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Pinwheel Square Pattern

Pinwheel Square Pattern
4.3★ Rating
2-4 Hours Time Needed
1.6K Made This
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Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crochet experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

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Bite-Sized Project

Finishes in 2-4 hours—perfect for an afternoon of creative relaxation.

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Cozy Accent

A warm touch for your space that transforms ordinary corners into inviting nooks filled with handmade charm.

About This Pinwheel Square Pattern

This Pinwheel Square pattern produces a 12" x 12" decorative square with raised, swirling petals worked from a center ring. Each petal is worked out and then worked back without turning to form the distinctive raised edges. The pattern uses color changes and back-loop-only stitches to create clean ridges and a textured finish. Ideal for a blanket square or standalone accent, it showcases playful color placement and sculpted stitchwork.

Pinwheel Square Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

The pattern uses 4 colors of worsted weight yarn and includes special stitch notes for reverse single crochet and cluster decreases. Detailed round-by-round instructions and finishing tips are provided to help you achieve a neat square every time.

Why You'll Love This Pinwheel Square Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because the pinwheel petals create such a joyful, dynamic texture that really pops when you pick colors. I enjoy how the petals are worked out and then back without turning, which gives a unique raised edge that is both tactile and visually interesting. The color changes are satisfying and let you design endless combinations, from subtle neutrals to bold contrasts. I also appreciate that the pattern teaches a few slightly advanced techniques like reverse single crochet and clustered decreases, helping me grow my skills while making something beautiful.

Pinwheel Square Pattern step 1 - construction progress Pinwheel Square Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Pinwheel Square Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Pinwheel Square Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love experimenting with different color palettes for this Pinwheel Square; try monochrome ombre for a subtle look or high-contrast brights for a dramatic swirl.

You can change the size by using a different yarn weight and hook; bulky yarn with a larger hook makes a chunky square while fingering yarn with a smaller hook makes a delicate mini square.

I sometimes switch the order of colors A, B, and C to create a different rhythm around the pinwheel — alternate warm and cool tones for an interesting effect.

Make a set of squares and join them with a contrasting border color to create a coordinated blanket or table runner.

For a softer edge, replace the final Round 7 with one or two rounds of hdc or dc and add extra stitches at corners to square up to exact dimensions.

Try adding a thin metallic or sparkly yarn for the last round to give your square a subtle shimmer and elegant finish.

I also enjoy embroidering tiny details onto the finished petals for a whimsical touch — small French knots or chain stitch lines add personality.

To make a very small keychain version, use sport or fingering yarn and a small hook, and finish the square with a tight sl st edge before adding hardware.

Consider using a surface slip stitch or reverse single crochet in a contrasting color around the finished square to make the pinwheel pop even more.

If you want more texture, experiment with puff or bobble stitches in place of some of the sc clusters to create a raised motif that complements the petals.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping the stitch marker in the back loop of the last treble on a petal; place a stitch marker to help you find the correct back loop for the Square Rnd 1 join. ✗ Not flipping unused colors under the hook when changing colors; flip unused colors up under the hook between the hook and working yarn so the new color is ready to join on the next petal. ✗ Turning your work when instructed not to, which flattens the raised petal edges; follow instructions to work back in the opposite direction without turning to keep the raised crab stitch edge. ✗ Working the reverse single crochet into both loops instead of the front loop only; work revsc into the front loop only to leave the back loop available for the next petal's join.

Pinwheel Square Pattern

Create a vibrant Pinwheel Square that adds playful texture and color to any blanket or project. This pattern guides you through raised petals worked from the center ring and a decorative reverse single crochet edge. Youll enjoy the swirling design and learn clever color-change and back-loop techniques to make clean, dimensional petals. Perfect for adding a bright handmade touch to your home or gifting as part of a larger blanket project.

Intermediate 2-4 Hours

Materials Needed for Pinwheel Square Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Worsted weight yarn (#4) - 4 colors (A: darkest, B: medium, C: higher contrast, D: neutral)
  • 02
    Sample yarn: Red Heart With Love, 100% acrylic, worsted weight in Peacock, Cornsilk, Lettuce, and Taupe
  • 03
    Finished size: 12" x 12" (using recommended yarn and hook)
  • 04
    Gauge: 12 stitches by 7 rows = 4" by 4"

— Tools Required

  • 01
    J hook (or hook to get gauge)
  • 02
    13 Stitch Markers (recommended)
  • 03
    Scissors
  • 04
    Yarn needle for sewing and weaving in ends
  • 05
    Pins for assembly (optional)

Progress Tracker

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— Overview :

Info :

Get spun with this fun and colorful Pinwheel blanket square. Each petal is worked out from a center ring, then back in to opposite direction without turning to form the raised edges. The reverse single crochet edge is worked into the front loop only, leaving the back loop to stitch into for the next petal. This idea may have you spinning, but follow the instructions step by step and give it a try!

Info :

Note: As a left-handed crocheter your pinwheel will twist in the opposite direction like this. As a lefty myself, I flipped the image of mine for the main photo to avoid confusion.

— Materials & Notes :

Info :

DIFFICULTY Advanced Beginner. FINISHED SIZE 12" by 12". YARN USED 4 colors Worsted Weight yarn. Color suggestions A (darkest), B (medium), C (higher contrast), D (neutral). Sample working in Red Heart With Love, 100% acrylic, worsted weight yarn in Peacock, Cornsilk, Lettuce, and Taupe. NOTIONS J hook (or hook to get gauge) 13 Stitch Markers (recommended). GAUGE 12 stitches by 7 rows = 4" by 4".

— Special Stitches :

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Changing Colors: Work previous stitch up to last yarn over, yarn over to with new color, pull through last two loop, drop old color to back of work and continue with new color.

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Double crochet 2 together (dc2tog): *Yo, insert hook into next dc, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops; Repeat from *, yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook.

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Half double crochet 2 together (hdc2tog): Yo, insert hook into next ch-1 sp, yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yo, insert hook into next dc, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through all 5 loops on hook.

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Half Treble Crochet (htr): Yo 2 times, insert hook into next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through remaining 3 loops on hook.

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Reverse Single Crochet (revsc): Without turning your work, working from left to right (or right to left for left-handed crocheters), insert hook in the next stitch (under your hook), yo, pull up a loop without twisting the hook, yo, pull through both loops on hook.

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Single Crochet 3 Together (sc3tog): [Insert hook into next st, yo, pull up a loop] 3 times, yo, pull through all 4 loops on hook.

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Treble Crochet 3 Together (tr3tog): *Yo 2 times, insert hook into next st, yo, pull up a loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] 2 times; Repeat from * 3 times, yo, pull through all 4 loops on hook.

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TUTORIAL LINKS (on Mooglyblog.com) Reverse Single Crochet/Crab Stitch. Front Loop Only/Back Loop Only. Joining with a Single Crochet/Standing Single Crochet.

— Pinwheel Pattern :

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Pinwheel Pattern Notes: Reverse single crochets form the raised “crab stitch” edging of each Petal. They are worked from left to right (or right to left for left-handed crocheters). Recommended to place a stitch marker in the unused back loop of the last treble crochet stitch so make it easier to find on Rnd 1 of the Square. Each time you change colors on the Pinwheel, flip unused colors of yarn up under the hook, between the hook and working yarn. This will bring the yarn up so the new color is ready to join on the next Petal. The first sc of each Pinwheel Petal is worked in the previous color, making it easier to find the first stitch to work into for the next Petal.

Info :

With Color A, ch 14. (Be sure to read all of the pattern notes before starting)

First Petal :

Join with sl st in 4th ch from hook to form ring (place stitch marker in center of ring), work into remaining chs, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, 2 hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, 2 dc in next ch, htr (see Special Stitches) in next ch, 2 htr in next ch, tr in next ch, 2 tr in next ch, tr in last ch, place stitch marker in back loop of last tr made; Do not turn, working back in the other direction, revsc (see Special Stitches) in the flo (front loops only) of each stitch across to ring (14 revscs), sl st in center of ring, do not turn.

Next Petal :

Working in unused back loops (blo) of previous petal, sc in first sc changing color to B (see Special Stitches), hdc in next hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, dc in next hdc, 2 dc in next dc, htr in next dc, 2 htr in next dc, tr in next htr, 2 tr in next htr, tr in next htr, leave remaining 4 sts unused; Do not turn, working back in the other direction, revsc in the flo of each stitch across to ring (last stitch will be in prev color), sl st in ring, do not turn.

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Repeat "Next Petal" instructions for 10 more Petals. Change to color C for third Petal, then alternate colors A, B, and C around for a total of 12 petals.

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Fold First Petal down so wrong (or back) side of petal is facing you. Join last Petal to unused loops of beginning chain on First Petal with sl sts worked across, inserting hook in from wrong side of first petal through both layers. Finish off all three colors.

— Square Pattern Notes :

Infos :

If loops are getting too loose when working only into the back loop, pull up on ridge of revscs. This will pull up the front loops they were worked into, tightening back loops so the holes do not seem as big. The back loop of the last treble on each petal may be difficult to find unless you used stitch markers. However, you can use any loop at the top of that stitch that works for you, just be consistent.

— Square Pattern :

Info :

Worked into back loops of the trs that at the ends of each Petal.

Round 1 :

Working into any of the color A Petals, join color D with a sc in blo of third unused tr (stitch before marker), *ch 2, sc in unused blo of next tr of same petal (see pattern notes), sk to next Petal, tr in same back loop as last tr worked into next Petal, [dc in blo of next tr, hdc in blo of next tr, sc in blo of last 2 trs, sk to next Petal, dc in same back loop as last tr worked into next Petal] 2 times, dc in blo of next tr, hdc in blo of next tr**, sc in blo of next tr; Rep from *2 more times; Rep from * to ** once, join with sl st in first sc – 60 sts and 4 ch-2 sps.

Round 2 :

Ch 2 (does not count as a st here and throughout), dc in first sc, *(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 7 sts, hdc in next 2 sts**, dc in next 2 sts; Rep from * 2 more times; Rep from * to ** once, dc in last st, join with sl st in first dc – 76 sts and 4 ch-1 sps.

Round 3 :

Ch 2, dc in first 3 dc, *(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 5 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, **, dc in next 5 sts; Rep from * 2 more times; Rep from * to ** once, dc in last 2 dc, join with sl st in first dc. Finish off color D – 92 sts and 4 ch-1 sps.

Round 4 :

Join color B with sl st in second dc of prev rnd, ch 2, dc in same dc as join, *3 tr in next dc, dc2tog (see Special Stitches), hdc2tog (see Special Stitches), [dc in next st, 3 tr in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st] 3 times**, dc in next dc; Rep from * 2 more times; Rep from * to ** once, join with sl st in first dc. Finish off color B – 120 sts.

Round 5 :

Join color C with sc in second tr of prev rnd, 2 sc in same tr, *sc in each of next 5 sts, [3 sc in next tr, sc in next 2 sts, sc3tog (see Special Stitches), sc in next 2 sts] 3 times**, 3 sc in next tr; Rep from * 2 more times; Rep from * to ** once, join with sl st in first sc. Finish off color C – 128 sts.

Round 6 :

Join color A with sc in second sc of prev rnd, *hdc in next sc, dc in next sc, (dc, tr) in next sc, 2 tr in next sc, (tr, dc) in next sc, dc in next sc, hdc in next sc, [sc in next sc, hdc in next sc, dc in next sc, tr3tog (see Special Stitches), dc in next sc, hdc in next sc] 3 times**, sc in next sc; Rep from * 2 more times; Rep from * to ** once, join with sl st in first sc. Finish off color A – 116 sts.

Round 7 :

Join color D with sc in first sc of prev rnd, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next tr, ch 2, 2 sc in next tr, *sc in next 27 sts, 2 sc in next tr, ch 2, 2 sc in next tr; Rep from * 2 more times, sc in next 22 sts, join with sl st in first sc. Finish off color D and weave in all ends – 128 sts. Note: If your block is not quite 12", you can add additional rounds of sc, or replace Rnd 7 with hdc or dc around, adding a couple additional stitches at each corner.

Info :

Find Moogly's blog post about the Pinwheel Square here and everything you need to know about the Moogly2019CAL here! Go back and find the previous three squares and check back at Moogly every week for a new Square design from a new designer. I cannot wait to see what colors you have chosen. Have fun!

Assembly Instructions

  • Fold the First Petal down so the wrong side of the petal is facing you, then join the last Petal to the unused loops of the beginning chain on the First Petal with slip stitches worked across, inserting the hook from the wrong side through both layers.
  • Place a stitch marker in the back loop of the last treble made on each petal to make it easier to find the correct back loop when joining the Square in Rnd 1.
  • Finish off each color after completing the joined petal rounds as instructed and weave in all ends securely along the back of the square.
  • When joining rounds for the Square, work into the back loops (blo) of the treble ends of each petal as directed to form the square edges and corner spaces.

Important Notes

  • 💡Use stitch markers to mark the back loop of the last treble on each petal so the join for Round 1 is easy to find.
  • 💡When changing colors, flip unused yarn up under the hook between the hook and working yarn to bring the new color up and ready to join for the next petal.
  • 💡Work reverse single crochet into the front loop only to leave the back loop for the next petal; pulling on the ridge of revscs can tighten loose back loops.

This Pinwheel Square is a delightful, textured addition to any blanket or home project, showcasing swirling petals and crisp color work. Its raised edges and playful pinwheel design make it a standout square for gifting or decorating. Try a set of squares in coordinating palettes to make a striking blanket or use as individual accents around the home. 🧶✨

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FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished square measures approximately 12" x 12" when using worsted weight yarn and the recommended hook.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, but changing yarn weight will affect the final size and texture; adjust hook size accordingly and check gauge to achieve desired dimensions.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate, so familiarity with basic stitches plus experience with color changes and working into back/front loops is recommended.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters finish a single Pinwheel Square in about 2-4 hours, depending on experience level and how carefully you join and weave in ends.

How do left-handed crocheters handle the pinwheel direction?

Left-handed crocheters will find their pinwheel twists in the opposite direction; Laurinda notes she flipped her photo to avoid confusion, but instructions remain the same when worked left-handed.