Valerie Shell Flower Square

Valerie Shell Flower Square by Brenda Makin

What Is Being Made

The Valerie Shell Flower Square is a beginner-friendly crochet square designed by Brenda Makin. This project creates a decorative granny-style square featuring shell stitches and V-stitch details arranged in a circular, flower-like pattern. The finished square works up in multiple colors, making it suitable for blankets, afghans, or as a standalone decorative piece.

Craft and Techniques

This project uses crochet as the primary construction method. The pattern employs fundamental crochet techniques including color changes between rows, working in the round using slip stitches to join, and creating decorative stitch patterns. The design is structured in rows that build outward from a central ring, creating the characteristic flower-like appearance of a traditional granny square.

Stitches Used

The Valerie Shell Flower Square incorporates the following crochet stitches:

• Chain (ch) – Used to create foundation stitches and spacing
• Slip stitch (ss) – Used to join rounds and fasten off
• Double crochet (dc) – Used as a base stitch between decorative elements
• Treble crochet (tr) – A taller stitch used throughout for texture and structure
• Half treble crochet (htr) – Listed in the glossary for reference
• V Stitch – A special stitch pattern defined as (tr, ch2, tr) worked into a single stitch, creating a V-shaped opening
• Shell Stitch – A decorative special stitch defined as *(tr, ch1) 4 times, tr)* worked into a single stitch, creating a fan or shell-like appearance

Materials and Tools

This pattern uses DK weight yarn in four coordinating colors. The original design calls for Rico Essentials Cotton DK in the following colorways: Cherry (Color A), White (Color B), Turquoise (Color C), and Purple (Color D). A 4mm crochet hook is required to work with the DK weight yarn and achieve the intended gauge and finished size.

Difficulty Level

Rated as beginner friendly, this square is suitable for crocheters new to the craft. While it incorporates special stitches like shells and V-stitches, the repetitive nature of the pattern and clear stitch definitions make it accessible to those learning color work and multi-row projects.