I’m so excited to be a part of this year’s Stash Busting Crochet Along with the Unraveled Mitten! It’s 20 squares created by different designers to make a super cool and varied blanket (if you do them all!)- so definitely check it out if you’re not already coming from there.

It’s been a while since I have designed a new block, so I was super stoked to get back to it! This block came about because the two favorite animals in our house are flamingos (B) and black panthers (or black cats when in a pinch since panthers are hard to find- that’s C). Since I wanted to represent both of these in one square, the Cat-Mingo Square was born!

This square uses Red Heart Super Saver Yarn and I wanted to keep the flamingos pink and the cats black, but I think it would look cool in different colors, too. Just be sure to change colors where indicated, even if you don’t use the same colors, and the different motifs should still stand out.

When completed and blocked, your square should measure 12 inches by 12 inches.

Cat-Mingo Crochet Square

Skill Level: Intermediate

Gauge/Finished Dimensions: 12 stitches by 7 rows equals 4 inches by 4 inches. Completed block is 12 inches by 12 inches.

Supplies Needed

Red Heart Super Saver in Light Blue, Flamingo, White, Mulberry and Black

5.0 mm hook

Tapestry needle

Scissors

Abbreviations/Notes

sc- single crochet

dc- double crochet

tr- treble crochet

st(s)- stitch(es)

sl st(s)- slip stitch(es)

ch(s)- chain(s)

ch-sp(s)- chain space(s)

( )- denote a group of stitches worked in the same stitch.

[ ]- denote a group of stitches that is repeated as many times as stated.

If the number follows the abbreviation (such as “inc 5”), you will work the instructed stitch that many times over successive stitches (in the example, increase in each of the next 5 stitches).

Beginning ch 3 counts as a stitch.

Special Stitches

Puff Stitch: [Yarn over (yo), insert hook into stitch, yo, pull up a loop] 5 times, yo and pull through all 11 loops on hook. Ch 1 to secure and that completes one puff stitch.

Mini Puff Stitch: Wrap yarn around the hook 4 times, then pull the last wrap through the other loops to create a mini puff.

2 dc-cluster: yo, insert hook into indicated st, yo, pull up a loop, yo and pull through two loops, yo insert hook into next indicated st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through two loops, yo and pull through remaining 3 loops

Instructions

Using Light Blue

ch 37

Row 1: Beginning in 2nd ch from hook, sc to end, turn (36)

Row 2: ch 3, dc in same space, [skip next st, sl st in next, (sl st, ch 3, dc) in next], repeat [ ] 10 times, sl st into last st, turn (12 waves)

Fasten off Light Blue and change color to Flamingo

Row 3: ch 9, skip wave, [dc in first sl st, ch 6], repeat [ ] 10 times, dc in bottom ch of turning ch from Row 2, turn (13 dc, 12 ch-6 loops)

Row 4: ch 6, [dc in dc, ch 3], repeat [ ] 10 times, dc in 3rd ch of turning ch, turn (13 dc, 12 ch-3 loops)

Row 5: ch 3, [puff st around ch-loops from Rows 3 and 4, ch 1], repeat [ ] 11 times , dc in 3rd ch of turning ch, turn (12 puff stitches, 11 ch-sps)

Row 6: ch 6, [tr in 1st ch after puff st, mini puff st, tr in puff st, ch 6, skip next ch-sp], repeat [ ] 4 times, tr in 1st ch after puff, mini puff st, tr in puff st, ch 2, tr in turning ch, turn (14 tr, 6 mini puff st, 5 ch-6 loops, 2 ch-2 loops)

Fasten off Flamingo and change color to White

Row 7: ch 3, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, [skip mini puff st, 6 dc in ch-6 sp], repeat [ ] 4 times, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, dc in 4th ch of turning ch, turn (36 dc)

Row 8: ch 1, sc evenly across, turn (36)

Fasten off White and change color to Mulberry

Row 9: ch 1, sc evenly across, turn (36)

Fasten off Mulberry and change color to Black

Row 10: ch 3, dc 2, ch 1, skip next st, [puff st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts], repeat [ ] 8 times, puff st, ch 1, skip 1, dc in last 3 sts, turn (10 puff sts, 6 dc, 9 ch-2 sps, 2 ch-1 sps)

Row 11: ch 3, dc 2, ch 1, [2 dc cluster worked in ch-sp and puff, ch 1, 2 dc cluster worked in same puff st and next ch-sp, ch 1], repeat [ ] 9 times, dc in last 3 sts, turn (20 dc clusters, 6 dc)

Fasten off Black and change color to Mulberry

Row 12: ch 1, sc 3, sc in ch-sp, sc in next ch-sp, [2 sc in next ch-sp, sc in next ch-sp], repeat [ ] 8 times, sc in ch-sp, sc 3, turn (36)

Rows 13-20: Repeat Rows 1-8

Border

Fasten off White and change color to Mulberry

2 sc in 1st st, sc 34, 2 sc in last st (38), rotate the square to work down the side.

sc in side of 1st st, 2 sc in side of dc, 3 sc in tr, 2 sc in dc, 2 sc in dc, 2 sc in dc, sc in side of the wave, sc in sc, sc in sc, 2 sc in dc, 2 sc in dc, sc in sc, sc in sc, 2 sc in dc, 3 sc in tr, 2 sc in dc, 2 sc in dc, 2 sc in dc, sc in side of the wave, sc in sc (34), rotate the square to work along the bottom.

2 sc in 1st st, sc 34, 2 sc in last st (38), rotate the square to work along the remaining side.

sc in sc, sc in side of the wave, 2 sc in dc, 2 sc in dc, 2 sc in dc, 3 sc in tr, 2 sc in dc, sc in sc, sc in sc, 2 sc in dc, 2 sc in dc, sc in sc, sc in sc, sc in side of the wave, 2 sc in dc, 2 sc in dc, 2 sc in dc, 3 sc in tr, 2 sc in dc, sc in sc (34).

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Want to join in more of the fun we have here at Boy Mom Crochet Life? Sign up for my newsletter, where you’ll get first dibs on new patterns and access to my free Resource Library!

Like what you see but don’t have time now? Pin it for later!