Colorful Squares and Table Mat

They are loosely based on log cabin quilting block.  And all that I've written below is not a pattern made by a crochet designer. These are just my project notes. The squares are cute, but they are not perfect :(  I am not even 100 % sure how many stitches are around each square...Anyway, I am always very happy making something from my own head.


I worked with worsted weight acrylics and 5.5 crochet hook, using two contrasting teams of colors.
For the center I have chosen red, orange and brown-I think it represents well the center of a traditional log cabin quilt block.

So, let's start that cute, if not perfect, square  :)


Center square (Hearth)

Row 1:
with Red:
in  magic ring: ch3 (counts as a dc) 11 dc around, join with sl st on top of beg ch, finish off Red
 (12 dc)


Row 2:
with Orange:
join anywhere with sl st, ch2 (counts as sc), sc in same stitch, 2 sc in each st around, finish off Orange (24 sc)

Row 3:
with Brown:
join anywhere with sl st
ch 2 ( counts as hdc), 1 hdc in same st, ch 1, 2 hdc in same st (corner made), hdc in each of next 5 sts
(hdc shell in next st, hdc in each of next 5 sts) 3 times, join with sl on top of beg ch, finish off Brown
(36 hdc, 4 ch sp)

LOGS:

White

first half
join white at any corner ch1 sp, ch 2 (VERY IMPORTANT:COUNTS AS DC NOW AND ON)
dc in each of next hdc, dc in corner ch1 sp
(11 dc)

second half
pivot your work, ch2, dc on the side of last dc, dc in each of next 9 hdc, dc in corner sp, drop white
(13 dc)

Both white logs have 24 dc

Pale teal

first half
pivot your work, join teal, cut off white
ch2, dc on side of last white dc, dc in corner ch1 sp, dc in next 9 dc, dc in corner ch1 sp
(13dc)

second half
pivot your work, ch2, dc on side of last teal dc, dc in corner ch1 sp, dc in each of next 9 dc, dc in corner sp, dc in each of  next 2 white ch, drop teal
(15dc)

Both teal logs have 28 dc

Yellow

first half
pivot your work, join yellow, cut off teal
ch2, dc on side of last teal dc, dc in each of next 11 dc(remember: the beg ch of last row counts as dc), dc in each of  next 2 white ch
(15 dc)

second half
pivot your work
ch2 (counts as dc), dc on side of last yellow dc, dc in each of next 13 dc, dc in each of next 2 teal ch, drop yellow
(17 dc)

In all yellow logs have 32 dc

Continue working in the same manner until your square reaches desired size. Just in case- some more instructions:

Light blue

first half
Pivot your work, join blue, cut off yellow
ch2, dc on side of last yellow dc, dc in each of next 13dc, dc in each of next two teal ch
(17 dc)

second half
pivot your work
ch2, dc on side of last blue dc, dc in each of next 15 dc, dc in each of next 2 yellow ch, drop blue
(19 dc)

Both blue logs have 36 dc



Orange

first half
pivot your work, join orange, cut off blue, ch2, dc on side of last blue dc, dc in each of next 15 dc, dc in each of next 2 yellow ch (19 dc)

second half
pivot your work, ch2, dc on side of last orange dc, dc in each of next 17 dc, dc in each of next two blue ch, drop orange (21dc)

Both orange logs have 40 dc



Deep blue

first half
pivot work, join deep blue, cut off orange, ch2, dc on side of last orange dc, dc in next 17 dc, dc in next two orange ch (21dc)

second half
pivot work, ch2, dc in side of last dc, dc in each of next 19 dc, dc in each of next 2 orange ch, drop deep blue (23dc)

Both deep blue logs have 44 dc


Red

first half
pivot work, join red, cut off deep blue, ch2, dc on side of last deep blue dc, dc in next 19 dc, dc in next two orange ch (23dc)

second half
pivot work, ch2, dc in side of last dc, dc in each of next 21 dc, dc in each of next 2 orange ch, drop red (25dc)

Both red logs have 48 dc

Purple

first half
pivot work, join purple, cut off red, dc on side of last red dc, dc in each of next 21 dc, dc in each of next 2 deep blue ch (25 dc)

second half
pivot work, ch2, dc on side of last dc, dc in each of next 23 dc, dc in each of next 2 red ch (27 dc)
finish off!!

Both purple logs have 52 dc


And that's how I joined new colors in this project:

Here's the last loop of old color.

Get ready!

Pull a loop of new color.

Tighten old color loop.

Make one chain stitch with new color.

Tighten it so it almost vanishes, and don't count it as a stitch anymore!

And here is my new table mat. I joined the squares on their wrong sides using single crochet stitches. Hmmm...How about making an afghan? Or a bag?