Make Their Wedding Special: Free Afghan Square Crochet Along

Inside: Free crochet wedding afghan square pattern with tutorial videos. PLUS links to 24 other designs from Marly Bird’s Wedding Blanket CAL.

I love weddings!

So much preparation goes into the day to make it special. The dress, the flowers, the perfect font for the place cards.

Creating an heirloom blanket for the happy couple makes the event even more memorable. It’s your way of saying “Cuddle up and stay happy, you two”.

As one of the Red Heart Joy Creators, I was asked to take part in creating a beautiful crocheted blanket for Allison from Red Heart to celebrate her wedding in May.

Marly Bird helped organize the project that includes blanket squares from 20 talented crochet designers. Each square is unique, but together they make a stunning blanket. Scroll down to the bottom for links to each square.

When I was thinking about what to crochet, my sentimental mind went back to one of my favorite wedding memories…

… the first dance.

That first dance as husband and wife reminds of the joy I felt on my wedding day. It’s a day to remember and celebrate for the rest of your lives.

The Wedding Dance square features a striking 3-color design and is crocheted in both rows and rounds. I found a beautiful stitch pattern for the center of my square that displays rows of dancers celebrating. A colorful border surrounds the dancers like the edge of the dance floor.

If you enjoy crochet alongs, you’ve got to check out my Garden Party Afghan Square. Another great free pattern with tutorial videos!

Wedding Dance Blanket Square Pattern

By Kristen Mangus

MATERIALS
Materials contain affiliate links to products I use.
Yarn: Red Heart Chic Sheep (100g / 3.5oz, 170 m / 186 yards)
Contrast A – Linen [white] – 41 yds. (38 m)
Contrast B – Suede [beige] – 18 yds. (17 m)
Contrast C – VIP [blue] – 57 yds. (52 m)

Hook: US I/5.5mm 
Tapestry needle

ABBREVIATIONS
Beg = Beginning
Ch = Chain
CL = Cluster
dc = double crochet
hdc = half-double crochet
Rem = Remaining
Rep = Repeat
sc = single crochet
Sk =skip
Sl = slip stitch
Sp = space
St(s) = Stitch(es)
YO = Yarnover

Need a crochet refresher? Check out the links below:
Single Crochet (sc)
Double Crochet (dc)
Half-double Crochet (hdc)
Treble Crochet (tr)

GAUGE
16 sts x 11 rows in 4” in main stitch pattern

SKILL LEVEL 
Easy+

SIZE 
12”x12” (30.5cm x 30.5cm)

NOTES 
Cluster (CL) – (YO, insert hook in specified stitch and draw up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) 4 times; YO and draw through all 5 loops on hook; 1 CL made.

INSTRUCTIONS

Part 1 – Center

The center section is worked in rows.  Work across each row, turning at the end to reverse direction. Work loosely and block Center to 8”x8” before beginning border.

In contrast C, Chain 32.

Foundation Row: Sc in 2nd chain from the hook and in each remaining ch across; ch 1, turn.

Row 1: Sc in first sc; *ch3, sk next 2 sc, CL in next sc, ch 3, sk next 2 sc, sc in next sc; rep from * across; ch 5, turn.

Row 2: Sc in top of first CL; *ch 2, dc in next sc, ch 2, sc in top of next CL; rep from * across; ch 2, dc in last sc; ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Sc in dc; *2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next sc**; 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next dc; rep from * across, ending final rep at **; 3 sc in turning ch-sp; ch 1, turn.

Rep rows 1-3 for pattern 6 times more. On final row do not ch 1 at the end of the row. Fasten off and weave in tail. Pick a spot on final row, not at corner, and Join Contrast A.

Part 2 – Inner Border

Border section is worked in the round.

Rnd 1: With Contrast A, ch 2. Sc in next sc and in each sc across to corner; to make a corner sc in corner st, ch 2, sc in same corner.  Continue sc along edge of square in following sequence: *2 sc in first ch-sp, sc in next 2 sc. Rep from * 6 times; you should have even number of sts across plus 1 for 1st corner. Make another corner (sc, ch 2, sc as above). Sc across foundation chain to next corner skipping last sc before corner to work even number of sts.  Make corner. Continue sc along edge of square in following sequence: *Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next ch-sp. Rep from * 6 times. Make corner. Sc across to chain at beg of round; slip st to join to beg ch. 

Rnd 2: Ch 2, sk next sc, sc in next sc, ch 1. *Sk next sc, sc next sc, ch 1. Rep from * until corner. Make corner (sc, ch 2, sc, ch 1). Continue working in round rep from * 3 times more. Slip st to join at 1st ch; fasten off A, break yarn. Join Contrast B in a ch-sp.

Rnd 3: With B, ch 3 (counts as dc), Dc in same ch-sp, ch 1, sk next sc. *2 dc in next ch-sp, ch 1; rep from * across until corner. Make corner (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 1). Rep across from * until all rem sides and corners are complete; slip st to join; fasten off B, break yarn. Join Contrast A in ch-sp.

Part 3 – Outer Border

Rnd 4: With A, make standing hdc in ch-sp (or ch 2 to count as an hdc), ch 1. *Hdc in next ch-sp, ch 1. Rep from * until corner. Make corner (hdc, ch 2, hdc, ch1). Continue working in round rep from * 3 times more. Slip st to join at 2nd ch at beginning ch; fasten off A, break yarn. Join Contrast C in ch-sp.

Rnd 5: With C, make standing hdc in ch-sp (or ch 2 to count as an hdc), ch 1. *Hdc in next ch-sp, ch 1. Rep from * until corner. Make corner (hdc, ch 2, hdc, ch 1). Continue working in round rep from * 3 times more. Slip st to join at 2nd ch at beginning ch; fasten off Contrast C, break yarn. Join Contrast A in hdc.

Rnd 6: With A ch 1, *sc in each hdc and ch-sp across to corner; make corner (3 sc). Rep across from * until all rem sides and corners are complete; slip st to join to beg ch. Ch 1. 

Rnd 7: *Sc in each sc across to corner; make corner (3 sc). Rep across from * until all rem sides and corners are complete; slip st to join to beg ch. Ch 1. 

Rnd 8: *Sc in each sc across to corner; make corner (3 sc). Rep across from * until all rem sides and corners are complete; slip st to join to beg ch; fasten off A, break yarn. 

Weave in all tails with tapestry needle. Block square to 12”x12” (30.5cm x 30.5cm)

Whether you decide to make all the individual squares in the Wedding Blanket Crochet along or a full blanket of Wedding Dance Squares, I know that love and joy will go into each stitch.

And that’s what GoodKnit Kisses is all about. We want to help you stitch your love and love your stitches!

Wedding Dance Blanket Square Tutorial Videos

LEFT-Handed Tutorial Videos!

See all the Wedding Blanket CAL Squares:

For more details about the crochet along that started it all see Marly Bird’s blog post: Wedding Blanket Crochet Along. You also need to check out all the stunning designs by my fellow Joy Creators!

• Faux Cable Square by Marly Bird
• Snappy Wedding Square by Snappy Tots
• Strawflowers in Window by Fiber Flux
• Allison’s Happily Ever After by Cre8tion Crochet
• Squares and Mitres: Unique Granny Square by Jessie At Home
• Hug a Friend Square by Beatrice Ryan Designs
• Woven Afghan Block by Heart Hook Home
• Two Hearts That Beat As One (C2C) by My Hobby is Crochet
• Great Start Coral Square by Underground Crafter
• Right Round Square by Moogly
• Flower Burst Square by The Purple Poncho
• Circle of Life Square by Pattern Paradise
• Where Love Grows by YARNutopia
• Wedded Bliss by Oombawka Design Crochet
• Reversible Heart Square by Naztazia
• Allison’s Granny Square by Bobwilson123
• Crochet Arrows by Whistle and Ivy
• Every Little Thing by Moogly
• ELK Studio
• Blissfully Yours by American Crochet
• Perfectly Provincial by Kirsten Holloway Designs
• Cross Stitch Herringbone Afghan Square by Marly Bird
• Corner to Corner Single Crochet Entrelac Square by Marly Bird
• I’ll add the last blocks as they’re published!