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Pinwheel Square Pattern

Pinwheel Square Pattern
4.5★ Rating
2-4 Hours Time Needed
2.4K 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.

⏱️

Bite-Sized Project

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

🤗

Soft Hug

Gentle, plush, and full of warmth, creating a sense of comfort and coziness wherever they find a home.

About This Pinwheel Square Pattern

This pattern creates a 12" Pinwheel Square featuring raised petals worked from a center ring and a decorative reverse single crochet edge. The design uses four colors of worsted weight yarn and builds a textured, swirling motif ideal for blankets and afghans. Techniques include working into unused back loops, reverse single crochet (crab stitch), and several cluster decreases for shaping.

Pinwheel Square Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

Clear special stitch explanations and tutorial links are included to guide you through the trickiest moves. The finished square is perfect to join into larger projects or to use as a single accent square.

Why You'll Love This Pinwheel Square Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because the pinwheel petals create such a playful, dynamic spiral that looks more complicated than it really is. I enjoy how the reverse single crochet edge gives a crisp raised border that frames the square beautifully. The colorplay possibilities keep me inspired — changing just one color completely alters the look. I also appreciate that the pattern includes special stitch notes and tutorial links so you can master the unique techniques as you go.

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 changing up the colors to create a whole new mood with this square; try a monochrome gradient for subtle texture or high-contrast brights for a bold look.

To make a mini version, use lighter weight yarn and a smaller hook; for a chunky, cozy square use bulky yarn and a larger hook to make a statement blanket.

I often experiment with swapping the reverse single crochet edge for a picot or crab stitch alternative to change the border profile and texture.

Try adding beads or metallic thread to a single round for a touch of sparkle that catches light without changing stitch structure.

I sometimes substitute one petal color with a variegated yarn to add visual interest without adding extra color changes.

If you want a flattener look, work the petals with slightly looser tension and skip one round of reverse single crochet to reduce raised edges.

Make a set of coordinated squares with a shared neutral (Color D) and alternate accent colors to create a cohesive blanket layout.

For a modern look, choose tonal colors and use a simple single crochet join to keep seams neat and unobtrusive.

I recommend blocking each square lightly to match sizes before joining; consistent block size makes joining much easier and more precise.

Finally, be bold — try converting this motif into a cushion front by making two squares and joining them with stuffing in between for a plush decorative pillow.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Not placing a stitch marker in the unused back loop of the last treble can make the next round hard to find; place a stitch marker in that back loop immediately after making it so you can locate it easily on Round 1. ✗ Leaving unused colors loose when changing yarn can tangle and catch later; flip unused colors up under the hook between the hook and working yarn each time you change so the next color is ready to join. ✗ Working into the wrong loop when forming petals may flatten the raised edge effect; be consistent and work the reverse single crochet into the front loops only and the petal base into the back loops as directed. ✗ Skipping counting stitches after complex rounds will lead to an incorrect stitch count later; count your stitches at the end of each round, especially after rounds with repeats and decreases. ✗ Pulling stitches too tight when making tr clusters or decreases will distort the petal shapes; use even, moderate tension and gently shape petals with your fingers as you work.

Pinwheel Square Pattern

Spin up a colorful Pinwheel Square to add vibrant texture to your blankets and home decor. This pattern teaches a raised petal technique and reverse single crochet edging for a stunning 3D effect. Follow the step-by-step instructions and color suggestions to create a 12" square that pops. Perfect for joining into a full blanket or using as a standout motif in your next project.

Intermediate 2-4 Hours

Materials Needed for Pinwheel Square Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Worsted weight yarn (#4) - 4 colors (Color A darkest, Color B medium, Color C higher contrast, Color D neutral)
  • 02
    Sample yarn: Red Heart With Love, 100% acrylic, worsted weight in Peacock, Cornsilk, Lettuce, and Taupe

— Tools Required

  • 01
    J hook (or hook to get gauge)
  • 02
    13 Stitch Markers (recommended)

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Special Stitches :

Info :

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.

Info :

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.

Info :

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.

Info :

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.

Info :

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.

Info :

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.

Info :

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.

— Pinwheel Pattern :

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.

Info :

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.

Info :

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.

Info :

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

— Square Pattern :

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 last 2 trs; 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.

Assembly Instructions

  • Fold the First Petal down so the wrong (back) side of the petal faces you, then join the last petal to the unused loops of the beginning chain on the First Petal with slip stitches across, inserting the hook from the wrong side through both layers.
  • Finish off and weave in all color ends after completing Round 7 to secure color changes and tidy the back of the square.
  • Block the finished square gently to even out stitches and help it reach the final 12" by 12" finished size, pinning corners square while damp until dry.
  • If joining into a blanket, align squares and use your preferred join method (whipstitch, single crochet join, or mattress stitch) ensuring consistent spacing and tension between joins.
  • Before joining squares, press and check each square for matching corner counts and consistent stitch counts; adjust by adding an extra round of sc, hdc, or dc to reach consistent size if necessary.

Important Notes

  • 💡Place a stitch marker in the unused back loop of the last treble on each petal to make it easier to find on Round 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 so the new color is ready to join on the next petal.
  • 💡Work the reverse single crochet edging into the front loops only, leaving the back loop free to stitch into for the next petal.
  • 💡If loops become too loose when working into back loops, pull up on the ridge of the reverse single crochets to tighten back loops and reduce hole size.

This Pinwheel Square brings playful, textured motion to any afghan or home project with vibrant color and dimensional petals. Whether you make one as an accent or a dozen for a blanket, the raised edges and spiral center will delight. Share your finished squares and enjoy the calming rhythm of creating something truly handmade. 🧶✨

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FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished square is approximately 12" by 12" when using worsted weight yarn and the recommended gauge.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can use different yarn weights but the final size will change; choose an appropriate hook size for the yarn and consider adding or removing rounds to achieve the desired dimensions.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate, so familiarity with basic stitches and techniques such as working into back loops, reverse single crochet, and combined decreases is recommended.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters finish one square in about 2-4 hours, depending on experience level and how comfortable you are with the special stitch techniques.