My first baby Afghan :)

I use to crochet some as a kid with my grandmother but never really got into it until now. This is my first big project and i am super excited about it and how it turned out :) I have attached the crochet pattern that i used for the basic baby square. Happy crocheting everyone!



Materials :

Yarn: You'll need 3 different colors of fingering weight yarn. The sample was made using Baby Blatt / Anny Blatt and Baby Superwash / Bouton D'Or. You can use any similar yarn you like.

Crochet Hook: Size E / 4 - 3.50 mm

For Finishing: Tapestry needle

Finished Size: 8 inches square after blocking

Gauge: 11 sts and 11 rows = 2 inches when working in rows of single crochet stitch (measured prior to blocking.)

Crochet Instructions:

Work in the front loops of the single crochet stitches unless directed otherwise. Begin using color A (the main color - baby blue in my sample.)

Ch 31.

Sc in second chain from hook.

Row 1: Work 30 sc.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Work 30 sc.

Rows 3 - 30: Repeat row 2.

At this point, your piece should measure approximately 5 1/2 inches square, or close to it.

Finish off. Weave in ends.

Edging Instructions:

Begin working in rounds.

Round 1: Attach color B in upper left corner by drawing a loop through. Leave a tail of yarn at least 6 inches long, which will be woven in at the end. In my sample, color b is the lavender color.

Ch 1 (counts as first sc st.) Work 29 more evenly spaced sc sts, one stitch per row, for a total of 30 sts.

Ch 2 to form the corner.

Working into your starting chain, sc 30 evenly spaced sts across.

Ch 2 to form the corner.

Work 30 sc, spacing them evenly across with one sc per row.

Ch 2 to form the corner.

Work 30 sc across the upper edge of the square.

Ch 2 to form the corner. Join with a sl st to the first ch worked in the round.

Round 2: Continue working in color B. Ch 1. Work another round of single crochet. In the corners: Work 1 sc into the ch-2 sp, ch 2, work 1 sc into the ch-2 sp. This will give you 32 sc sts on each side for a total of 128 sc all the way around. Join with a sl st to beginning of round. Finish off, leaving a long tail of yarn.

Round 3: Join color C by drawing up a loop, leaving a tail of yarn longer than 6 inches. In my sample, color C is the light gray color.

Ch 1. Work another round of single crochet. In the corners: Work 1 sc into the ch-2 sp, ch 2, work 1 sc into the ch-2 sp. This will give you 34 sc sts on each side for a total of 136 sc all the way around. Join with a sl st to beginning of round.

Round 4: Continue working in color C. Ch 1. Work another round of single crochet. In the corners: Work 1 sc into the ch-2 sp, ch 2, work 1 sc into the ch-2 sp. This will give you 36 sc sts on each side for a total of 144 sc all the way around. Join with a sl st to beginning of round.

Round 5: Continue working in color C. Ch 1. Work another round of single crochet. In the corners: Work 1 sc into the ch-2 sp, ch 2, work 1 sc into the ch-2 sp. This will give you 38 sc sts on each side for a total of 152 sc all the way around. Join with a sl st to beginning of round.

Round 6: Continue working in color C. Ch 1. Work another round of single crochet. In the corners: Work 1 sc into the ch-2 sp, ch 2, work 1 sc into the ch-2 sp. This will give you 40 sc sts on each side for a total of 160 sc all the way around. Join with a sl st to beginning of round.

Finish off, leaving a long tail of yarn. Weave in the ends securely using a tapestry needle.

Work a row of slip stitches on the surface of the afghan square, between colors A and B.

To do this, insert your crochet hook into one of the corners, in the area where color B touches color A. Draw up a loop. Insert your hook again in the next stitch, and pull another loop through to form a slip stitch. Continue working in this way, all the way around.

End off, pulling the yarn through to the reverse side. Leave a long tail of yarn and weave the end in securely.