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The Crocodile Flower (12 inch square)

A couple of months ago, I published a pattern for an afghan square using the loop variation of the crocodile

stitch for petals/leaves. This square bears some resemblance to that motif; however, this is actually a complete

re-working of the design. The construction has been simplified; the petals/leaves have been tacked down, the

background and edge have been changed and, most importantly, this pattern has been tested.

This motif would never have been published without the advice, suggestions and support of the best testers I

know: Muffetsmom, Toddlermagnet, J. Spencer (Scraplyn), and 72pixie. And thanks to Luvmy4brats for

tacking her petals down. The testers have classified this pattern as Intermediate to Advanced, due to the surface

crochet and the number of steps involved. That being said, they were all able to finish the pattern in a timely

manner, and without asking for help or for clarification.

This 12 inch test block was made with Red Heart Super Saver worsted weight yarn and a size G hook. The

same pattern resulted in a 10 inch square with Caron Simply Soft yarn and an F hook. The testers have

determined that the designer is a “tight hooker”, so your blocks may be larger than expected. These

instructions use American terminology throughout.

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Special Stitches:

Crocodile Stitch – example: (5 dc, ch 2, sc in side of previous dc, 5 dc) in next chain loop, number of stitches

may vary

Bubble Stitch – Alternating single and triple crochet stitches worked from the wrong side, number of stitches

may vary.

Long Double Crochet (ldc) – Yarn over, insert hook into stitch indicated one round below current round,

draw up a long loop, yarn over, draw through two loops, yo and draw through last two loops.

Gauge: Gauge depends upon the yarn and the hook used. With Red Heart Super Saver yarn and a size G hook,

this square measures 12 inches across. Because gauge is important, but very difficult to measure by stitch

count, measurements are given for each stage of the block. If your block is larger than is suggested at any

given stage, stop!, rip it out and start over with a smaller hook, if it’s smaller, try again with a larger hook.

Color A – Center

Color B – Flower color 1

Color C – Flower color 2

Color D – Flower color 3 / Leaves

Color E – Background

Center: With Color A, make a sliding circle

Row 1 – Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 11 dc into circle, close circle, sl st to top of beginning ch to join (12 dc posts).

Round 2 – Because of the uneven edge, it may be helpful to mark the beginning of each round in this section

with a stitch marker or contrasting yarn. Ch 1 and turn, working with wrong side facing, trc in same st, (sc, trc

- bubble stitch) in each of next 11 dc, sl st to beginning ch to join (12 bubbles/24 sts).

Round 3 – Ch1, (trc, sc) in same st, skip all trc, (sc, trc, sc – bubble stitch) in each of next 11 sc, sl st to

beginning ch to join (12 bubbles/36 sts).

Round 4 – Ch 1, * skip trc, (sc, trc) in next sc, sc in next sc *, repeat from * to * 11 times, sl st in beginning ch

to join (12 bubbles/36 sts). Cut and weave in ends. Center should measure approximately 3 inches across.

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Structure for Petals: As you can see in the sample square, portions of this section will be visible in the

finished square, so instructions are given to match the color of each round to the color chosen for the

surface elements covering that round. For example, Round 5 should match the inner round of petals, Round

6 should match the middle round of petals and Rounds 7-8 should match the outer round of petals/leaves.

Round 5 – Turn so bubbles are facing, attach Color B in sc following any trc, ch 2, sc in same st, 2 sc in next

sc, * ch 5, sl st in side of sc at base of ch, skip trc, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc *, repeat from * to * 10 times, ch 5,

sl st in side of sc at base of ch, skip trc, sl st to beginning ch to join (12 loops and 48 sc). Cut and weave in

ends. If you are working the flower in a single color, do not cut…just start next chain. Round should

measure 3.5 inches across, not counting the loops.

Round 6 – Attach color C in sc following any loop, ch 4, trc in next sc, ch 6, sl st in side of trc at base of chain,

trc in next sc, ch 3, * skip next loop, trc in each of next 2 sc, ch 6, sl st in side of trc at base of chain, trc in next

sc, ch 3 *, repeat from * to * 10 times, sl st to top of beginning ch to join (12 loops, 12 ch-3 spaces, 36 trc). Cut

and weave in ends. Round should measure 5 inches across.

Round 7 – Attach Color D to any ch-3, ch 8, * skip next loop, 2 trc in next ch-3 sp, ch 6, sl st in side of trc at

base of chain, trc in same sp, ch 4, * repeat from * to * 10 times, 2 trc in next ch-3 sp, ch 6, sl st in side of trc at

base of chain, sl st to fourth st of beginning ch to join (12 loops, 12 ch-4 spaces, 36 trc). Round should

measure 6 inches across.

Round 8 – Ch 2, * 4 sc around ch-4, sc in next trc, ch 2 behind loop, hdc in next trc, (2 hdc, 2 dc) around next

ch-4, 3 trc in next trc, ch 3, skip next loop, 3 trc in next trc, (2 dc, 2 hdc) around next ch-4, hdc in next trc, ch 2

behind loop, sc in next trc * repeat from * to * three times ending with sl st to beginning ch (28 sts per side and

4 ch-3 corners). Cut and weave in ends. Place a stitch marker or piece of contrasting thread around the

chain-4 between the single crochet stitches at the center of any side of the square. Seriously, mark the

stitch, you’ll be sorry if you don’t. Square should measure approximately 6.5 inches on each side.

Background:

Round 9 – Attach Color E to first trc following any ch-3 corner space, ch 2, sc in each of next 7 sts, 2 sc in ch-2

behind loop, sc in each of next 6 sts, 2 sc in ch-2 behind loop, sc in each of next 8 sts, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in ch-3

corner space, * sc in each of next 8 sts, 2 sc in ch-2 behind loop, sc in each of next 6 sts, 2 sc in ch-2 behind

loop, sc in each of next 8 sts, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in ch-3 corner space *, repeat from * to * twice, sl st to beginning

ch to join (30 sc per side and 4 ch-2 corners).

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Round 10 – Ch 3, dc in each of next 27 sc, (dc, ch 3, dc) in ch-2 corner space, * dc in each of next 30 sc, (dc, ch

3, dc) in ch-2 corner space *, repeat from * to * twice, dc in each of next 2 sc, sl st to top of beginning ch to join

(32 dc per side and 4 ch-3 corners).

Round 11 – Ch 2, sc in each of next 28 dc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-3 corner space, * sc in each of next 32 dc, *(sc,

ch 2, sc) in ch-3 corner space *, repeat from * to * twice, sc in each of next 3 dc, sl st to beginning ch to join (34

sc per side and 4 ch-2 corners).

Round 12 – Ch 3, dc in each of next 29 sc, (dc, ch 3, dc) in ch-2 corner space, * dc in each of next 34 sc, (dc, ch

3, dc) in ch-2 corner space *, repeat from * to * twice, dc in each of next 4 sc, sl st to top of beginning ch to join

(36 dc per side and 4 ch-3 corners).

Round 13 – Ch 2, sc in each of next 30 dc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-3 corner space, * sc in each of next 36 dc, (sc, ch

2, sc) in ch-3 corner space *, repeat from * to * twice, sc in each of next 5 dc, sl st to beginning ch to join (38 sc

per side and 4 ch-2 corners). Cut and weave in ends. Square should measure 10 inches.

Round 14 – Sawtooth Border: Attach Color B to first sc following any ch-2 corner space, ch 3, long double

crochet (ldc) in next st in previous round, alternate dc and ldc over next 36 sts ending with ldc in Round 12

corner space, (dc, ch 3, ldc) in corner spaces, * alternate dc and ldc over next 38 sts ending with ldc in Round

12 corner space, (dc, ch 3, ldc) in corner spaces *, repeat from * to * twice, sl st to top of beginning ch to join

(40 sts per side and 4 ch-3 corner spaces).

Round 15- Ch 2, sc in each of next 38 sts, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 corner space, sc in each of next 40 dc, (sc, ch 2,

sc) in ch-2 corner space *, repeat from * to * twice, sc in next ldc, sl st to beginning ch to join (42 sc per side

and 4 ch-2 corners). Cut and weave in ends.

Round 16 – Attach Color C to first sc following any ch-2 corner space, ch 3, long double crochet (ldc) in next

st in previous round, alternate dc and ldc over next 40 sts ending with ldc in Round 14 corner space, (dc, ch 3,

ldc) in corner spaces, * alternate dc and ldc over next 42 sts ending with ldc in Round 14 corner space, (dc, ch

3, ldc) in corner spaces *, repeat from * to * twice, sl st to top of beginning ch to join (44 sts per side and 4 ch-3

corner spaces).

Round 17- Optional, may be omitted if necessary in order to reach correct size. Ch 2, sc in each of next 42

sts, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 corner space, * sc in each of next 44 dc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 corner space *, repeat

from * to * twice, sc in next ldc, sl st to beginning ch to join (46 sc per side and 4 ch-2 corners). Cut and

weave in ends. Square should measure 12 inches on each side.

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Surface Crochet:

Round 18 – Outer Round of Petals: Attach Color D to the ch-4 in Round 7 between the sc’s at the center of

any side (already marked with stitch marker or contrasting thread), * 6 trc in next loop, ch 1, flatten petal out to

locate corresponding st in background and sl st through it, ch 1, sc in side of previous trc, 6 trc in same loop, sc

around next ch-4 *, repeat from * to * 11 times, sc to beginning st to join. Cut and weave in ends.

Round 19 - Middle Round of petals: Attach Color C to the ch-3 in Round 6 between two of the trc’s, * 6 dc in

next loop, ch 1, sl st in sc in between petals in Round 7 OR to the st in the background above that if your

petals are very long, ch 1, sc in side of previous dc, 6 dc in same loop, sc around next ch-3 *, repeat from * to

* 11 times, sc to beginning st to join. Cut and weave in ends.

Round 20 – Inner Round of Petals: Attach Color B to the front vertical loop of the sc in Round 5 below a

group of three trc, * 5 hdc in next loop, ch 1, sl st in sc in between petals in Round 6 OR to the st in the

background above that if your petals are very long, ch 1, sc in side of previous hdc, 5 hdc in same loop, sc in

front vertical loop of sc below next group of three trc *, repeat from * to * 11 times, sc to beginning st to join.

Cut and weave in ends.

© 2012 Joyce D. Lewis

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send a letter to Creative Commons, 444 Castro Street, Suite 900, Mountain View, California, 94041, USA.