I designed this square based on the fun and color happy Caterpillar stitch … hence the Caterpillar Square. I can’t wait to see all the color variations you guys will come up with! Be sure to post them up on Instagram and tag me at @petalstopicots or share them in my Facebook Community group here.
Caterpillar Square Crochet Pattern
Here is what you will need:
- 4 colors worsted or aran weight yarn (shown here in Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice)
- US I-9 / 5.5 mm crochet hook
- yarn needle and scissors
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this crochet pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, U.S. to U.K. Crochet Conversion Chart, How to Make a Magic Ring {photo & video tutorial}.
Invisible Join and Fasten Off, Joining Afghan Squares, Join As You Go (JAYGO) Method.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry library.
Finished square measures approximately 12 in. × 12 in.
Notes:
Long Double Crochet (Ldc) – the Ldc is worked the same way as a normal dc but it is worked in a row below the one in which you are working. In this case, you will be working it 3 rows below. To prevent pulling, make sure you pull your initial loop to the height of the row being worked.
To get the overlay effect, make sure you are working the Ldc in front of the previous rows.
Helpful tutorials: How to Crochet Standing Stitches and Invisible Join and Fasten Off.
Make a magic ring (as an alternative to the magic ring, you can ch 4 and join with a slip stitch in furthest chain from hook to form a ring).
Round 1: With CA ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 1 dc in ring, ch 4, *2 dc in ring, ch 4, repeat from * twice more, join and fasten off CA — 8 dc, 4 ch-4 corners.
Round 2: Join CB in same st, ch 1 (does not count as stitch here and throughout), work 1 sc in same st as join and in next dc, working in front of stitches from Round 1, work [2 Ldc in beginning magic ring, work 3 sc in ch-4 corner of Round 1, 2 Ldc again in magic ring), *work 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc from Round 1, work [2 Ldc in beginning magic ring, work 3 sc in ch-4 corner of Round 1, 2 Ldc again in magic ring), rep from * twice more, join — 20 sc, 16 Ldc.
Round 3: Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in next 4 sts, 3 sc in corner st, *1 sc in each of the next 8 sts, 3 sc in corner st, rep from * twice more, 1 sc in each of the last 3 sts, join and fasten off CB — 44 sc.
Round 4: Join CC in same st, ch 3, work 1 dc in next st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, ch 4, skip 1 st, work 1 dc in each of the next 2 sts, ch 2, skip 2 sts, *work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, ch 2, skip 2 sts, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, ch 4, skip 1 st, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, ch 2, skip 2 sts, rep from * twice more, join — 24 dc, 8 ch-2 spaces, 4 ch-4 corners.
Round 5: Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in next dc, 2 sc in next ch-2sp, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 5 sc in ch-4 corner, * **1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, rep from ** once more, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 5 sc in ch-4 corner, rep from * twice more, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, join and fasten off CC — 60 sc.
Round 6: Join CA in same st, ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in next st, working in front of stitches from Rounds 4 and 5, work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 3, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, *work [2 Ldc in unworked corner st from Round 3, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 3 sc in the following st, work 2 Ldc in same st of Round 3], skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, **work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 3, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, rep from ** once more, repeat from * twice more, work [2 Ldc in unworked corner st from Round 3, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 3 sc in the following st, work 2 Ldc in same st of Round 3], skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 3, join — 36 sc, 32 Ldc.
Round 7: Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in next 8 sts, 3 sc in corner st, *1 sc in each of the next 16 sts, 3 sc in corner st, rep from * twice more, 1 sc in each of the last 7 sts, join and fasten off CA — 76 sc.
Round 8: Join CD in same st, ch 3, work 1 dc in next st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, *ch 4, skip 1 st, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, **ch 2, skip 2 sts, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, rep from ** three more times, rep from * twice more, ch 4, skip 1 st, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, ch 2, skip 2 sts, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, ch 2, skip last 2 sts, join — 40 dc, 16 ch-2 spaces, 4 ch-4 corners.
Round 9: Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in next dc, 2 sc in next ch-2sp, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-2sp, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 5 sc in ch-4 corner, * **1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, rep from ** three more times, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 5 sc in ch-4 corner, rep from * twice more, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 2 sc in last ch-2 sp, join and fasten off CD — 92 sc.
Round 10: Join CC in same st, ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in next st, working in front of stitches from Rounds 8 and 9, work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 7, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 7, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, *work [2 Ldc in unworked corner st from Round 7, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 3 sc in the following st, work 2 Ldc in same st of Round 7], skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, **work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 7, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, rep from ** three more times, repeat from * twice more, work [2 Ldc in unworked corner st from Round 7, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 3 sc in the following st, work 2 Ldc in same st of Round 7], skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 7, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 7, join — 52 sc, 48 Ldc.
Round 11: Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in next 12 sts, 3 sc in corner st, *1 sc in each of the next 24 sts, 3 sc in corner st, rep from * twice more, 1 sc in each of the last 11 sts, join and fasten off CC — 108 sc.
Round 12: Join CA in same st, ch 3, work 1 dc in next st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, *ch 4, skip 1 st, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, **ch 2, skip 2 sts, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, rep from ** five more times, rep from * twice more, ch 4, skip 1 st, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, ch 2, skip 2 sts, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, ch 2, skip 2 sts, work 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts, ch 2, skip last 2 sts, join — 56 dc, 24 ch-2 spaces, 4 ch-4 corners.
Round 13: Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in next dc, 2 sc in next ch-2sp, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-2sp, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-2sp, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 5 sc in ch-4 corner, * **1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, rep from ** five more times, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 5 sc in ch-4 corner, rep from * twice more, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, 1 sc in each of the next 2 dc, 2 sc in last ch-2 sp, join and fasten off CA — 124 sc.
Round 14: Join CB in same st, ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in next st, working in front of stitches from Rounds 12 and 13, work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 11, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 11, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 11, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, *work [2 Ldc in unworked corner st from Round 11, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 3 sc in the following st, work 2 Ldc in same st of Round 11], skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, **work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 11, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, rep from ** five more times, repeat from * twice more, work [2 Ldc in unworked corner st from Round 11, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 3 sc in the following st, work 2 Ldc in same st of Round 11], skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 11, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 11, skip next 2 sts of current round and work 1 sc in each of the following 2 sts, work 1 Ldc in each of the 2 unworked sts directly below from Round 11, join — 68 sc, 64 Ldc.
Round 15: Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in next 16 sts, 3 sc in corner st, *1 sc in each of the next 32 sts, 3 sc in corner st, rep from * twice more, 1 sc in each of the last 15 sts, join and fasten off — 140 sc.
Weave in ends.
Block square if desired.
A free French pattern translation by Véronique Malanda Mavouala de ChezHoraive is available for download here: caterpillar-en-francais.
Mix and match with my other 12-in. afghan square designs.
Having a big problem with Row 8.
I’ve got 76 stitches as I should have but the first Ch4 brings me to the middle of the first side, not the corner. (I reckon there should be 19 stitches per side ie 76/4 but I only use half that number before I get to the Ch4 section of the pattern.) I’ve tried and retried about 5 times. Is the pattern wrong?
I now think I messed up on an earlier row. I’m fairly new to crocheting and kept getting ‘lost’ in the rows with the pattern and counting. How do folk remember where they are when the lines are long with several repeats?
Hey, sooo beutiful and I am for sure making a bag with these! But how many ‘yarn wrenches’ of each color do you use for 1?
Please make a video or something. I’m on round two and already beyond confused. How can I work an ldc three rows down when there’s only one row so far? And when you say “work 1 sc in same st as join and in next dc, working in front of stitches from Round 1”, does that mean work 1sc in same st as join and in next dc, or in next dc working in front of stitches from round one?
Round 2. The Ldc into the magic ring. Where “into” because based on your green/brown/white square photo it clearly isn’t into the middle/center ring area. Where do I attach the stitch for the Ldc if I want it to look like that square? Am I attaching it around the bottom of one of the round 1 dc stitches?
I see that it does go to the middle on the other square example.
Same question and if you look at the Moogly CAL site their square goes into the middle too. Kind of confusing to have two different examples!!
Is there a tutorial to follow?
Not at this time, only the written pattern here.
What a great design! I love it!