First, use whatever yarn you like. HOWEVER. Be aware of how big and small this pattern may turn out to be. On the left side of the above picture, I was using Caron Simply Soft and found that the stitches stuck out more than I’d like. They didn’t blend very well. But on the other hand, using a thin yarn called “Olympus Luxe” (right) caused the squares to become much smaller and I had to modify the pattern even more. It’s also harder to see what you’re doing using multi-color yarns.
Here’s my version using a yarn of weight “4” aka Caron Simply Soft and going for the concentric Aztec square crochet pattern seen on the above left.
Starting at center, ch 2.
Round 1: 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in first sc.
**from here, use front loop only**
Round 2: 2 sc in first sc
* 1 sc, 3 sc in next sc.
Repeat from * around.
Make a 3rd sc in the first spot, sl in to the 1st stitch. Ch 2.
(you should start realizing that these 3sc chunks are making the “corners” of your square)
Round 3: 2 sc in first sc,
* sc sc sc
3 sc in the “corner” spot.
Repeat from * around, ending as before with Ch 2.
Round 4: 2 sc in first sc,
* sc sc sc sc sc (5)
3 sc in the “corner” spot.
Repeat from * around, ending as before with Ch 2
Round 5: 2 sc in first sc,
* sc sc sc sc sc sc sc (7)
3 sc in the “corner” spot.
Repeat from * around, ending as before with Ch 2.
Turn over the square and use the “back-stitch” aka free loop of last rnd and make sc in each free loop around (we’re creating the front now). Continue inward in a spiral until you hit the center.