What is a 2-hdc puff stitch, and is it hard to learn?

It's two incomplete half double crochets worked into the same stitch — (yo, insert hook in the stitch or space and pull up a loop) repeated 2 times, ending with 5 loops on your hook, then yarn over and pull through all of them at once. It sounds fussier than it is; most crocheters get comfortable after two or three seeds. Just keep your pulled-up loops even in height

Can I make the watermelon square bigger or smaller?

Absolutely. The easiest lever is yarn weight — super bulky yarn with a large hook yields a bigger square, while fingering weight makes a tiny appliqué slice. You can also add an extra round or two of green rind before the final round to grow it slightly without changing the design

Why is my center circle cupping instead of lying flat?

Nine times out of ten it's missing chain-1 spaces between the puff stitches in round 2, which shrinks the round's circumference. Tight tension can also cause cupping — try going up half a hook size. Count your puffs and ch-1 spaces before moving on to round 3

Do I have to cut the yarn every time I change colors?

Between full rounds (red to pink, pink to green), yes — cut and change at the final pull-through of the last stitch for a clean join. Within round 2, though, use one short strand of black for all the seeds and carry it loosely across the back between them rather than cutting after each one — carrying the yarn loosely between color changes keeps the gradient smooth and natural

What can I make with the finished squares?

roughly 3.74 inches, they're perfect building blocks. Join a dozen or more for a summer-themed picnic blanket, use them for pool tote bags or kitchen hot pads, use four for a pillow front, back a single square for a coaster, or sew one onto a plain tote or beanie as an appliqué. You can also turn them into fun summer accessories like cushion covers

Watermelon Granny Square - Free Crochet Pattern

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Nora

Passionate crocheter. Hand-tests every pattern. Pours coffee into yarn.

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