Ooops, I haven’t shown you the results of my latest pattern test yet….
Even though I’m not doing much pattern testing at the moment, I just can’t say no to Pam Knighton-Haener from A Yarn of Serendipity. So I jumped at the chance when she asked back in February.
She designed another lovely Afghan square: The Joanne Square.
The pattern was published in early March and, as always, is available in Pam’s Ravelry shop as well as on her other platforms. You will find the link to Ravelry at the end of this post.
The Joanne Square goes perfectly with Pam’s other designs and combines beautifully with them.
I like how the pattern gradually develops from the centre, changing from round to octagonal to square. If I had to describe it, I’d say it resembles a flower mandala.
The pattern
The Joanne Square is designed using size #4 Cotton yarn (Aran / worsted weight).
However, the pattern works just as well with any other yarn weight. Only the finished size and, in some cases, the amount of yarn needed will vary.
Using the original yarn, the square will measure 11 or 12 inches (about 28 or 30 cm), depending on whether a 4.5 mm or 5 mm crochet hook is used.
The pattern is written in US crochet terms and considered as an intermediate skill level. Besides basic stitches, you will also come across some special ones. But don’t worry — they are all explained in the pattern. Detailed round-by-round photos help clarify the instructions and show the exact placement of each stitch.
Pam offers two different colourways: one with four colours and another with just three. But of course, it’s entirely up to you whether you want to use one of the given colour schemes or create your own.
My test version of the Joanne Square
For my test version, I went with Stylecraft Special DK and followed colourway 2, the one with three colours.
Stylecraft Special DK is 100% Acrylic yarn (size #3). I worked with a 4 mm hook and my square turned out about 25 cm (almost 10 inches). As I used a different yarn weight, it is somewhat smaller than stated in the pattern.
My colour choice
- Colour A – 1842, Cypress
- Colour B – 1005, Cream
- Colour C – 1822, Pistachio
I usually find it difficult to combine only two or three colours. This time, I quickly realised that I wanted to go for shades of green. Probably because I’ve been longing so much for spring. But Pistachio is one of my favourite colours anyway. Normally I love to combine it with Meadow or Duck Egg. This time I wanted a bit more contrast, so Cypress was my choice. I think the two colours complement each other quite well. The slightly bluish undertone of Cypress really brings out the Pistachio, highlighting the flower-like centre of the square even more. At least, these were my thoughts …
My conclusion
As always with Pam’s patterns, everything is clearly laid out and easy to follow.
Although the pattern is classified as intermediate, I am convinced that an advanced beginner can tackle it. It’s definitely worth a try.
I’m absolutely in love with my Joanne Square. The variety of stitches made it a really enjoyable project, and I can definitely see myself trying a few more colour combinations as soon as I find the time.
Pattern link
If you’d like to take a look at the pattern, you can find it here:
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