How to Crochet a Color-Burst Afghan

Choose yarn colors that will pop against the white in each square.

A color-burst afghan uses a granny square design. Each square contains vivid colors of yarn -- such as magenta, canary yellow and violet -- as well as white, and the squares are crocheted together to form a pattern -- a process that's somewhat like piecing together fabric blocks for a quilt. The keys to creating a stunning afghan are yarn selection and color planning. You'll need to plot out your color placement and carefully select your yarn.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper
• Size 6 crochet hook
• 6 skeins white yarn
• 2 skeins yarn, each of five colors
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Crochet a sample square and measure it. The size of a square will vary when made by different crocheters, and when using different brands of yarn. Determine the number of squares that will be needed to go across a particular bed from side to side and from top to bottom. Make a paper chart of the appropriate number of squares and write the names of colors in the squares so that you know exactly how many of each color square you will need.

2. Make each square as follows: To create the center, begin with colored yarn. Place a loop on the crochet hook, chain 4, and slip the last loop to the first. Chain three, then double crochet 15 times through the center, for a total of 16 stitches. Slip the stitch last and the first together.

3. Chain 4 to begin row two. Double crochet in the next stitch. Chain one, double crochet in the next stitch all the way around. Count your stitches; there must be 16 stitches in this row. Chain one after last double crochet, slip stitch to top of the first chain, cut the thread, pull it through the last loop, and work the loose end into the finished work. Change to white yarn.

4. Make a loop on hook, crochet into one of the spaces, and chain three. Double crochet twice in the same space. In the same space, skip two double crochets in the previous row, and do three double crochets in the space. Skip two stitches, double crochet three times in the same space, chain three, and double crochet in the same space three times to make a corner; repeat around to the beginning, Double chain three times in the first space, chain two and slip stitch to the previous row.

5. Continue to use white for the next row, using the same triple stitch in spaces, with two sets of clusters in each corner. For the last row, change back to the first color and continue the double crochet pattern. Make all the squares you need before proceeding to the next step.

6. Lay the completed squares on a flat surface in the order that you want them to appear in the completed spread. Single crochet the edges of the blocks in each row together, making sure that you keep the crocheted seams all on the same side of the work. Then single crochet the strips together, again keeping the crocheted seams on the same side of the work.

7. Single crochet around the outside edge of the spread to make a simple border that will keep the weight of the spread from pulling on the seams.

Tips & Warnings

• Select skeins of yarn that are the same weight and, preferably, the same brand. Yarns of differing weights and/or textures will create unevenly sized blocks.

References

• Learn About Crochet; How to Crochet Color Burst Afghan - Part 1; Michael Sellick; 2011
• Crocheting for Dummies; Karen Manthey; 2010