 sp, 16 ch1 sp)

Round 4

With new color: Standing sc in first dc of first V after any sc.

Or, with same color: Ch1 and sc in same st as join.

*^(Sc, ch1, sc) in next ch1 sp, sc in next dc, sc in next ch1 sp, sc in next dc, (sc, ch2, sc) in next ch2 sp, sc in next dc, sc in next ch1 sp, sc in next dc, (sc, ch1, sc) in next ch1 sp, sc in next dc, fpdc around r2 sc, sk next (ch1, sc, ch1) {now hidden behind the fpdc},^ sc in next dc.*

Repeat from * to * twice more and from ^ to ^ once more.

Slst to first sc to join. Fasten off.

76 st around (4 fpdc, 56 sc, 8 ch1 sp, 4 ch2 sp)

Round 5

With new color: Standing tr in any fpdc, ch3, tr again in same fpdc.

*^Ch1, sk next (2sc, ch1), sbpsc around each of next 5 sc, ch2, sk ch2 sp, sbpsc around each of next 5 sc, ch1, sk next (ch1, 2sc),^ (tr, ch3, tr) in next fpdc.*

Repeat from * to * twice more and from ^ to ^ once more.

Slst to first tr to join.

76 st around (8 tr, 40 sbpsc, 4 ch3 sp, 4 ch2 sp, 8 ch1 sp)

Round 6

With new color: Standing dc in any ch3 sp between trs.

Or, with same color: Slst into next ch3 sp, ch3.

(4dc, ch2, 5dc) into same sp as first dc.

*^Ch2, sk next (tr, ch1, 3sbpsc), sc in next sbpsc, ch3, sk next (sbpsc, ch2, sbpsc), sc in next sbpsc, ch2, sk next (3sbpsc, ch1, tr),^ (5dc, ch2, 5dc) in next ch3 sp {ch2 counts as corner}.*

Repeat from * to * twice more and from ^ to ^ once more.

Slst to first dc to join.

19 sts per side, not counting ch2 corners (40 dc, 8 sc, 4 ch3 sp, 12 ch2 sp)

Round 7

With new color: Standing dc in first dc after any (sc, ch2).

Or, with same color: Ch3.

*^[2dc in next dc, dc in next dc] twice, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in corner ch2 sp, dc in next dc, [2dc in next dc, dc in next dc] twice, ch1, sk next (ch2, sc), (sc, ch1, sc) into next ch3 sp AND r5 ch2 sp together, ch1, sk next (sc, ch2),^ dc in next dc.*

Repeat from * to * twice more and from ^ to ^ once more.

Slst to first dc to join.

23 sts per side, not counting ch2 corners (72 dc, 8 sc, 4 ch2 sp, 12 ch1 sp)

Round 8

With new color: Standing dc in first dc after any ch1 sp, dc again in same st.

Or, with same color: Ch3, dc in same st as join.

Dc in each of next 2 dc, [2dc in next dc, dc in each of next 2 dc] twice.

*^(2dc, ch2, 2dc) in corner ch2 sp, [dc in each of next 2 dc, 2dc in next dc] 3 times, sk next (ch1, sc), sc in next ch1 sp, sk next (sc, ch1),^ [2dc in next dc, dc in each of next 2 dc] 3 times.*

Repeat from * to * twice more and from ^ to ^ once more.

Slst to first dc to join. Fasten off.

29 sts per side, not counting ch2 corners (112 dc, 4 sc, 4 ch2 sp)

Round 9

With new color: Standing sbphdc around 5^th dc after any sc.

Sbphdc around each of next 9 dc.

*^Ch2, sk next ch2 sp, sbphdc around each of next 10 dc, ch1, sk next 4 dc, (tr, ch1, fptr, ch1, tr) in next sc, ch1, sk next 4dc,^ sbphdc around each of next 10 dc.*

Repeat from * to * twice more and from ^ to ^ once more.

Slst to first sbphdc to join.

27 sts per side, not counting ch2 corners (80 sbphdc, 4 fptr, 8 tr, 4 ch2 sp, 16 ch1 sp)

Round 10

With new color: Standing hdc in 2^nd sbphdc after any ch1 sp.

Or, with same color: Slst into next sbphdc, ch2 {counts as first hdc}.

Hdc in each of next 6 sbphdc.

*^Ch1, sk next 2 sbphdc, (V, ch2, V) in next corner ch2 sp, ch1, sk next 3 sbphdc {the first will now be hidden under the Vs just made}, hdc in each of next 7 sbphdc, hdc in next ch1 sp, ch1, sk next tr, dc in next ch1 sp, ch1, dc2tog working first leg into ch1 sp with the dc and 2^nd leg into next ch1 sp {skipping the fptr}, ch1, dc in same ch1 as 2^nd leg of dc2tog, ch1, sk next tr, hdc in next ch1, sk next hdc {now hidden},^ hdc in each of the next 7 sbphdc.*

Repeat from * to * twice more and from ^ to ^ once more.

Slst to first hdc to join.

31 sts per side, not counting ch2 corners (8 V, 4 dc2tog, 8 dc, 64 hdc, 24 ch1 sp)

Round 11

With new color: Standing dc in hdc after join.

Or, with same color: Slst into next hdc, ch3.

Dc in each of next 5 hdc.

*^2dc in next ch1 sp, ch1, sk next V, (V, ch2, V) in next corner ch2 sp, ch1, sk next V, 2dc in next ch1 sp, sk next hdc {now hidden}, dc in each of next 6 hdc, ch1, sk next hdc, dc in next ch1 sp, ch1, [dc2tog working first leg into same ch sp as last st and 2^nd leg into next ch1 sp, ch1] 3 times {skipping sts between ch1 sps}, dc in same ch1 sp as 2^nd leg of last dc2tog, ch1, sk next 2 hdc {first will be hidden},^ dc in each of next 6 hdc.*

Repeat from * to * twice more and from ^ to ^ once more.

Slst to first dc to join.

35 sts per side, not counting ch2 corners (8 V, 12 dc2tog, 72 dc, 4 ch2 sp, 32 ch1 sp)

Round 12

With new color: Standing sc in any st.

Or, with same color: Ch1, sc in same st as join.

*Sc in each st and ch1 sp across to next corner ch2 sp, (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp.*

Repeat from * to * 3 more times. Sc in each st and ch1 sp across to first sc.

Slst to first sc to join. Fasten off.

37 sts per side, not counting ch2 corners (148 sc, 4 ch2 sp)