January Dragon
This is my fifth year creating a “Year of…” series of large squares. This year I am drawing dragons! See announcement at https://ashleeslint.com/year-of/2025-year-dragons/.
January Dragon shows two flying dragons blowing a little smoke. Whether you look at the square right way up or turn it upside down you will see the same image.
EBook Discount
The eBook will be updated each month. Pay once and get a full year of dragon squares!
Purchasing the eBook saves you 40% compared to buying each individual dragon square.
Interlocking crochet sample of January Dragon by an ScorpiosHook.
Interlocking crochet sample of January Dragon by On A Poad Trip.
Overlay mosaic crochet sample of January Dragon by Henriette van Wyck.
Failed Yin-Yang?
Art is often subjective.
Does January Dragon count as a failed yin-yang because that was how I started it? Or does it get to be a success on its own?
When I decided upon dragons for this year’s series of squares I drew a few drafts, trying to emulate the yin-yang idea I drew in “January Cat“. I like having two characters in the January square to represent Janus which was often depicted as a dual-headed entity. And I like the idea of a harmonious balance to start the new year off with.
Art is a Process
I struggled with getting all the details in. I debated on whether I was really cut out for doing a full year of dragon squares. I walked away. Tried again. Slept on it. Tried something else.
I drew so many drafts that my son got in on the action!
“Here, mom, you can use this!”
Remington’s Yin Yang Dragon Drawing
Ultimately, I decided I liked this version (with two identical dragons, showing some wing and some claws) of all my January drafts the best. I will still think of it as an almost-yin-yang but I can understand if you give it a different nickname!
Wishing you Peace in 2025
My daughter suggested the January Dragons look like they’re fighting.
I sure hope 2025 brings you more balance and peace and we are able to avoid too much more fighting.
In many cultures dragons are strong, powerful protectors. It has also been seen as a sign of wisdown.
I am looking for a peacful, powerful 2025.
Crochet Colorwork
Colorwork designs can be daunting. I love both interlocking crochet and overlay mosaic crochet because they make the colorwork process less stressful.
There are differences in the techniques but both of them use only one color per row. The design shows up by covering some of the previous row.
You’ll receive the fully written pattern and charts for both colorwork techniques.
I strongly recommend using a dark color as the Main Color (MC / first color used) for these dragon designs but, see my note on color choice and take a peek at Divya’s sample.
Learn more about these techniques at https://ashleeslint.com/tutorials/interlocking-and-mosaic-crochet/. Watch a full walk-thru of a small interlocking crochet square at https://youtu.be/_3So3Pe8GWc
I may make recommendations, but we are all creators and have to be free to create! Divya Tellakula’s dark square uses black as the 2nd color so that it’s the background and it is my son’s favorite!
Some designs will work better than others for switching the dark and light colors. January Dragon is one that can work either way!
January Trial
Not ready to commit to the eBook? Purchase January Dragon as a trial. If you decide to upgrade to the eBook you will be automatically discounted the cost of January.
Valid on Ravelry only, you must be logged into the same account when purchasing January Dragon for the discount to apply to the 2025: A Year of Dragons eBook. Cannot be combined with other offers.
Monthly Series
The “Year of…” series are all designed with a final blanket of 12 squares in mind but this is not the only way you can use the squares.
Each month’s design is available individually or in the eBook. The eBook is a one-time purchase that will get updated every month throughout the year with the next dragon square. At the end of the year I’ll also add an all-in-one blanket pattern to the eBook that will not be available elsewhere.
You will save 40% with the purchase of the eBook versus buying each month’s square individually.
I’ve loved seeing the creative ways people have used the previous years’ squares; wall hangings, bags, pillows, etc. A blanket of 3 x 3 or even 2 x 2 squares can make the project more manageable. Have fun and enjoy the process!
Interlocking crochet sample of January Dragon by an Anonymous Squirrel.
Overlay mosaic crochet sample of January Dragon by Linda Bakker.
Overlay mosaic crochet sample of January Dragon by Kim.
Cutting Your Yarn with Overlay Mosaic Crochet Squares
One of the biggest deterrents to trying overlay mosaic crochet is the idea that we need to cut the yarn at the end of every row.
I promise it’s not as scary as it sounds!
It is important to have a plan before you begin though.
Will you be adding an envelope border at the end to hide the cut ends? Then they don’t need to be too long. There are even multiple options on how to use envelope borders! Check out these photos where I’ve mixed envelope borders with panels between squares to save on yarn.
Would you rather do some twisting and make the cut ends a feature of your blanket or scarf? Then you’ll need to make sure they’re left long.
If you plan on weaving them in maybe you would also like to crochet over them as you go?
Or maybe you’d rather skip having cut ends altogether? You can use Tunisian mosaic crochet and not have to cut your yarn at all!
Another option is to crochet the squares together as you make them – create your foundation row as wide as three squares, for example, and crochet row 1 of all three squares, one after another, without cutting between them.
You’ll even be able to find tutorials that change the way the back of your project looks. Personally, I’m not a fan of these options because of the way it affects the final image but I do love knowing all the options available!
Overlay mosaic crochet sample of January Dragon by Karen.
Joining Squares
I do prefer using the interlocking crochet technique for blankets made of squares because it’s easy to just crochet the squares and then join them. I do not add the optional single crochet border when I know I’ll be joining the squares as a blanket. I add the border to the outer edge of the final blanket instead.
With mosaic crochet you have to deal with the cut ends before joining the squares. The previous section goes over some options for dealing with those ends; my preferred method is to create an envelope after ALL the squares have been crocheted and use that pocket to cover the ends of more than one square at a time.
Whether I’m joining interlocking crochet squares or mosaic crochet squares, my preferred method is the flat braid join.
It’s stretchy enough, and quick enough, to satisfy my needs for getting the project done and having it look good.
See my video on joining squares at https://youtu.be/UXoh8ungXRs.
Wrong Side of January Dog
The ‘right side’ with the design is the main point of these squares, but it’s often interesting to see what the back, or ‘wrong side’, will look like too!
Interlocking crochet creates an almost opposite image while overlay mosaic crochet just creates stripes. You can often see a faint illusion of the front.
January Dog Testers
The 2025: A Year of Dragons series was tested by Altona Newcombe, Angela, Anonymous Squirrel, Cindy Daling, CynCityCrochet, Divya Tellakula, Eva, Henriette van Wyk, Kami, Karen, Keni927, Kim, Linda Bakker, Maja Serec, Margaret Maillet, Marie Sparks, Monique, Nancy McKain, On a Poad Trip, PATYCréations, Pleva, Roxy’s Yarnstitchery, Sandi Willoughby, Scorpios Hook, and Sonjia Rothenburger-Schultz.
I value their feedback tremendously! Thank you!
Color Choice
I strongly recommend using a dark color as the Main Color (MC / first color used) for these dragon squares.
However, creativity can not always be stifled and we like experimenting!
Check out some of the tester’s colors and see if it helps you decide!
Important Details for January Dragon
Each design comes with the fully written pattern and charts for two colorwork techniques: interlocking crochet and overlay mosaic crochet.
Click here to go to my tutorials for these crochet techniques.
Brackets
Brackets are used in the written pattern to indicate repeated sections. See my detailed explanation: https://ashleeslint.com/2020/08/29/brackets-in-crochet-patterns/ or watch it in action with this mosaic crochet sample at https://youtu.be/IW-vtpHTIjs.
Interlocking Crochet
Each dragon square has a chart size of 81 x 81. This means they begin with 40 windows in the foundation row and will finish to about 20″ square.
Interlocking crochet / LFM crochet file includes:
- line-by-line written pattern (view key)
- instructions on reading a chart (view)
- a one-page chart (good for viewing on a screen)
- a four-page chart (better for printing)
Interlocking Crochet Details
- Chart is 81 x 81
- Gauge: 8 (dc, ch) x 8 rows = 4”
- 20″ x 20″ / 51cm x 51cm
- 4.5 mm hook (US7)
- Worsted weight yarn (490 – 565 yards total)
- Main color (MC) (dragon) – 250 yards plus 75 for optional border
- Accent color (AC) (background) – 240 yards
Overlay Mosaic Crochet
The mosaic crochet version of each dragon square is a solid design. I’ve removed the interlocking mesh dots and the unneccessary double-border lines. Read more about the differences at https://ashleeslint.com/tutorials/interlocking-and-mosaic-crochet/.
Click here to learn more about the options for dealing with the cut ends at the end of each row when doing overlay mosaic crochet.
Overlay Mosaic Crochet file includes:
- line-by-line written pattern (view key)
- instructions for optional envelope border (view)
- instructions on reading a chart (view)
- a one-page chart marked with X’s (good for viewing on a screen)
- a four-page chart marked with X’s (better for printing)
Mosaic Crochet Details
- Chart is 77 x 77
- Gauge: 14 sc blo stitches x 15 rows = 4”
- 22″ x 20″ / 56cm x 52cm
- 5 mm hook (H-8)
- Worsted weight yarn (545 – 795 yards)
- Main color (dragon) – 245 yards
- Contrasting color (background) – 300 yards
- Optional envelope border – 250 yards
Are you crocheting one of my designs? I’d love to see it. Tag me on social media or join one of my groups!
The first Facebook icon takes you to my public page, the second Facebook icon goes to my private group.
