Mini CAL-Part 1
Hello all,
Welcome to the Puffs and Hugs Christmas Pillow MINI CAL!
I hope you will enjoy this mini crochet along and I can’t wait to see your beautiful creations! In this part, we’ll create the blocks, a total of 18 squares!
Are you ready? Let’s get started!
If you want to refresh your memory before start, you can find all of the information about the CAL HERE.
Special thanks to my testers: Cheryl Freeman and Kerry Freeman
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This pattern and photographs are the property of K.A.M.E. Crochet by Krisztina Anna Matejcsok-Edomer and are for personal and non-commercial use. You may not alter or sell this pattern in any way. You may sell finished products, but please credit K.A.M.E. Crochet if you can. Thank you!
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Difficulty: Advanced beginner
Finished Size: 12.5 x 12.5 cm/ 5”x 5”
Materials needed:
- 3.5 mm (F) size hook
- 740 metres/808 yards (160 grams) of fingering weight yarn (I used Universe Christmas in Christmas Comet (24) colorway)
- NOTE: If you crochet loosely I advise you to use a 3 mm (5/0) size hook
- Yarn needle for weaving in ends
- Scissors
- Stitch markers (optional)
- Pillow form (40 x 40 cm/ 16” x 16”)
- NOTE: Blocking is essential to enhance textured patternwork of your project, open up your stitches and make your edges straight
Stitches used and Abbreviations:
MR = magic ring
CH = chain
ST/STS = stitch/stitches
SLST = slip stitch
DC = double crochet
ExtFPDC = extended front post double crochet
Puff ST = puff stitch
{ } =indicates how many stitches go into the same stitch or used to repeat a small set of instructions between these brackets the number of times given
[ ] = used to repeat a longer set of instructions between these brackets, the number of times given
(This is only used for a full repeat, may contain smaller repeats)
Gauge: not critical for this project but may affect the yarn quantities required
1 completed block should be 12.5 x 12.5 cm/ 5” x 5” AFTER BLOCKING
Special Stitches:
Extended Front Post Double Crochet (ExtFPDC):
Yarn over, insert your hook from front to back around the post of given stitch, from right to left, yarn over, pull through 1 loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through 2 loops.
Puff Stitch (Puff ST):
- Yarn over hook, insert hook in indicated stitch, pull up a long loop through that stitch (3 loops on hook)
- Yarn over hook again, insert hook into the same stitch, pull up a loop (same height as the previous one) three more times. You should have 9 loops on your hook. (Pic 1)
- Yarn over and pull through 8 loops, (2 loops remain on your hook) (Pic 2)
- Yarn over and pull through both remaining loops. (Pic 3-4)
(This way, you will only have 1 loop on top of the puff stitches, instead of 2)
Additional notes:
- Slip stitches do not count as stitches.
- If a row/round starts with a Chain 1, that is not counted as a stitch, unless stated otherwise.
- US terms used throughout.
- At the end of every round, there’s going to be a note with the stitch count, so you can keep track of your work easily and avoid any mistakes. It’s written in a different color; the first line in bold is always the total stitch count for the round (starting with round 2, this excludes corner stitches). Below that, I included a stitch count per side (excluding corner stitches) and per corner too, in case you prefer it that way.
- When working on the corners, always remember that there might be a hidden stitch hiding under the corner stitches which is the first stitch of the previous row
- Notes are written in a different color in (brackets) to help you through the pattern.
- You can start each round as I did in the pattern or you can use a standing stitch or chains, it’s totally up to you!
Instructions
Make 18 blocks in total:
To start: MR
Round 1: CH 1, 1 Puff ST, CH 3, [{1 Puff ST, CH 1, 1 Puff ST}, CH 3] 3 times, 1 Puff ST, CH 1 into the MR, pull the ring tight, join with a SLST to first Puff ST
(8 Puff ST, 4 x CH 1 SP, 4 x CH 3 SP)
Round 2: SLST to CH 3 SP, CH 1, {1 DC, CH 2, 2 DC} into CH 3 SP (corner)(Pic 1), SK next ST (Puff ST), {1 Puff ST, CH 1, 1 Puff ST} in CH 1 SP between the Puff STS (Pic 2), SK next ST (Puff ST), [{2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC} in next CH 3 SP (corner)(Pic 3), SK next ST (Puff ST), {1 Puff ST, CH 1, 1 Puff ST} in CH 1 SP between the Puff STS, SK next ST (Puff ST)] 3 times, 1 DC in first corner SP (Pic 4), join with a SLST to first DC (Pic 5)
Total: 8 Puff ST, 4 x CH 1 SP
Per side: 2 Puff ST, 1 x CH 1 SP
Corner: 2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC
Round 3: SLST to CH 2 corner SP, CH 1, {1 DC, CH 2, 2 DC} into CH 2 SP (corner)(Pic 1), 1 DC in next ST, 1 ExtFPDC around next ST (DC), SK next ST (Puff ST), {1 Puff ST, CH 1, 1 Puff ST} in CH 1 SP between the Puff STS, SK next ST (Puff ST), 1 Ext FPDC around next ST (DC), 1 DC in next ST (Pic 2), [{2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC} into CH 2 SP (corner)(Pic 3), 1 DC in next ST, 1 ExtFPDC around next ST (DC), SK next ST (Puff ST), {1 Puff ST, CH 1, 1 Puff ST} in CH 1 SP between the Puff STS, SK next ST (Puff ST), 1 Ext FPDC around next ST (DC), 1 DC in next ST] 3 times, 1 DC in first corner (Pic 4), join with a SLST to first DC (Pic 5)
Total: 8 Puff ST, 8 ExtFPDC, 8 DC, 4 x CH 1 SP
Per side: 2 Puff ST, 2 ExtFPDC, 2 DC, 1 x CH 1 SP
Corner: 2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC
Round 4: SLST to CH 2 corner SP, CH 1, {1 DC, CH 2, 2 DC} into CH 2 SP (corner)(Pic 1), 1 DC in next 3 STS, 1 ExtFPDC around next ST (ExtFPDC), SK next ST (Puff ST), {1 Puff ST, CH 1, 1 Puff ST} in CH 1 SP between the Puff STS, SK next ST (Puff ST), 1 Ext FPDC around next ST (ExtFPDC), 1 DC in next 3 STS (Pic 2), [{2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC} into CH 2 SP (corner)(Pic 3), 1 DC in next 3 STS, 1 ExtFPDC around next ST (ExtFPDC), SK next ST (Puff ST), {1 Puff ST, CH 1, 1 Puff ST} in CH 1 SP between the Puff STS, SK next ST (Puff ST), 1 Ext FPDC around next ST (ExtFPDC), 1 DC in next 3 STS] 3 times, 1 DC in first corner (Pic 4), join with a SLST to first DC (Pic 5)
Total: 8 Puff ST, 8 ExtFPDC, 24 DC, 4 x CH 1 SP
Per side: 2 Puff ST, 2 ExtFPDC, 6 DC, 1 x CH 1 SP
Corner: 2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC
Round 5: SLST to CH 2 corner SP, CH 1, {1 DC, CH 2, 2 DC} into CH 2 SP (corner)(Pic 1), 1 DC in next 5 STS, 1 ExtFPDC around next ST (ExtFPDC), SK next ST (Puff ST), {1 Puff ST, CH 1, 1 Puff ST} in CH 1 SP between the Puff STS, SK next ST (Puff ST), 1 Ext FPDC around next ST (ExtFPDC), 1 DC in next 5 STS (Pic 2), [{2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC} into CH 2 SP (corner)(Pic 3), 1 DC in next 5 STS, 1 ExtFPDC around next ST (ExtFPDC), SK next ST (Puff ST), {1 Puff ST, CH 1, 1 Puff ST} in CH 1 SP between the Puff STS, SK next ST (Puff ST), 1 Ext FPDC around next ST (ExtFPDC), 1 DC in next 5 STS] 3 times, 1 DC in first corner (Pic 4), join with a SLST to first DC (Pic 5)
Total: 8 Puff ST, 8 ExtFPDC, 40 DC, 4 x CH 1 SP
Per side: 2 Puff ST, 2 ExtFPDC, 10 DC, 1 x CH 1 SP
Corner: 2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC
Round 6: SLST to CH 2 corner SP, CH 1, {1 DC, CH 2, 2 DC} into CH 2 SP (corner)(Pic 1), 1 DC in each ST and CH 1 SP on side (Pic 2), [{2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC} into CH 2 SP (corner)(Pic 3), 1 DC in each ST and CH 1 SP on side] 3 times, 1 DC in first corner (Pic 4), join with a SLST to first DC (Pic 5)
Total: 76 DC
Per side: 19 DC
Corner: 2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC
Fasten off, weave in ends, block the finished squares before joining.
End of Part 1.
Part 2 will be released on December 14, 2022.
Thank you for choosing this pattern for your project! When you make it, I’d like to see it! Remember to tag me – @k.a.m.e_crochet or use hashtag #kamecrochet on Instagram.
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