Craft a Sweet Crocheted Cupcake Square With This Free Pattern.
You could transform this cute cupcake square into many different types of finished projects. I used mine to make potholders, but it would also be possible to use it for making blankets, pillows, or all kinds of other items.
My sample square is a cherry cupcake “frosted” with pink frosting, but you can change the colors to make different cupcake flavors if you like.
Related Resources: How to Read a Crochet Chart | Tapestry Crochet Guide: Includes a Free Tutorial | How to Do Surface Crochet Slip Stitches
Project Description:
This pretty cupcake is a fun design to crochet. You use the tapestry crochet to create this design, and you add the finishing touches using cross stitch and surface crochet.
Skill Level: Experienced.
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Supply List:
Yarn: You’ll need four colors of yarn, as follows:
- Color A: lighter pink (background color)
- Color B: tan (cupcake color)
- Color C: darker pink (frosting color)
- Color D: red (cherry color) — This can be scrap yarn. You only need a small amount of it.
Suggested Yarn for This Pattern: Cascade 220 wool yarn or any similar 100% wool yarn.
My project sample was crocheted using worsted weight yarn. The two pink colors are Cascade 220 wool, the tan is a mill spun New Zealand wool yarn, and the red yarn is Paton’s classic wool.
It could be interesting to try crocheting this pattern in other yarn weights and other fibers; feel free to experiment if you like.
Crochet Hook: You’ll need a hook that’s compatible with your chosen yarn or fiber.I used a size I crochet hook for working my project sample.
Tapestry Needle: A tapestry needle is essential for working the cross stitch part of this pattern; it is also handy for weaving in your loose ends when you are finished crocheting.
Finished Size: The sample square measures approximately 8.5 inches square.
Crochet Abbreviations Used in This Pattern:
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- sl st = slip stitch
- st = stitch
Cupcake Charts You’ll Need for Crocheting This Design
Chart for Right-Handed Crafters:
Chart for Left-Handed Crafters:
This version of the chart is intended especially for left-handed crochet enthusiasts to work with; it’s exactly the same as the right-handed version of the chart, except that the entire image has been flipped horizontally. This allows left-handed crocheters to end up with the same image that right-handed crocheters do.
Since the cupcake image is not totally symmetrical, I wanted to be sure to give left-handed crocheters their own version. However, if a left-handed crocheter were to crochet the right-handed version of this design, the cupcake would still turn out fine; the image is close enough to symmetrical that either version would work for either a left-handed or a right-handed person.
There are some projects — for example, numbers and letters of the alphabet — where having a left-handed version is more critical than it is with this design.
Feel free to use either or both versions of the chart, if you like. If you’re making a project like a blanket, you might want to use each of these charts for about half the squares, and also mix up your color choices, so you can have cupcakes that slightly differ from each other.
Project Instructions:
To crochet the square, you’ll be working with three of the four yarn colors. Although the first four rows are worked in color A alone, I recommend carrying colors B and C from the beginning, and then continuing to carry both your unused colors throughout the pattern.
This helps with two things:
- First, it helps you to achieve stitches that are more square than they would be otherwise; the carried yarns add to the height of your stitches.
- Second, it makes it easier to maintain a consistent tension throughout.
Using color A, ch 29. Begin working either the right-handed or left-handed version of the cupcake chart, depending which hand you use for crocheting.
Sc in 2nd ch from hook to start off. Do not crochet the red Xes on the chart; ignore them for now. The Xes denote areas that will be cross stitched, and the cross stitch will be worked overtop of the cupcake pattern after you are finished crocheting the square.
When you have finished crocheting the chart, work a round of sc st around the outer perimeter of the square using color A. I worked 2 ch sts to form each corner.
For a bit of extra dimension, you can work a round of surface crochet slip stitches in the spot where the border touches the outer edge of the charted design. If you look closely at the photo, you can see this little detail on my sample project. This is optional; I do like the way surface crochet slip stitches look, and I think it’s a nice touch, but the design would be OK without it.
Stitch the Cherry Motif:
Thread your tapestry crochet needle using color D. Use it to cross stitch the cherry onto the top of the cupcake. Each red X on the chart represents a cross stitch on the finished piece.
Finishing the Cupcake:
Insert your hook into a spot where colors A, C and D touch each other. Pull up a loop of color C and use it for working an outline of surface crochet slip stitches around the outer edge of the frosting on the cupcake. You’ll be working these sts in the area where colors A and C touch each other.
This is your opportunity to “clean up” the jagged edges and make the cupcake look as appealing as possible. Study the sample carefully; see how I used my surface crochet stitches to outline the piece?
Using color D, work a round of surface crochet slip stitches in a circle overtop of the cross stitched area. This makes the cherry motif appear to be round instead of square. End off color D and weave in loose ends.
Insert your hook into a spot where colors A, B and C touch each other. Pull up a loop of color B and work surface crochet slip stitches around the edge of the cupcake, working around the area where colors A and B touch each other.
End off. Weave in the remaining loose ends. Block the piece if desired.
Ideas for Using This Cupcake Square:
- If you crochet a bunch of these squares using lots of different colors and kid-friendly yarns, you could join the squares together to make an adorable child’s afghan.
- Combine multiple squares to make placemats or table runners.
- Crochet two of these, stitch them together with wrong sides facing, and use the piece as a hot pad or large potholder.
- There are zillions of other ways you could use this design, and I invite you to use your creativity and adapt it as you see fit. I hope you’ll have sooooo much fun with it, and that your finished project will give you much enjoyment.
- Try Bead Crochet, and Find Interesting Bead Crochet Tutorials, Ideas and Patterns to Work On
- Find More Crochet Square Patterns
- Check Out This Site’s Main Directory of Crochet Patterns
Thanks for checking out this free crochet cupcake square pattern. I appreciate your interest!
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By Amy Solovay
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About Your Pattern Designer:
Amy Solovay is a real, live, human content creator and educator who holds an Associate of Arts degree in Textile Design from FIDM LA (The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Sweet Briar College. She is NOT a robot and does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to write book reviews or articles for this website.
Amy learned to crochet as a small child, and she still enjoys crocheting all these years later.
As an educator, Amy Solovay used to teach in-person college courses in trend forecasting, marketing and surface design at California Design College in Los Angeles. Nowadays she uses online platforms for sharing her knowledge about textiles, crafts, current color trends and current design trends.
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This page was last updated on 1-9-2026.