Viva La Vida Afghan Square

Viva La Vida Afghan Square by Julie Yeager

Project Overview

The Viva La Vida Afghan Square is an advanced crochet project designed by Julie Yeager that creates a 12-inch finished square suitable for blankets, afghans, or decorative home projects. This downloadable PDF pattern combines vibrant colorwork with dimensional textural elements to produce a visually striking design piece.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a single 12-inch crochet square that serves as a modular component for larger afghans or blankets. The square features a multi-color design with dimensional yo-yo flower embellishments worked directly into the block structure, making it both a functional and decorative element for needlework projects.

Techniques and Construction Methods

The Viva La Vida Afghan Square employs several advanced crochet techniques that build complexity and visual interest:

• Ring Foundation: The project begins with a traditional chain ring, providing a centered starting point for the square's construction
• Multi-Round Construction: The pattern is worked in sequential rounds, with color changes integrated throughout to create the design
• Yo-Yo Flower Technique: Three-dimensional yo-yo flowers are incorporated as special design elements. These are created by working 14 double crochets into a single stitch, then rotating the work clockwise and joining with a slip stitch to form a dimensional petal structure. Additional rounds are added to the yo-yo flowers after the main block is completed, allowing for layered depth
• Corner Shaping: Specialized corner stitches maintain the square's geometric structure while adding decorative detail
• Color Blocking: Strategic use of multiple yarn colors throughout the rounds creates visual pattern and design definition

Stitches Used

This advanced pattern utilizes a focused selection of fundamental and specialty stitches:

• Chain Stitch (ch): Used for foundation and spacing
• Double Crochet (dc): The primary stitch forming the body of the square
• Treble Crochet (tr): Incorporated in corner stitches for height variation and decorative emphasis
• Slip Stitch (sl st): Used to join rounds and create the yo-yo flower formations
• Corner Stitch: A special stitch combination worked over two stitches, defined as (2dc, tr) in the first stitch and (tr, 2dc) in the second stitch for standard corners, with a beginning corner variation using (Ch 3, dc, tr) in the first stitch and (tr, 2dc) in the second stitch
• Yo-Yo Stitch: A specialty stitch creating dimensional flowers through concentrated stitch placement and rotation

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended finished appearance:

• Yarn: Vanna's Choice yarn in aran and worsted weights, providing excellent stitch definition and durability. The pattern specifies seven colors: Duckie (Color A), White (Color B), Eggplant (Color C), Baby Pink Poodle (Color D), Kelly Green (Color E), Magenta (Color F), and Black (Color G)
• Hook: Size I (5.5 mm) crochet hook, appropriately sized for the aran and worsted weight yarns

Difficulty Level

This pattern is classified as advanced, making it suitable for experienced crocheters. The complexity stems from the multi-color construction, specialized corner techniques, the dimensional yo-yo flower elements, and the precision required to maintain square shaping across multiple rounds. The pattern notes that the first round of yo-yo flowers are worked into the block during construction, with additional rounds added afterward, requiring attention to detail and understanding of three-dimensional crochet shaping.

Pattern Notes

Important construction details include the convention that a chain-3 at the beginning of a round counts as a double crochet, a standard practice in crochet patterns that affects stitch counting and placement. The yo-yo flower construction involves working with the right side of the fabric facing outward during the rotation and joining process, ensuring proper flower orientation within the finished square.