Mauve Yoga Block Sleeve Crochet Free Pattern: African Flower Motif Cover

A Cozy Little Cover for Your Yoga Block

If you have ever wanted to crochet something beautiful but felt nervous about making a garment, this project is your perfect starting point. The Mauve Yoga Block Sleeve is a boxy, open-topped cover built from twelve African flower motifs, joined into a simple grid and seamed into a tube that slides right over a standard yoga block. It is perfect for complete beginners because every motif is identical, so by the time you finish the third one your hands will know exactly what to do. The finished sleeve looks like a little quilted cushion made of plum and mauve flowers, with a soft matte linen sheen and a snug fit that makes your practice space feel warm and personal. You will end up with a textured, modern home accessory that you made with your own two hands.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Linen-blend DK weight yarn (approximately 50% linen, 50% cotton; 125 yd / 115 m per 50 g skein). Color A (plum): 1 skein. Color B (mauve): 1 skein. The sample uses about 95 yd of A and 85 yd of B.
• Crochet hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6), or whatever size gives you the correct motif size.
• Stitch markers: At least 4, to mark the first stitch of each round and to mark motif corners while joining.
• Tapestry needle: A blunt-tipped needle with a large eye, for seaming motifs and weaving in ends.
• Scissors: Small, sharp craft scissors.
• Measuring tape or ruler: To check your motif size.
• Finished size: Fits a standard yoga block of about 9 in long x 6 in wide x 4 in deep (23 x 15 x 10 cm). Finished sleeve measures about 9.5 in long x 6.5 in wide x 4.5 in deep (24 x 16.5 x 11.5 cm), open at the top, with a snug slip-on fit.

Abbreviations and Beginner Glossary

Every term below is explained as if you have never held a hook. Read this list once before you start and come back to it whenever a row instruction looks confusing.

• ch – chain. Make a loop of yarn on your hook, wrap yarn over the hook, and pull it through the loop. That is one chain. Chains look like tiny braided V shapes.
• sl st – slip stitch. Insert your hook into the stitch, wrap yarn over, and pull it through both the stitch and the loop on your hook at the same time. It makes an almost invisible join.
• sc – single crochet. Insert hook into stitch, wrap yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), wrap yarn over again, pull through both loops. One loop remains.
• hdc – half double crochet. Wrap yarn over hook first, insert hook into stitch, wrap yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), wrap yarn over, pull through all 3 loops at once.
• dc – double crochet. Wrap yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch, wrap yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), wrap yarn over and pull through 2 loops, wrap yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops.
• st / sts – stitch / stitches. A stitch is one completed unit of crochet work.
• sp / sps – space / spaces. The gap under a chain from the previous round. You work into the gap, not into the chain itself.
• beg – beginning. Used in "beg ch-3," meaning the chain-3 you made at the start of the round.
• rnd – round. One complete circle of work when you crochet in a circle and join at the end.
• rep – repeat. Do the instruction again.
• * to * – the asterisks mark a section of the instruction that you repeat. When you see "rep from * around," go back to the first asterisk and keep going until you reach the end of the round.
• magic ring – an adjustable loop of yarn that you crochet into, then pull tight so there is no hole in the center. If it feels tricky, chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to make a small ring instead.
• fasten off – cut the yarn a few inches from your work, pull the tail all the way through the last loop, and tug gently to secure it.
• whipstitch – a seaming stitch. Bring the needle up through both pieces, over the edge, and back down through both pieces, working small evenly spaced stitches.

Gauge

Gauge: one finished African flower motif measures 3.25 in (8.25 cm) across, flat, point to point. Four motifs joined measure 6.5 in (16.5 cm) wide.

Gauge matters because it is how you make sure your sleeve actually fits the yoga block. If your motifs come out too small, the sleeve will be too tight to slide on. If they come out too large, it will bag and slip off. To check your gauge, crochet one complete motif following the instructions below, then lay it flat and measure from one hexagon point straight across to the opposite point. If it is bigger than 3.25 in, try a smaller hook. If it is smaller, try a larger hook. One motif is a fast, low-pressure swatch, so make it happily.

Beginner Tips Before You Start

• Make all twelve motifs before you join anything. This lets you settle into the rhythm, and it means you can lay them out and check the color arrangement before committing.
• Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round. When you join with a slip stitch, it is easy to lose track of where the round began. Move the marker up each round.
• Do not pull your yarn too tight. Beginners often crochet tightly out of nerves. Keep your loops relaxed so the hook slides easily and your motif stays flat.
• Count your stitches at the end of Rounds 1 and 2. If you do not have 12 and then 24 stitches, the petals will not line up. Fixing it early is much easier than fixing it later.
• Block each motif lightly before joining. A quick steam press to 3.25 in makes the hexagons lie flat and the grid line up beautifully.
• Keep your tails long. Leave a 10 in (25 cm) tail on every motif. You will use those tails to sew the motifs together, so do not trim them short.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Motif Count and Layout

Make 12 African flower motifs total: 6 in Color A (plum) and 6 in Color B (mauve). Each motif is worked in one color only; you change color only between motifs. Arrange them in a 3 x 4 grid (3 motifs wide, 4 motifs long) in a checkerboard stripe: Row 1 = A, B, A; Row 2 = B, A, B; Row 3 = A, B, A; Row 4 = B, A, B. This creates diagonal plum and mauve striping across the finished sleeve.

The African Flower Motif (make 12)

Set-up: With your chosen motif color, make a magic ring (or ch 4 and join with sl st to form a ring).

Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 11 dc into the ring, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (12 dc)

Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (24 dc)

Rnd 3 (petal round): Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 2, skip next st, sc in next st; rep from * around, ending with ch 2, join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc, 12 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 4 (petals): Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 1, work (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) in same ch-2 sp, *(sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (12 petals)

Rnd 5 (background round): Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 3, skip next 3 sts (the 3-dc petal center), sc in next st (the sc between petals); rep from * around, ending with ch 3, join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc, 12 ch-3 sps)

Rnd 6 (hexagon shaping): Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in first ch-3 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same sp (first corner), *3 dc in next ch-3 sp, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp (corner); rep from * around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25 cm) tail for joining. (6 corners, 6 sides of 3 dc)

Tip: Block each motif lightly to 3.25 in (8.25 cm) point to point before joining so the grid lies flat.

Joining the Motifs

Lay all 12 motifs out right side up in the 3 x 4 checkerboard grid described above. Join them with the long tails and a tapestry needle using a flat whipstitch seam, or join with sc in matching color if you prefer a raised seam. First join motifs into 4 horizontal strips of 3 motifs each, then join the strips together to form the 3 x 4 grid. Match corner ch-2 spaces and side dc stitches so the hexagon edges align. Work all seams on the wrong side so the flower faces remain on the outside.

Forming the Sleeve

Fold the joined 3 x 4 grid in half crosswise so the 3-motif width becomes the top opening and the 4-motif length becomes the depth. Seam the two long side edges together with whipstitch in matching color to form a boxy tube. Seam the bottom edge closed. Leave the top edge open. Weave in all ends.

Top Edging

With Color A, join yarn at one top corner.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around the top opening, working 1 sc in each st and 2 sc in each corner space, join with sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends. This firms the opening so the sleeve holds its shape over the block.

Assembly and Finishing

Seaming: Thread a long tail onto your tapestry needle. Hold two motifs right sides up and bring the needle up through the matching corner spaces of both pieces, then over the edge and back down through both pieces about 1/4 in away. Repeat in small, even stitches along the whole edge, keeping the tension relaxed so the seam does not pucker. Work every seam on the wrong side so the flowers stay on the outside.

Weaving in ends: Thread each remaining tail onto the tapestry needle and run it through the back of several stitches in one direction, then turn and run it back through a few more stitches in the other direction. This locks it in place. Trim close to the work.

Blocking: Lightly steam-block the finished sleeve to settle the motifs and seams. Pin the sleeve into shape on a towel or blocking mat, hold a steam iron an inch or two above the surface (never press the iron directly onto the stitches), let the steam penetrate, then leave it to dry completely before sliding it over the block.

Final fit: Slide the sleeve over the yoga block with the open top facing up. It should fit snugly with the block fully covered on the bottom and sides.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Change the color story: Swap plum and mauve for sage and cream, or charcoal and mustard, to match your room. Keep two colors for the checkerboard effect, or use a different color for every motif for a scrappy, bohemian look.
• Adjust the size: For a larger block, add one more motif to the width or length. Because each motif is 3.25 in, adding one motif adds about 3.25 in to that dimension. Just remember to buy extra yarn.
• Substitute the yarn: Any DK weight yarn will work, but a cotton or linen blend holds the boxy shape best. A soft acrylic will feel squishier but may stretch over time.
• Add a drawstring or button closure: If you want the sleeve to stay put, crochet a simple chain cord in Color A and thread it through the top edging, or sew a small button and loop to one side.