Crocodile Stitch Afghan Block: CrocoDahlia

There has been some interest lately in using the crocodile stitch in a flower afghan block. It is usually worked
in rows, not rounds, but the scales look so much like petals that using them in a flower seems an obvious step.
This variation on the original stitch is my attempt at incorporating this popular motif into a square, worked-inthe-round afghan block. To me, it looks like a dinner-plate dahlia, just beginning to open, so thats what Im
calling it the Croco-Dahlia, however, the petals and background may be worked in any color combination.
This 6 inch test block was made with Caron Simply Soft Collection, worsted weight yarn and a size G hook.
The same pattern resulted in a 7.25 inch square with Red Heart Super Saver yarn and an H hook.

Crocodile Stitch Afghan Block Croco-Dahlia by Joyce Lewis

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Special Stitches:
Crocodile Stitch - (5 dc, ch 2, sc in side of previous dc, 5 dc) in next ch-6 loop
Bubble Stitch Working with wrong side facing, (sc, trc, sc) in next space
Banded Doubles (skip next st, dc in each of next two sts, hdc around the two dcs just made). In other words:
Leave a space, dc in next two sts, then yo, insert hook into the space just created, yo and pull loop through
keeping it loose, yo and pull through all three loops on hook.
Gauge: Gauge is difficult to measure however; the first two rows should form a circle approximately 2 inches
across, each crocodile scale should be approximately 1 inch from base to tip and the square should be
approximately 6 inches on each side when made with Caron Simply Soft worsted weight yarn and a size G
hook.
Color A brown or black, for center of flower
Color B any flower color, for petals
Color C green, or background color of your choice
Instructions:
With Color A, make a sliding circle
Round 1 Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 15 dc into circle, sl st to top of beginning ch to join (16 dc).
Round 2 Ch 4 (counts as first dc, ch-1), * dc in next dc, ch 1 *, repeat from * around, sl st to third st of
beginning ch to join. Cut and weave in ends (16 posts and 16 ch-1 spaces).
Round 3 Turn and, working with wrong side facing, attach Color B in any ch-1 space, ch 1, sc in same
space, ch 6, sl st in side of sc at base of ch, (sc, trc, sc (bubble stitch)) in next ch-1 space, * sc in next ch-1
space, ch 6, sl st in side of sc at base of ch, (sc, trc, sc (bubble stitch)) in next ch-1 space *, repeat from *
around, sl st in side of beginning ch-1 to join (8 ch-6 loops and 8 bubble stitches).
Round 4 Ch 1 and turn, with right side facing, sl st in back loops of next bubble stitch, * (5 dc, ch 2, sc in
side of previous dc, 5 dc) in next ch-6 loop (crocodile stitch), sc in back loops of next bubble st *, repeat from *
around, sl st to beginning ch join (8 crocodile scales/petals).
Round 5 - * Ch 3, fold next petal forward and, working behind the petals, sc in the Row 3 stitch at the center of
the petal, ch 3, sc in sc between the next two petals *, repeat from * around, sl st to beginning ch to join (16 ch3 strings separated by scs).
Round 6 Still working behind the petals, ch 6, sl st in base of ch, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in next sc, 3 sc in
next ch-3 sp, * sc in next sc, ch 6, sl st in side of sc at base of ch, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in next sc, 3 sc in next
ch-3 sp *, repeat from * around, sl st to beginning ch to join (8 ch-6 loops and 8 groups of 7 scs).
Round 7 Ch 1, * (5 dc, ch 2, sc in side of previous dc, 5 dc) in next ch-6 loop (crocodile stitch), skip 3 sc, sc in
next sc, skip 3 sc *, repeat from * around, sl st through beginning ch-1 into next sc to pin first petal in place (8
Crocodile Stitch Afghan Block Croco-Dahlia by Joyce Lewis

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crocodile scales/petals separated by scs). Keep the petals folded up like a blooming onion, so they dont get in
the way.
Round 8 * Ch 3, fold next petal forward, dc in st at center of next petal, ch 3, sc in st between the next two
petals, ch 3, sc in st at center of next petal, ch 3, sc in st between the next two petals *, repeat from * around, sl
st to beginning ch to join (a dc in each corner with 3 scs and 4 ch-3s along each side).
Round 9 Ch 1,* (sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc), in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, (2 dc, 2 hdc, sc) in next ch-3 sp, sc in sc, 3 sc in next
ch-3 sp, skip next sc, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in next sc *, repeat from * around, sl st to beginning ch to join (18
sts on each side and a ch-2 at each corner). Cut and weave in ends.
Round 10 Attach Color C in a corner ch-2 space, ch 2, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same space, dc in each of next 18 sts,
* (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next corner space, dc in each of next 18 sts *, repeat from * around, sl st to top of
beginning ch to join (22 sts on each side and a ch-2 at each corner).
Round 11 Sl st to corner sp, ch 2, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same space, ch 1, (skip next st, dc in each of next 2 sts,
hdc around the two dcs just made (Banded Doubles)) 7 times, * skip next dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner ch-2
sp, ch 1, (skip next st, dc in each of next 2 sts, hdc around the two dcs just made (Banded Doubles)) 7 times *,
repeat from * around, sl st to top of beginning ch to join (26 sts on each side and a ch-2 at each corner).
Round 12 Sl st to corner sp, ch 2, (hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in same space, hdc in each of next 26 sts, * (2 hdc, ch 2, 2
hdc) in next corner space, hdc in each of next 26 sts *, repeat from * around, sl st to top of beginning ch to join
(30 sts on each side and a ch-2 at each corner). Cut and weave in ends.
Tug on each of the petals to stretch and flatten them.

2012 Joyce D. Lewis

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Crocodile Stitch Afghan Block Croco-Dahlia by Joyce Lewis

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