dc cluster: Note on beginning: it works better to ch 2 rather than 3, then upon finishing sl st into the top st.
dc cluster: ch 2, start a 2nd dc but don't finish it and keep the last loop on the hook, repeat the last step; finally yarn-over and pull the thread through all the loops to make the cluster. The ch 1 that finishes it generally isn't included as part of the cluster.

Hook size: I; finished piece about 9“

ch 4 or 6, attach (some people like to use a Magic Circle).

Rnd 1: ch 2, dc cluster (including ch 2), ch 2; dc cluster, ch 2 (repeat dc cluster 4 more times); after final ch 2 sl st into top of the 1st dc, not the top of the original ch 2. (6 clusters, 6 ch 2 sp)

Rnd 2: Attach new color in or sl st into next ch 2 sp; ch 2, dc cluster (including ch 2), ch 2, dc cluster; #dc cluster, ch 2, dc cluster, ch 2 in each ch 2 sp around (total 6 times); sl st into top of 1st dc like previous row. (12 clusters, 12 ch 2 sp)

Rnd 3: Attach new color in or sl st into next ch 2 sp; ch 2, dc cluster (including ch 2), ch 3; dc cluster, ch 3 in each ch 2 sp (total 12 times), sl st into top of 1st dc like previous row. (12 clusters, 12 ch 3 sp)

Rnd 4: Attach new color in or sl st into next ch 3 sp; ch 2, dc cluster (including ch 2), ch 2, dc cluster; in next ch 3 sp, dc cluster, ch 2, dc cluster, ch 2 in each ch 3 sp around (total 12 times); sl st into top of 1st dc like previous row. (24 clusters, 24 ch 2 sp)

Rnd 5: Attach new color in or sl st into 1st ch 2 sp; #ch 3, sc in next ch 2 sp; repeat from # around, sl st into 1st st of ch 3 sp. (24 sc, 24 ch 3 sp)

Rnd 6: Attach new color in or sl st into ch 3 sp, (Ch 3, 1 dc, 1 trb in ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 trb, 2 dc in next ch 3 sp), #3 hdc in next ch 3 sp, 3 sc in each of next 2 ch 3 sp, 3 hdc in next ch 3 sp, (3 dc in ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp); repeat from # until reaching original ch 3, sl st. (24 sc, 24 hdc, 16 dc, 8 tr, 4 ch 3 sp)

Rnd 7: Sl st into corner; (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc); starting in the trb of the previous row dc in each stitch (18 times total), (corner), continue around until final sl st into 3rd st of original ch 3. Finish off, tuck and trim ends.