In this week's blog post, learn how to make an afghan!

As always, we would love to see your work! If you make this project, tag us on social media with #leisurearts.

-Leisure Arts Team

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Finished Size: 45" x 70"

MATERIALS
Worsted Weight Yarn:
Ecru - 18 ounces, (510 grams, 1,135 yards)
Red - 17 ounces, (480 grams, 1,070 yards)
Blue - 8 ounces, (230 grams, 505 yards)
Crochet hook, size J (6.00 mm) or size needed for gauge
Yarn needle

GAUGE: In pattern, (3 dc, ch 1) 4 times = 4¼"; 7 rows = 4"
Gauge Swatch: 4" straight edge to straight edge
Work same as Motif.

GAUGE
Exact gauge is essential for proper size. Before beginning your project, make the sample swatch given in the individual instructions in the yarn and hook specified. After completing the swatch, measure it carefully. If your swatch is larger or smaller than specified, make another, changing hook size to get the correct gauge. Keep trying until you find the size hook that will give you the specified gauge.

Stitch Guide
TREBLE CROCHET (abbreviated tr)
YO twice, insert hook in st or sp indicated, YO and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), (YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times.
RIGHT DECREASE (uses next 2 dc)
YO twice, insert hook in next dc, YO and pull up a loop, (YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice, YO, insert hook in next dc, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook, YO and draw through all 3 loops on hook.
LEFT DECREASE (uses next 2 dc)
YO, insert hook in next dc, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook, YO twice, insert hook in next dc, YO and pull up a loop, (YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice, YO and draw through all 3 loops on hook.
CLUSTER (uses next 2 sps and next joining)
† YO 3 times, insert hook in next sp, YO and pull up a loop, (YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times †, YO 3 times, insert hook in next joining, YO and pull up a loop, (YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times, repeat from † to † once, YO and draw through all 4 loops on hook.

STAR FIELD
MOTIF (Make 46)
With Ecru, ch 3; join with slip st to form a ring.

Rnd 1 (Right side): Ch 1, 12 sc in ring; join with slip st to first sc.

Note: Loop a short piece of yarn around any stitch to mark Rnd 1 as right side.

Rnd 2: Ch 2, (YO, insert hook in next sc, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice, YO and draw through all 3 loops on hook, ch 4, YO, insert hook in same sc, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook, (YO, insert hook in next sc, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice, YO and draw through all 4 loops on hook; repeat from 4 times more working last st in same sc as beginning ch-2, ch 4; join with slip st to top of first st, finish off: 6 ch-4 sps.

Rnd 3: With right side facing, join Blue with slip st in any ch-4 sp; ch 1, 6 sc in same sp and in each ch-4 sp around; join with slip st to first sc: 36 sc.

Rnd 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc, now and throughout), dc in next 2 sc, ch 2, (dc in next 6 sc, ch 2) 5 times, dc in last 3 sc; join with slip st to first dc, finish off: 36 dc and 6 ch-2 sps.

HALF MOTIF (Make 6)
Row 1 (Right side): With Blue, ch 4, 8 dc in fourth ch from hook (3 skipped chs count as first dc): 9 dc.

Note: Mark Row 1 as right side.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn; sc in first dc, (2 sc in next dc, sc in next dc) across: 13 sc.

Row 3: Ch 3, turn; dc in same st and in next sc, 2 dc in next sc, dc in next sc, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next sc, dc in next sc, 2 dc in next sc, dc in next sc; repeat from once more, (dc, ch 3, slip st) in last sc; finish off: 20 sts and 2 ch-2 sps.

ASSEMBLY
With Blue, working through both loops, and using Placement Diagram as a guide, whipstitch Motifs and Half Motifs together forming 4 vertical strips of 7 Motifs and 3 vertical strips of 6 Motifs and 2 Half Motifs (Fig. 2), beginning in second ch of first corner ch-2 and ending in first ch of next corner ch-2; then whipstitch strips together in same manner.

Edging

With right side facing, join Blue with slip st in ch-2 sp at Point A; † ch 4, tr in next dc, work right decrease, dc in next dc, hdc in next 2 dc, sc in next ch-2 sp, hdc in next 2 dc, dc in next dc, work left decrease, tr in next dc, work Cluster, tr in next dc, work right decrease, dc in next dc, hdc in next 2 dc, sc in next ch-2 sp, hdc in next 2 dc, dc in next dc, work left decrease; repeat from 5 times more, tr in next dc and in next ch-2 sp, 3 sc around tr just made, sc in same sp as tr, sc in next 6 dc and in next sp; (working in end of rows on Half Motif, 2 sc in first row, sc in next row, 2 sc in next row, sc in ch at base of 9-dc group, 2 sc in next row, sc in next row, 2 sc in next row, sc in next sp, sc in next 6 dc and in next sp) 3 times †, slip st in same sp, repeat from † to † once, 3 sc around beginning ch-4; join with slip st to top of beginning ch-4, finish off.

STRIPES
With Red, ch 265 loosely.

Row 1 (Right side): Dc in fourth ch from hook (3 skipped chs count as first dc) and in next ch, ch 1, skip next ch, dc in next 3 chs; repeat from across: 66 3-dc groups.

Note: Mark Row 1 as right side.

Row 2: Ch 5 (counts as first dc plus ch 2, now and throughout), turn; 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, (ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) across, ch 2, skip next 2 dc, dc in last dc: 65 3-dc groups.

Row 3: Ch 3, turn; 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, (ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) across to last ch-2 sp, ch 1, 2 dc in last sp, dc in last dc: 66 3-dc groups.

Row 4: Ch 5, turn; 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, (ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) across, ch 2, skip next 2 dc, dc in last dc: 65 3-dc groups.

Rows 5 and 6: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 changing to Ecru at end of Row 6 (Fig. 1).

Rows 7-12: Repeat Rows 3 and 4, 3 times changing to Red at end of Row 12.

Rows 13-18: Repeat Rows 3 and 4, 3 times changing to Ecru at end of Row 18.

Rows 19-36: Repeat Rows 7-18 once, then repeat Rows 7-12 once more.

Row 37: Ch 3, turn; 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, (ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) 39 times, leave remaining sts unworked: 40 3-dc groups.

Rows 38-42: Repeat Rows 2-6: 39 3-dc groups.

Rows 43-78: Repeat Rows 7-18, 3 times; at end of Row 78, do not change colors and do not finish off.

EDGING
Ch 1, turn; with corresponding color, sc evenly around entire piece working 3 sc in each corner and decreasing at inner corner; join with slip st to first sc, finish off.

With Blue, whipstitch Star Field into upper left hand corner of Stripes.

CHANGING COLORS

Work the last stitch to within one step of completion, hook new yarn (Fig. 1) and draw through all loops on hook. Cut old yarn and work over both ends unless otherwise instructed.

FIg. 1


WHIPSTITCH
Place two pieces with wrong sides together. Sew through both pieces once to secure the beginning of the seam, leaving an ample yarn end to weave in later. Working through both loops on both pieces (Fig. 2), insert the needle from front to back through next stitch and pull yarn through; repeat from across.

Fig. 2


ABBREVIATIONS
ch(s) chain(s)
dc double crochet(s)
hdc half double crochet(s)
mm millimeters
Rnd(s) Round(s)
sc single crochet(s)
sp(s) space(s)
st(s) stitch(es)
tr treble crochet(s)
YO yarn over
— work instructions following as many more times as indicated in addition to the first time.
† to † — work all instructions from first † to second † as many times as specified.
( ) or [ ] — work enclosed instructions as many times as specified by the number immediately following or work all enclosed instructions in the stitch or space indicated or contains explanatory remarks.
colon (:) — the numbers given after a colon at the end of a row or round denotes the number of stitches you should have on that row or round.