Mid-Century Modern Tunisian Crochet Sampler Square with Three Edge Finishes - Free Pattern

Introduction

This Mid-Century Modern Tunisian Crochet Sampler Square is a small project with a big payoff: a dense, beautifully textured cream center framed by three crisp, colorful borders in mustard, teal, and rust. It's designed for the advanced beginner who has tried a little Tunisian crochet and wants to build confidence while learning three simple edge finishes in one go. The finished square measures about 8 x 8 inches, with a firm, flat fabric and vertical front bars that give it that classic mid-century framed-swatch look. Use it as a coaster, a trivet, a pillow panel, or the first block in a colorful sampler blanket.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (4) yarn, 100% acrylic, 200 yards total: 100 yards cream (A), 40 yards mustard (B), 30 yards teal (C), 30 yards rust (D).
• Hook: 6 mm (J/10) Tunisian crochet hook with cable.
• Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch marker (optional, for the first stitch of each round).
• Finished size: Approximately 8 x 8 inches (20 x 20 cm) including edging.

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook.
• st(s) — stitch(es).
• yo — yarn over: wrap the yarn over your hook.
• Tss — Tunisian simple stitch: insert hook under the next front vertical bar, yarn over, pull up a loop.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• hdc — half double crochet: yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through all three loops.
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through the stitch and the loop on your hook.

Gauge

14 stitches and 14 rows = 4 inches in Tunisian simple stitch. Work a small swatch and measure the center of it; if you have more stitches than 14 in 4 inches, go up a hook size, and if you have fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Keep the forward pass loose. Tunisian crochet pulls up easily; if your loops feel tight on the cable, relax your tension so the return pass glides smoothly.
• Count your loops every forward pass. You should always pick up 29 loops on the square, which keeps the sides straight and the edging even.
• Work the edging evenly. Space your stitches so the border lies flat; if it ruffles, use fewer stitches between corners, and if it pulls in, add a few.
• Change colors at a corner. Joining each new edging color at a corner hides the join and keeps the framed look tidy.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Square (Color A — Cream)

Set-up: With A, ch 29.

Forward pass (Row 1): Pick up 29 loops in the back bumps of the chain (29 loops on hook).

Return pass (Row 1): Yo, pull through 1 loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] across (29 sts).

Row 2: Forward pass: skip the first vertical bar, Tss in each bar across, then Tss in the last stitch (29 loops). Return pass: yo, pull through 1 loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] across (29 sts).

Rows 3–28: Repeat Row 2 (29 sts).

Bind off: [Insert hook under next front vertical bar, yo, pull through the loop and the loop on hook] across (28 sts). Fasten off.

Edging 1 (Color B — Mustard)

Rnd 1: Join B to any corner. Sc evenly around, working 3 sc in each corner, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Edging 2 (Color C — Teal)

Rnd 1: Join C to any corner. [Hdc, ch 1, hdc] in each corner, hdc in each st around, join with sl st to first hdc. Fasten off.

Edging 3 (Color D — Rust)

Rnd 1: Join D to any corner. Sl st in each st around, working 3 sl st in each corner, join with sl st to first sl st. Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

Weave in all ends on the wrong side, running each tail under a few stitches before trimming. Block lightly to square shape: mist the square, pin it to an 8 x 8 inch measurement on a blocking mat, and let it dry completely. This sets the edges flat and evens out the three borders.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the palette: Try olive, gold, and burnt orange for a warmer mid-century feel, or keep all three edgings in one color for a minimalist look.
• Make a set: Work four squares and join them into a small pillow panel or a table runner.
• Add texture: Work the center in Tunisian knit stitch instead of simple stitch for a smoother, denser fabric under the same edgings.