How to Crochet a Poinsetta Afghan

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

I use Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in these colors:
1 Skein 316 Soft White (CA)
2 skeins 376 Burgundy (CB)
2 skeins 389 Hunter Green (CC)
3 skeins 967 Holly & Ivy (CD)
6mm (US J-10) crochet hook
6.5mm (US K-10.5) crochet hook
Yarn needle

Step 1

ABBREVIATIONS:
CA, CB, CC, CD = colors A, B, C,D;
ch = chain;
dc = double crochet;
hdc = half double crochet;
rnd = round;
sc = single crochet;
st(s) = stitch (es);
yo = yarn over;
* or ** = repeat whatever follows the * or ** as indicated;
[ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times
specified.
Step 2

MOTIF (Make 20):
With smaller hook and CA, ch 6; join
with a slip st in first ch to form a ring.
Step 3

Rnd 1: Ch 4, [dc, ch 1] 7 times in ring; join with a slip st in
3rd ch of ch-4 - 8 spaces. Fasten off.
Step 4

Rnd 2: Join CB in any ch-1 space; ch 3, 2 dc in same
space, [ch 2, 3 dc in next space] 7 times, ch 2; join with a
slip st in top of ch-3.
Step 5

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, * (dc, ch 2, dc) all in ch-2
space **, dc in next 3 dc; repeat from * around, end at **;
join.
Step 6

Rnd 4: Ch 2, [yo and draw up a loop in next dc, yo and
draw through 2 loops] twice, yo and draw through all 3
loops on hook, ch 1 tightly to close - beginning cluster
made; * ch 4, sc in ch-2 space, ch 4, skip next dc **; [yo
and draw up a loop in next dc, yo and draw through 2
loops ] 3 times, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook,
ch 1 tightly to close - cluster made; repeat from * around,
end at **; join in top of beginning cluster. Fasten off.
Step 7

Rnd 5: Join CD in any ch-4 space; ch 2, 3 hdc in same
space, * 4 hdc in next space, 5 hdc in next space, ch
3 (corner), 5 hdc in next space **, 4 hdc in next space;
repeat from * around, end at **; join in top of ch-2. Fasten
off.
Step 8

Rnd 6: Join CC in ch-3 corner space; (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3
dc) all in corner space, * skip next hdc, dc in next 17 sts
**, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) all in corner space; rep from * around,
end at **; join.
Step 9

Rnd 7: Slip st in next dc, dh 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), skip
next dc, ** (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in corner ch-2 space, ch 1,
skip next dc, * dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc; repeat from
* to next corner; repeat from ** around; join in 3rd ch of
ch-4. Fasten off.
Step 10

Rnd 8: Join CD in any corner space; (ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc)
all in same space, * ch 1, skip next dc, [dc in next dc, ch
1 skip next dc] 13 times **; (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in corner
space; repeat from * around, end at **; join. Fasten off.
Step 11

FINISHING: With larger hook and CD, join motifs: holding
wrong sides together and begin at corner, work sc, ch 1
through each space and in between 2 corner dc across.
Join motifs in rows of 5, and then join 5-motif rows together
to form afghan 4 rows wide.
Step 12

Border-Rnd 1: With right side facing and smaller hook,
join CB in any corner space; (ch 2, hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) all
in same space, * hdc in each st and ch-1 space across
to next corner **, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) all in corner space;
repeat from * around, end at **; join in top of ch-2. Fasten
off.
Step 13

Rnd 2: Join CA in any corner; repeat Rnd 1, EXCEPT
work hdc between sts of previous rnd.
Step 14

Rnd 3: Join CB in any corner; repeat Rnd 2.
Step 15

Rnd 4: Join CD in any corner; (ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in
same space, * ch 1, skip next hdc, hdc in next hdc; repeat
from * to next corner; ch 1 **, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in corner
space; repeat from * around, end at **; join.
Step 16

Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch-1 space around, working
3 sc in each corner; join in first sc. Fasten off.
Step 17

Rnd 6: Attach CC in same sc as joining; ch 1, sc in same
sc, * sc in next 6 sc, keeping hook and yarn at front of
work dc in next free hdc of Rnd 3, skip sc directly behind
this dc **, sc in next sc; repeat from * to 7 center sc of next
corner, end at **; sc in next sc; repeat from * around, end
at **; join. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Step 18

Finished afghan measures about 51"x62.5" so it's a nice size for a throw. You make additional squares to make it larger, jst make sure you pick up extra yarn. Have fun crocheting!