The Desert Rose 12″ afghan square pattern is a stunning crochet design filled with texture and flowery details. The colors add much of the interest to this thick, warm block, so mix them up to match your living room or bedroom! Find the free crochet pattern instructions below, or purchase a print-optimized, ad-free PDF by clicking here.
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This stunning crochet pattern starts out with a detailed and colorful center, followed by 3 layers of petals. Leaves are then created in two parts. The bobbles and diamonds between the leaves can be worked in a solid color, or in multiple colors depending on the look you want to go for. Finally, the border is made with a variety of back post stitches, shells, clusters and single crochet stitches worked more like spike stitches. I’ve broken down each section in the notes so you can create your own color schemes.
I used Red Heart Super Saver, Red Heart with Love and even Red Heart Soft to make this beautifully textured afghan square. Red Heart makes so many different colors that I’m sure you’ll have not problem finding just the right hues to match your living room or bedroom. Try using the same 4 colors in different orders if you plan to use this square to make an entire afghan from this square. I can’t wait to see what you make from this!
The rich texture make this block an especially thick and warm one. For added warmth, you could lay a piece of batting on the back side of the afghan and sew a piece of flannel or fleece over the top. I’m feeling toasty just thinking about that!
Besides its original purpose, this afghan square pattern can be used to crochet a cushion, accent pillow, bag, or wall hanging. It has a little bit of a succulent flower feel and could go well with a Boho style bedroom or living room. You could even use the center part of the flower and leaves inside a hoop to create a nature-inspired dream catcher. If you decide to make a pillow-front from this pattern, I suggest you go up a hook size or two to make the square larger since most pillow inserts are not 12″x12″.
The Desert Rose afghan square pattern is part of the Creative Crossings Crochet-A-Long. You can read more about it, and find the other square patterns by following this link.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Materials Needed:
4mm (G) hook, or hook needed to obtain gauge
5mm (H) hook, or hook needed to obtain gauge
255-300 yards of yarn in 4 colors. I recommend Red Heart Super Saver, Red Heart with Love, or Red Heart Soft for this project. The colors I used for the green and brown square are Red Heart Super Saver in Frosty Green, Medium Thyme, Café Latte, and Buff. For the pink and brown square, try Red Heart With Love in Tan, and Aran, Super Saver in Café Latte, and Red Heart Soft in Rose Blush.
Yarn needle
Scissors
Stitch Markers
Stitches Used:
sl sl = slip stitch
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
tr = treble crochet
BPsc = back post single crochet
BPhdc = back post half double crochet
BPdc = back post double crochet
BPtr = back post treble crochet
FPdc = front post double crochet
FPtr = front post treble crochet
Additional Terms:
Bobble = dc5tog in same stitch
tr cluster = tr3tog in same stitch (“Original” ending only)
Spike st = with working yarn on hook, insert hook through bottom of round 2/top of round 1, yo and draw up a loop to height of active round, pull working yarn through both loops
2dc cluster = dc2tog in same st
st/sts = stitch/stitches
sp/sps = space/spaces
sk = skip
Gauge:
3 ¼” across after round 5, 6” across after round 12.
Measurements:
12” by 12” when blocked.
Additional Notes:
-When color change is indicated, new color is joined in the same st where the previous color fastened off. Rounds that begin with a color change can be started as standing sc, or standing dc sts.
-Begin all rounds in same st as join unless otherwise noted.
-Color changes are merely suggestions. Mix and match to create your own unique styles. Imagine a whole blanket made with this square using the 4-5 different colors in different spots! Rounds 1-6 are the center of the flower, 7-13 are the petals, round 14 are the stems in the center of the leaves, round 16 is the leaves themselves, rounds 17-27 are the background behind the leaves, including the diamonds and bobbles, rounds 28-33 are the trim around the edge.
-The sc sts in round 31 will be worked more like spike stitches than regular sc sts. Keep tension loose so they lay correctly.
-This square is part of the Creative Crossings Crochet-A-Long. <–click the link to get more information and all the other patterns
Desert Rose Afghan Square Pattern (US Terms):
Click here to purchase an ad-free, print-optimized PDF of this pattern on LoveCrafts
Using 5mm (H) hook,
With color A (Frosty Green),
Round 1: 12 dc in magic circle. Join with sl st to first dc. (12)
Drop color A, and fasten off.
Join color B (Medium Thyme),
Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch around, join with sl st to first sc. (24)
Drop color B and fasten off.
Join color C (Buff),
Round 3: sc in first st, work spike st by inserting hook through bottom of round 2/top of round 1, yo and draw up a loop, pull through both loops (this will be an increase stitch), sc in next st from round 2 (your spike st may be covering it), * sc in next st, work spike st in next st between rounds 1 and 2, sc in next st from round 2 (your spike st may be covering it); repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (36)
Round 4: *ch 3, sk 2 sts, sl st in next st; repeat from * around, final sl st counts as join. (12 ch-3 sps)
Round 5: *(4 sc, sl st) in ch-3 sp, sl st into next ch-3 sp; repeat from * around, final sl st counts as join. (12 petals)
Drop color C and fasten off.
Join color D (Café Latte),
Round 6: bend the petals forward, and work this round in the stitches you skipped in round 4: ch 1, sc in in first st, sc in the next st, ch 1, sk st, *sc in the next 2 sts, ch 1, sk st; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (36)
Drop color D and fasten off.
Join color A,
Round 7: sl st into ch-1 sp from round 6, ch 4 *sl st in next ch-1 sp, ch 4; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first ch-1 sp. (12 ch-4 sps)
Round 8: sl st into first ch-4 sp, (hdc, 4 dc, hdc, sl st) in ch-4 sp, *sl st into next ch-4 space, (hdc, 4 dc, hdc, sl st) in ch-4 sp; repeat from * around, final sl st counts as join. (12 petals)
Round 9: working in the back of the petals just made, sl st over to center of first petal, *ch 4, sl st into center-back of next petal; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first ch-4 sp. (12 ch-4 sps)
Round 10: (hdc, 4 dc, hdc, sl st) in ch-4 sp, *sl st into next ch-4 sp, (hdc, 4 dc, hdc, sl st) in ch-4 sp; repeat from * around, final sl st counts as join. (12 petals)
Round 11: working in the back of the petals just made, sl st over to center of first petal, *ch 4, sl st into back of next petal; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first ch-4 sp. (12 ch-4 sps)
Round 12: (hdc, 4 dc, hdc, sl st) in ch-4 sp, *sl st into next ch-4 sp, (hdc, 4 dc, hdc, sl st) in ch-4 sp; repeat from * around, final sl st counts as join. (12 petals)
Drop color A and fasten off.
Join Color D,
Round 13: working in the back of the petals just made, sl st over to center of first petal, *ch 5, sl st into back of next petal; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first ch-5 sp. (12 ch-5 sps)
Switch to 4mm hook,
Round 14: ch 1, *(4 sc, using tight tension ch 11, sl st loosely into second ch from hook and using tight tension again into next 9 chs, 4 sc) in ch-5 sp, move to next ch-5 sp; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. Note: each spike should measure exactly 2” long. Adjust your tension if they are coming out longer or shorter. (12 spikes, 96 sc)
Drop color A, and fasten off.
Join Color C,
Round 15: *BPsc around next 4 sts, ch 1, BPsc around next 4 sts; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first BPsc. (96 sc, 12 ch)
Drop color C and fasten off,
Join Color B,
Round 16: *BPsc around next 4 sc, work this next part up the spike you created in round 14 (sc, hdc, dc, tr in next 3 sts, dc, hdc, sc, sl st into end ch, ch 1, sl st back into ch forming picot, sl st into end ch again, then work this part down the spike, in the back loop (this will put the pretty “V’s” going up the center of your leaf): sc, hdc, dc, tr in next 3 sts, dc, hdc, sc) BPsc around next 4 sts; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (12 leaves)
Drop Color B and fasten off.
Join Color C,
Round 17: BPsc around next 4 sts, *sc in ch-1 sp behind leaves, BPsc around next 4 sts, ch 1, BPsc around next 4 sts; repeat from * around, ch 1, join with sl st to first sc. (108)
Round 18-19: ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc. (108)
Round 20: ch 1, sc in next 9 sts, *bobble in ch-1 sp from round 15, sc in same st making an increase, and in next 8 sts; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (120)
Round 21: ch 1, *sc in next 5 sts, sl st in the 6th ch at the back of the leaf center, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in top of bobble, join with sl st to first sc; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (132)
Round 22: ch 1, sc in next 5 sts, *sl st in the 5th ch at the back of the leaf center, sc in next 11 sts; repeat from * around, omitting last 5 sts on final repeat, join with sl st to first sc. (132)
Round 23: ch 1, sc in first st, tr in top of bobble from round 20, sc in next 3 sts, sl st in the 4th ch at the back of the leaf center, sc in next 3 sts, *tr around top of bobble from round 20, sc in next 3 sts, tr around top of same bobble, sc in next 3 sts, sl st in the 4th ch at the back of the leaf center, sc in next 3 sts; repeat from * around, omitting last sc in final repeat, join with sl st to first sc. (132)
Round 24: ch 1, sc in next 5 sts, *sl st in the 3rd ch at the back of the leaf center, sc in next 11 sts; repeat from * around, omitting last 5 sts on final repeat, join with sl st to first sc. (132)
Rounds 25: ch 1, sc in next 5 sts, *sl st in the 2nd ch at the back of the leaf center, sc in next 11 sts; repeat from * around, omitting last 5 sts on final repeat, join with sl st to first sc. (132)
Rounds 26: ch 1, tr2tog placing first leg around around last tr from round 23, place second leg around first tr from round 23, this will create the top of the diamond, sc in next 4 sts, sl st in the 1st ch at the back of the leaf center, sc in next 6 sts, *tr2tog placing first leg around nearest tr from round 23, and placing second leg around next tr from round 23, sc in next 4 sts, sl st in the 1st ch at the back of the leaf center, sc in next 6 sts; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first tr2tog. (132)
Round 27: ch 1, sc in next 11 sts, *hdc in next 3 sts, dc next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st (note: mark these 2 sts with a stitch marker because you will be working between them in the next round, and working a tr around each of them in round 29), dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, sc in next 22 sts; repeat from * around, omitting last 11 sts in final repeat, join with sl st to first sc. (136)
Drop Color C and fasten off.
Join Color D,
Round 28: BPsc in next 11 sts, *BPhdc around next 3 sts, BPdc around next 3 sts, 4 dc between 1st and second dc of corner, BPdc around next 3 sts, BPhdc around next 3 sts, sc around next 22 sts; repeat from * around, omitting last 11 sts on final round, join with sl st to first sc. (152)
Round 29: with color C, FPdc around top of tr2tog from round 26, with color D, sc in next 10 sts, *with color C, FPtr around tr2tog, with color D, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, with color C, FPtr around first of “2 dc in same st” from round 27, BPhdc in next 2 sts, ch 2, BPhdc around next 2 sts, FPtr around second of “2 dc in same st” from round 27, with color D, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts, with color C, FPtr around tr2tog, with color D, sc in next 10 sts, with color C, FPdc around tr2tog, with color D, sc in next 10 sts: repeat from * around, join with sl st to FPdc. (152)
Drop Colors C and D and fasten off.
Join Color A,
Round 30: [2 sc in same st, sk st] 6 times, *2dc cluster, ch 1, sk st, 2dc cluster, sl st in next st, (hdc, dc) in next st, (dc, hdc) in next st, sl st in next st, (hdc, 4 dc, hdc) in ch-2 sp, sk st, sl st in next st, (hdc, dc) in next st, (dc, hdc) in next st, sl st in next st, 2dc cluster, ch 1, sk st, 2 dc cluster, sk st, [2 sc in same st, sk st] 11 times; repeat from * around omitting final 6 times of “2 sc in same st, sk st” sequence, join with sl st to first sc. (184 including sl sts)
Drop Color A and fasten off.
Join Color B,
Note: The sc sts in the following round will be worked more like spike stitches than regular sc sts.
Round 31: sc in first skipped st from previous round, [ch 1, sc in skipped st from prev round] 6 times, *ch 1, sc in same st as sl st, BPhdc around hdc, BPsc around next 2 dc, BPhdc around hdc, dc in same st as sl st, BPdc around hdc, BPhdc around next 2 dc, ch 1, BPhdc around next 2 dc, BPdc around hdc, dc in same st as sl st, sk st, [ch 1, sc in skipped st from prev round] 14 times; repeat from * around omitting final 7 “[ch 1, sc in skipped st from prev round]” sequences, ch 1, join with sl st to first sc. (188)
Round 32: ch 1, sc in next 11 sts, *hdc in next 12 sts, (hdc, ch 1, hdc) in ch-1 sp, sk st, hdc In next 12 sts, sc in next 22 sts; repeat from * around omitting last 11 sts of final repeat, join with sl st to first sc. (192)
Drop Color B and fasten off.
Join Color C,
Round 33: sc in next 24 sts, *(sc, ch 1, sc) in ch-1 sp, sk st, sc in next 47 sts; repeat from * around omitting final 24 sts on final repeat, join with sl st to first sc. (192 sc, or 48 sts per side not including ch-1 sp in corners)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Finishing
With Color D, sl st around the edge of each petal in rounds 8, 10, and 12.
(Optional) Sew the ends of the leaf tips down by running a long piece of yarn through round 26 or 27 and tacking the leaf down each time you come to one. Nothing too technical, but you’ll want to make sure your leaves are laying straight.
Block.
Original Ending:
The original ending creates a more lacy square with a simpler edging. Blocking is very important to get the diamonds to lay nicely between the leaves.
Additional Notes:
The diamond shape between the petals is the trickiest part of this afghan square, but if you take it one step at a time and read the notes it will be easier to crochet. Even tension on your chains, coupled with blocking will ultimately make this section look its best.
With 4mm hook,
Join color B,
Round 15:
ch 1, *BPsc around next 3 sc, sk st, work this next part up the spike you created in the previous round: sc, hdc, dc, tr in next 3 sts, dc, hdc, sc, (sl st, ch 1, sl st) into end ch forming picot, sl st into end ch again, then work this part down the spike, in the back loop (this will create the pretty “V”s going up the center of your leaf): sc, hdc, dc, tr in next 3 sts, dc, hdc, sc, sk st, BPsc around next 3 sts; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (12 leaves)
Drop color C, and fasten off.
Join color C,
In this round you will be creating a “diamond” shape between each leaf with chains. The side “points” of the diamond should be slip stitched to the back of the center-most tr stitch of the leaf that you made in the prev round–essentially a “back post slip stitch”.
Round 16: ch 1, bobble in first st, ch 4, sl st around back post of third tr stitch, ch 9, sl st to top back of spike from round 14 under picot from round 15. Note: It will be a snug fit to get your hook in there and if you have a smaller hook handy that may speed up this process. *ch 9, sl st around 5th st from bottom of leaf, directly across from the sl st on the other side of the leaf, ch 4, bobble in 3rd BPsc, ch 4, sl st around back post of 5th st from bottom of leaf, ch 4, sl st into 5th ch of ch-9 just made (counting from top of leaf), (the best way to do this is to remove your hook from the chain loop and insert it through the 5th ch of ch-9, place the loop back on your hook and draw it through from the back, then continue with the instructions), ch 5, join with sl st to top back of spike from round 14 this will create a diamond-shaped opening with a bobble at the bottom; repeat from * around, after joining to top of final leaf, ch 5, sl st into 5th ch from top of first ch-9, ch 4, sl st around back post of 5th st from bottom of last leaf, ch 3, sl st into top of first bobble. (12 bobbles, 24 spaces, 12 “diamonds”)
Drop color B and Fasten off.
Switch to 5mm (H) hook,
Join color A to ch-5 sp,
In Round 16, the ch-9 spaces were divided into ch-4 space on the bottom half of the diamond and a ch-5 space in the upper half of the diamond. In this round we will be working into the upper ch-5 spaces.
Round 17: ch 1, *6 sc in ch-5 sp, (3 hdc, 3 dc) in next ch-5 sp, (2 dc, 4 tr, ch 1) in next ch-5 sp (4 tr, 2 dc) in next ch-5 sp, (3 dc, 3 hdc) in next ch-5 sp, 6 sc in next ch-5 sp; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (144)
Drop color B, and fasten off.
Join color D,
Round 18: ch 1, *BPsc around next 6 sts, FPdc around chains at top/back of leaf, BPsc around next st, BPhdc around next 5 sts, FPtr around “diamond” from round 16, BPdc around next 4 sts, BPtr around next 2 sts, (tr cluster, ch 2, tr cluster) in ch-1 sp, BPtr around next 2 sts, BPdc around next 4 sts, FPtr around “diamond” from round 16, BPhdc around next 5 sts, BPsc around next st, FPdc around chains at top/back of leaf, BPsc around next 6 sts, FPdc around “diamond” from round 16; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first BPsc. (172)
Drop color A, and fasten off.
Join color C,
Round 19: ch 1, sc in next 21 sts, *(2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in corner, sc in next 43 sts; repeat from * around, omitting 22 sts on final repeat, join with sl st to first sc. (47 sc/side, 188 sc)
Fasten off, and weave in ends.
With color C sl st around the edge of each petal in rounds 8, 10, and 12.
Fasten off, and weave in ends.
Block for best results.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
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This pattern was made to be used by individuals, and small business crocheters alike. Selling your finished pieces in boutiques, at farmer’s markets, craft shows, and other local events is encouraged! Please credit/link Kirsten Holloway Designs when selling finished products online. The only thing I require is that this pattern not be used commercially to produce hundreds of thousands of copies.
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Love this so far! I am stuck on round 22 though. In round 21 I sl st’d in the 6th ch behind the leaves, and now in round 22 it says to do the same but in the 5th ch, how do I do that? It’s covered up!
Thanks for any help!!
It’s counting from the tip of the spike at the center of the leaf down. You’ll start working the slip stitch near the base of the center “spike”, and work out towards the tip of that “spike” in the coming rounds. So just slip stitch into the back of the next chain up from where you slip stitched in the previous round. If you read through the next few rounds of the pattern it will hopefully make more sense. 😊
I am stuck on row 23, it is confusing to me. I am sure I am missing something because I can’t find anyone else with a problem and I would very much appreciate your help. There are suppose to be 132 st, which would put 11 stitches in each section. You have tr in the top of of the bobble and a slip st in back of leaf but you only have 3 st between each. I am not in any way getting 132 st. Where am I not getting it. Thank you for your help. Susan
Hi Susan,
This is the round where you start making the bottom part of the diamonds between the leaves. On either side of the treble stitches that form the bottom part of the diamond “V” you should have 3 sc. Each bobble will get 2 treble stitches worked around the top. There should be 3 stitches between each treble stitch. So between each slip stitch worked into the back of the petal your row should have 3 sc, a treble, 3 more sc, then another treble, and then 3 more sc before the next sl st into the back of the next leaf, for a total of 11 sts in each section. I hope that helps! If you are still having troubles feel free to join my Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/KirstenHollowayDesigns . There are several people who have made this square in the group who could also provide some help if I am not available. 🙂
I’ve always been able to follow your patterns, but this one has me stumped on Row 6 already. Please explain better where I’m supposed to even start are row 6, thank you.
You’ll be working into the stitches you skipped in round 4. Start at the join like you normally would. It might be helpful for you to use stitch markers to mark those stitches if you can’t find them after completing round 5. 🙂
I love this square, but i am stuck. Where am I inserting my hook when I work at the back of the petal in round 9?
Hi Mary,
You’ll insert your hook in the center-back of the petal you made in the previous round. It’s perfectly fine to eyeball this–it doesn’t have to be an exact science. 😊
How many squares will the amount of yarn listed in the pattern make?
It should make 1 square.
Hi! I love this pattern. However, I’m struggling with trying understand round 20? How do you bobble stitch in the ch-1 space from round 15?? And with 17 – 19 I crocheted directly above the last round (16) on top of the green. But I just don’t understand how to work the bobble stitch in.
It’s a tight fit but you’ll be working into that ch-1 from round 15 and between the stitches that are on either side of the ch-1 sp in round 16. I hope that helps!
This crochet afghan square looks amazing! I’m excited to give it a try over the weekend. I plan to try to recreate the lovely green and beige one. Thank you so much for sharing your pattern.
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you like it! Have fun crocheting your square!
Oh, no. Now I think I’ve done it. I think I put the diamond on the back side. I thought it was for support. Because in my pattern there is no color change—but in the picture (CAL) the diamonds are a contrasting color!!!
I thought maybe there was an entire edging in a different color at the end (like for the petals)?
If not—tomorrow is a frogging day. The square is so awesome, I’m determined to get it done!
Thank you for all the help!
The diamonds after the leaves can be made in a different color if you wish. I have 2 samples on the page that show them done both ways. The pattern is written using the brown and green square as a color reference, but you are welcome to switch things up if you want. I have included some notes about where each section begins in the “Additional Notes” if you wish to use a different color combination than what I did. ????
Hi— I love this square!! But, I’m stuck. I’m trying to do the petals and can’t seem to figure out what’s meant in Round 9 by “working in the back of the petals just made.”
Does that mean the back loop on the top of the hdc/dc/sl st? Or the back post of said stitches? Or the original ch 4?
And how does one get the constrast color as edging? When i read through the pattern, I don’t see it anywhere.
Appreciation for such a lovely square.
You will be working at the back of the petal, or behind it. You are essentially making a layered flower through the next few rounds.
Follow the color changes written throughout the pattern and you should have an edging of a different color (Round 33). 🙂