Bonding Squares Free Crochet Pattern

The Nugget Bonding Squares are a great project for donating to NICU units or moms of preemies. They don’t require too much yarn, so you can use smaller balls from your stash, and they work up quickly.

Many hospitals are using bonding square to help mom and her new baby to bond while apart. Traditionally you would make them in pairs (1 for mom to wear, 1 for baby).

Make sure you check with your local NICU department to see if they are accepting bonding squares and what their specific regulations might be.

The Nugget Bonding Squares are part of the Nugget Preemie set.

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MATERIALS

Finished Size: 5.5″ square

Yarn: #4 bulky weight – 1.2 oz/60 yds skeins
Sample used: Caron One Pound in Soft Sage

Crochet Hook: Size J/10 (6 mm)

Notions: Yarn Needle

Gauge: 12.5 sts x 14 rows = 4” in pattern

Difficulty: Beginner: Uses easy stitches with no shaping.

Abbreviations:

ch – chain
dc – double crochet
edc – extended double crochet
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
yo – yarn over

For a full list of abbreviations, please see my List of Abbreviations.

Notes:

Squares can be adjusted by adding, or subtracting, in multiples of 2.
When adjusting the size be sure to consider yarn requirements.

Special Stitches:

Edc (extended double crochet) – yo, insert hook in next ch-sp, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 1 loop on hook, [yo, pull through 2 loops on hook] twice.

The Nugget Bonding square was created for the Annual Preemie Challenge 2023 hosted by Sunflower Cottage Crochet and will be available for free download until the end of the event.

NUGGET BONDING SQUARES CROCHET PATTERN

SQUARES

(make 2)

Ch 18.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *dc in next ch, sc in next ch; rep from * across, turn. (17 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in 1st st, *ch 1, skip next sc, sc in next st; rep from * across, turn. (9 sc, 8 ch-1 sps)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in 1st sc, *edc in ch-sp, sc in next sc; rep from * across, turn. (9 sc, 8 edc)

Rows 4 – 15: Repeat Rows 2 & 3.

Border

Round 1: (Sc, ch 1, sc) in corner, work 1 sc in each st across top, (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner, work 1 sc in each row end, (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner, work 1 st in each st across bottom, (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner, work 1 sc in each row end, sl st in first sc to join.

Fasten off.