Adobe Brick Square Crochet Free Pattern

Introduction

The Adobe Brick Square is a cozy, beginner-friendly afghan square that captures the warm, sun-baked look of desert adobe walls. Worked in simple double crochet with alternating blocks of off-white and rust, it creates a staggered brick grid that looks far more intricate than it really is. At 12 x 12 inches, it's the perfect building block for blankets, pillows, or a sampler afghan, and the worsted weight yarn makes it soft, squishy, and quick to work up. Whether you're new to color changes or just want a relaxing, meditative project, this square delivers big texture with very little fuss.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (4) acrylic or cotton. Color A (off-white): 150 yds. Color B (rust): 100 yds.
• Hook: 5.5 mm (I/9) crochet hook
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, measuring tape
• Finished size: 12 x 12 inches (30.5 x 30.5 cm)

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook.
• dc — double crochet: yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through last 2 loops.
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• RS — right side (the front, public side of the work)
• beg — beginning
• rep — repeat
• A — off-white; B — rust

Gauge

14 stitches and 8 rows in pattern = 4 inches (10 cm). To check, work a small swatch in double crochet with the 5.5 mm hook and measure a 4-inch section; adjust your hook size if needed to match.

Tips Before You Start

• Carry your colors loosely. When you switch between A and B, carry the unused color along the back of the work without pulling it tight, or the square will pucker. Keep the float relaxed.
• Change color on the last stitch. To switch colors cleanly, complete the final yarn-over of the last stitch of the old color with the new color.
• Count your blocks. Each color block is exactly 4 stitches wide, so every row should total 40 dc. Count at the end of each row to catch mistakes early.
• Keep your turning chain consistent. The ch 3 at the start of each row counts as the first dc, so your first real dc goes into the next stitch.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Square (make 1)

With A, ch 42.

Row 1 (RS): Dc in 4th ch from hook (first 3 ch count as dc), dc in each ch across, turn. (40 dc)

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 3 sts, *change to B, dc in next 4 sts, change to A, dc in next 4 sts; rep from * across, ending with dc in last 4 sts, turn. (40 dc)

Row 3: Ch 3, dc in next 3 sts, *B dc in next 4 sts, A dc in next 4 sts; rep from * across, ending with dc in last 4 sts, turn. (40 dc)

Rows 4-5: Rep Row 3. (40 dc)

Row 6: Ch 3, dc in next 3 sts, *A dc in next 4 sts, B dc in next 4 sts; rep from * across, ending with dc in last 4 sts, turn. (40 dc)

Rows 7-9: Rep Row 6. (40 dc)

Rows 10-13: Rep Rows 2-5. (40 dc)

Rows 14-17: Rep Rows 6-9. (40 dc)

Rows 18-21: Rep Rows 2-5. (40 dc)

Rows 22-25: Rep Rows 6-9. (40 dc)

Rows 26-29: Rep Rows 2-5. (40 dc)

Rows 30-33: Rep Rows 6-9. (40 dc)

Row 34: Rep Row 2. Fasten off. (40 dc)

Border

Rnd 1: With RS facing, join A with sl st in any corner, ch 3, dc evenly around, working (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner; join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

Weave in all ends securely on the wrong side using your tapestry needle, working each end through several stitches to lock it in place. If you're joining multiple squares, seam them together with a whipstitch or single crochet join along the edges, matching corners. Block the finished square to 12 x 12 inches by pinning it to a blocking mat, misting lightly with water, and letting it dry completely flat. Blocking opens up the stitches and gives the brick pattern crisp, even edges.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Color swap: Try a dusty sage and cream, or charcoal and mustard, for a different desert palette.
• Pillow version: Make two squares and seam them together with a small opening for a 12-inch pillow insert.
• Bigger blanket: Work more rows in the same 4-row alternation to make a rectangular throw, adjusting your starting chain in multiples of 8 plus 2.