Comfort Crocheted Afghans: Three Heirloom Blankets for Home and Family

by Norah Gaughan, Margery Winter, Berroco Design Team, Thayer Allyson Gowdy (Photographer)

Overview

For many of us, afghans are the epitome of comfort. Colorful and inviting, they are a staple of the home, without which a living room or bedroom just wouldn’t feel complete. And whether you’re making one for yourself, as a housewarming gift, or to welcome a new baby into the world, the process of creating a handmade afghan can be as rewarding as the finished product. This sampler from Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Afghans is intended for crocheters of every skill level, and brings new life to the well-loved and versatile afghan.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781497650787
Publisher:	STC Craft | Melanie Falick Books
Publication date:	06/24/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	12
Sales rank:	150,992
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Berroco began as Stanley Woolen Mills in 1810 and has gradually evolved into one of the largest importers and wholesalers of yarns, patterns, and supplies to independent yarn shops throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Norah Gaughan, author of STC’s Knitting Nature, joined Berroco as design director after freelancing for most of the major yarn companies and knitting magazines in the industry.

Margery Winter was creative director at Berroco for 12 years, and has been editor-in-chief of Vogue Knitting and Family Circle Knitting, as well as the fashion editor of McCall’s Needlework and Crafts.

Norah Gaughan, author of STC’s Knitting Nature and Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Afghans, is Berroco’s design director; her work has been published by almost all of the major yarn companies and knitting magazines in the industry. She lives in New Hampshire.
Berroco began as Stanley Woolen Mills in 1810 and has gradually evolved into one of the largest importers and wholesalers of yarns, patterns, and supplies to independent yarn shops throughout the United States and Canada. 

Read an Excerpt

Comfort Crocheted Afghans

An Heirloom Trio for a Cozy Home and Family

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By Norah Gaughan, Margery Winter, Thayer Allyson Gowdy

ABRAMS

Copyright © 2010 Berroco, Inc.
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4976-5078-7

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CHAPTER 1

Fish Ripples

The colorful undulations of this crocheted baby blanket are reminiscent of schools of small fish swimming in the ocean. The stitch pattern works up extremely quickly, and the vivid stripes keep you eager to see more. Bright colors are perfect for a modern baby's room, and are likely to be loved long into childhood (and maybe into adulthood, too).

Finished Measurements

30" wide x 36" long

Yarn

Berroco Comfort (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fine acrylic; 100 grams / 210 yards): 1 skein each #9761 Lovage (A), #9724 Pumpkin (B), #9717 Raspberry Coulis (C), #9740 Seedling (D), #9725 Dutch Teal (E), and #9730 Teaberry (F)

Crochet Hook

Crochet hook size US G/6 (4 mm)

Change hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Gauge

15 sts and 14 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Fish Ripple Pattern

Stitch Patterns

FISH RIPPLE PATTERN (multiple of 16 sts + 2; 8-row repeat)

Note: Stitch Pattern is reversible; there is no RS or WS.

Set-Up Row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *sc in next ch, ch 1, skip 1 ch, hdc in next ch, ch 1, skip 1 ch, dc in next ch, [ch 1, skip 1 ch, tr in next ch] twice, ch 1, skip 1 ch, dc in next ch, ch 1, skip 1 ch, hdc in next ch, ch 1, skip 1 ch, sc in next ch, ** ch 1, skip 1 ch; repeat from *, ending last repeat at **, sc in last ch, turn.

Rows 1 and 5: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch-1 sp, turn.

Rows 2 and 6: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn.

Rows 3 and 4: Ch 4 (counts as tr), skip first st, *tr in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st, hdc in next st, [ch 1, skip 1 ch, sc in next st] twice, ch 1, skip 1 st, hdc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st, tr in next st, **, ch 1, skip 1 st; repeat from *, ending last repeat at **, 1 tr in last st, turn.

Rows 7 and 8: Ch 1, 1 sc in first st, *sc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st, hdc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in next st, [ch 1, skip 1 st, tr in next st] twice, ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st, hdc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st, sc in next st **, ch 1, skip 1 st; repeat from *, ending last repeat at **, sc in last st, turn, ch 1.

Repeat Rows 1-8 for Fish Ripple Pattern.

STRIPE SEQUENCE

Work 2 rows each in *B, C, D, E, F, then A; repeat from * for Stripe Sequence

Blanket

Using A, ch 114. Begin Fish Ripple Pattern; work Set-Up Row. Continuing in Fish Ripple Pattern, begin Stripe Sequence; work even until piece measures approximately 36" from the beginning, ending with Row 7 of Fish Ripple Pattern. Fasten off.

Finishing

Edging: Using A, work 1 row sc evenly along both side edges of blanket. Block lightly.

Marrakesh

Named for the Moroccan city of Marrakesh, this coverlet reflects the city's exotic flavors and rich tones. The solid background is made using crocheted afghan stitch, which requires a particular long hook, and is then embellished with lanky folk art flowers. The monochromatic floral embroidery is a loose interpretation of the gold embroidery found on traditional caftans from the region.

Finished Measurements

45" wide x 60" long

Yarn

Berroco Comfort (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fine acrylic; 100 grams / 210 yards): 15 skeins #9724 Pumpkin (A) Berroco Comfort Chunky (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fine acrylic; 100 grams / 150 yards): 2 skeins #5703 Barley (B)

Crochet Hook

Tunisian crochet hook size US H/8 (5 mm)

Change hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Gauge

18 sts and 32 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Tunisian Stitch, using A

Stitch Pattern

TUNISIAN STITCH (any number of sts; 2-row repeat)

Note: All rows are RS rows.

Set-Up Row: Insert hook in 2nd ch from the hook, yo and pull through, keeping the loop on the hook; repeat in each ch across. Do not turn.

Row 1: Working from left to right, ch 1, *yo and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook; repeat from * to end. Do not turn.

Row 2: Insert hook under the second single vertical thread, from right to left, yo and pull through, keeping the loop on the hook; repeat in each vertical thread to end. Do not turn.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for Tunisian Stitch.

Afghan

PANEL (make 3)

Using A, ch 65. Begin Tunisian st; work even until piece measures 60" from the beginning. Fasten off.

Finishing

Edging: Using A, work 1 row of sc across each side edge of each Panel. Join 3 Panels together as follows: Attach A to corner of first Panel, ch 2, sl st in corner of 2nd Panel, *ch 2, sk 1- 2 edge sts, sl st in first Panel, ch 2, sk 1-2 edge sts, sl st in 2nd Panel, keeping Panels even; repeat from * to end. Join 2nd and 3rd Panels in same manner.

Embroidery: Using B, work embroidery following Diagrams.

Block lightly.

Serpentine

Though this afghan is worked in just one neutral color, the textures make it visually thrilling. The highly dimensional ruffles are reminiscent of forms found in nature, from coral reefs to kale and lettuce leaves to the S-shaped curves of snakes. To accomplish this effect, flat panels of double crochet are punctuated with more ornate strips of treble crochet that coil around a mesh stitch base.

Finished Measurements

45" wide x 60" long

Yarn

Berroco Comfort (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fine acrylic; 100 grams / 210 yards): 21 skeins #9703 Barley

Crochet Hook

Crochet hook size US F/5 (3.75 mm)

Change hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Gauge

18 sts and 10 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Double Crochet (dc)

Afghan

WIDE STRIP (make 2)

Ch 57.

Set-Up Row: Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across– 55 sts.

All Rows: Ch 3 (counts as dc), skip first dc, dc in each dc across, turn.

Work even until piece measures 60" from the beginning. Fasten off.

NARROW STRIP (make 2)

Ch 30.

Set-Up Row: Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across–27 sts.

All Rows: Ch 3 (counts as dc), skip first dc, dc in each dc across, turn.

Work even until piece measures 60". Fasten off.

RUFFLED STRIP (make 3)

Ch 273.

Row 1: Dc in 6th ch from hook (counts as dc, ch 2, dc), *ch 2, skip 2 ch, dc in next ch; repeat from * to end, turn.

Row 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc and ch 2), skip 1st dc, dc in next dc, *ch 2, skip 1 dc, dc in next dc; repeat from * to end, turn.

Row 3: Repeat Row 2.

Row 4: Ch 4 (counts as tr), work 4 tr over first ch-2 sp, *turn work slightly to the left and work 5 tr over post of next dc, turn work slightly to the left and work 5 tr in ch-2 sp of row below, turn work slightly to the right and work 5 tr over post of next dc, turn work slightly to the right and work 5 tr in next ch-2 sp; repeat from * to end. Turn and work Row 4 along Row 2, then along Row 1. Fasten off.

Finishing

Sew Strips together in the following order: Narrow, Ruffled, Wide, Ruffled, Wide, Ruffled, Narrow. Block lightly.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Comfort Crocheted Afghans by Norah Gaughan, Margery Winter, Thayer Allyson Gowdy. Copyright © 2010 Berroco, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of ABRAMS.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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