Pineapple Winter Square – Winter Wondersquare Blanket CAL

“Winter blues should only refer to the color of the ocean.”

-Unknown

What does winter mean to you? Winter means something different to every individual!

I grew up in a magical land. A beautiful land chock full of beaches, palm trees, and sunshine. A warm land where “cold” was a term used to describe overnight temperatures and snow cones. A tropical land where the only two seasons are summer and January. A land where winter was an obscure myth about sub-zero temperatures that freeze your face in three seconds and this terrible white, slushy substance that takes over causing slick roads and icy sidewalks. A land I know fondly as Florida.

When I was approached by another maker to be a part of the Winter Wondersquare Blanket CAL, one of the guidelines was to design a square that depicted what winter means to me. Based off of my childhood, winter means warm, sandy beaches, tropical sunshine, and…

…not a flake of snow in sight!

Skill Level – Advanced Beginner

Gauge

• HDC – 4″ x 4″ = 13 HDC x 11 rows

Materials

• Worsted (4) weight yarn
  • Yarn pictured is I Love This Yarn by Hobby Lobby in Antique White and Dark Olive
• Sizes 7/4.50mm crochet hook and I9/5.50mm crochet hook
• Yarn Needle
• Scissors (check out these gorgeous vintage scissors)
• Stitch markers or safety pins
• Plush Pineapple Appliqué Pattern

Abbreviations

• YO – Yarn over
• CH – Chain
• SL ST – Slip stitch
• HDC – Half double crochet
• Bobble – Bobble stitch

Notes

• Finished dimensions are 8” x 8”.
• The square is made by beginning with a starting chain and then crocheting back and forth in rows.  A separate pineapple appliqué is then made and stitched onto the square.
• Turning CH does not count as a stitch.
• This square was designed in conjunction with The Winter Wondersquare Blanket CAL that can be found at https://www.bearrye.com.

Special Stitches

• This pattern uses the bobble stitch.  This stitch can be achieved as follows:
  • YO, insert hook into desired stitch, pull up a loop (three loops on hook).
  • YO, pull through two loops.
  • YO, insert hook back into the same stitch, pull up a loop (four loops on hook).
  • YO, pull through two loops.
  • YO, insert hook back into the same stitch, pull up a loop (five loops on hook).
  • YO, pull through two loops.
  • YO, insert hook back into the same stitch, pull up a loop (six loops on hook).
  • YO, pull through two loops.
  • YO, pull through all five loops.

Pattern

Square Body

Row 1:  CH 29, HDC in 2^nd CH from hook and in each CH across.  (28)

Row 2:  CH 1, turn, [HDC in first stitch, SL ST in next stitch] 14x.  (28)

Row 3-5:  Repeat Row 2.  (28)

Row 6-7:  CH 1, turn, HDC in each stitch across.  (28)

Row 8:  CH 1, turn, HDC 3, Bobble, HDC 24.  (28)

Row 9:  CH 1, turn, HDC in each stitch across.  (28)

Row 10:  CH 1, turn, HDC 5, Bobble, HDC 18, Bobble, HDC 3.  (28)

Row 11-13:  CH 1, turn, HDC in each stitch across.  (28)

Row 14:  CH 1, turn, HDC 2, Bobble, HDC 22, Bobble, HDC 2.  (28)

Row 15:  CH 1, turn, HDC in each stitch across.  (28)

Row 16:  CH 1, turn, HDC 22, Bobble, HDC 5.  (28)

Row 17-19:  CH 1, turn, HDC in each stitch across.  (28)

Row 20-23:  Repeat Row 2.  (28)

Row 24:  CH 1, turn, HDC in each stitch across.  (28)

Cut the yarn, fasten off.

Plush Pineapple Appliqué

Using a contrasting color, crochet the Plush Pineapple Appliqué.

Finishing

Place the appliqué in the center of the square.  The bottom of the pineapple should rest just above the textured rows.  There should be approximately ten stitches (including bobble stitches) on either side of the pineapple at the widest point.  Pin in place.

Using the yarn needle, sew the appliqué onto the square by going through each loop of the pineapple body and grabbing the top only of the stitches on the square.  Do not insert the needle all the way through the square, or the stitches will be visible from the back.  Begin at the top left of the pineapple body and work down, around the bottom, and back up the right side.  I chose to leave the pineapple leaves loose.  If you prefer to have the leaves stitched down, you can tack them down by placing one stitch in the center of each leaf to secure them where desired.  Be sure to only go through the top layer of the stitches on the square body to ensure that your stitches are not visible on the backside.  Tie each stitch down with a double surgeon’s knot. 

Weave in all ends.

I hope that you enjoy every square in the Winter Wondersquare Blanket CAL! There are so many talented designers who have each contributed a beautiful pattern that when put together will make a lovely winter blanket! You could even make multiples of a few squares to make a simplified blanket. Mix and match for endless possibilities! Be sure to visit all the designers’ websites to obtain each pattern in this blanket CAL collection!

If you make this square, please share it! I would love to see your work! You can tag me on Instagram and Facebook @theplushpineapple. Use the tag #theplushpineapple.

“Much love, sunshine, and pineapples”

Sarah