Clusters & Shells Pillowghan Square

Designed by Julie A Bolduc

This crocheted pillowghan square is fairly fast to make and could be made many color combinations. It starts off with a variegated yarn in the center and also has a solid color yarn worked in. The cluster used in this pattern is a true cluster which is worked over 3 stitches and not into one stitch like a bobble is.

Materials Needed
Worsted weight acrylic yarn in 2 colors. A variegated and a solid color.
Size H/8 or 5mm aluminum crochet hook
Yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Yarn Thickness: 4mm
Gauge: 4dc=1"
Finished Size: 12" x 12"
Skill Level: Intermediate

Special Stitches Used
Beginning cluster, begcl:Ch2, yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull up a lp, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook twice. Yo, pull through all lps on hook.

Cluster, cl:Yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook, 3 times. Yo, pull through all 4 lps on hook. NOTE: These 2 stitches above are worked over a total of 3 stitches in the previous round. Do not insert your hook in the same stitch for each part of each stitch.

Instructions
Starting with variegated
RND 1: Ch6. Join w/slst to first ch to form ring. Ch4. Tr in ring. Ch1, 2tr in ring 7 times. Join w/slst to top of ch4.

RND 2: Slst into the next tr and into the next ch1 sp. Ch3, 2dc ch2, 3dc in same sp. (Ch1. 3dc in next ch1 sp. Ch1.) *3dc, ch2, 3dc in next ch1 sp. Rep bet () once. Rep from * around. Join w/slst to top of ch3. Fasten off variegated.

RND 3: Join solid color to same st as slst. Ch1. Sc in each of the next 2 dc. (Sc, ch2, sc in next ch2 corner sp. Sc in each of the next 3dc. Sc in next ch1 sp. Sc in each of the next 3 dc. Sc in next ch1 sp.) *Sc in each of the next 3 dc. Rep bet () once. Rep from * around. Join w/slst to ch1.

RND 4: Begcl, Ch2. 3dc, ch2, 3dc in next ch2 corner sp. Ch2. Sk next sc. Cl. Ch2. Sk next sc. Cl. Ch2. Sk next sc. *Cl. Ch2. Sk next sc. 3dc, ch2, 3dc in next ch2 corner sp. Cl. Ch2. Sk next sc. Cl. Ch2. Sk next sc. Rep bet from * around. Join w/slst to top of first cl.

RND 5: Ch1. Sc in same st as slst. (2sc in next ch2 sp. Sc in each of the next 3 dc. Sc, ch2, sc in next ch2 corner sp. Sc in each of the next 3 dc. 2sc in next ch2 sp. Sc in top of the next cl. 2sc in next ch2 sp. Sc in top of the next cl. 2sc in next ch2 sp.) *Sc in top of the next cl. Rep bet O() once. Rep from * around. Join w/slst to first sc. Fasten off solid color.

RND 6: Join variegated in same st as slst. Ch3, 2 dc in same st. (Ch1. Sk 2 sts. 3dc in next st. Ch1. Sk 2 sts. Dc in next st. 2dc, ch2, 2dc in ch2 corner sp. Dc in next dc. Ch1, sk 2 sts, 3dc in next st, 3 times. Ch1.) *3dc in next st. Rep bet () once. Rep from * around. Join w/slst to top of ch3.

RND 7: Begcl. Ch2. 2cl. (3dc, ch2, 3dc in next ch2 corner sp. Ch2, cl, 4 times. Ch2.) *Cl, ch2, 3 times. Rep bet () once. Rep from * around. Join w/slst to top of begcl. Fasten off variegated.

RND 8: Join solid color to same st as slst. Ch1. (2sc in next ch2 sp, sc in next cl, 2 times. 2sc in next ch2 sp. Sc in each of the next 3 dc. Sc, ch2, sc in next ch2 corner sp. Sc in each of the next 3 dc. 2sc in next ch2 sp, sc in next cl, 4 times. 2sc in next ch2 sp.) *Sc in next cl. Rep bet () once. Rep from * around. Join w/slst to ch1.

RND 9: Ch3, 2dc in same st as slst. Sk 2 sc, 3dc in next sc, 3 times. Sk 2 sc. (Dc in next sc. 2dc, ch2, 2dc in next ch2 corner sp. Dc in next sc. Sk 2 sc, 3dc in next sc, 5 times. Sk 2 sc.) *3dc in next sc, sk 2 sc, 4 times. Rep bet () once. Rep from *around. Join w/slst to top of ch3.

RND 10: Ch1. Sc in each of the next 14 dc. (Sc, ch2, sc in next ch2 corner sp. Sc in each of the next 18dc.) *Sc in each of the next 15dc. Rep bet () once. Rep from * around. Join w/slst to ch1. Fasten off solid.

RND 11: Join variegated to same st as slst. Ch3. Dc in each st around but work 2dc, ch2, 2dc in each ch2 corner spaces around. Join w/slst to top of ch3. Fasten off variegated and weave all ends into back of work.

Design written on Sunday, July 08, 2007. Copyright ©2007 By Julie A. Bolduc