Have you ever done a crochet or crafting project that reminds you how much you love your craft? The Stitch Together Blanket Stitch-a-thon has done that for me. Making the first 3 squares has been so fun and designing this fourth square was awesome.

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Let’s talk about the Stitch Together Stitch-a-thon first. If you’re stumbling upon this post and haven’t heard about it yet, here’s the short version of the story: Stitch Together is a Crochet Along group led by a team of 7 awesome designers. This year we’re making a year-long project. Every 3 weeks we release a pattern for a 7″ square. To participate here’s what you need to do:

• Get the pattern – You can get a PDF version that is updated with each new square from the WeCrochet website.
• Get yarn – you can use any worsted weight yarn. I am so grateful WeCrochet gifted me the yarn to make this blanket. I’m using WeCrochet Brava Worsted which is one of my fav yarns ever.
• Join the Facebook Group – share and comment and do this with an amazing group of crocheters!
• Make 4 of each square that is released. (The final blanket will be 7×8 squares.)
• Wait patiently (or impatiently) for the next square!

No let’s talk about square 4! My goal was modern, simple, and beautiful and I think the design fits all these things. The braiding technique is one that I’ve wanted to incorporated into a design for a while. I love it because it’s simple but so beautiful! I hope you like it too. (There is a bit of a photo tutorial below.)

Let’s get into it!

Gauge:

15 sc by 18 rows = 4″ square
The squares have been designed using the same gauge – so make your gauge once and keep using the same hook for the whole blanket!

Hook:

I/5.5mm hook or hook to obtain gauge.

Yarn:

Brava Worsted in Persimmon and Cream (Approx 65 yrds per square.)

Notes:

• This square is worked row by row with a ch at the beginning row.
• Ch(s) at beginning of rows do(es) not count as a stitch.
• It may be helpful to use a bigger hook (7.0mm) to weave together the braids. It is not necessary, as the hook you’re using to create the square can also work!
• A photo tutorial can be found on the And She Laughs website.

Instructions: (Make 4)

Ch 26

Row 1(WS): SC in 2nd ch from hook, SC across, ch 1, turn — 25 SCs.
Row 2(RS): SC in first 2 sts, *(sl st, ch 5, sl st) in next st, **SC in next 4 sts, repeat from * 4 more times ending at **, SC in next 2 sts, ch 1,turn — 20 SCs, 5 ch-5loops.
Row 3: SC in first 2 sts, *ch 1, sk loop and sl sts, **SC in next 4 sts, rep from * 4 more times ending at**, SC in next 2 sts, ch 1, turn — 20 SCs, 5 ch1 spaces.

Row 4: SC in first 2 sts, *(sl st, ch 6, sl st) in next st, **SC in next 4 sts, repeat from * 4 more times ending at **, SC in next 2 sts, ch 1,turn — 20 SCs, 5 ch-6 loops.
Rows 5-27: Repeat Rows 3 & 4, ending with a repeat of row 3.
Row 28: SC in each st across, ch 1, turn — 25 SCs.
Row 29: Repeat Row 28.

Beginning with the first ch-loop, insert hook in from bottom of that loop, pull through the loop above it, continue pulling next loop through the one on your hook until you reach the final loop of the column. Repeat for all columns. (See image below.)

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A post shared by Chrisandra – And She Laughs (@andshelaughs)

Row 30: SC in next 2 sts, *insert hook through the top loop of first column and the next st in the row and SC them together, **SC in next 4 sts, repeat from * 4 more times ending at **, SC in next 2 sts — 25 SCs with all columns secured. (see below images for steps of this row)

Row 31: Repeat Row 28. Fasten off and weave in ends. Block square to 7″x7″.

Use #Stitchathon2022 and tag me @andshelaughs and @stitchtogetherofficial when sharing on social media!