Four Pillars Afghan Square Free Crochet Pattern
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. When you purchase through links on my site, I may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Add a bold and textured design to your blanket projects with the Four Pillars Afghan Square. This free 12” crochet square pattern uses the overlay mosaic technique and just two colors of yarn to create a striking geometric motif. With basic stitches and simple colorwork, it’s a satisfying square to crochet for blankets, pillows, or your next crochet along project.
For help on any of these stitches or techniques you can refer to the tutorials included in my free online crochet stitch guide.
4 Pillars Mosaic Crochet Afghan Square
The Yarn
Red Heart Super Saver Bitty Stripes
- Bitty Stripes: See the other colors that are available in this collection here.
- Super Saver: See the other colors that are available in this collection here.
Red Heart Super Saver
- Worsted Weight Yarn [4]
- 100% Acrylic
- 283 g / 10 oz, 471 m / 515 yds (Bitty Stripes), 198 g / 7 oz, 333 m / 364 yds (Original)
- Recommended hook size is 5.5 mm (US I-9)
- Machine wash and dry.
- Shade: Sunset Beach (Bitty Stripes) and White (Original)
- Yarnspirations
The free written pattern is available in my post below, or if you prefer, you can purchase the ad-free PDF crochet pattern from my shop. The ad-free PDF includes a diagram as well as written instructions in US Crochet terms. Purchase your copy from my shop here.
4 Pillars Afghan Square Pattern
Supplies
- Yarn: Yarnspirations. Red Heart Super Saver Yarn. 7 oz (198 g) and 364 yds (333 m). 100% Acrylic. Medium-Weight Yarn [4]. Machine wash and dry. Red Heart Super Saver Bitty Stripes Yarn. 10 oz (283 g) 515 yds (471 m)
- Colors: 1 skein Super Saver in White (Color A). 1 skein Bitty Stripes in Sunset Beach (Color B).
- Hook: 6 mm (J).
- Finished Project Yardage: 2.2 oz (61 g) and 112 yds (103 m)
- Scissors, Yarn Needle, Stitch Marker
Difficulty Level
- Easy
Finished Size
- Afghan Square height approximately 12 inches X 12 inches width
Gauge
- First 5 rounds measures 3 inches X 3 inches square
You can substitute any yarn and hook for this stitch pattern – just remember when you substitute, if your gauge is different, the finished size, and amount of yarn used for your project will also be different.
Abbreviations
US Terminology used
- bl – back loop
- ch – chain
- ch2sp – chain 2 space
- drdc – dropped double crochet (see Special Stitch)
- fl – front loop
- R – round
- sc – single crochet
- sk – skip
- sl st – slip stitch
- st/sts – stitch/stitches
- * to ** – Work the instructions between the asterisks the number of times indicated. This repeat will contain multiple instructions.
- [ ] – at the end of the row – the total number of stitches; within the row – a set of instructions to be repeated the given number of times.
- ( ) – important notes AND sets of stitches to be worked within one stitch or space.
Special Stitch
Dropped double crochet (drdc): A double crochet stitch worked into the unworked front loop of a stitch located directly below and 2 rounds before.
The stitch will be worked in the front loop of the stitch immediately below the next stitch in the current round. The stitch on the current round will not be worked into, this is indicated in the instructions.
The double crochet stitch is worked as a regular dc stitch: Yarn over, insert the hook under the front loop of the specified stitch, yarn over and pull up 1 loop. Yarn over and draw through 2 loops, yarn over and draw through last 2 loops.
Helpful Tutorials
Notes:
- Beginning in R2 all single crochet stitches are worked in the back loop only, unless otherwise indicated.
- All double crochet stitches are worked in the front loop only, in the stitch immediately below the next stitch of the round this is the stitch that was made 2 rounds prior.
- We will be working into the corner chain stitches (NOT the chain spaces), under the back loop only.
- White (Color A) and Sunset Beach (Color B).
- Pattern is written with a ch 2 to begin. I prefer to use a double magic ring to begin, as it is more secure. Either is acceptable for this pattern.
- TIP: If you are using a ch 2 to begin, leave about a 4-inch yarn tail at the beginning. You will use this yarn tail to close the hole that will be there from using this method to start.
- Sl st to join is made in the first st of the round under both loops.
- Color changes are made on the ch 1 that follows the slip stitch. Slip stitch and then yarn over with the new color to chain 1. Pull the yarn end of the color used for the slip stitch tightly, do not finish off. The unused color is carried up the back of the work without finishing off.
- Each round begins in the stitch with the slip stitch join.
- Add the Four Pillars Afghan Square to your Ravelry library here.
Four Pillars Afghan Square Pattern Instructions
This 12-inch afghan square is crocheted in joined rounds beginning in the center and working towards the outer edges.
Using your 6 mm (J) hook (or size required for gauge):
R1: With Color A: Ch 2 and working in the 2nd ch from the hook, (1 sc, ch 2) 4 times. Sl st to the first sc to join. [4 sc, 4 ch2sp]
TIP: see notes for color changes and which stitch to begin each round in.
R2: With Color B: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of the next st, 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [12 sc, 4 ch2sp]
R3: With Color A: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of the next st, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the first ch from R1, sk the next st in R2 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of next ch from R1, sk the next st in R2 (behind the drdc)**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [12 sc, 8 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R4: With Color B: Ch 1, *1 drdc in the unworked fl of the next st from R2, sk the next st in R3 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 2 sts**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [24 sc, 4 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R5: With Color A: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of each of the next 3 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the first ch from R3, sk the next st in R4 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the next ch from R3, sk the next st in R4 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 2 sts**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [28 sc, 8 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R6: With Color B: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of the next st, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R4, sk the next 2 sts from R5 (behind the 2 drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 2 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R4, sk the next 2 sts from R5 (behind the 2 drdc)**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [28 sc, 16 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
Square measures approximately 3.5 inches in diameter.
R7: With Color A: Ch 1, *1 drdc in the unworked fl of the next st from R5, sk the next st in R6 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 4 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the first ch from R5, sk the next st in R6 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the next ch from R5, sk the next st in R6 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 4 sts**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [40 sc, 12 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R8: With Color B: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of each of the next 3 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R6, sk each of the next 2 sts from R7 (behind the 2 drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 2 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R6, sk each of the next 2 sts from R7 (behind the 2 drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 2 sts**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [44 sc, 16 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R9: With Color A: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of next st, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R7, sk each of the next 2 sts from R8 (behind the 2 drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 4 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the first ch from R7, sk the next st from R8 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the next ch from R7, sk the next st from R8 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 4 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R7, sk each of the next 2 sts from R8 (behind the 2 drdc)**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [44 sc, 24 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R10: With Color B: Ch 1, *1 drdc in the unworked fl of the next st from R8, sk the next st from R9 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 4 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R8, sk each of the next 2 sts from R9 (behind the 2 drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 2 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R8, sk each of the next 2 sts from R9 (behind the 2 drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 4 sts**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [56 sc, 20 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R11: With Color A: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of the next st, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R9, sk the next 2 sts from R10 (behind the 2 drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 4 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R9, sk each of the next 2 sts in R10 (behind the 2 drdc), 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the first ch from R9, sk the next st from R10 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the next ch from R9, sk the next st from R10 (behind the drdc), 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R9, sk each of the next 2 sts in R10 (behind the 2 drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 4 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R9, sk the next 2 sts from R10 (behind the 2 drdc)**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [44 sc, 40 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R12: With Color B: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of each of the next 3 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R10, sk each of the next 2 sts from R11, 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 6 sts, 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 6 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R10, sk each of the next 2 sts in R11 (behind the 2 drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 2 sts**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [76 sc, 16 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
Square measures approximately 7 inches in diameter.
R13: With Color A: Ch 1, *1 drdc in the unworked fl of the next st from R11, sk the next st from R12 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 4 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 6 sts from R11, sk each of the next 6 sts from R12 (behind the 6 drdc), 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the first ch from R11, sk the next st from R12 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the next ch from R11, sk the next st from R12 (behind the drdc), 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 6 sts from R11, sk each of the next 6 sts from R12 (behind the 6 drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 4 sts**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [40 sc, 60 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R14: With Color B: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of the next st, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R12, sk the next 2 sts in R13 (behind the 2 drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 10 sts, 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 10 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 2 sts from R12, sk the next 2 sts in R13 (behind the 2 drdc)**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [92 sc, 16 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R15: With Color A: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of the next 3 sts, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 10 sts from R13, sk the next 10 sts in R14 (behind the 10 drdc), 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the first ch from R13, sk the next st in R14 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the next ch from R13, sk the next st in R14 (behind the drdc), 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 10 sts from R13, sk the next 10 sts in R14 (behind the 10 drdc)**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [28 sc, 88 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R16: With Color B: Ch 1, *1 drdc in the unworked fl of the next st from R14, sk the next st from R15 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 14 sts, 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 14 sts**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [120 sc, 4 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R17: With Color A: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of the next st, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 14 sts from R15, sk the next 14 sts in R16 (behind the 14 drdc), 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the first ch from R15, sk the next st in R16 (behind the drdc), 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 drdc in the unworked fl of the next ch from R15, sk the next st in R16 (behind the drdc), 1 drdc in the unworked fl of each of the next 14 sts from R15, sk the next 14 sts in R16 (behind the 14 drdc)**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [12 sc, 120 drdc, 4 ch2sp]
R18: With Color B: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of each of the next 17 sts, 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 16 sts**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. [140 sc, 4 ch2sp]
R19: With Color A: Ch 1, *1 sc in the bl of each of the next 18 sts, 1 sc in the bl of the first ch, ch 2, 1 sc in the bl of the next ch, 1 sc in the bl of each of the next 17 sts**. Work from * to ** 4 times. Sl st to the first st to join. Finish off. [148 sc, 4 ch2sp]
Finishing
- Weave in any remaining ends.
- Wet block to 12 X 12 inches square.
Make your project page for the 4 Pillars Afghan Square on Ravelry here.
Extra Photos
This overlay mosaic square works well on its own or as part of a larger blanket. It’s a great stashbuster and makes a thoughtful gift when used in handmade home decor. You can also explore more of my free square patterns designed for past crochet alongs for even more inspiration.
You may also enjoy these posts:
Happy crocheting!
Connect with Me
Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for the latest updates.
Love Furls Crochet?
Use my discount code OOMBAWKA2025 to receive 15% off the Furls Crochet Collection. Limit 1 use per customer. Expires December 31, 2025.