I have been following:

(1) BAMCAL2014
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/2014-crochet-block-a-month-cal

(2) Block a Week CAL 2014

Dedri Uys from lookwhatimade.net produces great photo tutorials each week and I love her colour choices! http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/block-...
Dedri also has loads of useful tips and tutorials on her blog. I am a big fan.

(3) Moogly CAL 2014

JOINING

I used the “Flat braid no hook out 2chain” method set out below.

I make sure that the third last round of my square has 32 st on each side (and is 16cm). (For this afghan it is always a round of hdc)
This is then followed by 1 round of: (WS) 1sc, 1tr, with (1sc, 1tr, 1sc) in corner worked into the WRONG SIDE of the square - this gives it a raised texture. This stitch is used in the Circle of Friends square by Priscilla Hewitt: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/circle-of-friends...

FLAT BRAID NO HOOK OUT 2-CHAIN TUTORIAL:

I love this joining method and wish I learnt this ages ago. It looks complicated, but once you get it, it’s super simple and fast and leaves a nice decorative finish.
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/muggins-magic-hang-out/243...

Most important thing to remember when using this joining method is that when inserting your hook in the square that you are joining to (in-between the ch2 space between two sc) you insert from the TOP of the square you are joining to and not from the back. Same goes for the corner join. Make sure you start with an even number of stitches on each side of the square.

Complete the entire round on first square (this is the only square where you complete the round): join with a sc in corner st, ch3, sc in same corner st, (sk 1, ch2, sc in next st) across side of square to next corner, (sc, ch3, sc) in corner st, repeat around square; join with slst to first sc;
to summarize - each corner = (sc, ch3, sc) and then (sk1, ch2, sc) into next stitch etc;

To join next square: start in corner of square to be joined with (sc, ch3, sc) and work one side of square without joining, when get to next corner, complete half a corner i.e. sc, ch1, insert hook into TOP of corner space of square that you are joining to, slst through loop on hook, ch2 (this completes the usual 3ch for a corner),
sc back in the original corner to finish the corner, ch1, insert hook into next ch2-sp on square that you are joining to (NB insert hook from the TOP!), slst, ch1, sk1, sc into next st. Continue doing this until you get to the next corner ….. etc etc

OTHER JOIN AS YOU GO TECHNIQUES :

Flat braid ch3 tutorial:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/muggins-magic-hang-out/242...

Heidi Bears
(http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/heidi-bears-designs/268759...)

Single crochet join as you go:

(gives a nice solid flat join but is quite labour intensive as you remove your hook on each st)

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/single-crochet-jo...

Reverse Single Crochet Assembly

http://www.crochetcabana.com/html/join_crocheted.html

Granny style joining:

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/vannas-choice-fan-club/213...

Other joining ideas:

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/runningyogini/moms-blue-b...

GENERAL CROCHET TECHNIQUES

Slipped Stitch Edge Tutorial: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/slip-stitch-edge-...

magic ring

http://www.mooglyblog.com/the-magic-circle/

Standing Crochet StitchesThese are an alternative to making chains at the beginning of rounds – these are much neater than using the usual ch method to start a round; Can use this for sc, half, double or triple crochet stitches: start with slip knot on hook, then work your stitch as normal.
SC: insert hook into the designated st and finish st as normal.
HDC: wrap yarn over hook, insert hook and finish the stitch as normal
TRC: wrap yarn over 3 times and finish st as normal;

CROCODILE STITCH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUNtrp_Vj4o

**PICOT STITCH**

Tips to make a neater and nicer picot:
http://lilygo.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/tip-to-get-neater-an...

NON TRADITIONAL CROCHET TECHNIQUES

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/vannas-choice-fan-club/142...

USEFUL WEBSITES

http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/block-...
http://www.crochetcabana.com/
http://www.freewebs.com/bethintx/

SQUARES THAT I’VE MADE AND NOTES TO SELF RE THESE

Amber waves by Priscilla Hewitt

For an example of adding more rows see this great version by Maryfairy:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Maryfairy/amber-waves-afg...

Promise Petals:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/promise-petals-9-...

Brighter Daze

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/brighter-daze-square

Tutorial for this square (in addition to the pattern):
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/vannas-choice-fan-club/198...

The pattern as written is a little confusing, but its actually a simple square to make once you work out the pattern: R1 - This is just the same as a granny square; R2 - same as a granny square but you ch3 instead of ch1 between shells (corners are still 3tr, ch3, 3tr); R3 - remember that you are working with tr and dtr and then this is easy. The rows then just repeat after this.

In Like a Lamb, Out Like a Lion 9”-12” Afghan Block by Margaret
MacInnis

This was a fairly challenging square for me, but great to learn new techniques and the end result is very effective. There is a pattern and also a tutorial to help you along. I like the effect of R9 and R10 (see photo) and note to self - incorporate this in other squares - gives a nice textured border to the square.

Karisma Flower Square: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/120-3-blanket-cro...

For an example of a beautiful blanket combining this square with traditional
grannies see http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Maryfairy/120-3-blanket-c...

MairyFairy also includes the pattern details in her project notes which are easier to follow than the actual pattern.

Forever Lace Block:

Note to self - start with ch4 and form a ring rather than method suggested;
Can even start with ch3 which might work better;

Lemony Lime Citrus Square

Round by round photos can be found in this helpful post:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/2014-crochet-block-a-month...

Modifications: Added 2 rows of surface crochet to R2; Added an additional R6 of SC around the octagon
Original R7: added in a ch before and after the 3tr, ch3, 3tr on every corner because of the additional R6 I added. Only followed the pattern to R7 and then added two rows of single crochet working in-between the dc of R7 rather than into the stitches

Lost in Translation:
See the comments section for the English Translation of the instructions:
http://yarnaway.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/lost-in-translati...

Center Heart Square

Round by round photos:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/2014-crochet-block-a-month...

R7: Follow pattern st by st as it round does not repeat itself and this
is where you turn the heart into a square

VARIATIONS ON TRADITIONAL GRANNY SQUARES

Maze Granny Square by Priscilla Hewitt

An interesting twist on the traditional granny. I wanted my square to have smaller holes and be more dense so I modified this pattern
slightly by going down a st ie where the pattern says dc - I did hdc, trc = dc, dtrc = trc etc. I also only ch2 between the shells in the corner and left out the ch1

Never ending 5 strand granny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBxgeNI-0HM

Precious Afghan Block by Julie Yeager

Remember: R9&10 are worked on the wrong side - this is the same type of round that you find in Circle of Friends Square;

Drop in the pond granny lap blanket

http://www.freewebs.com/bethintx/dropinthepondlaprobe.htm
(and there is also a You Tube video for this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkJwDJ0QYUA

IDEAS FOR EXTRA ROWS TO SQUARES

See: http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/block-... for ideas

(Note rather than using “star” to show where repeats, I am using ® because ravelry uses “star” differently)

a) R8- R12 of Centre Heart square are great if you need to add in rows to any square

NC = new colour

R (8): Join NC in any st, ch3, ®dc in next st and each st across to corner, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in corner-sp, repeat from ® around, join with slst to top
of beg-ch3, fasten off.

R (9): Join NC in any corner-sp, ch5, dc, skip next 2dc, dc, ch 2dc in next st (v-st made), skip 2dc , make a V-st, skip 2dc V-st across to next corner, in corner sp make a dc, ch-3, dc skip next 2dc and V-st, continue around, join with a slst to 3rd ch of starting ch 5, fasten off.

R 10: Join NC in any ch2-sp, ch3, 2dc in same sp, 3dc in each ch2-sp across to corner sp, in corner sp (3dc, ch3, 3dc), continue around, join with slst to beginning ch3, finish off colour A.

R 11: Join NC in centre of a dc ofR10, ch5, dc in same sp, sk next 2dc and V-stitch in centre dc of last round to corner-sp, in corner sp (dc, ch3, dc) then continue with the V-st in centre dc of previous round, fasten off.

R 12: Join NC with a slst in any dc, ch3, ®dc in each ch-sp and each dc across, in corner-sp (2dc, ch3, 2dc), rep from ® around.