The free pattern is below, but if you would like the ad free printable version you can purchase it for £5 from Ravelry where you will receive all of the parts of the CAL as an instant download into your Ravelry library.

UK Translation

The pattern instructions are written in US terms, but if you use UK crochet terms here the stitches you will be using

• Double crochet (dc) = treble crochet
• Front post double crochet (fpdc) = front post treble crochet

For this square I used Rico Cotton Creative Aran which is a 100% cotton non mercerised yarn. I chose this yarn as I love the feel of cotton, and it has a good selection of colours to choose from. This yarn does tend to split a little bit especially if you frog it a couple of times, so if this type of yarn is something you struggle to crochet with, I would choose a different brand. You can use any brand of Aran / worsted weight yarn to make the 50 Stitches blanket.

I used the shade Turquoise (36) of Rico Cotton Creative Aran which is one of the 4 different colours I chose to create my own 50 stitches blanket. I also used a 4mm hook – I recommend using Clover Amour hooks. A cost effective hook that is comfortable in your hands thanks to their ergonomic design

The Pattern

Click here for the left hand video

Abbreviations

• ch = chain
• st = stitch
• dc = double crochet
• fpdc = front post double crochet

You will need a 4mm hook for the Waffle stitch square

Start by making a foundation chain of 32

Row 1. In the 4th chain from your hook make a dc (the turning chain counts as your first stitch of the row). Make a dc in each chain across – 30 stitches in total including your turning chain

Row 2. Turn and chain 1. Make a dc turning chain in the first stitch then make a fpdc in the next stitch – you will make this around the post of the stitch directly below in the previous row. *Make a dc in the next 2 stitches, fpdc* repeat between *and* across row. In the last stitch of the row make a dc – 30 stitches

Row 3. Turn and chain 1. Make a dc turning chain in the first stitch. *Make a dc in the next stitch, then fpdc in the next 2 stitches* repeat between *and* across the row. Finish the row by making a dc in the last 2 stitches – 30 stitches

Rows 4-15. Repeat rows 2 and 3

Your fpdc stitches should all line up with each other to create straight lines that will look like squares. This means that it is very easy to keep track of your stitches and you won’t need to keep count, just make sure you always know where the first and last stitch of the row are.

You will finish your Waffle square on a repeat of row 3.

The Border

Now you need to add the border to your square before we join this one to last weeks square with the Interlocking border. We’re going to be making a round of single crochet around our square. I’ve chosen to do this in a contrasting colour for each of my squares, but you can use a complimenting or same colour as your square if you want. I chose to use a contrasting colour. I used shade Gentain (87) in Rico Creative Cotton Aran and I kept with the same 4mm hook size that I used to make the square itself.

For this square you need to make 2 sc in the side of each row of dc. Add an extra sc in each corner for the turn. Sc in each stitch across the top and bottom.

You should have 30 sc down each side, plus an extra stitch in each corner for the turn. This will make your stitch count as 32 stitches across each side and 124 stitches total (remember the extra stitch corner stitch is counted in the stitch count for both sides)

You have now finished your Waffle stitch square and you can cut off and weave in the ends before joining this piece to your previous pieces with the Interlocking border.

You can now add the interlocking border to join this weeks square to last 4 weeks. You can see how to do this here both as a written guide and with a video to help you too.

If you have any questions about the pattern or the CAL, then come on over to the Facebook group – Froggity Frog’s Ribbit And Stitch where you can show us your completed squares too and join the chat and meet your fellow hookers.