Discover the perfect, snuggle-worthy Rustic Afghan Square. Use it for your new favorite winter blanket and get ready to cozy up and craft your way to warmth!

The Rustic Afghan Square free crochet pattern

I love making blankets and pillows. They’re the perfect accent piece to add a touch of comfort to my home décor. They’re also fabulous for cozying up and staying warm during the colder months of the year.

For me, the building block of any pillow or blanket design is a beautiful afghan square. It gets the design ball rolling and offers so many possibilities for the crocheted finished object.

The Rustic afghan square is a gorgeous example of simple stitches and eye-catching colors coming together for the perfect foundation piece. 

Design + Construction of the Rustic afghan square

The Rustic afghan square was created for the Mélange Mystery Blanket CAL hosted by Underground Crafter. This nearly year-long project has produced unique afghan squares by some of the industry’s top crochet designers.

I wanted something a bit more complex than my traditional granny square. I experimented with different shapes and textures, combining them with 3 contrasting colors, thoughtfully chosen for this square to highlight and accentuate those shapes and textures.

I really think the Rustic afghan square is truly captivating and visually engaging.

The square actually begins as a 3-round circle and features double crochet clusters for a floral look center. The circle becomes a square with a round of half double crochet. The square is finished off with a round of single crochets worked in the 3rd loop to create surface stitches that complete the look.

While there’s a whole lot going on in this one little afghan square, it’s still a beginner friendly project.

The Yarn

Because the Rustic afghan square is part of a larger blanket CAL, I was tasked with choosing a worsted weight yarn. So, I chose 2 of my favorite acrylic yarns in 3 gorgeous colors.

Paintbox “Simply Aran” and Knit Picks “Brava Worsted” are both acrylic, making them great choices when you want something soft and easy to care for. The 2 yarns work well together because they are pretty much the same weight and stitch up in a similar fashion.

The 3 contrasting colors show off the variety of stitches and textures and give this basic square a lot of visual interest. You can certainly crochet the square in just one color. But, I think you’ll be missing out on the beautiful play between stitches and textures.

More afghan square patterns from MadameStitch

If you love putting together you own crochet blanket, I have afghan square patterns free on the blog that will help you create a unique masterpiece for the cold months.

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The Mélange Mystery Blanket Crochet Along hosted by Underground Crafter

The Rustic afghan square is just one of almost 50 squares in this crochet along that started in January 2023. Find the details for the CAL and the other squares here.

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Buy the ad-free PDF for the Rustic Afghan Square in my Ravelry shop:

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All you need to know to crochet your Rustic Afghan Square

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Yarn

Color A (CA) – Paintbox Yarns “Simply Aran” 100% acrylic worsted (3.5oz/201yd; 100g/184m) – Misty Grey

Color B (CB) – Knit Picks “Brava Worsted” 100% acrylic worsted (218yd; 100g) – Persimmon

Color C (CC) – Knit Picks “Brava Worsted” 100% acrylic worsted (218yd; 100g) – Peacock (or Tideland)

Around 10-20 yds per color – this may vary according to the color combination and yarn you use.

Note: The square may be worked in one color. However, using contrasting colors highlights the special construction features.

Hook

US size J-10 (6mm)

Tools

• Scissors
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Finished Size: 6″ square after blocking

Gauge: Rnds 1-2 + 3″ across

Skill Level: Advanced beginner

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

2 double crochet cluster (2dc cl) – YO, insert hook in indicated st, YO, draw up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops, YO, insert hook in same st, YO, draw up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops, YO, pull through all 3 loops on hook.

3 double crochet cluster (3dc cl) – YO, insert hook in indicated sp, YO, draw up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops, [YO, insert hook in same sp, YO, draw up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops] twice, YO, pull through all 4 loops on hook.

Single crochet in the 3rd loop (sc 3lp) – Instead of working the sc in the loops that sit on top of the st, this sc is worked in the loop that sits on the back side just below the top loops.

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).

The Rustic Afghan Square Written Instructions

Pattern Notes

1. If working with one color, start Rnds 3-4 with a slip st into a sp.
2. Do not turn after any rnd.
3. Ch 1 at beg of rnd does not count as a st.
4. A ch-3 may be substituted for the STsc at any time without altering the look of the square.

Pattern Instructions

With CA, ch 4, join with slip st to form ring.

Rnd 1: STsc, 15 dc in the ring, join with slip st to beg st. (16 dc) Fasten off.

Rnd 2: Attach CB to any st, (ch 2, dc) in the same st, ch 1, [2dc cl in the next st, ch 1] 15 times, join with slip st to beg dc. (16 2dc cl, 16 ch-1 sp) Fasten off.

Rnd 3: Attach CC to any ch-1 sp, (ch 2, 2dc cl) in the same sp, ch 2, [3dc cl in next ch-1 sp, ch 2] 15 times, join with slip st to beg cluster. (16 3dc cl, 16 ch-2 sp) Fasten off.

Rnd 4: Attach CA to any ch-2 sp, ch 1, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in same sp, {[hdc in next 3dc cl, 2 hdc in next ch-2 sp] 3 times, hdc in next 3dc cl, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in next sp} 3 times, [hdc in the next 3dc cl, 2 hdc in the next ch-2 sp] 3 times, hdc in next 3dc cl, join with slip st to beg st. (56 hdc, 4 ch-2 sp) Fasten off.

Note for Rnd 5: The 1^st st after each corner is a hidden st. Be sure to work behind that st for a total of 14 sc 3lp along each side. (See photos below)

Rnd 5: Attach CB to any corner, ch 1, [(2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in corner, sc 3lp across to next corner sp] 4 times, join with slip st to beg st. (56 sc 3lp, 16 sc, 4 ch-2 sp)

Fasten off and weave in ends. Block to the correct size if necessary.

How to work the sc 3lp in the hidden st: