Winter Garden Square: A Very Cottage Christmas
The Winter Garden Square is one of those patterns that just feels like a cozy winter afternoon. It’s full of texture, charm, and that handmade warmth we all love around the holidays. This square mixes clusters, bobbles, and V-stitches — giving it the perfect balance of classic crochet stitches and that touch of cottage-y texture that makes it so special.
A Very Cottage Christmas
This pattern is part of A Very Cottage Christmas, a festive crochet event I’m hosting with my good friend Debbie from MadameStitch. Together, we’re sharing a cozy collection of granny squares that you can turn into a lovely Christmas garland — perfect for adding a soft, rustic touch to your holiday décor
If you’re loving the event and want even more cottage-style goodness, you can grab the A Very Cottage Christmas ebook, which includes four exclusive bonus squares that won’t be released anywhere else.
And if this is your first time hearing about the event, no worries! Just head over to the main event page to catch up on all the details and see how it works. A new square is released every other day from December 1–12, so by the end, you’ll have a full set of beautifully coordinating squares ready to string together into your own “very cottage” garland.
About the Winter Garden Square
This square combines a few of my favorite stitches — the two double crochet cluster, V-stitch, and of course, the bobble stitch! The clusters give it structure, the V-stitches open things up a bit, and those bobbles add just the right amount of cozy texture.
It works up pretty quickly, and it’s such a satisfying square to make. The texture really shines when you play with contrasting colors, and it’s a fun way to use up those pretty winter or holiday yarns you’ve been saving.
Beyond the Garland: More Ways to Use This Square
Even though this square was designed for the A Very Cottage Christmas garland, there are so many other ways you can use it! Try turning it into:
- A wall hanging for a rustic farmhouse look
- A pillow cover by joining a few squares together
- A scarf or cowl for a cozy winter accessory
- Or even a full blanket if you’re really feeling those cottage vibes
It’s one of those versatile designs that can fit just about anywhere — and it’s simple enough to adapt to whatever project you have in mind.
Ready to Get Started?
Grab your yarn, your hook, and a warm cup of tea, and let’s crochet the Winter Garden Square together. Don’t forget to check out all the other squares in the A Very Cottage Christmas event — they’re all designed to coordinate beautifully so you can create your own one-of-a-kind garland!
Winter Garden Square Video Tutorial
Materials
- Worsted-weight yarn in 4 different colors. One main color and three contrasting colors. I used Lion Brand Color Theory.
- 5.0 mm crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Tape measure
Skill Level
- Advanced beginner. This pattern uses variations of basic stitches and the maker should already have knowledge of all basic stitches.
Tutorial Notes
- This pattern is written in English, using standard US crochet terms.
- This pattern is worked in the round.
- You will turn at the beginning of Round 4 and work from the wrong side.
- The ch 1 never counts as a stitch. 1 at the beginning of each row does not count as a stitch.
Stitches Used and Abbreviations
- MC – Magic Circle
- ch – chain
- st – stitch
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- 2-dc cl – 2 double crochet cluster (see Special Stitches)
- V st – V stitch (see Special Stitches)
- bobble – bobble stitch (see Special Stitches)
Gauge
not important for this pattern
Measurements
6″ square
Special Stitches
- 2 Double Crochet Cluster (2-dc cl): Yarn over, insert hook into stitch or space indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook). Yarn over, insert hook into the same stitch or space, yarn over and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through 2 loops (3 loops remain on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook.
- V-stitch (V st): Work [1 double crochet, chain 1, 1 double crochet] all in the same stitch or space indicated.
- Bobble Stitch: Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through two loops (you now have 2 loops on your hook). Repeat this step four more times in the same stitch (you’ll have 6 loops on your hook). Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops.
Crochet Pattern Instructions
Round 1:
Work 12 double crochet (dc) into the magic circle. Join with a slip stitch (sl st) to the first stitch. Fasten off.
(12 dc total)
Round 2:
Attach the next color in between any two dc stitches.
Note: For this round, you’ll be working in between the stitches, not into them.
Ch 1. Work a 2 double crochet cluster (2-dc cl) in the same space where you joined the new color, ch 2, [2-dc cl in between the next 2 sts, ch 2] repeat from [ to ] around. Join with a sl st to the first st. Fasten off.
(12 clusters, 12 ch-2 sps)
Round 3:
Attach new color to any ch-2 space and ch 1.
Work (V st, ch 2, V st) all in the same ch-2 sp as join — first corner made.
V st in next ch-2 sp twice. [(V st, ch 2, V st) all in the next ch-2 sp (corner made), V st in next ch-2 sp twice.] Repeat from [ to ] around.
Join with a sl st to first st. Fasten off.
(16 V sts total — 4 corners)
Round 4:
Join the next color in any ch-2 corner space, ch 1, and TURN your work.
Note: This round is worked from the wrong side.
Work (2 hdc, ch 3, 2 hdc) all in the same corner sp as join – first corner made.
Working only in the ch-1 spaces at the center of each V st, [work (1 hdc, 1 bobble) in each V st across (4 V sts total per side). (2 hdc, ch 3, 2 hdc) all in the next corner sp.] Repeat from [ to ] around.
Join with a sl st to first st. Fasten off.
(Each side: 4 hdc + 4 bobbles between corners = 8 sts per side; 4 ch-3 corner spaces total)
Round 5:
Turn your work over — you’ll now be working on the right side again.
Attach next color in any corner space, ch 1.
Work (2 hdc, ch 3, 2 hdc) all in the same corner sp as join. Hdc in each stitch across the side to the next corner space (12 hdc).
[(2 hdc, ch 3, 2 hdc) all in the next corner space, hdc in each st across the side (12 hdc).] Repeat from [ to ] around.
Join with a sl st to first st. Ch 1. Keep current color attached.
(Each side: 16 hdc total including corner stitches)
Round 6:
Work 1 sc in first 2 sts to corner space.
Work 3 sc in corner space. Sc in each stitch across the side (16 sc).
[3 sc in next corner sp, sc in each st across the side (16 sc).] Repeat from [ to ] around.
Join with a sl st to first st. Fasten off.
(Each side: 22 sc total — 16 along sides + 3 per corner = 88 sc total)
Wrapping Up My Cozy Crochet Project
I hope you enjoy making the Winter Garden Square as much as I loved designing it. There’s just something special about watching all those stitches come together — especially when it’s part of a larger project filled with holiday cheer. Whether you’re adding it to your “Very Cottage Christmas” garland or dreaming up your own cozy creation, I can’t wait to see how you make it your own. Be sure to share your square with me on social media so I can admire your beautiful work!
XOXO,
Christine
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These photos are the property of Spotted Horse Design Co. This tutorial is for your personal use only. Please do not copy/paste, distribute, or alter and claim as your own.
