Inspired by the classic silent cinema Intertitles (text cards) that provided information and dialogue between the scenes, this is a 10cm (4”) crocheted square motif block that can easily be enlarged by increasing the stitch count in the foundation chain at the start and may be embroidered with a caption to suit any occasion or with actual captions from a favourite silent film.
It uses Tunisian crochet as the centre panel, which creates a lovely dense, firm and low stretch fabric that keeps its shape beautifully and is perfect for embroidering as it has a grid like structure that makes it easy to keep lettering and details in line and similarly sized and holds the yarn nicely in place wherever you stitch compared to regular crochet which can have bigger gaps and fewer secure spots to stitch. You don't need a Tunisian crochet hook though; just a regular hook with about 5cm/2" of straight neck.
If you haven't tried Tunisian crochet yet, the centre of this square is about the easiest thing you could start with and then you might like my Tunisian Corset Belt, Mermaid Bow Band or Twisted Tunisian Top, which are simple patterns introducing some new stitches and increases and decreases.
Use it as a coaster or as a patch or pocket to sew on a bag or clothing (dense Tunisian crochet makes great pockets!) or make several and seam them together to form a blanket, bag, cushion, scarf or anything that takes your fancy. If you prefer some variety or want to make a lighter, lacier project, this combines perfectly with my Coupe Granny Square, which is also 4" in DK yarn and available as a free pattern on my blog.
Size: 10cm/4” square
Tension: 68 sts on outer round = 10cm/4” square using a 4mm hook, or size needed to obtain correct tension
Working Method: This square is worked as a small panel of Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS) edged with 4 rounds of regular crochet and embroidered with text of your choice.
Requirements
15m DK cotton yarn in MC and 3m of DK or lighter yarn/thread in CC. Sample: Nurturing Fibres Eco-Cotton DK (100% cotton; 125m/137yd 50g) Charcoal (MC), Vanilla (CC).
A straight 4mm hook (Tunisian hook not required for small panel)
Preferred notion, e.g. locking stitch marker, for live loop of MC during CC round
Abbreviations
FP Forward Pass, first half of each row, working across work from hook hand toward other hand collecting sts on the hook
RP Return Pass, second half of each row, working across work in direction toward hook hand removing sts. Standard return pass: yoh, pull through first loop on hook, yoh, pull through 2 loops on hook, rep from until 1 loop rem.
Tss Tunisian simple stitch: insert hook under next vertical bar in direction of work, yoh, pull loop back through, rep from to end. 1 loop on hook for each stitch worked plus starting loop
st/sts stitch/stitches
RS right side
ch chain
ss slip stitch
sc single crochet (US only)
dc double crochet
htr half treble (UK only)
hdc half double crochet (US only)
dtr double treble (UK only)
tr treble
ch-2 2 chain space
BLO work st in back loop only of stitch indicated
Pattern Notes
In Tunisian crochet the loop on the hook is counted unlike regular crochet so when you start the border, you will place 9 regular crochet sts into a row of Tunisian crochet with a count of 10 sts. To enlarge this square or work a rectangle: adjust the number of rows and sts in the centre panel by increasing the length of the foundation chain. The edging instructions will still work (st counts will differ). Edging instructions are provided in both UK and US terms, so check you are using your preferred version.
Granny Square: Free Crochet Pattern Instructions
Centre Panel
Note: work a standard RP after each FP, working always from RS.
Ch 10 (increase for larger square if preferred)
Row 1/Foundation Row (FP): Pull up loop in each ch to end. [10 loops on hook]
Rows 2-8 (FP): Tss in each st.
Row 9/Finishing Row: work 1dc into each vertical bar except 1st bar under loop on hook
Do not fasten off, do not turn
If it's your first time working Tunisian Simple Stitch, or you need a refresher, these videos show the Foundation Row and first row Forward and Return Pass (they were made for my Tunisian Corset Belt Pattern).
Edging UK Terms (US Terms below)
Round 1 (RS) ch1, [(1dc, ch2, 1dc) in corner st, 1dc in side of row end st until 1 row rem, (1dc, ch2, 1dc) in corner st, 1dc in each st to last st ] twice, ss to 1st st of round. Do not fasten off. [44 sts: 36 sts, 4 ch-2]
Round 2 attach CC with ss in 1st dc of any side, [ss to end of side, (ch4, ss) 3 times in corner ch-2] 4 times, ss in 1st st of round, fasten off CC. [52 sts: 36 sts, 4 ch-4]
Round 3 with MC, ch1 [working into in Round 1 corner ch-2 from behind and through Round 2 ch-4s, 1 tr, ch1 behind 1st and 2nd ch-4, 1 tr behind 3rd ch-4, 1tr in BLO of each Round 2 ss to end of side] 4 times, ss in 1st st of round. [56 sts: 48 sts, 8 ch-1]
Round 4 1 ss, ch2 (counts as htr) in same st as ss, working into into Round 3 sts/ch-1 through back bump and BLO of 2nd ch in each ch-4, 1htr through 1st ch-4 into ch-1, (1tr, 2dtr, 1tr) through 2nd ch-4 into tr, 1htr through 3rd ch-4 into ch-1, 1htr in each Round 3 st to end of side] 4 times, ss in 1st st of round. [68 sts]
Edging US Terms (UK Terms above)
Round 1 (RS) ch1, [(1sc, ch2, 1sc) in corner st, 1sc in side of row end st until 1 row rem, (1sc, ch2, 1sc) in corner st, 1sc in each st to last st ] twice, ss to 1st st of round. Do not fasten off. [44 sts: 36 sts, 4 ch-2]
Round 2 attach CC with ss in 1st sc of any side, [ss to end of side, (ch4, ss) 3 times in corner ch-2] 4 times, ss in 1st st of round, fasten off CC. [52 sts: 36 sts, 4 ch-4]
Round 3 with MC, ch1 [working into in Round 1 corner ch-2 from behind and through Round 2 ch-4s, 1 dc, ch1 behind 1st and 2nd ch-4, 1 dc behind 3rd ch-4, 1dc in BLO of each Round 2 ss to end of side] 4 times, ss in 1st st of round. [56 sts: 48 sts, 8 ch-1]
Round 4 1 ss, ch2 (counts as hdc) in same st as ss, working into into Round 3 sts/ch-1 through back bump and BLO of 2nd ch in each ch-4, 1hdc through 1st ch-4 into ch-1, (1dc, 2tr, 1dc) through 2nd ch-4 into dc, 1hdc through 3rd ch-4 into ch-1, 1hdc in each Round 3 st to end of side] 4 times, ss in 1st st of round. [68 sts]
Finishing
Weave in ends and block to 10cm/4” square. Use CC or embroidery thread to embroider text of your choice.
Make it your own
This pattern should work well with other types of yarn that match the tension, although of course this can produce a different type of fabric, e.g. stiffer/drapier.
Make a larger or smaller version with different weights of yarn or by adjusting the number of sts in the foundation chain.
The square can also look good in a single colour or with each round in a different shade.
Leave it plain or embroider your own Caption. Here are some famous Intertitle captions.
How did it go?
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