Free Pattern: Opening Rose Square

The garden of the Blooming Roses afghan has a new blossom showing. As with the others in the series, it begins with a simple square, then uses surface crochet to create the beauty of a romantic rosebud beginning to unfold.

This square could be added to the collection of the Blooming Roses project, used with plain squares to create a beautiful, dramatic afghan, or create some matching pillows.

New to the technique? Don't be intimidated by the thought of surface crochet, click here for help. Finished size of square is 8" x 8" (20 cm x 20 cm).

Skill level:

Materials:
Worsted weight (4) acrylic yarn
I'm using a combination of Caron One Pound in black (color A), and Red Heart Super Saver in burgundy (color B)
Crochet hook size I/9 - 5.50MM
Tapestry/yarn needle or smaller hook to weave in ends

Gauge:
4" x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) = 14 rows, 12 sc

Stitches:
Slip stitch (sl st)
Chain (ch)
Single crochet (sc)
Double crochet (dc)

Directions for square:

To begin, ch 26 with color A.

Row 1:
Beginning in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each of 24 chs. (25 sc)

Row 2:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of next 24 sc. (25 sc)

Rows 3 - 27:
Repeat Row 2.

Bind off, weave in ends.

Directions for rose:

1. With color B, attach yarn with a sl st in st 13 of row 14. Remove hook, pull st through right side. Working in sl sts, place as follows:
1 up & to the left, 1 to the left, 1 down. Rotate work 1 half-turn. 1 up & to the left, 1 to the left, 1 down & to the left. Rotate work 1 half-turn. (1 up & to the left) twice, 1 to the left, 1 down & to the left, 1 down. Rotate 1 half-turn. (1 up & to the left) twice, 1 to the left, (1 down & to the left) twice. Rotate. (1 up & to the left) three times, 1 to the left, (1 down & to the left) twice, 1 down. Rotate. (1 up & to the left) 3 times, 1 to the left, (1 down & to the left) twice. Rotate. (1 up & to the left) 4 times, 1 to the left, (1 down & to the left) 3 times, 1 down. Rotate. (1 up & to the left) 4 times, 1 to the left, (1 down & to the left) 4 times. Rotate. (1 up & to the left) 5 times, 1 to the left, join with a sl st to sl st directly below.

2. Working into square: 1 sl st up and to the left, 1 to the left, (1 down) twice. Join with a sl st to nearest sl st of spiral. (1 down & to the left) twice. Rotate 1 half-turn, join to nearest sl st of spiral. (1 up and to the left) twice, (1 to the left) twice, join to nearest sl st. (1 up and to the left) twice, join to nearest sl st. 1 up, 1 up and to the left, 1 down & to the left, join to nearest sl st. 1 to the left, 1 down & to the left, join to nearest sl st. 1 to the left, 1 down & left, join to nearest sl st. 1 up & to the left, 1 to the left, 1 down, rotate 1 half-turn. 1 up & to the left, join to nearest sl st. 1 up, 1 up & to left, join to nearest sl st. 1 up, 1 up & to the right, (1 left) twice, join to the nearest sl st.

3. Working into sts of outer circle and petals just made: Make 2 sc in each st around, ending in st before beg join.

4. Turn to work spiral. Make 3 dc in each sl st of first round of spiral, skipping sts containing a joining sl st. End in st before last joining sl st.