🌟 Introduction
Welcome, fellow crafters! Are you ready to dive into a project that combines intricate detail with meditative rhythm? The Stellar Cosmos Square is a beautiful, mandala-inspired design that transitions elegantly from a central circle to a crisp, four-cornered square. This pattern uses a variety of stitches to create texture, depth, and a lovely openwork feel, resulting in a stunning motif perfect for joining into a beautiful blanket, using as a decorative doily, or incorporating into a cushion cover.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Finished Size (approximate): 8 inches x 8 inches (20 cm x 20 cm) using worsted weight yarn.
🧵 Materials & Gauge
✨ Materials Needed
- Yarn: Approximately 50-60 yards of Worsted Weight (Aran/10-ply) yarn in your preferred color. (The sample image suggests a vibrant blue!)
- Hook: Size H/8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Notions: Yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and a measuring tape.
📏 Gauge (Check Your Tension!)
- Rounds 1-4 should measure approximately 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter.
- Achieving the correct gauge is important for the final size and fabric density, especially if you plan on joining multiple squares.
💡 Special Stitches & Abbreviations
📝 Pattern Abbreviations (US Terms)
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
| ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet |
| hdc | half double crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| tr | treble crochet |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| sp | space |
| ch-sp | chain space |
| rep | repeat |
| sk | skip |
| yo | yarn over |
| MR | Magic Ring (Magic Loop) |
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⭐ Special Stitches (Written Instructions)
- Popcorn Stitch (PC): Work 5 dc into the indicated stitch. Drop the loop from your hook. Insert your hook from front to back into the top of the first dc. Pick up the dropped loop and pull it through the st. ch 1 to secure (the securing chain does NOT count as a stitch).
- Beginning Popcorn (Beg-PC): ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). Work 4 more dc into the indicated stitch. Drop the loop from your hook. Insert your hook from front to back into the top of the starting ch-3. Pick up the dropped loop and pull it through the st. ch 1 to secure.
- Cluster (Cl): yo, insert hook into st, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook). (yo, insert hook into same st, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops) rep 2 more times (4 loops remain on hook). yo, pull through all 4 loops.
- Double Treble (dtr): yo 3 times, insert hook into st, yo, pull up loop (5 loops on hook). [yo, pull through 2 loops] rep 4 times.
🚀 The Pattern: Stellar Cosmos Square
Note: The square begins with a circular motif and gradually shifts to a square.
Part 1: The Central Stellar Circle
Foundation: Start with a Magic Ring (MR).
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc into MR. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (12 dc)
Round 2: Beg-PC in the same st as join, ch 2, PC in the next st. Rep from * 10 more times. Ch 2, sl st to the top of the Beg-PC to join. (12 PC, 12 ch-2 sps)
Round 3: Sl st into the first ch-2 sp. Ch 1 (does not count as st), 3 sc in the same ch-2 sp. (3 sc in each ch-2 sp around). Sl st to the first sc to join. (36 sc)
Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) in the same st. Sk 2 sc, (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) in the next sc. Rep from * 10 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (12 groups of 3 dc separated by ch-1 sps)
Round 5: Sl st into the first ch-1 sp. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), dc in the next ch-1 sp. Ch 3, sk the next dc, dc in the next ch-1 sp, dc in the next ch-1 sp. Rep from * 10 more times. Ch 3, sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (24 dc, 12 ch-3 sps)
Round 6: Sl st into the first ch-3 sp. Ch 1, (sc, ch 5, sc) in the same ch-3 sp. Sk the 2 dc, (sc, ch 5, sc) in the next ch-3 sp. Rep from * 10 more times. Sk the 2 dc, sl st to the first sc to join. (24 sc, 12 ch-5 sps)
Round 7: Sl st into the first ch-5 sp. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 6 dc in the same ch-5 sp. Ch 1, 7 dc in the next ch-5 sp. Rep from * 10 more times. Ch 1, sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (12 groups of 7 dc separated by ch-1 sps)
Part 2: Transition to the Square
Round 8 (Setting the Corners): Ch 1, sc in the first dc. Sc in the next 2 dc. [Corner created here] 3 hdc in the next dc, dtr in the next dc, 3 hdc in the next dc. Sc in the next 3 dc. Sk the ch-1 sp. Sc in the next 3 dc. [Side] Hdc in the next 3 dc, dtr in the next dc, hdc in the next 3 dc. Sc in the next 3 dc. [Corner] (3 hdc, dtr, 3 hdc) in the next dc. Sc in the next 3 dc. Sk the ch-1 sp. Sc in the next 3 dc. [Side] Hdc in the next 3 dc, dtr in the next dc, hdc in the next 3 dc. Rep from * 2 more times. Sl st to the first sc to join. (4 dtr, 24 hdc, 36 sc)
Round 9: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). Dc in the next 4 sts. In the dtr st (corner st): (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc). Dc in the next 15 sts. Rep from * 3 more times, omitting the last 5 dc on the final rep. Dc in the last 10 sts. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (76 dc, 4 ch-3 sps)
Part 3: Structuring the Sides
Round 10 (Lace/Cluster Round): Ch 1, sc in the same st. Sc in the next 2 sts. Ch 3, sk 3 sts, Cl in the next st, ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in the next 3 sts. In the corner ch-3 sp: (sc, ch 3, sc). Sc in the next 3 sts. Rep from * 3 more times, omitting the final 3 sc on the last rep. Sl st to the first sc to join. (4 Cl, 32 sc, 12 ch-3 sps)
Round 11: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). Dc in the next 3 sts. In the first ch-3 sp: 3 dc. Dc in the next Cl st. In the next ch-3 sp: 3 dc. Dc in the next 3 sc. In the corner ch-3 sp: (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc). Dc in the next 3 sc. Rep from * 3 more times, omitting the last 4 dc on the final rep. Dc in the last 4 sts. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (108 dc, 4 ch-3 sps)
Part 4: The Finishing Edge
Round 12 (Border Round): Ch 1, hdc in the same st and in each st across the first side until the corner ch-3 sp. In the corner ch-3 sp: (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc). Hdc in each dc across the next side. Rep from * 3 more times, omitting the last side on the final rep. Sl st to the first hdc to join. (124 hdc, 4 ch-2 sps)
Round 13 (Final Edging): Ch 1, sc in the same st and in each st across the first side until the corner ch-2 sp. In the corner ch-2 sp: (sc, ch 1, sc). Sc in each hdc across the next side. Rep from * 3 more times, omitting the last side on the final rep. Sl st to the first sc to join. (128 sc, 4 ch-1 sps)
Video Tutorial:
✂️ Finishing & Blocking
🚿 Blocking
- Weave in all your yarn ends securely on the back of the work.
- Blocking is essential for this type of detailed square! It really opens up the lacework and defines the square shape.
- Wet the square thoroughly (using a ‘wet block’ method for natural fibers like wool or cotton, or a ‘steam block’ for acrylic).
- Pin the square out to the finished 8-inch dimensions, ensuring the corners are sharply defined and the straight edges are straight.
- Allow the square to dry completely before unpinning.
✨ Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully crocheted the beautiful Stellar Cosmos Square. Whether you’re making one for practice or a hundred for a grand blanket, this pattern offers a rewarding challenge with a gorgeous finished result.
Happy hooking! Let me know what you plan to create with your finished squares!
