The Lodestar Square is a 12” crochet block, worked from the center out in two colors. Each point is outlined in front and back post stitches for a little added detail, and you can get all sorts of different looks depending on how/where you place the colors!
Lodestar Square is part of the Moogly 2024 CAL! Tamara did a completely different (but just as awesome) color layout than I did – you should check it out on her blog!
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Finished Size: 12” square
Materials: Small amounts two colors of worsted weight (CYCA 4, Medium) yarn. Model shown in Red Heart With Love (100% acrylic; 370 yds; 7 oz), one skein each Mallard (A) and Iced Aqua (B)
Crochet hook size J/10/6.00mm or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge: 11 dc x 5.3rows =4”
Notes:
Wind off bobbins or small balls of yarn and use a new one for each section. You will need 5 A (4 if you use the skein for one) and 4 B (3 if you use the skein for one)
Ch-5 counts as dc + ch-2
Ch-3 counts as dc
When changing colors, make the last yo of the last st of the old color in the new color
When working on the two-color rows the front post stitch and double crochet go in/around the same stitch and function as an increase. The post stitch is always closest to the B color.
Special Stitches:
BPtr – Back Post treble
FPtr – Front Post treble
Ddec – double decrease – *yo twice, insert your hook around through of previous BPtr, yo, draw up a loop, (yo, draw through 2 loops on hook) twice,** yo, insert hook in next dc, yo, draw up a loop, yo, draw through 2 loops on hook, rep from * to ** once more, yo, draw through all 4 loops on hook.
Square:
Ch 4, join into a ring with sl st in first ch.
Rnd 1: Ch 5, (3 dc in ring, ch 2) 3 times, 2 dc in ring. Join rnd with sl st in 3rd ch of beg-ch-5. 12 dc
Rnd 2: Sl st in next ch-2 sp, ch 5, 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 3 dc, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 3 dc] 3 times, dc in first ch-2 sp. Join rnd with sl st in 3rd ch of beg-ch-5. 28 dc
Rnd 3: Sl st in next ch-2 sp, ch 5, 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 7 dc, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 7 dc] 3 times, dc in first ch-2 sp. Join rnd with sl st in 3rd ch of beg-ch-5. 44 dc
Rnd 4: Sl st in next ch-2 sp, ch 5, 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, (dc, FPtr) in next dc change to B, with B, dc2tog, dc in each of next 5 dc, dc2tog, change to A, (FPtr, dc) in next dc, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, (dc, FPtr) in next dc change to B, with B, dc2tog, dc in each of next 5 dc, dc2tog, change to A, (FPtr, dc) in next dc] 3 times, dc in first ch-2 sp. Join rnd with sl st in 3rd ch of beg-ch-5. 52 dc + 8 FPtr
Rnd 5: Sl st in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, turn, dc in same ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 3 sts (dc, BPtr) in next FPtr, change to B, with B, dc2tog, dc in each of next 3 dc, dc2tog, change to A, (BPtr, dc) in next FPtr, dc in each of next 3 sts, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 3 sts, (dc, BPtr) in next FPtr, change to B, with B, dc2tog, dc in each of next 3 dc, dc2tog, change to A, (BPtr, dc) in next FPtr, dc in each of next 3 sts] 3 times, 2 dc in first ch-2 sp, ch 2. Join rnd with sl st in top of beg-ch-3. 68 dc + 8 BPtr
Rnd 6: Turn, sl st in first ch-2 sp, ch 5, 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 6 sts (dc, FPtr) in next BPtr, change to B, with B, dc2tog, dc in next dc, dc2tog, change to A, (FPtr, dc) in next BPtr, dc in each of next 6 sts, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 6 sts, (dc, FPtr) in next BPtr change to B, with B, dc2tog, dc in next dc, dc2tog, change to A, (FPtr, dc) in next BPtr, dc in each of next 6 sts] 3 times, dc in first ch-2 sp. Join rnd with sl st in 3rd ch of beg-ch-5. 84 dc + 8 FPtr
NOTE: For Rnd 7 you can end off the B bobbins as you finish each dc3tog, leaving a long enough tail to weave in later.
Rnd 7: Turn, sl st in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, turn, dc in same ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 9 sts (dc, BPtr) in next FPtr, change to B, with B, dc3tog, change to A, (BPtr, dc) in next FPtr, dc in each of next 9 sts, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 9 sts, (dc, BPtr) in next FPtr, change to B, with B, dc3tog, change to A, (BPtr, dc) in next FPtr, dc in each of next 9 sts] 3 times, 2 dc in first ch-2 sp, ch 2. Join rnd with sl st in top of beg-ch-3. 100 dc + 8 BPtr
NOTE: For Rnd 8 you can either use up the rest of your A bobbins, or end them all off and go back to using the skein.
Rnd 8: Turn, sl st in first ch-2 sp, ch 5, 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 13 sts (the last one will a BPtr), Ddec (see Special Stitches), dc in each of next 13 sts (the first one will be a BPtr), [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 13 sts, Ddec, dc in each of next 13 sts (the last one will be a BPtr] 3 times, dc in first ch-2 sp. Join rnd with sl st in 3rd ch of beg-ch-5. End off. 124 sts
Finishing:
Block to measurement; weave in all ends.
Check out our other 12” squares here – Lemon Zinger, Trifolium, Ternion, and Framed Carnation!