I love the look of this Chinese Puzzle Afghan Square. The Chinese Puzzle Stitch gives your project beautiful texture! Please note you will need to block this as the edges do not rest completely flat when you are done crocheting.
Let’s Learn a New Crochet Stitch!
Stitch: Chinese Puzzle
Yarn: Red Heart with Love
Hook: 5.5 mm (I)
Stitch Multiple: Chain a multiple of 7 sts; plus add an additional 4 sts for the starting chain
Finished Dimensions: 8 ” by 8 ” blocked – Afghan Block
Abbreviations: ch – chain, R – row, RS – right side, st – stitch, sts – stitches, dc – double crochet, dc5tog – double crochet 5 together, FPdc2tog – front post double crochet 2 together, FPdc5tog – front post double crochet 5 together, decrease – is used to refer to any of the dc5tog, FPdc2tog or FPdc5tog sts
Special Stitches:
dc5tog – double crochet five stitches together – this stitch is worked over 5 sts – * yarn over the hook, insert your hook into the next st; yarn over the hoook and pull up 1 loop; yarn over the hook and pull the hook through 2 of the loops on the hook* repeat from * to * 4 more times; yarn over the hook and draw through all 6 loops on the hook
FPdc2tog – front post double crochet 2 together – this stitch is worked over 2 sts – * yarn over the hook, insert the hook from front to back, to front, around the post of the next dc, yarn over the hook and pull up 1 loop, yarn over the hook and draw through 2 of the loops on the hook * repeat from * to * 1 more time; yarn over the hook and draw through all 3 remaining loops on the hook
Video Tutorial Now Available for the Chinese Puzzle Stitch!
FPdc5tog – front post double crochet 5 together – this stitch is worked over 5 sts – * yarn over the hook, insert the hook from front to back, to front, around the post of the next dc, yarn over the hook and pull up 1 loop, yarn over the hook and draw through 2 of the loops on the hook * repeat from * to * 4 more times; yarn over the hook and draw through all 6 remaining loops on the hook
Chinese Puzzle Stitch 8″ Afghan Block
Pattern Instructions
Stitch Diagram:
Video Tutorial available here:
Ch 25
R1 (RS): 2 dc in the 4th ch from the hook (Note: the skipped 3 chs count as 1 dc st), dc5tog, ch 1, * skip the next ch, 5 dc in the next ch , dc5tog, ch 1 *. Repeat from * to * to the last 2 chs; skip the next ch, 3 dc in the last ch.
R2: ch 3 (Note: the ch 3 counts as 1 dc st), turn; FPdc2tog, work 5 dc in the next ch, * skip the next decrease, work FPdc5tog, ch 1, work 5 dc in the next ch *. Repeat from * to * across to the last 4 sts. Skip the next decrease, FPdc2tog then work 1 dc in the last dc of the row
R3: ch 3 (Note: the ch 3 counts as 1 dc st), turn; 2 dc in the next decrease, work FPdc5tog, ch 1, * work 5 dc in the next ch, skip the next decrease, work FPdc5tog, ch 1 *. Repeat from * to * across to the last 2 sts. Work 2 dc in the next decrease and 1 dc in the last dc.
Repeat R2 and R3: 4 times
Repeat R2 1 more time
Do not finish off – proceed to Border
Border
R1: ch 2, turn, 1 hdc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, skip the ch1, 1 hdc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, skip the ch st, 1 hdc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, 1 hdc in the last st, (19)ch 1 turn to work along the side edge
R2: hdc 19 times evenly along the side edge, ch 1, turn to work along the starting chain row
R3: sc 19 times evenly along the bottom edge, ch 1, turn to work along the side edge
R4: hdc 19 times evenly along the side edge, ch 1, turn to work along the 1st row of the border
You are now back to the starting corner, 2 sc in each ch st (corner), turn
1 FPdc in each st across, 2 sc in each ch st (corner), turn to to work along the side edge
1 FPdc in each st across, 2 sc in each ch st (corner), turn to work along the starting chain row
1 FPdc in each st across, 2 sc in each ch st (corner), turn to work along the final edge
1 FPdc in each st across, finish off with an invisible join and weave in ends.
Rhondda says
I’m so happy the video helped 🙂 I hope you are recovering well Anna. Wishing you the very best, Rhondda
Anna Smith says
Thank you for a wonderful video for the Chinese Puzzle Stitch Pattern. I tried to follow along with the pattern first and I got a little confused but with the video also it all came together. The problem I have is with comprehension and just sorting out information. I had 2 strokes and about 8 TIA’s. So it’s been a challenge. I just keep pushing right along. 😊
Anna
Rhondda says
Hi Linda, I will add it to my list for this month 🙂 I’ve just finished the video for the I Feel Pretty Hat and I am uploading it to YouTube as we speak! I’m still not 100% happy with my video lighting but hopefully it is good enough so people can see and hear me 🙂 Were there any others you’d like me to do soon? Thanks! Rhondda
Linda says
By any chance have you started doing tutorial videos yet on your Chinese puzzle pattern or any other crochet patterns? I am a fairly new in crocheting, been crocheting since April 2016 and always wanting to learn new and different easy patterns.
Rhondda says
Hi Amruta, I currently do not have videos but they are on the list for this year 🙂 Hopefully this will be available before the fall 🙂 All the best, Rhondda
Amruta Kothari says
All stitches are awesome. Can I gt to see video of all these ?? N where
LUCIA says
HOLA RONDA: MUY LINDO TU TRABAJO. PERO YO SOY ARGENTINA Y NO HABLO INGLES.
TRATO DE INTERPERETARLO CON LA DEMOSTRACION DEL TEJIDO.
MUCHAS GRACIAS. SI PODES HACER ALGO EN CASTELLANO.
Geri says
Rhondda
What an intricate and intoxicating pattern. Okay I had a glass of bubbly before I wrote this. Just kidding. I haven’t attempted the Chinese Puzzle Stitch yet but your pictorial tutorial is so well done I can see it in my mind’s eye already. I think I’ll grab a cotton blend and make a few dishcloths for our fundraising kiosk. For some reason, dishcloths are a top seller. Thank you for your sharing, creative mind.
Geri
Yvonne Patalano says
I saw this stitch and fell in love with it. I have been crocheting since I was 10 years old and I’m now 79 years old. I like the idea of the tutorial and I hope I will be able to follow it. This will be my umpteenth afghan. I crochet all kinds of stuff and give them away.
Rhondda says
Hi Brenda, I really love the Chinese Puzzle Stitch too 🙂 It is such a unique stitch!
Brenda says
I really like your “learn a new stitch” series. I think my next afghan might be a sampler of all my favorites. The Chinese Puzzle square will definitely be in the mix! Love it.
Michelle B says
Saving this stitch too! I imagine if you used the right color combinations, you could make it look like a row of strawberries. Or acorns. I really love the texture of this!
Michelle B says
What a great stitch and tutorial! It almost looks like little acorns.
I’m thinking I need to make some dish/wash clothes now, as well as add this as a beautiful textural block to a sampler afghan I am making.
Thank you!
Rhondda says
Hi Rosemary, I’m sorry but I currently do not offer to print and mail copies of my posts. When our printer broke last year we didn’t replace it because I tend to do most of my work online – and save things as PDF files. If you use the printfriendly button at the end of the post, you can save a PDF copy for yourself too 🙂 All the best, Rhondda
Rosemary says
Is it possible for you to mail a printed copy. I am unable to print from my computer. Rosemary
Rhondda says
Hi Sherry, The plugin allows us to put the Printfriendly button in only a few places – I always have it at the end of each of my post (by the social media sharing buttons) and on my right sidebar (under the search my website section). I do not have right click disabled on my site so you should be able to copy and paste anything you wish from my posts or comments 🙂
I do have a lot on my site – Hopefully it is all clearly labelled though so you know what is what 🙂 The ads allow me to operate my website and share my patterns for free to my readers 🙂
I’m happy you like my patterns!
Have a lovely week,
Rhondda
Sherry says
Ok, I found the “Print Friendly” button and was able to copy/paste that. It was right in the middle of the page at the bottom of the pattern. It was hard to find since there’s soooo much stuff on your website. But I do love your patterns.
BTW, there’s no way to highlight something from the Comment box as I’m typing it in. Sometimes I want to go back and remove something I just typed and rather than highlight and delete, I have to use the backspace key…..
Thanks.
Rhondda says
Hi Sherry, Please feel free to use the Print Friendly button at the bottom of the post and on the side bar of every page of my website to print or save a copy of my posts 🙂 Have a great day! Rhondda
Sherry says
Please allow your instructions to be copied to a Word document – I don’t sit in front of the computer when I crochet. (Cripes, I can’t even highlight what I want to delete in my comments!). Plus I need to have a certain font for me to be able to read the pattern well due to vision problems – I can’t change fonts in a PDF, if you’d offer it that way.
Printing out the web pages is toooooo much because then I’ll get all the posted comments and advertising, which is a waste of paper when all I want is the printed instructions. When I save patters to Word, I also resize the pictures considerably – these would probably each take up a whole page – not necessary to be that big!
Sorry I’ll not be able to use your patterns, nor will I ever recommend them to anyone unless these changes are made on your website.
Rhondda says
Thank you Roseanne!
Roseanne Salyer says
I love learning new stitches. Thank you for this one. Love your patterns, too.
Rhondda says
Hi Judy, Thank you 🙂 I do not have a vest pattern available. The one they want sounds lovely though 🙂 Have a lovely week, Rhondda
Judy Huskey says
This pattern is beautiful! I can’t wait to finish a few things so I can learn how to do it.
Do you by any chance have a pattern for a lightweight/lacy vest with fringe? My daughter and granddaughter are requesting them. 😉
Thank you for sharing your talents!
Dollie says
Thanks, I really appreciate it 😀
Rhondda says
Hi Dollie, I can add this to my list of patterns to resize 🙂 I have received a few emails regarding size options. All the best, Rhondda
Dollie says
Hi, I was wondering if there was any way possible this could be done in a 6 or 12 inch pattern? I crochet mostly for charity, and they are kind of picky when it comes to size.
Rhondda says
You are very welcome Alta! Let me know if you have any questions, Rhondda
Rhondda says
Hallo Ann, ik zou graag de afgewerkte deken te zien! Ik hoop dat je in staat bent om het te voltooien voordat de baby geboren zijn! Met vriendelijke groet, Rhondda
Alta Burls says
I am very interested to learn these stiches. Thank you
ann peters says
ik doe al zo lang handwerken breien haken naaien en zo. maar deze steek ben ik nog nooit tegen gekomen.ga ze ook eens doen . als een deken voor mijn kleinkind , die word deze maand geboren. eind mei eb dus nog even . ziet er heel leuk uit en denk dat ik er wel snel mee weg ben. als ze af is laat ik het u weten . als het mij lukt met een fotootje. ik ben niet zo goed met de pc hoopt dat ik er een foto kan op krijgen om dan te versturen . je kan niet in alles goed zijn he? dank je voor je voor deze patroon . lieve groet ann.
Carolyn Wright says
Can you please, put this on video. Thank you
Rhondda says
You are very welcome 🙂 and I am happy to hear you found a new stitch to try! Rhondda
Rhondda says
😀 Happy to hear that!
Taswmom says
I love when you teach me new stitches, and don’t know how I missed this one! I’m glad you had us come back and look at all your free patterns, or I might never have found it! I love this stitch! It looks like a soft knitted pattern almost. Thank you so much for sharing your talent so freely with others!!!
Stephanie Lyon says
I love this stitch! Can’t wait to try it!
Rhondda says
Thank you Jo Anne 🙂 You must be very talented to be able to paint portraits! I’ve always wished I could paint – my hands are much too unsteady though 🙁
Jo Anne Brieff says
Lovely and complicated LOOKING. dark colors will not show up the beauty. Thanks. I paint pastel portraits so can’t take this on now.
Jo Anne
Rhondda says
Hi Janalee, I’m sorry I am unable to make videos at this time. I’m hoping to add videos starting in the fall 🙂 All the best, Rhondda
Janalee says
could you put this on you tube so I can see it done. It will make it easier for me
to see it done and do it while I watch it. I would love to try it sometime.
Rhondda says
Thank you Mary 🙂 It is a pretty stitch and I was happy to be able to do a tutorial for it! Let me know if you run into any questions with the instructions please, I’d be happy to help! Rhondda
Mary says
Learn to crochet and knit at 16yrs of age and have been for at least 40 years. I have never seen a stitch pattern as nice as this one. When. I spotted it I had to try this stitch and I just love it . Thanks will make a blanket out of this pattern.
Rhondda says
Thank you Nisa!
Rhondda says
Very true Tonya! Or a Crab Stitch? Might look pretty too!
Rhondda says
Hi Donna, Thank you ! I’m afraid I am terrible at estimating how much yarn I will need to make blankets. I always tend to buy a few balls extra…I’d say you could get 3 to 4 squares out of one ball of Red Heart with Love. Each square is approximately 8×8 inches. Then you would also need to take into account the edging you would like to use for the blanket. I hope this helps somewhat – one day I will be better at estimating yarn for projects!! I need to get a device to calculate it for me I think! Rhondda
Donna says
How would I figure out how much yarn would be needed for a project? I’m thinking of a throw, something like 5′ x 8.’ Thank you, this is a beautiful stitch.
Tonya Mathis says
This would make a lovely scarf, but with a thinner border. Maybe with single crochets or slip stitches.
Nisa says
Thank you… I’ll save it. i have too much project but i can’t skip this one. awesome pattern, Ronddha ^ ^
Rhondda says
Thanks Emily 🙂 If you have a chance to try it let me know if you have any questions,
Rhondda
Emily says
Ohh I can’t wait to try this! I haven’t been crocheting much and I need to get back into the swing of things.
Emily
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