Ashlee’s Yearly Blocks
Ashlee’s large squares showcase the year & a simple decoration. Use the written pattern or charts for the interlocking crochet or overlay mosaic crochet colorwork technique.
Interlocking & Mosaic
All of my designs give you the options of using either interlocking crochet or overlay mosaic crochet. Both colorwork techniques use two contrasting colors, one color per row, with just two stitches each.
See tutorials for each technique at ashleeslint.com/tutorials.
Written Patterns & Charts
All of my designs are drawn on a chart (or grid) and then turned into a written pattern.
You can work from the chart directly or use the written pattern. In patterns where there are words or writing I also include a written pattern for left-handed crocheters.
The mosaic crochet charts DO have X’s marking the dropped double crochets.
Size
These patterns belong in my large squares category.
The interlocking crochet charts are 81 x 81 and begin with 40 windows in the foundation row.
Some older designs use the same chart for both colorwork techniques and some designs come with a mosaic crochet option that uses an adjusted chart. This is where I remove the unnecesary border lines and interlocking mesh dots from the mosaic version of the pattern.
See more about this process at https://ashleeslint.com/tutorials/interlocking-and-mosaic-crochet/.
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The History of Ashlee’s Yearly Blocks
2020
A long, long, long, long time ago, way back in 2020 (ha!) I published an eBook of Holiday Squares and included a square that simply said “2020”.
It is a 40-window pattern (using the interlocking crochet technique) and the overlay mosaic version uses the same chart.
It has left- and right- handed instructions (see more left-handed options here: https://www.ravelry.com/bundles/left-handed-instructions-included).
My scrappy interlocking crochet sample of “Ashlee’s 2020 Block”.
2021
When 2021 rolled around I considered updating the eBook with a new square saying “2021” but then I figured I plan on being in this business for a long time and that would make the eBook get pretty messy if I had to keep adding squares.
Old Square, Too Small
In January of 2021, I did create a small square (chart size 41 x 41 instead of 81 x 81 like the Holiday Squares) that said 2021, but it is much easier to join squares of the same size… so, this one doesn’t fill the need.
2022
In August, I received a request for an updated square with the current year. I anticipated that it would not take me long to get that done… but somehow it is November already. *cringe*
However, I finally accomplished my goal and I now have a large square for 2021 and 2022 – and next month I will add 2023 to the mix as well. Woohoo!
I created a bundle of the two new squares. Mosaic 2021 sample crocheted by Linda Bakker; pink 2022 sample crocheted by Heather Passmore.
2021/2022 Bundle
Get the new squares, “Ashlee’s 2021 Block” and “Ashlee’s 2022 Block” at half price if you have already purchased “Ashlee’s eBook of Holiday Squares” on Ravelry.
The discounts on Ravelry can only be applied one at a time, so you’ll want to grab the eBook first and then get the two new squares.
—
On Etsy, the two new squares are listed together and you will get an automatic 25% discount on that listing until November 17, 2022.
You can get the eBook at a 25% discount until November 17, 2022 – no code needed, add to cart to see discount apply; valid on Etsy and Ravelry.
Holiday EBook Updates?
I am not adding these new yearly squares to the Holiday Squares eBook because it gets messy to constantly adjust eBook listings.
But I have created a half price promotion on Ravelry for those who already own the eBook “Ashlee’s 2020 Holiday Squares“: add both the 2021 and 2022 squares to your cart to see the discount applied. Expires Nov 17, 2022.
Colorwork
Each pattern is designed to use 2 colors (good contrasting colors), but, as you can see in this next photo, the opportunity to add some more colors can really spice things up!
Lara Skelly used the overlay mosaic crochet version of “Ashlee’s 2022 Block”.
She started with green as the Main Color (MC / 1st color) and alternated light and dark blue for the Contrasting Color (CC / 2nd color). The pink is a little bit of tapestry crochet on the MC rows. In the middle she substituted dark brown instead of green for the MC.
“Ashlee’s 2022 Block” crocheted by Lara Skelly using the overlay mosaic crochet technique and some surprise color changes!
“Ashlee’s 2021 Block” crocheted by Divya Tellakula using the interlocking crochet technique.
“Ashlee’s 2021 Block” crocheted by ScorpiosHook using the interlocking crochet technique.
“Ashlee’s 2022 Block” crocheted by Divya Tellakula using the interlocking crochet technique.
“Ashlee’s 2022 Block” crocheted by Beautifulla24 using the overlay mosaic crochet technique.
Testers
Big thanks to my testing team: @Beautifulla24, Divya Tellakula, Heather Passmore, Linda Bakker, Nessa Miller, Nyasha Jones, & @ScorpiosHook!
Oops!
If you see some samples where the “2022” is up too high in the square that’s because I made a mistake when drawing. I fixed it, but only after a few of my testers had already finished crocheting. Centered is better, don’t blame the testers!
More Details About These Yearly Blocks
Options
These yearly blocks, like all my patterns, can be made using interlocking crochet or overlay mosaic crochet (like all of my patterns).
And these designs have right- and left-handed written instructions because you need the numbers to face the right way to be legible.
Charts
The original 2020 square used the same chart for both techniques. These new squares for 2021 and 2022 have had the extra border lines and interlocking mesh dots removed for the mosaic technique; the chart is 77 x 77.
I will be updating the whole 2020 Holiday eBook soon. (As of November 2022, this eBook has been updated to include an adjusted mosaic crochet option along with the original interlocking and mosaic crochet options. Read more at https://ashleeslint.com/2022/11/15/solid-overlay-mosaic-crochet-update-to-2020-holiday-squares-ebook/).
Purchase Links
Ashlee’s 2020 Block – Curved Brackets
This block is only available in the 2020 Holiday eBook, not individually. Read more about the eBook at https://ashleeslint.com/2020/12/02/ashlees-2020-holiday-squares-ebook-interlocking-and-mosaic-crochet-patterns/
Ashlee’s 2021 Block – Spots
Ashlee’s 2022 Block – Fancy Lines
Ashlee’s 2023 Block – Swirl
I started designing in 2020 and have a Yearly Block for each year now!
Ashlee’s 2023 Block is now available. Samples above crocheted by ScorpiosHook and Linda Bakker.
