by Here’s a clear, beginner-friendly, round-by-round text tutorial that makes a pretty round medallion → square motif you can use for blouses, runners, shawls or cushions. All instructions use US terms. I include stitch counts/checks, a square conversion for neat joins, blocking/join-as-you-go tips, troubleshooting and quick variations so you can crochet straight away.
Materials & finished size
- Yarn: sport / DK (cotton for crisp lace; cotton-blend or acrylic for softer drape)
- Hook: 3.0–4.5 mm (adjust to reach desired finished size)
- Notions: tapestry needle, blocking pins/mat or towel, scissors, stitch markers (optional)
- Finished motif (blocked): ≈ 9–13 cm / 3.5–5 in (varies with yarn & hook) — make 1 test motif and block to confirm.
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)
- sp = space
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- rep = repeat
Pattern concept (short)
Worked from the centre outward:
- small neat centre
- chain loops for petal/spoke foundation
- petal or cluster round for texture
- tidy sc round to flatten
- lacy chain arches (frame)
- decorative ribs inside arches
- optional side & corner loops to convert circle → square (for joining)
- scalloped picot outer edge — used for Join-As-You-Go (JAYG)
Each round ends with a Check so you can confirm counts before moving on.
Round-by-round (work rounds joined with sl st)
Round 1 — centre
- Make a magic ring. ch 3 (counts as dc), work 15 dc into ring. (ch-3 + 15 dc = 16 dc total.)
- Pull ring closed; sl st to top of ch-3 to join.
Check: 16 dc.
Round 2 — loop foundation
- ch 4, skip next dc, sc in next dc — repeat around.
→ Forms 8 ch-4 loops separated by sc. Join with sl st.
Check: 8 loop spaces.
Round 3 — textured clusters / petals
- In each ch-4 loop work a cluster (all in same loop): (sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc) — one cluster = one petal/leaf.
- (If you want fuller petals use 7 dc instead of 5.)
- Sl st to the next loop and repeat for all 8 loops. Join.
Check: 8 clusters/petals visible.
Round 4 — tidy sc round
- Rejoin between petals. Work sc evenly around the petal bases to flatten and stabilize the motif — aim roughly 9–12 sc distributed per petal area (adjust ± so motif lies flat).
- Join with sl st.
Check: outer boundary is smooth (not cupped or ruffled).
Round 5 — lacy chain 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) or (tr, ch 2, tr, ch 2, tr) worked into that sc/space → sl st back to the petal tip.
- Repeat around to create 8 arches. (Adjust chain length ch-6/7/8 to suit yarn/hook so arches sit neatly.) Join.
Check: 8 arches.
Round 6 — decorative ribs inside arches
- Into each arch work: sl st to arch base → ch 3 → dc into top of first tr → ch 1 → dc into top of middle tr (if present) → ch 1 → dc into top of last tr → ch 3 → sl st into arch base.
- Simpler: 3 dc separated by ch-1 across each arch.
- Repeat for all arches and join. Check: each arch shows 3 inner ribs (or a 3-dc fill).
Round 7 — convert circle → square (side & corner loops) — optional but recommended
(Do this round if you want motifs to join into a neat grid.)
- Mark four quarter points (every 2 petals ≈ 90° apart). Rejoin at a quarter marker.
- Work each side between corners using identical counts. Example starter distribution (adjust to your motif size):
sc 10, (sc, ch 4, sc) × 3 (side loops), sc 10 → ch 6 (corner loop).- Important: use the same sc & side-loop counts on all four sides so motifs align when joined.
- Repeat for all four sides. Join and fasten off (or continue).
Check: motif now has 4 ch-6 corner loops and evenly spaced side loops — will block into a square.
Round 8 — scalloped picot outer edge (finish & JAYG round)
- Rejoin and work a scalloped edge across the side loops: e.g. sc 3, (pic: ch 3, sl st into same st), sc 4 — adjust sc counts so the scallop sits flat across side elements.
- This is the round to Join-As-You-Go: when a new motif meets a finished neighbour, replace that picot/sl st with a sl st into the corresponding stitch/picot of the finished motif to attach. Continue around. Join, fasten off and weave in ends.
Check: scallops and picots even; motif lies flat after blocking.
Blocking & finishing
- Pin motifs to a blocking surface into a square (if you used Round 7). Pull corner loops outward so corners are crisp; pin picots and scallop points. Mist lightly or steam and allow to dry fully. Blocking is essential for lace motifs and for neat joins.
Joining methods
Join-As-You-Go (JAYG) — recommended
- Make the first motif fully. For each new motif work through Round 7. On Round 8, whenever you reach a scallop that meets a finished motif, sl st into the corresponding stitch or picot of the finished motif instead of working the standalone picot. This yields flat, neat seams and greatly speeds assembly.
Sew-after
- Make and block all motifs. Lay out your layout and sew with matching yarn (mattress stitch or neat whipstitch) through outer sc round or side-loop anchors.
Troubleshooting & tips
- Motif cups (edges lift): shorten arch chain (ch-7 → ch-6) or loosen tension; try a 0.5 mm larger hook for petal/arch rounds and block firmly.
- Motif ripples/waves: remove 1–2 sc in Round 4 (tidy round) or shorten chain arches.
- Joins gape: make join sl sts a touch firmer or add one extra sl st at join points while JAYG; blocking helps.
- Squares don’t line up: ensure Round 7 side sc/loop counts are identical across every motif — this is the most common cause of mismatch.
Quick variations & ideas
- Smaller motif: use finer yarn & smaller hook, or change petal 5 dc → 3 dc.
- Bigger/bolder motif: heavier yarn or increase petal dcs (5 → 7 or 9) and arch chains (ch-8/9). Scale Round 7 numbers proportionally.
- Two-colour: change color after Round 3 to highlight petals vs frame.
- Simpler beginner version: replace Rounds 5–6 arches/ribs with ch-5 loops and 3 dc inside each loop for easier lace.
- Use cases: runners (1×N or 2×N), shawls (rectangle/triangle), one-piece JAYG blouse, cushion cover (3×3 or 4×4).
VIDEO:
