How to Make an Afghan With the Afghan Stitch

Make an afghan for a gift, or use it to decorate your home.

Afghans are large, crocheted blankets made out of thick yarn—chances are if you’ve ever snuggled under large blanket at grandma’s house it was an afghan. To create an afghan you must learn how to do the Tunisian crochet stitch, which is also known as the afghan or tricot stitch. Using this stich, you can create square blocks that are then joined together like a quilt to complete your afghan.

Things You'll Need

• Afghan pattern
• Yarn
• Afghan hook

Instructions

1. Create a foundation chain of stitches using a regular crochet stitch. Refer to your pattern for how many cast-on stitches you should make.

2. Insert your hook through the first loop in your foundation chain and hook the back of the second loop with your hook. Pull the yarn through the first loop and onto your hook.

3. Insert the hook through the next chain and then hook the back of the hump next to it. Pull the yarn back through the chain and onto your hook. Continue this until you have all the stitches on your afghan hook.

4. Complete the second row of your afghan stitch by working backwards to release all the stitches on your hook. Wrap the yarn over your hook and pull it through the first loop.

5. Wrap the yarn over your hook again, this time drawing it through two loops at once. Repeat this step until you have one remaining loop, then loop the hook through only one loop.

6. Make numerous squares using the afghan stitch. Once you have completed all of your squares, sew them together to create your large afghan blanket.

References

• Crochet Cabana: Tunisian Crochet (Afghan Stitch)