Third Dynasty of UR 12″ Afghan Block Square c. 2016 Margaret MacInnis
Inspired by cuneiform writing, I strove to create a block that has multiple layers of interest, and the more you look at it, the more you see. No hidden messages (at least I don’t think I put any in there, but if you are looking for secret treasure, you’ll have to hook it and figure out for yourself..)
photo by dmbonner–much thanks! Thank you also to dakotastamper for testing on the fly.
photo by wg96girl
Yarn in two colors: Color A (less than 15 g–1/2 oz or 25 yds ) and Color B (about 60 g–2 oz or 100 yds).
Yarn in three colors: See photo above by wg96girl for ideas; Yarn in more colors to achieve variation as above. Block shown also has Canada Goose border.
Hook: I used an H or 5.0 mm but I am somewhat of a loose hooker; I think most people would use an I or 5.5 mm hook
Terms: All American terms
STITCHES AND ABBREVIATIONS
BLO: back loop only
FLO: front loop only
Invisible Join: see link
Magic Circle: see link
sk: skipped/skip
RND: round
DL: drop loop to back and hold on stitch marker for use in another round
NOTES:
- All Color B work is done in BLO if indicated unless otherwise noted (corners are worked over chains for example).
- Most Color A work is done in FLO unless otherwise noted.
- ALL BOLDED ROUNDS: Color A dcs are working in front of previous RND ch-2 sps, and into BOTH loops of sk sts below.
INSTRUCTIONS:
RND 1: With Color A, 16 dc in a Magic Circle as (ch3 as dc, 15 dc, work Invisible Join to finish Color A). (16 dcs)
RND 2: WORK BLO: Join Color B with a sc in any dc, (2 sc in next dc, sc in next dc) x 7, 2 sc in next dc, sl st in BLO beg sc. (24 scs)
RND 3: WORK BLO:Ch1, sc in same st as join, [ch4, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc] x 7, ch4, sk 2 sc, sl st in BLO beg sc. (8 scs, 8 ch-4 sps)
RND 4: Sl st in next ch-4 sp, ch3 as dc, 2 dc in same sp, [ch2, (3 dc, ch2, 3 dc) in next ch-4 sp, ch2, 3 dc in next ch-4 sp] x 4, omitting last 3 dc, sl st in BLO beg ch-3. DL. (36 dcs, 12 ch-2 sps)
RND 4A: WORK FLO: Sk chs behind dcs. Join Color A with a sl st in 1st ch of any corner ch-2 sp, sl st in 2nd ch of same sp, [(sc in next 3 dc, dc in both loops of sk st below) twice, sc in next 3 dc, corner as sl st in FLO of each of next 2 ch of corner ch-2 sp] x 4, omitting last corner, work Invisible Join to finish Color A. Weave ends so they don’t interfere with your work, realizing that corner sl sts will be enclosed in next RND. (8 dcs, 36 scs, 8 sl sts)
RND 5: WORK BLO of RND 4: Pick up Color B loop, ch3 as dc, dc in next 2 dc, dc in next ch-2 sp around the ch-2), ch2, [sk next dc, dc in next 2 dc, corner as (2 trc, ch2, 2 trc) in next ch-2 sp–enclosing Color A corner sl sts, dc in next 2 dc, ch2, dc in next ch-2 sp*, dc in next 3 dc, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch2] x 4, working to * only on last rep, sl st in BLO beg ch-3. (16 trcs, 36 dcs, 12 ch-2 sps)
RND 6: WORK BLO: Ch3 as dc, dc in next 3 dc, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch2 (ed) [sk dc, dc in next 3 st, corner as (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, dc in next 3 st, ch2, sk dc, dc in next ch-2 sp*, dc in next 5 dc, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch2] x 4, working to * only on last rep, dc in last dc, sl st in BLO beg ch-3. (68 dcs, 12 ch-2 sps)
RND 7: WORK BLO: Ch3 as dc, dc in next 4 dc, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch2, [sk next dc, dc in next 4 dc, corner as (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, dc in next 4 dc, ch2, sk dc, dc in next ch-2 sp*, dc in next 7 dc, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch2] x 4, working to * only on last rep, dc in last 2 dc, sl st in BLO beg ch-3. DL. (84 dcs, 12 ch-2 sps)
RND 7A: WORK FLO: Sk chs behind dcs: Join Color A with a sl st in 1st ch of any corner ch-2 sp, sl st in 2nd ch of same ch-2 sp, [sc in next 6 dc, dc in both loops of sk st below, sc in next 9 dc, dc in both loops of sk st below, sc in next 6 dc, corner as (sl st in FLO of each of next 2 chs)] x 4, omitting last corner, work Invisible Join to finish Color A, weave ends so they don’t interfere with your work. (8 dcs, 84 scs, 8 sl sts)
RND 8: WORK BLO:Pick up Color B loop, ch3 as dc, dc in next 4 dc, [ch2, sk dc, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch2, sk 2 dc, dc in next 4 dc, corner as (2 trc, ch2, 2 trc) in next ch-2 sp–enclosing Color A corner sl sts, dc in next 4 dc, ch2, sk 2 dc, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch2, sk dc*, dc in next 7 dc] x 4, working last rep to * only, dc in last 2 dc, sl st in BLO beg ch-3. (16 trcs, 68 dcs, 20 ch-2 sps)
RND 9: WORK BLO: Ch3 as dc, dc in next 3 dc, [(ch2, sk next dc, dc in next ch-2 sp) twice, ch2, sk 2 dc, dc in next 4 st, corner as (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, dc in next 4 st, ch2, sk 2 dc, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch2, sk dc, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch2, sk dc*, dc in next 5 dc] x 4, working last rep to * only, dc in next dc, sl st in BLO beg ch-3. (84 dcs, 28 ch-2 sps)
RND 10: WORK BLO: Ch3 as dc, dc in next 2 dc, [(ch2, sk dc, dc in next ch-2 sp) 3 times, ch2, sk 2 dc, dc in next 4 dc, corner as (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, dc in next 4 dc, ch2, sk 2 dc, (dc in next ch-2 sp, ch2, sk dc) 3 times, dc in next 3 dc] x 4, omitting last 3 dc, sl st in BLO beg ch-3. DL or fasten off Color B if block will be big enough with the addition of RND 10A sc. (80 dcs, 32 ch-2 sps)
RND 10A: WORK FLO: Join Color A with a sc in 1st ch FLO of any corner ch-2 sp, ch1, sc in 2nd ch, [sc in next 6 st, dc in next 2 sk st below, sc in next st, (dc in next sk st below, 2 sc in next st) twice, dc in next sk st below, sc in next 3 st, (dc in next sk st below, 2 sc in next st) twice, dc in next sk st below, sc in next st, dc in next 2 sk st below, sc in next 6 st, corner as (sc in next ch, ch1, sc in next ch) of corner ch-2] omitting last corner, work Invisible Join to finish Color A. (40 dcs, 108 scs, 4 ch-1 sps)
If block is not quite big enough, work an appropriate sized round with Color B in BLO, edging each st and ch-sp. Finish Color B.
Photo shows sc in BLO RND 10 with dc corners (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc).