Waldo's Puzzle

 12 inch square

By Chris Simon
Copyright May 2004
Materials
H hook or size needed for gauge.
Two or four colors worsted weight yarn for rings, one color for background.

 

This square is named for my paternal grandfather. Waldo loved puzzles, and could figure out any manual puzzle involving rings, string, and bits of wood in a flash! 

Instructions:

First, we make four interlocking rings.

Ring 1: Ch 16, join with slip stitch to form ring. Ch 3, dc in same ch. 2 dc in each ch around. Finish off (32 dc).



Ring 2: Ch 16, slip end of chain through ring 1 and join with sl st to form ring.


continuing with Ring 2: Ch 3, dc in same ch. 2 dc in each ch around. Finish off (32 dc).


Ring 3: Ch 16, slip end of chain through ring 2 and join with sl st to form ring. Ch 3, dc in same ch. 2 dc in each ch around. Finish off (32 dc).


Ring 4: Ch 16, slip end of chain through rings 1 and 3, taking care to weave the centers, and join with sl st to form ring.


continuing with Ring 4: Ch 3, dc in same ch. 2 dc in each ch around. Finish off (32 dc).


Now we'll switch to working in rounds for the rest of the pattern.

Rnd 1: Join background color with sc in back loop only (BLO) on any ring. Sc in BLO of next 4 dc. Ch 5, skip next 2 dc, sc in BLO of next 5 sc of same ring.
* Ch 3, sc in BLO of 5 dc on next ring. Ch 5, skip next 2 dc, sc in BLO of next 5 dc of same ring. Repeat from * twice more. Ch 3, join with sl st in starting sc.


Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in next 4 sc. (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner. Dc in next 5 sc.
* 3 dc in ch 3 sp, dc in next 5 sc, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner, dc in next 5 sc. Repeat from * twice more. 3 dc in ch 3 sp. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch 3. (19 dc per side)


Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in same dc. Sc in next 7 dc. * 3 sc in corner sp. Sc in next 19 dc. Repeat from * twice more. 3 sc in corner sp, sc in next 11 dc. Join with sl st in starting sc. (21 sc per side)

Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in next 8 sc. * (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next sc. Dc in next 21 sc. Repeat from * twice more. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next sc, dc in next 12 sc. Finish off. (25 dc per side)


Rnd 5: Join next color with sc in any corner sp. Ch 3, sc in same sp. * (Ch 2, sk next st, sc in next st) to within one st of next corner, ch 2. (Sc, ch 3, sc) in corner. Repeat from * twice more. (Ch 2, sk next st, sc in next st) to within one st of last corner, ch 2, finish off. (13 ch 2 spaces per side)


Rnd 6: Join next color with sc in any corner sp. Ch 3, sc in same sp. * (Ch 2, sc in next ch 2 sp) to last ch 2 sp before corner, ch 2. (Sc, ch 3, sc) in next corner. Repeat from * twice more. (Ch 2, sc in next ch 2 sp) to last ch 2 sp before corner. Ch 2, finish off. (14 ch 2 spaces per side)


Rnd 7: With next color, repeat round 6. (15 ch 2 spaces per side)


Rnd 8: Join background color with sl st in any corner. Ch 3, (Dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same corner. * Dc in each sc and each ch 2 sp across. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next corner. Repeat from * twice more. Dc in each sc and each ch 2 sp across. (35 dc per side)


Measure your square. If square measures less than 12 inches, add more rounds. In general, a round of single crochet will add about 1/2 inch to the square, and a round of double crochet will add a full inch.