Crochet Unique Square Motif Runner Pattern❗️How to Make Step by Step

Here’s a clear, beginner-friendly round-by-round text tutorial that makes a decorative round medallion → joinable square you can use for runners, blouses, shawls or cushions. Uses US terms. I include stitch checks, a square conversion, Join-As-You-Go notes, blocking, troubleshooting and quick variations so you can crochet immediately.

Tools & finished size

Yarn: sport / DK (cotton for crisp tiles; cotton-blend or acrylic for drape)
Hook: 3.0–4.5 mm (adjust to get desired size)
Notions: tapestry needle, blocking pins/mat, scissors, stitch marker (optional)
Finished motif (blocked): ≈ 9–13 cm / 3.5–5 in (depends on yarn & hook)

Abbreviations (US)

ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
tr = treble crochet
pic = picot (ch 3, sl st into base)
sp = space
st(s) = stitch(es)
rep = repeat

Pattern concept (short)

Worked from center out:

small center ring
chain-loop scaffold for petals
puffy petal clusters
tidy sc round to flatten
tall chain arches forming a lacy frame
decorative ribs inside arches
optional side & corner loops to convert circle → square (for neat joins)
scalloped picot outer edge used for Join-As-You-Go

Each major round includes a quick check so you can confirm counts before proceeding.

Round-by-round (work rounds joined with sl st)

Round 1 — Center (magic ring)

Make a magic ring. ch 3 (counts as dc), work 15 dc into the ring. (ch-3 + 15 dc = 16 dc total.)
Pull ring closed and sl st to top of ch-3 to join.
Check: 16 dc.

Round 2 — Loop foundation (petal scaffold)

ch 4, skip next dc, sc in next dc — repeat around.
You’ll form 8 ch-4 loops separated by sc. Join with sl st.
Check: 8 ch-4 spaces.

Round 3 — Puffy petals (8 petals)

Into each ch-4 loop work all into same loop:
(sc, hdc, 7 dc, hdc, sc) — one cluster = one petal.
Sl st to the next ch-4 loop and repeat for all 8 loops. Join.
Check: 8 nicely rounded petals.

Tip: use 5 dc instead of 7 dc for smaller petals.

Round 4 — Tidy sc round

Rejoin between petals. Work sc evenly around petal bases to flatten and even the motif — aim for about 9–12 sc distributed per petal area (adjust ±).
Join with sl st.
Check: an even circular boundary (not cupped or ruffled).

Round 5 — Tall lacy arches (frame)

From each petal tip: sl st to tip → ch 7 → anchor into the sc round between the next petals with (tr, ch 2, tr, ch 2, tr) worked into that sc/space → sl st back to petal tip.
Repeat around to make 8 large arches. (If ch-7 looks long/short with your yarn, alter to ch-6 or ch-8.) Join.
Check: 8 arches evenly spaced.

Round 6 — Decorative ribs inside arches

Into each chain-arch work: sl st to arch base → ch 3 → dc into top of first tr → ch 1 → dc into top of middle tr → ch 1 → dc into top of last tr → ch 3 → sl st into arch base.
(Simpler: 3 dc separated by ch-1 across each arch.)
Repeat around and join.
Check: each arch shows 3 inner ribs — pretty texture.

Round 7 — Convert circle → square (side loops & corner loops) — recommended

(Do this if you want neat grid-joinable tiles.)

Mark four quarter points (every 2 petals, ~90° apart). Rejoin at a quarter marker.
Work along each side between corners using the same numeric distribution on every side. Example distribution (adjust to suit motif size):
sc 10, (sc, ch 4, sc) × 3 (side loops), sc 10 → ch 6 (corner loop).
Important: pick X and Y (the sc counts and number of side loops) and use identically on all four sides so motifs match when joined.
Repeat for all sides. Join and fasten off (or continue).
Check: you now have 4 ch-6 corner loops and equal side loop counts on each side — motif blocks into a square.

Round 8 — Scalloped picot outer edge (finish & JAYG round)

Rejoin and work the scalloped edge across side loops. Example: sc 3, (pic: ch 3, sl st into same st), sc 4 — adjust sc counts so each scallop sits flat across the side element.
Place picots evenly for a dotted scallop finish. This round is ideal for Join-As-You-Go: when your new motif meets a finished neighbor, replace that picot/sl st with sl st into the corresponding stitch/picot of the finished motif to join.
Join, fasten off and weave in ends.
Check: scallops and picots even; tile lies flat after blocking.

Corners & turning a rectangle

For a rectangular layout, use the same ch-6 corner loops but vary side motif counts per row. At 90° corners anchor the first leaf of the next side into the corner loop so the border turns cleanly.

Blocking & finishing

Block every motif pinned to a square (if you used Round 7). Pull corner ch-6 loops outward, pin scallop/picot peaks. Mist with water or steam lightly and allow to dry thoroughly. Blocking opens lace and sets geometry — essential for accurate joins.
For table linens try light starch after blocking; for wearable pieces skip heavy stiffening.

Joining motifs

Join-As-You-Go (JAYG) — recommended

Make the first motif completely. For each next motif work through Round 7. On Round 8, whenever a scallop/picot meets a finished neighbor, sl st into the corresponding stitch/picot of the finished motif instead of making the picot. Join sides and corners as you build rows — this yields flat, tidy seams and minimal sewing.

Sew-after (block then sew)

Block all motifs, pin layout, and sew with matching yarn using a tapestry needle (mattress stitch or whipstitch) through the outer sc round or side loop anchors.

Project ideas & layout calculations

Runner: 1 × N motifs (narrow) or 2 × N (wider). Example: motif ≈ 11 cm → 1×8 ≈ 88 cm.
Shawl / throw: e.g., 6 × 10 motifs → ~66 × 110 cm (varies with motif size).
Blouse / tunic: assemble panels of motifs; for a one-piece JAYG blouse compute motifs across by half-bust ÷ motif width.

Tell me your blocked motif width and finished dimensions and I’ll calculate exact counts if you want.

Troubleshooting & quick fixes

Motif cups (edges pull up): loosen tension on petal/arch rounds or use one hook size larger; block firmly.
Motif ripples / ruffles: shorten arch chains (ch-7 → ch-6) or reduce sc in Round 4.
Joins gape: tighten sl st joins when JAYG or add an extra sl st; block motifs before joining.
Sides not matching: check Round 7 side & loop counts are identical on every motif — mismatches cause alignment issues.

Quick variations

Smaller motif: finer yarn + smaller hook or reduce petal dcs (7 → 5).
Bigger motif: thicker yarn or increase petal dcs (7 → 9) and arch chain (ch-8/9); scale Round 7 numbers proportionally.
Two-colour: change color after Round 3 (petals) to highlight the flower.
Simpler beginner option: replace Round 5–6 with ch-5 loops + 3 dc across each loop for an easier lace.

Search This Blog

crochettt