Today's Granny Afghan

By: Marilyn Losee for yarnspirations.com/caron

Turn the tables and make your grandma an afghan. This free crochet pattern has a nice geometric design with red and cream squares. This crocheted afghan would make an excellent gift for close friends or family members during the holiday season. It's the perfect blanket to cuddle up with on the couch during the winter. Use worsted weight yarn to complete this free crochet pattern.

Easy

Crochet HookG/6 or 4 mm hook

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

MATERIALS:

One Pound (454 g/16. oz;742 m/812 yds):
Contrast A Lace (10585): 1 skein
Contrast B Claret (10562): 1 skein
Contrast C Espresso (10581): 2 skeins
Contrast D Black (10503): 3 skeins
One size US G-6 (4.25 mm) crochet hook or size to obtain gauge.
Yarn needle
Chart

SIZE:
Approx. 56"/142 cm long x 78"/198 cm wide

GAUGE:
One large block measures about 11 x 11"/28 x 28cm. Gauge is not critical for this project.

PATTERN:

Note: To change color while joining a round, work the joining slip stitch as follows: insert hook in joining stitch, yarn over with new color and draw through both loops on hook. Fasten off old color.

LARGE BLOCK (make 17)
With A, chain 4; join with slip st in first ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2), (3 dc in ring, ch 2) 3 times, 2 dc in ring; join with slip st in 3rd ch of beg ch—12 dc, and 4 ch-2 sps.

Rnd 2: Sl st in next ch, ch 6 (counts as dc, ch 4), 2 dc in first ch-2 sp, *dc in next 3 dc, (2 dc, ch 4, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp (corner made); rep from * 2 more times, dc in next 3 dc, dc in first ch-2 sp; join with slip st in 3rd ch of beg ch; change to B in join—28 dc, and 4 ch-4 sps.

Rnd 3: With B, sl st in next ch, ch 6 (counts as dc, ch 4), 2 dc in first ch-sp, *dc in each dc to next corner ch-sp, (2 dc, ch 4, 2 dc) in corner ch-sp; rep from * 2 more times, dc in each dc to first ch-4 sp, dc in first ch-sp; join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch—44 dc, and 4 ch-4 sps.

Rnd 4: With B, rep Rnd 3; change to C in join—60 dc, and 4 ch-4 sps.

Rnds 5 and 6: With C, rep Rnd 3 twice; change to D in join of Rnd 6—92 dc, and 4 ch-4 sps.

Rnds 7 and 8: With D, rep Rnd 3 twice—124 dc, and 4 ch-4 sps. Fasten off.

SMALL BLOCK (make 72)

With A, chain 4; join with slip st in first ch to form a ring.

Rnd 1: With A, work Rnd 1 of large block; change to B in join.

Rnd 2: With B, work Rnd 2 of large block; change to C in join.

Rnd 3: With C, work Rnd 3 of large block; change to D in join.

Rnd 4: With D, work Rnd 4 of large block. Fasten off. Make large blocks from the small blocks by sewing 4 small blocks together to make one large block (makes 18 large blocks total).

FINISHING—Arrange blocks into a rectangle of 5 blocks by 7 blocks; alternate small and large blocks throughout. Sew or slip st edges of blocks together.

Edging:
Rnd 1: With RS facing, join D with sc in edge of throw, work sc evenly spaced around entire throw, working 3 sc in each corner; join with slip st in first sc. Rnd 2: Ch 2, hdc in each st around, working 2 hdc in each sc of each 3-sc corner; join with slip st in first hdc. Fasten off. Using yarn needle, weave in all ends.

Blocking (very important): Lay throw flat, spray with water, and let dry.