purlJam

# Pattern: The Nordic Wreath & Snowflake Square

**Designed by:** System Persona
**Difficulty:** Intermediate
**Terminology:** UK Crochet Terms (US conversion provided below)
**Finished Size:** 20 cm x 20 cm (approx. 8 inches)

## Terminology Key (UK vs US)
*   **UK dc (double crochet)** = US sc (single crochet)
*   **UK htr (half treble)** = US hdc (half double crochet)
*   **UK tr (treble crochet)** = US dc (double crochet)
*   **UK dtr (double treble)** = US tr (treble crochet)
*   **Bobble St**: (Yarn over, insert hook in st, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops) 5 times in same st, yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.
*   **RS**: Right Side | **WS**: Wrong Side
*   **MC**: Main Colour | **CC**: Contrast Colour

## Materials
*   **Yarn:** Worsted/Aran weight yarn (approx. 180-200m/100g).
    *   **Colour A (Snowflake):** White (20m)
    *   **Colour B (Background):** Silver Grey or Oatmeal (30m)
    *   **Colour C (Wreath):** Forest Green (40m)
    *   **Colour D (Berries/Bow):** Bright Red (15m)
    *   **Colour E (Accents):** Gold/Yellow (5m)
*   **Hook:** 5.0 mm (US H/8)
*   **Notions:** Tapestry needle, scissors.

## Tension (Gauge)
16 sts and 9 rows = 10 cm in treble crochet.
*Note: Exact tension is not critical as long as it is consistent, but it will affect the final size.*

---

## CHARTS SECTION

This pattern uses **Tapestry Crochet** for the Wreath Border (Rounds 6-7).
*   **How to read:** Read all rounds from right to left (as you crochet on the RS).
*   **Technique:** Carry the non-working yarn inside the stitches (encapsulated) to avoid long floats on the back. Change colour on the final "yarn over, pull through" of the previous stitch.
*   **Placement:** The Chart represents **one side** of the square, between the corners. Repeat Chart A four times per round (once for each side).

### CHART A: The Wreath Foliage & Berries
*Used in Rounds 6 and 7.*

**Grid Key:**
□ = Colour C (Forest Green) - dc
■ = Colour D (Red) - Bobble Stitch
● = Colour E (Gold) - Bobble Stitch

**Chart A (19 stitches wide)**
```
Row 7:  □ □ □ □ ● □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ● □ □ □ □
Row 6:  □ □ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ □ □ □ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ □ □
       [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9]
```

---

## INSTRUCTIONS

### Phase 1: The Snowflake Centre (Colour A)

**Start:** With Colour A, make a Magic Ring.

**Round 1 (RS):** Ch 3 (counts as first tr), 15 tr into ring. Join with sl st to top of ch-3.
*   *Math Check: [1 + 15 = 16 sts]*

**Round 2:** Ch 1, dc in same st. *Ch 3, miss next tr, dc in next tr; rep from * 6 more times, ch 3, miss last tr, join with sl st to first dc.
*   *Math Check: [8 dc, 8 ch-3 loops]*

**Round 3 (Snowflake Points):** Sl st into first ch-3 sp. Ch 3 (counts as tr), (2 tr, ch 3, 3 tr) into same sp. *(3 tr, ch 3, 3 tr) into next ch-3 sp; rep from * around. Join with sl st to top of starting ch-3. Fasten off Colour A.
*   *Math Check: [8 points created. Total sts: 6 tr per point x 8 = 48 tr]*

### Phase 2: Squaring the Circle (Colour B)

**Round 4:** Join Colour B in any ch-3 sp of a point.
Ch 1. *(dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-3 sp (Corner made).
ch 1, miss 3 tr, htr in space between clusters.
ch 1, miss 3 tr, (tr, ch 1, tr) in next ch-3 sp (Side point).
ch 1, miss 3 tr, htr in space between clusters.
ch 1, miss 3 tr.*
Repeat from * to * 3 more times. Join with sl st to first dc.
*   *Math Check:*
    *   *Per Side: Corner (2 sts) + 1 htr + Side Point (2 sts) + 1 htr = Distinct elements.*
    *   *Let's verify stitch count for the next round's chart:*
    *   *Side count calculation (excluding corner ch-2): 1 dc + ch1 + 1 htr + ch1 + 1 tr + ch1 + 1 tr + ch1 + 1 htr + ch1 + 1 dc = 11 sts/spaces. This is too narrow for the wreath. Let's adjust slightly to widen.*
    *   **REVISED Round 4:** Join Colour B in any ch-3 sp.
        Ch 4 (counts as tr + ch 1). (1 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in same sp (Corner).
        *1 tr in each of next 3 sts, 1 tr in space between clusters, 1 tr in each of next 3 sts.
        (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in next ch-3 sp (Corner).*
        Repeat around. Join.
    *   *Math Check Revised:*
        *   *Between corners: 3 tr + 1 tr + 3 tr = 7 sts.*
        *   *Corners add 2 sts to each side.*
        *   *Total side count: 2 (corner) + 7 (center) + 2 (corner) = 11 sts.*
    *   *Still small. We will add a rapid increase round in Colour B.*

**Round 4 (Finalized):** Join Colour B in any ch-3 sp (tip of snowflake point).
Ch 3 (counts as tr), (1 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in same sp (First Corner).
* *Tr in next 3 sts. 2 tr in space between clusters. Tr in next 3 sts.
(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in next ch-3 sp (Corner).*
Repeat from * around. Join to top of ch-3.
*   *Inline Math:* [Side: 2 (from corner) + 3 + 2 (inc) + 3 + 2 (from corner) = 12 sts per side].
*   *Total:* 12 sts per side + 4 corners.

**Round 5 (Expansion):** Sl st to corner ch-2 sp. Ch 3, (1 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in sp.
*Tr in each st across to next corner.* (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in corner.
Repeat around. Fasten off Colour B.
*   *Inline Math:* [Previous 12 sts + 2 (corner inc) + 2 (corner inc) = 16 sts per side].
*   *Target for Chart:* We need 19 sts for the chart. We are at 16. We will add 3 increases evenly in the first row of Green.

### Phase 3: The Wreath Border (Colour C, D, E)

**Round 6 (Chart Row 6):** Join Colour C (Green) in any corner ch-2 sp.
Ch 1, (dc, ch 2, dc) in corner.
*Work across side following **Chart A Row 6**:*
Increase 3 stitches evenly across this row to hit 19 sts.
(Method: Work standard dc, but place 2 dc in same st at start, middle, and end of the side section).
While working dc in Green (□), switch to Red (■) for Bobbles as indicated in Chart.
Carry Red yarn inside Green stitches.
*(dc, ch 2, dc) in corner.* Repeat around.
*   *Inline Math:* [Start 16 sts + 3 inc = 19 sts per side matching Chart A width].

**Round 7 (Chart Row 7):** Sl st to corner. Ch 1, (dc, ch 2, dc) in corner.
*Work across side following **Chart A Row 7**:*
Work 1 dc in each st across (19 sts).
Switch to Gold (●) for Bobbles as indicated in Chart.
*(dc, ch 2, dc) in corner.* Repeat around.
*   *Inline Math:* [19 sts per side. No increases].

**Round 8 (Wreath Texture):** With Colour C (Green).
Sl st to corner. Ch 3 (counts as tr), (tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in corner.
*Work **Front Post Treble Crochet (FPtr)** around every other stitch, and standard tr in between.*
(This creates the rough, organic texture of pine needles).
Work (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in corner.
Repeat around. Fasten off.

### Phase 4: Accents

**The Red Bow (Make 4):**
Using Colour D (Red).
1.  Ch 10.
2.  Dc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (9 sts).
3.  Turn, ch 1, dc across.
4.  Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
5.  Sew the short ends together to form a loop.
6.  Wrap the yarn tail tightly around the center of the loop to cinch it into a bow shape.
7.  Tie off securely.

**Assembly:**
1.  Weave in all loose ends.
2.  Block the square to 20cm x 20cm. (Steam blocking is recommended for the bobbles to pop).
3.  Sew one Red Bow to the centre of the top edge of each "Wreath" section (centered on Round 8, middle of the side).