Duckbill Dalliance

Duckbill Dalliance 9" Afghan Block

What is Being Made

The Duckbill Dalliance is a 9-inch crochet afghan block designed by Margaret MacInnis. This advanced-level project creates a decorative square suitable for blankets, afghans, or standalone display pieces. The block features dimensional texture and can be worked in either a single color or a three-color colorwork variation.

Craft and Primary Technique

This is an advanced crochet project that requires solid foundational skills and comfort with specialized stitches. The design emphasizes textural elements through the use of puff stitches, which create raised, dimensional details across the surface of the block. The pattern demonstrates intermediate-to-advanced construction techniques including working in the round and joining methods that create neat, professional finishes.

Stitches Used

The Duckbill Dalliance incorporates several key crochet stitches:

• Single Crochet (sc)—used to establish the foundation circle
• Half Double Crochet (hdc)—used in joining techniques to reach the middle of chain spaces
• Slip Stitch (sl st)—used for joining rounds and securing stitches
• Chain Stitch (ch)—used to create spacing between puff stitches and for joining in chain spaces
• Puff Stitch—the signature stitch of this design, created by pulling up multiple loops and drawing yarn through all loops at once. Two variations are used: the Beginning Puff (Beg Puff) for starting rounds, and the standard Puff for subsequent stitches

Materials: Yarn and Hooks

The Duckbill Dalliance accommodates two different yarn quantity options depending on the color version chosen:

• One Color Version: 45–50 grams of yarn
• Three Color Version: Color A (15 g), Color B (5 g), Color C (25 g)

The recommended yarn is Vanna's Choice, which is a worsted and aran weight yarn blend. These weights provide the structure and drape needed for the puff stitches to display properly. A US I or 5.5 mm crochet hook is used to work the yarn, and a tapestry needle is required for weaving in ends and finishing the block.

Construction Notes

The pattern employs a specialized joining technique described as "joining in chain spaces," which creates a neat, professional appearance while allowing the crocheter to easily access the middle of a series of chains. This is accomplished by chaining and then working a half double crochet into the beginning stitch. The block is constructed in rounds, beginning with either a magic circle or a traditional chain circle, and progresses outward with puff stitches separated by chain spaces.