Monthly Archives: April 2013

The first row of an afghan with homespun or bouclé or other knobby style yarn can be frustrating. This afghan does not require finding chain stitches, even for the first row. The lacy pattern keeps the afghan light even with a heavier yarn.

This pattern was designed to be easy for homespun or bouclé style yarns, but it can be made with just about any yarn. Make it in a solid color or with as many color changes as you like.

The example is made in Lion Brand Homespun.

Size:
This blanket can be made any size. Five widths are given in the directions.

Materials:
Yarn – Sizing given for Bulky weight yarn but other weights can be used
Size K (6.5mm) crochet hook

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
ch sp = chain space
dc = double crochet
tr = triple crochet

Special stitch:
Shell – work the following in the ch sp indicated: 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc

Instructions:

There is also a chart available.

Instead of a beginning chain, the blanket is begun with a first row of chain and tr spaces.

For these widths, start with this number of chain and tr spaces:

32.5″ = 34
38.25″ = 40
44″ = 46
49.75″ = 52
55.5″ = 58

Row 1: Ch 3, tr in first ch, (ch 3, tr in last ch sp) until you have made desired number of tr/ch spaces. Make a number of tr/ch spaces that is a multiple of 3 plus 1.

Do not turn.

Row 2: Ch 4. Without turning the work (tr stitches will be on top, chains on the bottom), make 2 dc in first tr/ch space (over tr just made). Working across the tr/ch spaces, (dc in the next sp, ch 1) twice ** shell in the next sp, (dc in the next sp, ch 1) twice. Repeat from ** across to the last tr/ch sp. (2 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in the last sp.

Row 3: Ch 4 and turn. 2 dc in ch-1 sp, (dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) twice ** shell in next ch-1 sp (which is the ch-1 sp of a shell), (dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) twice. Repeat from ** across to ch-4 turning chain. (2 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in ch-4 sp.

Repeat row 3 until afghan is desired length. Finish off and weave in end.

The blanket can be made in a solid color or can be made with any number of color changes. The best way to make a color change is to finish all but the very last pull through of the two loops of the last stitch of a row. Cut yarn with a few inches of tail and join with new color next to stitch. Pull new color through last two loops. Weave in ends.

The first row of an afghan with homespun or bouclé or other knobby style yarn can be frustrating. This afghan does not require finding chain stitches, even for the first row. The lacy basket pattern keeps the afghan light even with a heavier yarn.

This pattern was designed to be easy for homespun or bouclé style yarns, but it can be made with just about any yarn. Make it in a solid color or with as many color changes as you like.

The example is made in Jo-Ann Sensations Rainbow Boucle.

Size:
This blanket can be made any size. Five widths are given in the directions.

Materials:
Yarn – Sizing given for Bulky weight yarn but other weights can be used
Size I (5.5mm) crochet hook

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
ch sp = chain space
dc = double crochet
sc = single crochet
tr = triple crochet

Special stitches:

Shell – work the following in the ch sp indicated: 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc

V-stitch – work the following in chain space or over stitch indicated: 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc

Instructions:

There is also a tutorial video available.

Instead of a beginning chain, the blanket is begun with a first row of chain and tr spaces.

For these widths, start with this number of chain and tr spaces:
30.75″ = 35
37.75″ = 43
44.75″ = 51
51.75″ = 59
59″ = 67

Row 1: Ch 3, tr in first ch, (ch 3, tr in last ch sp) until you have made desired number of tr/ch spaces. Make an odd number of tr/ch spaces.

Do not turn.

Row 2: Ch 4. Without turning the work (holding it so that the tr stitches are on top and the ch-3 loops on the bottom), make a dc in the first sp (over tr just made). Working across the spaces (working over the tr stitches), make a V-stitch in each space to the end of the row.

Row 3: Ch 4 and turn. 1 dc in ch-1 sp, Shell in next ch-1 sp, ** ch 1, skip one ch-1 sp, Shell in next ch-1 sp. Repeat from ** across to ch-4 turning chain. V-stitch in ch-4 sp.

Row 4: Ch 4 and turn. 1 dc in ch-1 sp, V-stitch in ch-1 space of Shell, ** V-stitch in ch-1 space between shells V-stitch in ch-1 space of shell. Repeat from ** across to ch-4 turning chain. V-stitch in ch-4 sp.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until afghan is desired length. If no additional border is desired, finish off and weave in end.

Optional border – end with a row 4.

Border round 1: Ch 3 and turn. (1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, mark the shell just made as a corner shell. Ch 1, shell in next ch-1 sp, (ch 1, skip a ch-1 space, shell in next ch-1 sp) across the top of the throw to the ch-4 turning chain. Work the following in the ch-4 turning chain sp: ch 1, shell, ch 1, shell. Mark the first shell in the turning chain space as a corner shell. On the sides of the throw, work in the spaces formed by the ch-4 turning chains and final dc stitches of the rows. Ch 1, and make a shell in the next sp. (Ch 1, skip a space, shell in next space) across the side of the blanket. Ch 1, shell in the last space of the side. Across the bottom of the throw, work in the spaces formed by the ch-3 loops of the foundation loops. Ch 1, shell in the first ch-3 space. Mark this shell as a corner shell. Ch 1, shell in the next ch-3 space. (Ch 1, skip a ch-3 sp, shell in next ch-3 sp) across the bottom of the throw. Ch 1, shell in last ch-3 sp, mark this shell as a corner shell. Work across the last side of the throw in the spaces formed by the ch-4 turning chains and final dc stitches of the rows. Ch 1, shell in the first sp. (Ch 1, skip a space, shell in the next space) across the side of the blanket. Ch 1, shell in the last sp, ch 1, slip stitch to join in the third chain of the first shell of the round. Do not turn.

Border round 2: Slip stitch in the next dc, slip stitch in the ch-1 space, ch 4, dc in same ch-1 space. V-stitch in every ch-1 space around the entire blanket back to the ch 4. Slip stitch to join in the third chain. Do not turn.

Border round 3: Slip stitch in the ch sp. Ch 3, (1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in same sp. (Ch 1, shell in next ch-1 space) two times. (Ch 1, skip one ch-1 sp, shell in next ch-1 sp) around the blanket. On either side of the corner V-stitches, do not skip spaces, so that there are Shells in 5 v-stitches in a row with the 3rd being in the corner v-stitch. Join in the third chain of the first shell of the round. Do not turn.

Rounds 2 and 3 can be repeated to desired width. Finish off and weave in end.

The blanket can be made in a solid color or can be made with any number of color changes. The best way to make a color change is to finish all but the very last pull through of the two loops of the last stitch of a row. Cut yarn with a few inches of tail and join with new color next to stitch. Pull new color through last two loops. Weave in ends.