Pinwheel Star – Free Crochet Square.
Designed by Bonnie Pierce © 2000
Materials: RH 4 ply Color A = Aran, Color B = Country Blue, Color C = Country Rose
Crochet Hook: Size F and E or size needed for gauge. Size G for edging.
Gauge: Each Square = 6″
Skill level: Intermediate.
Blocking: Block lightly and briefly with a warm damp pressing cloth on the reverse side of the square with a med-hot iron.
Pattern Stitches
2dc cluster (2dc cl):
Holding last loop on hook for each dc, dc in last st of first triangle, and in first st of next triangle, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook
Instructions
Center
With Color A and size F hook, ch 4, join with a sl st.
Round 1:
Ch 1, 16 sc. Join with a sl st. FO Color A
Round 2:
Attach Color C in any st, ch 1, sc in same sp, (ch 11, sk 1, sc in next st.) Continue around, end ch 11, sk 1, sl st in first sc with a sl st in first sc. (eight ch 11 loops).
Round 3:
Ch 1, sc in same st. working in back loops only, sc in next 5 chs, 3 sc in next chain, sc in next 5 chs. Working in both loops, sc in next sc. Working in back loops only, and both loops in sc between triangles, continue around. Join with a sl st in first sc. FO Color C.
Round 4:
With Color A join in sc between triangles, ch 1, sc in same st working in both loops, working in back loops, sc in 6 st., 3 sc in next st, sc in next 6 st. Sc in both loops of next sc. Continue around. Join with a sl st.
Round 5:
Ch 1, sc in sc, working in back loops, only sc in 7 st, 3 sc in next st, sc in 7 st cont. FO Color A
Round 6:
With size F hook join Color B with a sl st in both loops of sc between triangles, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in back loop only of next 8 st, 3 sc in next st, sc in next 8 st, sc in both loops of sc. Continue around. FO Color B.
Round 7:
With right side of square facing up fold triangles over- right over left, working in both loops, With color A join w/sl st in 4th st before corner. Ch 1, and sc in same st. (working on what formerly was backside of work,) and in next 3 st. 3sc in corner, sc in next 4 st. Work next 4 sc in next triangle in same manner, 3 sc in corner, sc in next 4 st. Continue around. Join with a sl st. 8 pointed star. FO Color A
Round 8:
Working in back ridge of each st with Size E, join with Color C in any corner, 3 sc. Work 2 sc, hdc, dc, work dc cl, dc, sl st, ch 3, sk next 5 st, sl st, dc, 2dc cl, dc, hdc, 2sc, 3 sc in corner. continue around. Join w/ sl st. FO Color C
Round 9:
Join Color B with size G hook in both loops, *work 3 sc in corner, sc in next 8 sts, 4 sc in ch 3 sp, sc in next 8sts. Continue from * around.
Finish off and weave in all ends
The secret to folding the Pinwheel star is to fold each “star petal triangle” (the area between two sc’s worked in both loops) separately. Work only on one at a time. You sort of twist the “petal” around, forming a little pocket on both the front and the back of your work. The very tip of the triangle is where you put your 4 sc, 3 sc in next st, 4 sc. This triangle tip is actually the “wrong” side of what you had been working on, while the pinwheel remains the front side. You then fold the next “star petal triangle”, and work in the next triangle tip. If you’ve done it correctly, the blue row will look like the one in the picture. /\ /\ /\ <----- start here and work around. This is all you need to secure the "star petal triangles" together. When completed, you should have what looks like an actual pinwheel in the center, with the open pockets, surrounded by an 8 sided star. 
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