by ✨ Perfect Crochet Tile — Multi-Purpose Motif (Step-by-Step Tutorial)
Here’s a clear, beginner-friendly round-by-round text pattern you can crochet right away. It makes a decorative medallion → square tile that’s perfect for runners, shawls, blouses or covers. Includes counts to check, Join-As-You-Go notes, blocking, troubleshooting and quick variations.
All instructions use US terms.
What you’ll need
- Yarn: sport / DK (cotton for crisp tiles; cotton-blend or acrylic for softer drape)
- Hook: 3.5–4.5 mm (adjust to get desired finished size)
- Notions: tapestry needle, blocking pins/mat, scissors, stitch markers (optional)
- Finished tile (blocked): ≈ 10–13 cm / 4–5 in (depends on yarn & hook)
Abbreviations (US)
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
- pic = picot (ch 3, sl st into base)
- rep = repeat
- sp = space
- st(s) = stitch(es)
Pattern overview (what you’ll crochet)
- small neat centre
- chain-loop foundation for petals
- puffy petals (cluster)
- tidy sc round to flatten
- lacy arches anchored with post clusters
- decorative ribs inside arches
- convert circle → square with side & corner loops (for joining)
- scalloped picot outer edge (used for JAYG)
Each round includes a short check so you can confirm counts before moving on.
Round-by-round (work in rounds, join with sl st)
Round 1 — centre (magic ring)
- Make a magic ring. ch 3 (counts as dc), work 15 dc into ring. (ch-3 + 15 dc = 16 dc.)
- Pull ring closed and sl st to top of ch-3 to join.
Check: 16 dc.
Round 2 — loop foundation (petal scaffolding)
- ch 4, skip next dc, sc in next dc — repeat around.
You’ll form 8 ch-4 loops separated by sc. Join with sl st.
Check: 8 ch-4 spaces.
Round 3 — puffy petals (8 petals)
- In each ch-4 loop work (sc, hdc, 7 dc, hdc, sc) — all into the same loop (one full petal cluster).
- Sl st into the next ch-4 loop and repeat for all 8 loops. Join.
Check: 8 petals (visibly raised).
Variation: use 5 dc instead of 7 dc for a smaller petal.
Round 4 — tidy sc round
- Rejoin between petals. Work sc evenly around the petal bases to make a smooth circular boundary — distribute about 9–12 sc per petal area (adjust ±1–2 so it lies flat).
- Join with sl st.
Check: motif edge is even (not cupped or ruffled).
Round 5 — lacy arches (frame)
- From a petal tip: sl st to outer tip → ch 7 → anchor into the sc round between the next petals with (tr, ch 2, tr, ch 2, tr) worked into that sc/space → sl st to the next petal tip.
- Repeat around to create 8 tall arches. (If ch-7 looks long or short for your yarn/hook try ch-6 or ch-8.) Join.
Check: 8 evenly spaced arches.
Round 6 — ribs inside arches (decoration)
- Into each ch-arch work: sl st to arch base → ch 3 → dc in top of first tr → ch 1 → dc in top of middle tr → ch 1 → dc in top of last tr → ch 3 → sl st into arch base.
- Simpler: 3 dc separated by ch-1 across the arch.
- Repeat for all 8 arches and join.
Check: each arch shows 3 inner ribs (textured look).
Round 7 — convert circle → square (side & corner loops)
(Do this round if you want tidy, grid-friendly tiles — recommended for blouses/runners.)
- Mark four quarter points (every 2 petals = 90° apart). Rejoin at a quarter marker.
- Work each side between corners using a consistent pattern — example distribution (adjust to fit your motif size):
sc 10, (sc, ch 4, sc) × 3 (side loops), sc 10 → ch 6 (corner loop).- Important: use exactly the same numbers on all four sides so tiles match when joining.
- Repeat for all sides. Join and fasten off (or continue).
Check: 4 corner ch-6 loops and identical side loop counts on each side — motif will block into a square.
Round 8 — scalloped picot outer edge (finish & JAYG round)
- Rejoin and work final scallop around the outside, e.g.: sc 3, (pic: ch 3, sl st into same st), sc 4 — adjust sc counts so each scallop sits flat across the side loop sections.
- Place picots at each scallop peak for a dotted decorative finish. This outer round is the one used for Join-As-You-Go: when your new tile meets a finished neighbour, replace the sl st/picot with sl st into the corresponding stitch/picot of the finished tile to join.
- Join, fasten off and weave in ends.
Check: scallops/picots even; tile lies flat after blocking.
Blocking & finishing
- Pin tiles to a blocking surface into a square (if Round 7 used). Pull corner loops out to form crisp corners; pin picots and scallops into shape. Mist with water or steam lightly and allow to dry thoroughly. Blocking is essential for lace to open and for joins to match precisely.
- For a firm runner/table piece, apply light spray starch after blocking and let dry.
Joining tiles — methods
Join-As-You-Go (JAYG) — recommended
- Crochet the first tile completely. For the next tile work through Round 7 and start Round 8. Each time you reach a scallop that should meet a finished neighbour, sl st into the corresponding stitch/picot of the neighbour instead of making the picot. Continue around to join edge-to-edge at side loops and corner loops. This creates flat, neat seams and saves sewing.
Sew-after (block then sew)
- Make and block all tiles. Pin them in the desired layout. Use a tapestry needle and matching yarn to mattress-stitch or whipstitch through outer sc round or side loops for a nearly invisible join.
Projects & layout ideas (quick)
- Runner: 1 × N tiles (narrow) or 2 × N (wider). Example: tile ≈12 cm → 1×8 ≈ 96 cm.
- Shawl/throw: 6 × 10 tiles ≈ 72 × 120 cm.
- Blouse/tunic: panels of tiles joined JAYG — top row motifs across = round(half-bust ÷ tile width).
- Cushion: 3 × 3 or 4 × 4 tiles.
Tell me your blocked tile width and target finished measurements and I’ll compute exact tile counts.
Troubleshooting & tips
- Tiles cup (edges pull up): loosen tension on petal/arch rounds or try a slightly larger hook; block firmly.
- Tiles ripple/wrinkle: shorten arch chains (ch-6 instead of ch-7) or reduce sc count in Round 4.
- Joins gape: add one extra sl st at join points or tighten the sewn join; JAYG looks best when tiles are blocked before joining.
- Sides don’t line up: confirm Round 7 side loop counts are identical on every tile before joining — that’s the usual culprit.
Quick variations
- Smaller tile: use finer yarn + smaller hook or reduce petal dc (7 → 5).
- Larger/bolder tile: thicker yarn or increase petal dcs (7 → 9) and arch chain (ch-8/9). Adjust Round 7 counts proportionally.
- Two-color tile: change color after Round 3 (petals) so flower contrasts with frame.
- Simpler beginner option: replace Round 5–6 arches with ch-5 loops and 3 dc inside each loop for a simpler lacy tile.
- Beaded edge: thread small beads on yarn and add one on each picot for sparkle.
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