Make it !!! Crochet a circle in a rectangle!!!!

Why???
Well, I need to crochet some flags (not big, for a bunting) for an upcoming event in school : International Day !!!! Being Italian, I have to think about a decoration good for all Europe, so I thought about some blue european flags….
No problem to crochet the flags : a rectangle is fast done with some single or double crochets, but the Europe flag has in its centre a circle made of stars….
So I started a research on Pinterest for a crochet pattern including both a circle and a rectangle, but no luck…. sigh! I found, instead, patterns for circles in squares….. Then, I decided to develop one of this patterns into a rectangle : I obtained what I needed !!!!
….. still need to think about the stars to embroider on my blue flags, but I think some little straight stitches will do !!!! ;oD

WHAT DO YOU NEED ???

• a hook : 4mm for my yarn. Choose the right hook for the yarn you intend to use for your   rectangles!!!
• yarn : I've worked two strands together of this "royal" blue of MIRAGE, a 4 ply yarn from Elle yarns (100% acrylic) from South Africa. Each ball weighs 25g.
• a pair of scissors
• a yarn needle
• a stitch marker (optional)

About the pattern that I've followed for the circle in a square, you can find it HERE. It's a brief photo tutorial written by Dorien (thank you!!!), who owns a blog named after herself : Just-Do. If you want, Dorien wrote even a tutorial for a bigger square : large circle in a square, tutorial.

I've followed the pattern/photo tutorial ( but I didn't use the magic ring : chained 4 and made a ring with a slip stitch in the first chain ) and these pics will show you my progress :

The first 5 rounds are done, but, as I told you before, I need a rectangle ….

…. to have the same one on the left in the above picture, I've added 2 extra rounds to Doriens' pattern : round 6 and 7 ! Note that : I follow US crochet terms and that, in this specific case, I don't change colours in my work, because my flags all have a blue background! Obviously, you can adapt the pattern for a colourful version, instead!!!
My photo tutorial starts from :

ROUND 6 :

After the last slip stitch, used to close the last round (5th), you need to chain 3

then, crochet 1 DC into next 7 stitches (total : 7 DCs)

now 1 DC in the corner (2 DCs, chain1, 2 DCs of 5th round)

chain 1 

rotate to the right (90˙) your work

and crochet 2 SCs along the last DC you worked (the one in the corner)

add 1 SC in the first stitch you find (that is the top of the 3rd DC of the corner !)

and work 1 SC into the following 12 stitches (total : 12 SCs)

In the corner, crochet 1 SC

chain 4

and crochet 2 DCs in the same corner

then, crochet 1 DC into the following ( I skip the first DC of this side!) 12 stitches (total : 12 DCs)

add 1 DC in the next corner

chain 1

rotate to the right (90˙) your motif and work 2 SCs along the last DC done

and crochet 1 SC in the stitch of the corner

work 1 SC in the following 12 stitches (total : 12 SCs)

1 SC in the corner

chain 4

work 2 DCs in the same corner

crochet 1 DC in the following 4 stitches (I skip the first DC!) (total : 4 DCs)

make a slip stitch at the top of the initial chain 3

and this is what you have (on the right) compared with what you need to reach (on the left)

This is end of round 6 !


ROUND 7 :

chain 3 to start the round

crochet 1 DC into the following 7 stitches (total : 7 DCs)

work 1 DC in the corner (kind of)

then crochet another DC in the space between the previous chain 1 and first sc of round 6

chain 1

rotate to the right (90˙) your motif and crochet 2 SCs along the last DC done

work 1 SC in the following 16 stitches (total : 16 SCs)

crochet 2 SCs around previous chain 4

chain 4

crochet 2 DCs in the corner

work 1 DC in the following ( I skip set first DC) 13 stitches (total : 13 DCs)

crochet 1 DC in the corner (kind of)

then another DC in the space between the previous chain 1 and SC

chain 1 and rotate to the right (90˙) your work

crochet 2 SCs along the last DC and crochet 1 SC in each following stitch (total : 2+16=18 SCs)

work 2 SCs around chain 4

chain 4

work 2 DCs into last corner

crochet 1 DC in the following (I skip the first DC) 5 stitches (total : 5 DCs)

work a slip stitch on the top of the chain 3 of the beginning of the last round : YOU DID IT !!!

round 7 is completed as your rectangle, too ….

…. next week, I will add the stars !!!!! ;oD

You can find my Ravelry notes HERE !!!

xxxx Alessandra

Today links : Link your Stuff !, Craft Schooling Sunday and Busy Fingers Showing Off #60 !!!!

Please, show me your makes on IG using the following hashtag : #homemadeatmyplaceoriginals or  tagging me @alessandrapoggiagliolmi .

Text, Design and Photography : Alessandra Poggiagliolmi

All Rights Reserved. No part of this pattern may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.