Christmas Penguin C2C Crochet Square

It wouldn’t be Christmas in July without a C2C from Repeat Crafter Me!

I’m kicking off a brand-new Christmas in July Corner-to-Corner Crochet Along with the first square in the series: A sweet little penguin wrapped up in a bright red scarf!

He may be bundled up for winter, but we’re stitching him right in the middle of summer. By the end of this series we’ll have four festive character squares that come together into one cheerful Christmas blanket.

I’m keeping the other three characters a surprise for now (ok, not completely a surprise.. there’s a picture below!), but I have a fun idea brewing. Instead of every character facing the same direction, imagine them peeking through a frosty window from different angles… one upright, one sideways, maybe even one upside down! I can’t wait to share them all and let you vote on your favorite layout.

If you’re new to Corner-to-Corner (C2C) crochet, it’s a fun and highly addictive technique that turns pixel-style graphs into beautiful textured crochet pieces. You’ll start in one corner of the design (typically the lower right) and work diagonally in rows toward the opposite corner. Each pixel square represents one block made up of a chain 2 + 3 half double crochets (HDC). I prefer using HDC instead of double crochet for a slightly tighter, neater stitch. C2C is a great way to bring character designs, icons, and seasonal motifs to life!

Before you get started, below is a Corner-to-Corner Video Tutorial if you need some help with the technique:

Materials

– Red Heart Super Saver in: Medium Purple (background), Black, White, Cherry Red (scarf), Saffron (beak), and Perfect Pink (cheeks) >>> Shop colors HERE on Yarnspirations.com <<<
– Size H Crochet Hook
– Tapestry Needle

Finished Size: Approximately 18 x 18 inches

Three Ways to Follow the Pattern

Everyone has their favorite way to crochet, so I’ve included several options.

The links above are the free instructions to make your c2c square. Follow the pixel graph, the written instructions, or the color blocks.

Three more festive friends are on their way, and once they’re all finished I’ll show you my idea for arranging them into one playful Christmas blanket. I have a feeling you’ll have some opinions about which direction everyone should face… and I definitely want your help deciding!

Fun fact: the squares are completely reversible!
The back is a mirror image of the front, so no matter how you join your blanket, it will look fabulous on both sides.