How to Crochet A Diamond Patterned Afghan

This pattern creates a pretty diamond patterned afghan. Once the pattern is established it's a very easy afghan to crochet.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Yarn
• Crochet hook

1. 

   Pick your yarn and the size of your crochet hook. Decide how wide you want your afghan to be. No matter how wide you want your afghan to be, your beginning chain will always end in 5. If you are using acrylic yarn and a size J crochet hook you should chain 205 stitches. This will give 20 diamonds across the afghan.
   
   The formula for this is: Each diamond is 10 stitches, plus you need one extra stitch for the first diamond and then are 2 stitches on each side as a border. So in summary 20 x 10 = 200 plus 2 + 2 plus the extra stitch equals 205.

2. This afghan is worked from side to side ending at every row. It's worked on the same side throughout, you do not turn it. Join with a slipstitch at the beginning of every row. Leave at least a six inch tail at the beginning and end of each row because this will be your fringe when the afghan is finished.

3. 

   After you do the chain row, single crochet the first three rows. Cut your yarn at the end of each row leaving 6 inches for a fringe. On the fourth row is where you start the diamond pattern.
   
   On the eighth stitch do a front post double crochet. You do this by yarn over hook, insert hook into the previous row's stitch, hook yarn, pull it through. You should now have three loops on your crochet hook. Yarn over hook and pull through two loops, yarn over hook again and pull through the remaining two loops. That's your front post double crochet. Do the front post double crochet every ten stitches, which will be the 18th, 28th 38th and so on. Use a knitting marker if it helps you to keep count. This row is creating the point of the diamond.

4. On the fifth row make a front post double crochet on both sides of the previous front post double crochet. Continue in this manner until row 9. Row 9 will be the side point of each diamond. You'll crochet a front post double crochet every 10 stitches on this row. Once you are past row 9, it will take 5 rows to complete a diamond.

5. Continue on in this manner until the afghan is the desired length. Finish off the diamond pattern and then single crochet 3 additional rows. Once you do this, trim the fringe and you're done!

Tips & Warnings

• Once the pattern is established, it's easy to follow
• Make sure you count your stitches correctly

[violet4me]

on 7/4/2009 Sounds like a fun project!