Circle in a Square Motif Squares #23 & 24

We're just about to 2017!  And I think that 2016 has been hard on a great many of us.  Fortunately, I remember plenty of good things that happened through the year.  I am always grateful to feel like I have a new year to work with, to change and make things different - or better.  Truthfully though, I feel like each day is a gift where we get to start new.  I hope for better things for all of us.  I often feel though that the opportunity for betterment lies in our perspective on what life serves up to us rather than what we actually find on our plates.

As for our pattern for the last two squares of the year, it's a lovely circle in a square motif.  It's a beautiful motif for scarves or shawls, or even a unique sweater or blanket.  Not too tricky, but a fun change from the traditional granny square.


Square #23

Square #24

Pattern

Ch 4, sl st to beginning ch to form ring.

Rnd 1:  Ch 3, make 15 dc in ring, sl st to top of beginning ch to join.  (16 dc, beginning ch-3 counts as dc).

Rnd 2:  Sl st between beginning ch-3 and next dc from previous rnd.  Ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2), [dc in between next 2 dc, ch 2] 15 times.  Sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-5 to join.  (16 ch-2 spaces)

Rnd 3:  Sl st in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp.  [Ch 1, skip next dc, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp] 15 times.  Ch 1, skip next dc, sl st to top of beginning ch to join.  Fasten off and weave in ends. 

Rnd 4:  Join new color in any ch-1 sp, sc in same space.  *[ch 3, skip next 3 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp] 3 times, ch 5 (corner loop made), sc in next ch-1 sp.  Repeat from * 3 times, omitting final sc of last repeat.  Sl st to beginning sc to join.  (12 ch-3 spaces 7 & 4 ch-5 corner spaces)

Rnd 5:   Sl st in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, [ch 1, skip next sc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp] twice, ch 1, [5 dc, ch 2, 5 dc] in next ch-5 sp, *[ch 1, skip next sc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp] 3 times, ch 1, [5 dc ch 2, 5 dc] in next ch-5 sp.  Repeat from * 2 times.  Ch 1, skip next sc.  Sl st to top of beginning ch-3 to join.  

Rnd 6:  Sl st in next 2 dc, sl st in ch-1 sp.  Ch 1, sc in same ch-1 sp.  (Ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp) twice.  *Ch 5, sc in corner ch-2 sp, ch 5, sc in same corner sp.  Ch 5**. (Sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3) 3 times.  Sc in next ch-1 sp.  Repeat from * 3 times ending last repeat at **.  Sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3, sl st to beginning sc to join.  

Rnd 7:  Sl st to next ch-3 sp.  Ch 3, make 2 dc in same ch-3 sp.  Make 3 dc in next ch-3 sp.  *5 dc in next ch-5 sp.  (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in corner ch-5 sp.  5 dc in next ch-5 sp**.  (3 dc in ch-3 sp) 3 times.  Repeat from * 3 times, ending last repeat at **.  Make 3 dc in next ch-3 sp.  Sl st to top of beginning ch-3 to join.

Rnd 8:  Ch 3 (counts as dc), *dc in each dc to corner ch-1 sp.  Dc, ch 1, dc in corner ch-1 sp.  Repeat from * 3 times.  Dc in each remaining dc.  Sl st to top of beginning ch-3 to join.    

Rnd 9:  Repeat row 8.  Fasten off and weave in ends.  

Note on the color variations:  Square #23 is done with one color on the first 3 rounds, and another color for the rest of the rounds.  For square #24, a different color is used for round 1, round 2, and round 3, and the color chosen for round 4 will finish out the motif.

Happy New Year friends!

XOXO - Taralee