Wide graphic showing a penguin C2C crochet square with a black and white penguin, green scarf, green-and-red hat, orange feet, and blue background beside text reading “Penguin C2C Crochet Square Pattern” and “Free.”

Penguin C2C crochet square pattern

This penguin C2C crochet square pattern features a festive penguin and makes a fun addition to Christmas blankets, pillows, tote bags, wall hangings, and other holiday projects. It’s one of 12 coordinating squares from my Christmas C2C crochet blanket pattern, but it also works well as a standalone project.

Quick answer

This intermediate penguin C2C crochet square pattern uses worsted weight (#4) yarn and an I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook. It is worked corner to corner from a 25 × 25 block graph, increasing through Row 25 and then decreasing through Row 49. The finished square measures approximately 16 × 16 inches (41 × 41 cm) including the border, and the pattern includes both a graph and written color counts.

Penguin C2C crochet square pattern details

Skill level

Intermediate — Uses traditional corner-to-corner crochet with increases, decreases, frequent color changes, and graph or written color-count instructions.

Materials needed

  • I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook
  • Worsted weight yarn (#4) in white, black, orange, blue, green, and red
  • Yarn needle
  • Scissors

Finished size

The finished square measures approximately 16 × 16 inches (41 × 41 cm), including the border.

Square graphic featuring a penguin C2C crochet square with a black and white penguin wearing a green scarf and green-and-red hat on a blue background beneath text reading “Penguin C2C Crochet Square Pattern” and “Free Pattern.”

Gauge

7 C2C blocks (ch 3 + 3 dc) = 4 inches (10 cm)

Learn how to check crochet gauge before you begin so you can adjust your hook size if needed.

Crochet abbreviations

Pattern notes

  • The square is worked corner to corner in diagonal rows, beginning at the bottom right corner and ending at the top left corner.
  • Each C2C block consists of ch 3 and 3 dc.
  • Ch 6 to begin an increase row and ch 3 to begin each new C2C block.
  • Rows 1–25 increase by one block per row, ending with 25 blocks in Row 25.
  • Beginning with Row 26, decrease at both ends of each row until 1 block remains in Row 49.
  • When changing colors, switch to the new color as you join with a sl st to the next C2C block.
  • You can follow either the picture graph or the written color counts.
  • The written instructions list the number of blocks to make in each color and the order in which to work them.
  • ↙ indicates a right-side row.
  • ↗ indicates a wrong-side row.
  • The pattern is written in US crochet terms.

C2C video tutorial

If you’re new to corner-to-corner crochet, this tutorial uses my mini heart square to demonstrate the same C2C technique used for this penguin pattern.

Prefer YouTube? Watch my step-by-step C2C crochet tutorial on YouTube.

Pinterest graphic featuring a penguin C2C crochet square with a black and white penguin wearing a green scarf and green-and-red hat on a blue background, with text reading “Christmas penguin crochet square” and “Free festive C2C pattern.”

Penguin C2C crochet square pattern instructions

Penguin graph

Download the penguin graph.

Written color counts

↙ Row 1: blue x 1 (1 block)
↗ Row 2: blue x 2 (2 blocks)
↙ Row 3: blue x 3 (3 blocks)
↗ Row 4: blue x 4 (4 blocks)
↙ Row 5: blue x 5 (5 blocks)
↗ Row 6: blue x 6 (6 blocks)
↙ Row 7: blue x 7 (7 blocks)
↗ Row 8: blue x 8 (8 blocks)
↙ Row 9: blue x 9 (9 blocks)
↗ Row 10: blue x 1, orange x 1, black x 6, blue x 2 (10 blocks)
↙ Row 11: blue x 2, black x 7, orange x 1, blue x 1 (11 blocks)
↗ Row 12: blue x 1, orange x 1, black x 1, white x 4, black x 3, blue x 2 (12 blocks)
↙ Row 13: blue x 2, black x 1, green x 4, white x 3, black x 1, orange x 1, blue x 1 (13 blocks)
↗ Row 14: blue x 2, black x 1, white x 4, green x 4, blue x 3 (14 blocks)
↙ Row 15: blue x 3, green x 4, white x 5, black x 1, orange x 1, blue x 1 (15 blocks)
↗ Row 16: blue x 1, orange x 1, black x 1, white x 5, green x 4, blue x 4 (16 blocks)
↙ Row 17: blue x 4, green x 4, white x 6, black x 1, orange x 1, blue x 1 (17 blocks)
↗ Row 18: blue x 1, orange x 1, black x 1, white x 6, green x 4, blue x 5 (18 blocks)
↙ Row 19: blue x 5, black x 1, green x 4, white x 6, black x 1, blue x 2 (19 blocks)
↗ Row 20: blue x 2, black x 1, white x 6, green x 4, white x 1, black x 1, blue x 5 (20 blocks)
↙ Row 21: blue x 5, black x 1, white x 2, green x 4, white x 5, black x 1, blue x 3 (21 blocks)
↗ Row 22: blue x 3, black x 1, white x 5, green x 4, white x 3, red x 1, blue x 5 (22 blocks)
↙ Row 23: blue x 5, red x 2, white x 3, green x 4, white x 4, black x 1, blue x 4 (23 blocks)
↗ Row 24: blue x 4, black x 1, white x 4, green x 4, white x 3, red x 2, blue x 6 (24 blocks)
↙ Row 25: blue x 6, green x 1, red x 2, white x 2, orange x 1, green x 4, white x 3, black x 1, blue x 5 (25 blocks)
Corner: Begin decreasing on both sides
↗ Row 26: blue x 4, black x 1, white x 3, green x 4, orange x 1, white x 1, black x 1, red x 2, green x 1, blue x 6 (24 blocks)
↙ Row 27: blue x 5, green x 2, red x 2, white x 2, orange x 1, green x 3, white x 3, black x 1, blue x 4 (23 blocks)
↗ Row 28: blue x 3, black x 2, white x 2, green x 3, white x 3, red x 2, green x 2, blue x 5 (22 blocks)
↙ Row 29: blue x 4, green x 3, red x 2, white x 3, green x 3, white x 1, black x 2, blue x 3 (21 blocks)
↗ Row 30: blue x 2, black x 3, green x 3, white x 2, black x 1, red x 2, green x 3, blue x 4 (20 blocks)
↙ Row 31: blue x 3, green x 4, red x 2, white x 3, green x 2, black x 3, blue x 2 (19 blocks)
↗ Row 32: blue x 2, black x 2, green x 2, white x 3, red x 2, green x 4, blue x 3 (18 blocks)
↙ Row 33: blue x 2, green x 5, red x 2, white x 2, black x 1, green x 1, black x 2, blue x 2 (17 blocks)
↗ Row 34: blue x 5, black x 1, white x 1, red x 2, green x 5, blue x 2 (16 blocks)
↙ Row 35: blue x 1, green x 6, red x 2, black x 1, blue x 5 (15 blocks)
↗ Row 36: blue x 5, red x 2, green x 6, blue x 1 (14 blocks)
↙ Row 37: blue x 1, green x 6, red x 1, blue x 5 (13 blocks)
↗ Row 38: blue x 12 (12 blocks)
↙ Row 39: blue x 11 (11 blocks)
↗ Row 40: blue x 10 (10 blocks)
↙ Row 41: blue x 9 (9 blocks)
↗ Row 42: blue x 8 (8 blocks)
↙ Row 43: blue x 7 (7 blocks)
↗ Row 44: blue x 6 (6 blocks)
↙ Row 45: blue x 5 (5 blocks)
↗ Row 46: blue x 4 (4 blocks)
↙ Row 47: blue x 3 (3 blocks)
↗ Row 48: blue x 2 (2 blocks)
↙ Row 49: blue x 1 (1 block)

Add the border

After completing the square, join white yarn in any corner and ch 1. Work 2 sc in each C2C block space around, working (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in each corner. Join with a sl st to the first sc and fasten off.

Finishing

Weave in all remaining yarn ends. Block if desired.

More free C2C Christmas patterns

Want to make more festive C2C squares? Try my Snowman C2C crochet square pattern or my Santa C2C crochet square pattern for more Christmas designs that coordinate with this square.

You can also browse my full collection of free C2C crochet patterns for more graphs, panels, and corner-to-corner projects.

Let’s connect!

I’d love to see what you’re making! Share your finished project and follow along for more free crochet patterns and tutorials.

📌 Don’t forget to pin this pattern for later!
Happy crocheting! 🧶
— Melissa

Pinterest graphic showing a penguin C2C crochet square with a black and white penguin, green scarf, green-and-red hat, orange feet, and blue background beneath text reading “Penguin C2C crochet square pattern.”