The second afghan square in the Memories Blanket CAL is the Cordelia square, filled with granny stitch goodness and subtle texture.

The Cordelia Afghan Square

Welcome to the Cordelia afghan square pattern, the second square of the Memories Blanket crochet along!

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When Biz and I created the one-of-a-kind Memories Blanket, we drew inspiration from designs we had made in the recent past. A number of my designs in the past 18 months have included a stitch design that I call “Cordelia”. The Cordelia afghan square is an adaptation of that design.

The Memories Blanket CAL

If you’ve decided to crochet the Memories Blanket in our free crochet along, you’re in for a treat!

The Memories Blanket is a way to capture and preserve the past through techniques that we’ve used in our designs and through leftover yarn from memorable projects. It’s the perfect vehicle for reducing your yarn stash and creating a cost-efficient yet beloved heirloom.

In this beautiful work of art you’ll find stitches, techniques and stitch patterns that will recall old favorites while presenting you with some that will help you grow as a crocheter. 

The Memories Blanket isn’t a sampler blanket in the traditional sense. However, the sheer number and variety of stitches we’ve incorporated will add to your crochet toolbox for future use.

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Purchase the Memories Blanket full pattern PDF in the version you like by clicking the appropriate image below.

What is the Cordelia Afghan Square?

The inspiration for the Memories Blanket came from designs that Biz and I had created in the last year or so. We chose stitches and techniques from those designs and combined them in this beautiful sampler style blanket.

The Cordelia afghan square is inspired by a stitch pattern I created initially for neckwear accessories. Combining the granny stitch with the camel stitch (half double crochet worked in the 3rd loop), the stitch pattern creates a fabric that drapes and has subtle texture.

These designs inpired the Cordelia afghan square:

Design + Construction

The Cordelia afghan square begins with a 2-round granny square center. Rounds 3-5 employ a combination of half double crochets and stitches worked in the 3rd loop to create surface texture.

I used an invisible join in Rounds 3-4 because it creates a seamless join and keeps all the forward facing loops even across, making it difficult to see where the join actually is. 

I think you’ll find the Cordelia afghan square a fun mindful make!

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The Free Pattern Starts Here

Materials

Yarn

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Make this afghan square in any worsted weight yarn you like, with yarn from your stash or some that you’ve purchased. If working from your stash, make sure the fiber content of your chosen yarn is compatible with what you’ll be using for the rest of the blanket so that your blanket is easy to care for when it’s finished.

I used Paintbox “Wool Mix Aran” for my blanket; Biz used Hobby Lobby’s “I Love This Yarn” for hers (see the details for both on the main CAL post).

How to make the Cordelia square for the Memories Blanket CAL

Each afghan square requires only one color. Choose the color that fits your blanket’s color palette using the yarn you have on hand.

Make all 8 squares in the same color for a unified look. Or, choose a different color for each square like I did. There is no wrong answer here!

I made each square in a different color: Caramel, Seafoam, White, Rose, Banana, Peach, Spearmint and Teal. They are sewn together in a strip in this color order from left to right.

Hook: US size H-8 (5mm) or size needed to get a 5″ square

Finished Size: Approx. 5″ across

Abbreviations – US crochet terminology

• beg – beginning
• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• rnd(s) – round(s)
• sc – single crochet
• sp – space
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• YO – yarn over

Special Stitches

Granny stitch (GS) – 3 dc in the same st or sp

Half double crochet in the 3rd loop (hdc 3lp) – YO, insert hook through the 3rd loop that sits behind and just under the top loop of the stitch, YO, pull through 3rd loop, YO, pull through all 3 loops on hook to complete the hdc.

Single crochet in the 3rd loop (sc 3lp) – Insert hook through the 3rd loop that sits behind and just under the top loop of the stitch, YO, pull through 3rd loop, YO, pull through both loops on hook to complete the sc.

Invisible join: At the end of the rnd, remove working loop from hook, insert hook from back to front through the top of the 1st st of the rnd, add working loop back onto hook and pull through to the WS of the square, continue as instructed.

Stacked single crochet (STsc) – (This stitch is used at the beginning of a row or round to replace the traditional turning ch-3. It has the appearance of a dc.) – Insert hook in same st as loop, YO, draw up loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (bottom sc made), insert hook in left vertical bar of bottom sc, YO, draw up loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (top sc made).

Pattern Notes

1. Do not turn after any rnd.
2. A ch-3 may be substituted for the STsc at any time.
3. Ch 1 at the beg of a rnd does not count as a st.
4. STsc counts as a dc throughout.
5. A MR may be substituted for the ch-4 ring. Be sure to tighten the ring at the end of Rnd 1.
6. Make 8 of each square and join together in a strip using your favorite joining method. Used in the samples: Biz – whip stitch; Deb – mattress stitch. Seam from corner ch-1 to corner ch-1.

Pattern Instructions

Note: This square is worked with one color.

Ch 4, join with slip st to form ring.

Rnd 1: (STsc, 2 dc) in the ring (counts as GS), ch 3 (corner sp), [GS, ch 3 (corner sp)] 3 times, join with slip st to beg st. (4 GS, 4 ch-3 corner sp)

Rnd 2: STsc in corner just made, ch 1, [(GS, ch 3, GS) in the next corner, ch 1] 3 times, (GS, ch 3, 2 dc) in the 1st corner to complete the corner, join with slip st to beg st. (8 GS, 4 ch-1 sp, 4 ch-3 corner sp)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, hdc in the same st and in each st and ch- 1 sp across to next corner sp, [(2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the corner, hdc in the next st and in each st and ch-1 sp across to the next corner sp] 3 times, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the corner, hdc in the next st and in each st across to beg st, invisible join. (44 hdc, 4 ch-2 corner sp)

Note: The stitch immediately following a corner space is often hidden under the stitches just worked. Be sure to work the 1st stitch after the corner in this hidden stitch.

Rnd 4: Ch 1, hdc 3lp in the same st and in each st across to corner sp, [(2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the corner, hdc 3lp in the next st and in each st across to next corner sp] 3 times, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the corner, hdc 3lp in the next st and in each st across to beg st, invisible join. (16 hdc, 44 hdc 3lp, 4 ch-2 corner sp)

Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc 3lp in the same st and in each st across to corner sp, [(sc, ch 1, sc) in the corner, sc 3lp in the next st and in each st across to next corner sp] 3 times, (sc, ch 1, sc) in the corner, sc 3lp in the next st and in each st across to beg st, join with slip st to beg st. (8 sc, 60 sc 3lp, 4 ch-1 corner sp)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Sew the 8 squares into a strip for the Memories Blanket.

Use your favorite seaming method (Biz used whip stitching; Debbie used mattress stitch) to join the squares into a strip, keeping all right sides facing. Start and end each seam in the ch-1 corner.

Note: Before you begin Section 2, you’ll work the edging rows just as you did for the Mitered Square strip. You will also be joining the Cordelia Square strip to the top of Section 1. These instructions are included in the Section 2 post.

You’re now ready for Section 2 of the Memories Blanket which will be released on Thursday, February 29th. Return to the main CAL post to find the link when it’s posted.