Hello and welcome to today’s blog. One of the things I like to do is find new crochet stitches and try them out. I found the Catherine Wheel Square Pattern a while back and have really enjoyed it. It is a yarn eater, but the results are stunning. I like to work the pattern in contrasting colors so the project pops, but you can crochet it in pastels and different shades of one color for a calming palette.
You will need to know how to work the following stitches for the Catherine Wheel Square Pattern:
Chain stitch – ch
Slip stitch – sl st
Single crochet – sc
Treble crochet – tr
Back post treble crochet – bptr
Large shell – lg shell (4tr, (ch1, 4tr) twice) in place indicated
Small shell – sm shell (4tr (ch1, 4tr) in place indicated
4 Treble cluster stitch – 4tr cl Work 4tr into one stitch holding the last loop of each tr st on the hook. Yarn over and draw through all 5 loops at once to complete the stitch.
4 back post treble decrease – (4bptr dec) Work a bptr around each of the next 4 stitches holding the last loop on the hook. Yarn over and pull through the 5 loops on the stitch.
8 back post treble decrease – (8bptr dec) *Word a bptr around each of the next 4 stitches holding back the last loop on the hook* skip sc between shells and working on next shell repeat between * once, yarn over and pull through all 9 loops on the hook. The 8bptr is always worked on the last 4tr group of 1 shell and the first 4tr group of the next shell.
If you need to learn how to crochet or need to brush up on your skills, check out my crochet tutorials before you begin.
Crochet Tutorial #1 – Basic Crochet Stitches
Crochet Tutorial #2 – Working with Color
Crochet Tutorial #3 – Intermediate Stitches and Techniques
Catherine Wheel Square worked in the round. It is the same as the Catherine Wheel pattern, but instead of working in rows you are working in rounds to form a square. The pattern has a 2 round repeat. This means you will work 2 rounds to complete a section of the pattern.
Start Round 1 with the first color and chain 5 and slip stitch in first chain to form a ring. (single crochet into ring, chain 5, 4 tr clusters in ring, chain 5) 4 times. Join with a slip stitch to beginning single crochet. You should have 8 chain 5 spaces, 4 single crochet, and four 4-tr cluster stitches so far. The first chain of the chain 5 made after each cluster or a bptr dec is the locking stitch. This chain forms a “o” on the top of the stitch that will be worked into the next round.
Round 2 is worked with the same color and begins with chain 1 and single crochet in the first stitch. Chain 2 and work a large shell (lg shell) into the top of the next 4-tr cl. Chain 2 [single crochet into the next single crochet stitch, chain 2, lg shell on the top of the next 4-tr cl, chain 2]. Work the repeat 3 times joining to the beginning single crochet and fasten off. You should have 8 chain 2 spaces, 4 large shells, and 4 single crochets. Your work may tend to ruffle a bit until you work the next round.
Join new color for Round 3 with a single crochet in the first chain 1 space of any shell. Chain 5, 4-bptr dec, chain 5, single crochet in the next chain 1 space of shell, chain 5, 8-bptr dec, chain 5, [single crochet into next chain 1 space of shell, chain 5, 4-bptr dec, chain 5, single crochet into next chain 1 space of shell, chain 5, 8-brtr dec, chain 5]. Repeat 3 times and join to beginning single crochet. You should have 8 single crochet, 4 8-bptr dec, and 4 4-brptr dec in this round.
Begin Round 4 with chain 1, single crochet into first single crochet, large shell in top of the next 4-bptr dec, single crochet in the next single crochet, small shell into top of the next 8-bptr dec [single crochet in next single crochet, large shell into top of the next 4-bptr dec, single crochet into the next single crochet, small shell into top of the next 8-bptr dec] repeat 3 times and join into beginning single crochet and fasten off. You should have 4 large shells and 4 small shells in this round.
For Round 5 join third color with a single crochet in the first chain 1 space of any large shell. Begin repeat *chain 5, work a 4-bptr dec, chain 5, single crochet in the next chain 1 space, chain 5, 8-bptr dec, chain 5, single crochet into next chain 1 space, chain 5, 8-bptr dec, chain 5 **, single crochet into next chain 1 space, repeat from * around ending last repeat at **. Join to beginning single crochet. You should have 4 4-bptr dec, 8 8-bptr dec, and 12 single crochet in this round.
Round 6 starts with chain 1, single crochet into first single crochet, begin repeat *large shell in the top of the next 4-bptr dec, single crochet into next single crochet, small shell into the top of the next 8-bptr dec, single crochet into next single crochet, small shell into top of the next 8-bptr dec**, single crochet into next single crochet, repeat from * arorund ending last repeat at **. Join to the beginning single crochet and fasten off. You should have 4 large shells, and 8 small shells in this round.
Round 7 starts by joining the next color with a single crochet in the first chain 1 space of any corner shell. Begin repeat * chain 5, 4-bptr dec, chain 5, single crochet in next chain 1 space, chain 5, 8-bptr dec, chain 5, single crochet in next chain 1 space, chain 5, 8-bptr dec, chain 5, single crochet into next chain 1 space, chain 5, 8-bptr dec, chain 5 **, single crochet into next chain 1 space and repeat from * around, around last repeat at ** joining to beginning single crochet.
Begin Round 8 with chain 1, single crochet into first single crochet, begin repeat *large shell into top of next 4-bptr dec, single crochet into next single crochet, small shell into top of next 8-bptr dec, single crochet into next single crochet, small shell in top of next 8-bptr dec, single crochet into next single crochet, small shell into top of next 8-bptr dec, **, single crochet in next single crochet and repeat from * around ending last repeat at **. Join to beginning single crochet and fasten off. You should have 4 large shells and 12 small shells in this round.
Make your square bigger by repeating Rounds 7 and 8 working 2 rounds of each color until you reach the desired size of your square. Each side of the square will have 1 small shell added to it for every 2 rounds worked.
If you want your project to be perfectly square without the dips work Round 8 as the last round.
Once your square is the size you desire, work a border of single crochet before you work your border pattern. This pattern is pretty enough on its own, so you may not want to crochet a border. It’s up to you.
Check out this video from The Crochet Crowd, How to Crochet: Catherine Wheel Stitch Square
End Notes
Thanks for stopping by! I hope this tutorial on the Catherine Wheel Square has sparked your creativity. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have in the comments section. Got a suggestion for a blog? Please let me know, I’d love to hear from you.
Until next time, take care and keep on hooking!
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