How to Crochet an Afghan

Crochet is a fun, simple way to add beauty to your home while giving you an outlet for relaxation. This afghan is called "School Colors" afghans, using the colors of your child's school. You can create another afghan using the two original school colors plus shades of your child's school colors. The stitch is a triple-crochet (treble-crochet), with ten rows for each color. These instructions will include a border, which will give your project a neat, professional appearance.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Yarn-Medium worsted, 4 to 5 skeins each of two colors (your child's school colors).
• 2 Additional color variations, 4 to 5 skeins each (optional)
• Hook:-I-9 (5.50 mm).
• Yarn needle for weaving in ends
• Stitch markers
• Straight pins with large heads (for blocking)

School Colors Afghan

1. Gauge: 12 triple crochet (tc) and 4 rows = 4 inches (10 centimeters) with size I-9 (5.50 mm) hook.

2. Loosely crochet 155 chain stitches. This is the beginning (foundation) chain. Use the first color of your choice.Row 1: Beginning in fifth chain from hook, work 1 triple crochet in each chain to the end of the foundation chain. Count tc stitches. You should have 150 tc in the first row. Turn workRow 2: *Work one tc in each tc*; repeat from * to * until you reach the end of this row. Count stitches and turn work. Continue to crochet until you have 10 rows in the first school color. Fasten off the first color and weave in the ends.

3. Row 11: In second school color, * work one tc in each tc*, repeat from * to * until you reach the end of Row 11. Count stitches and turn work. Crochet 10 rows in your second school color. Fasten off second color, weave in ends.

4. Attach the third color (if you have chosen two additional shades for your "School Colors" afghan). Use the variation of the first color you began to crochet with.Beginning with Row 21, continue to tc in each tc until you reach the end of the row. Count your stitches and turn your work. When you complete Row 30, fasten off the third color and weave in the ends. Row 31: In the shade variation of your second color, tc in each tc until you reach the end of the row. Count your stitches and turn work. Continue to crochet in the fourth color until you reach Row 40. Fasten off the fourth color and weave in the ends.If you have decided to use only two school colors, alternate 10 rows of tc in each color, fasten off and weave in the ends.

5. Continue to crochet (using only tc) 10 rows of each color until your afghan is about 85 inches long.Border: Using one of your original school colors, single crochet (sc) around the edges of the afghan. Fasten off, weave in endsUsing second original school color, sc in each sc until you reach the beginning of the second row. Fasten off, weave in ends.Using the first original color, sc in each sc to the end of the third row of the border. Fasten off, weave in ends.Blocking: Place the afghan on a bed or clean sheet on the floor. Stretch the afghan until it is even and straight. Using straight pins, anchor the edges of the afghan until they remain even. Spray bottled water on the afghan and smooth bumps and ridges out with your hands. Leave the afghan pinned in this way until it has fully dried out.Cleaning: Follow cleaning instructions on the yarn wrapper. Wash by hand or in the delicate cycle of your washer. If you prefer, you can hand-wash your afghan in your tub so the woven-in ends do not unravel.

Tips & Warnings

• If you choose and you can tie small knots that will not be noticed, you can tie yarn together instead of weaving the ends on color changes.
• Try to limit color changes, as well as yarn changes, to the beginning or end of a row.
• It is highly important that you count stitches when you complete every row so that you will not lose (or gain) width on your afghan as you are working. It is easier to count each stitch if you use a yarn needle to help you count each stitch. It does take longer, but spending that time on each row is well worth not having to pull out rows of work.