Chapter 13

AFGHANS

Hospitality—the generous gesture, the understanding heart, the friendly atmosphere—these are what give a house its welcom­ing warmth.

We, of course, have a specially warm place in our hearts for afghans, and they have always reciprocated our affections, kept us comfortable and cozy through innumerable "forty winks" down the years. Their soft, luxurious texture, their glowing colors, their lovely patterns have always given them first place in our home. We take pride in present­ing you with some of our favorite afghan patterns—may they keep your fingers busy and your toes warm!

How to Make Afghan Stitch

Make a chain of 45 stitches. 1st row: Insert hook in 2nd ch from hook and draw up a loop; retaining all loops on hook draw up a loop in each ch across (Fig. 1). There are 45 loops on hook. Yarn over and draw through 1 loop, * yarn over and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from * across (Fig. 2). The loop which re­mains on hook always counts as the first st of next row (Fig. 3). 2nd row: Insert hook under 2nd vertical bar and draw loop through; retaining all loops on hook draw up a loop in each vertical bar across to within last vertical bar (Fig. 4). Insert hook through the last vertical bar and the stitch directly behind it and draw a loop through—this gives a firm edge to this side (45 loops on hook), com­plete last half of row to correspond with first row. Repeat 2nd row as specified in directions. Then make a sl st in each vertical bar across. Break off.

How to Increase in Afghan Stitch: To inc 1 vertical bar at beginning of row, insert hook under vertical bar directly below loop on hook (Fig. 5) and draw loop through. Retaining all loops on hook work across row as before to last vertical bar—to inc 1 vertical bar at end of row, insert hook under last vertical bar and draw up a loop, insert hook under stitch directly behind last vertical bar (Fig. 5) and draw loop through (1 st increased at both ends).

How to Decrease in Afghan Stitch: To dec st at both ends of row, insert hook under vertical bars at one time (Fig. 6) and draw loop through.

No. 6142 Afghan

Approximately 49 x 68 Inches

Materials: Knitting Worsted, 60 balls (1 oz. balls) of Light Yellow; 8 balls of Wood Brown for Border and Embroidery . . . Bone Afghan Hook No. 6 (41/2 mm. size).

GAUGE: 5 sts make 1 inch; 4 rows make 1 inch.

BLOCK (Make 35) ... With Yellow, ch 45 to measure 91/4 inches and work in afghan stitch (see page 228) until piece is square (36 rows). Break off. Attach Brown to corner st, make 3 sc in corner, * ch 1, skip 1 st, sc in next st. Repeat from * around, making 3 sc in each corner. Join and break off.

EMBROIDERY . . . Examine the diagram for making cross stitches over afghan stitch (see page 233). Placing design at center, embroider 18 blocks according to chart below. Make 5 rows of 7 blocks. Sew blocks neatly together on wrong side, alternating plain and embroidered blocks.

BORDER ... 1st rnd: Attach Brown to cor­ner, 3 sc in corner, sc in each st and in each ch-1 sp around, making 3 sc in each corner. Join. 2nd rnd: Sc in each sc around, making 3 sc in center sc of each corner. Join. 3rd rnd: Ch 3, sc in joining, sc in next sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, * ch 3, sc in last sc, sc in next 5 sc. Repeat from * around, making 3 sc in each corner. Join and break off.

No. 6146 Afghan

Approximately 51 x 72 Inches

Materials: Knitting Worsted, 40 balls (1 oz. balls) of Wood Brown and 35 balls of assorted, Self-shading or Variegated colors, or use left­over yarns of the same type ... Plastic Crochet Hook No. 7.

GAUGE: Each block measures 51/4 inches.

BLOCK . . . Starting at center with first color, ch 6. Join with sl st to form ring. 1st rnd: Ch 3, 2 dc in ring, (ch 3, 3 dc in ring) 3 times; ch 1, thread over, insert hook in 3rd ch of starting chain, drop first color, pick up second color and draw through all loops on hook. Always change color in this manner. 2nd rnd: Ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, (ch 1, in next sp make 3 dc, ch 3 and 3 dc) 3 times; ch 1, 3 dc in same sp as first 2 dc were made, ch 1. Join, changing to third color as before. 3rd rnd: Ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, (ch 1, 3 dc in next sp, ch 1, in next sp make 3 dc, ch 3 and 3 dc) 3 times; ch 1, 3 dc in next sp, ch 1, 3 dc in first sp, ch 1. Join, chang­ing to fourth color as before. 4th rnd: Ch 3, 2 dc in sp, * (ch 1, 3 dc in next sp) twice; ch 1,in next corner sp make 3 dc, ch 3 and 3 dc. Repeat from * around. Join, changing to Wood Brown as before. 5th rnd: (This rnd is always worked in Wood Brown.) Ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, * (ch 1, 3 dc in next sp) 3 times; ch 1, in next corner sp make 3 dc, ch 3 and 3 dc. Re­peat from * around, ending with ch 1, 3 dc in first sp, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch of starting chain. Break off.

Make 9 rows of 13 blocks, 'using colors' as desired. Sew blocks neatly together on wrong side, picking up the back loop only.

BORDER ... 1st rnd; Attach Wood Brown, ch 3 and work a rnd of dc closely together around all sides, making 3 dc in each corner. Join. 2nd rnd: Ch 3, dc in each dc around, making 3 dc in center dc of each corner. Join and break off.

No. 6144 Afghan

Approximately 45 x 63 Inches

Materials: Knitting Worsted,56 balls (1 oz. balls) of Blue; 6 balls of White for Embroidery . . . Bone Afghan Hook No. 6 (41/4 mm. size).

GAUGE: 5 sts make 1 inch; 4 rows make 1 inch.

STRIP (Make 5) ... Starting at narrow end with Blue, ch 45 to measure 91/4 inches. Work in afghan stitch (see page 228) —45 loops on hook—until piece measures 62 inches. Sew Strips neatly together on wrong side.

EDGING ... 1st rnd: Attach Blue and work sc closely together around all sides, making 3 sc in each corner and keeping work flat. Join.

Drop Blue. 2nd rnd: Attach White and make sc in back loop of each sc around, making 3 sc in center sc of each corner. Join and break off. 3rd rnd: Pick up Blue, sc in each sc around, making 3 sc in corner sc.

EMBROIDERY—Center . . . Examine the diagram for making cross stitches over afghan stitch (see below). The large chart on page 231 shows only one quarter of design. Determine the center of afghan and mark with a colored thread. Starting at center stitch, embroider according to chart. Omit the center row and work left half to correspond. Then omit top row and work other half to complete design.

BORDER . . . The outside row of Border is worked on the fourth row of afghan stitch. Work Border according to small chart on page 231.

No. 6137 Afghan

Approximately 50 x 70 Inches (including fringe)

Materials: Knitting Worsted, 41 balls (1 oz. balls) of French Gold; 21 balls of Leaf Green; 4 balls each of Florida Blue and Deep Rose; 3 balls of Mid Rose; 2 balls each of Wild Rose, Blue Jewel and Oak Green . . . Bone Afghan Hook No. 6 (41/4 mm. size).

WIDE STRIP (Make 5) ... Starting at nar­row end with Gold, ch 40 to measure 81/4 inches. Work in afghan stitch (see page 228)—40 loops on hook—until piece measures 62 inches. Break off.

NARROW STRIP (Make 6) ... With Leaf Green, ch 9 and work 3 rows of afghan stitch. 4th row: Work in afghan stitch until there are 4 loops on hook; yarn over hook 3 times, insert hook in 2nd vertical bar 3 rows down and draw a loop through, (yarn over and draw through 2 loops) 3 times; yarn over hook 3 times, skip 5 bars 3 rows down and draw a loop through the next vertical bar, (yarn over and draw through 2 loops) 4 times—a herring­bone stitch made—skip the st directly behind the herringbone st and draw a loop in each of next 4 vertical bars (9 loops on hook). Com­plete as for afghan stitch row. 5th row: Work in afghan stitch. Repeat 4th and 5th rows alter­nately until strip measures 62 inches. Break off.

EMBROIDERY . . . Examine the diagram for making cross stitches over afghan stitch (see page 233). Embroider two complete designs according to chart on page 233 on a Wide Strip, spacing them evenly apart. Embroider 2 more Wide Strips in the same way.

Sew strips neatly together, alternating Nar­row and Wide Strips, having an embroidered strip at each side and in center. Starting at one corner with Leaf Green, make a row of slip stitches around all sides. Join. Now work along short side as follows: Sc in next 2 sl sts, * ch 2, skip 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts. Repeat from * across narrow end only. Break off. Work other end to correspond.

FRINGE ... Cut 6 strands of Leaf Green, each 12 inches long. Double these strands to form a loop, insert hook in ch-2 sp and draw loop through, draw loose ends through loop and pull up tightly. Make a fringe in each ch-2 sp across each short side. Trim evenly.

No. 6143 Afghan

Approximately 45 x 67 Inches

Materials: Knitting Worsted, 40 balls (1 oz. balls) of Yellow and 30 balls of Wood Brown . . . Plastic Crochet Hook No. 6.

GAUGE: Each block measures 4Vi inches square.

BLOCK . . . Starting at center with Yellow, ch 6. Join with sl st. 1st rnd: 12 sc in ring. Join. 2nd rnd: Ch 3, dc in back loop of sl st, 2 dc in back loop of each sc around. sl st in top of ch-3. Drop Yellow. 3rd rnd: Attach Brown, sc in same place as sl st, tr in front loop of sc below (on first rnd), * sc in next dc, tr in front loop of next sc below (on first rnd). Repeat from * around. Join and break off. 4th rnd: Pick up Yellow, sc in first sc, * (sc in next tr, sc in next sc) twice; in next tr make  dc, ch 1 and 2 dc; sc in next sc. Repeat from * around. Join. 5th rnd: Sc in each st around, making 3 sc in each corner sp. Join. Drop Yellow. 6th rnd: Attach Brown to first sc of any 3-sc group at corner, sc in same place, insert hook at base of next sc and complete as for an sc (long sc made), * sc in next sc, long sc in next sc. Repeat from * around. Join and break off. 7th rnd: Pick up Yellow and make sc in each st around, making 3 sc in each cor­ ner st. Join and break off.

Make 10 rows of 15 blocks. Sew blocks neatly together on wrong side, picking up back loops only.

BORDER ... 1st rnd: Attach Yellow to cor­ner sc, * 3 sc in corner, sc in each sc to next corner. Repeat from * around. Join. 2nd to 6th rnds incl: Sc in each sc around, making 3 sc in each corner. Join. Break off at end of 6th rnd. With double strand of Brown whip all outer edges.

No. 6138 Afghan

Approximately 52 x 75 Inches

Materials: Knitting Worsted, 12 balls (1 oz. balls) each of Light Rose, Wild Rose, Mid Rose, Deep Rose and Wine Rose . . . Plastic Crochet Hook No. 6.

STRIP (Make 11) ... Starting at narrow end with Light Rose, ch 22. 1st row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 9 ch, 3 sc in next ch, sc innext 10 ch. Ch 1, turn. 2nd row: Skip 1 sc, sc in back loop of each sc to center sc of 3-sc group, 3 sc in back loop of center sc, sc in back loop of each sc to last 2 sc, skip 1 sc, sc in back loop of last sc. Break off Light Rose. Attach Wild Rose. Ch 1, turn. Repeat 2nd row, work­ing 2 rows of Wild Rose, 2 of Mid Rose, 2 of Deep Rose and 2 of Wine Rose. These 10 rows constitute stripe pattern. Work in pattern until piece measures 75 inches, completing pattern stripe. Break off. Sew strips together neatly on wrong side, matching colors.

No. 6140 Afghan

Approximately 46 x 66 Inches

Materials: Knitting Worsted, 30 balls (1 oz. balls) each of Pearl Grey and Wine Rose . . . Plastic Crochet Hook No. 5.

GAUGE: Each block measures 4 inches square.

BLOCK . .. Starting at center with Grey, ch 6. Join with sl st to form ring. 1st rnd: Ch 3, 2 dc in ring, (ch 1, 3 dc in ring) 3 times; ch 1, insert hook in 3rd ch of ch-3, drop Grey, attach Wine and make a sl st. 2nd rnd: With Wine make sc in same place as sl st, sc in next 2 dc, (5 sc in next sp—corner—sc in next 3 dc) 3 times; 5 sc in last sp. Join and break off. 3rd rnd: Attach Grey, ch 3, * dc in each sc to center sc of cor­ner, leaving the last 2 loops of last dc on hook, drop Grey, attach Wine and draw through 2 loops on hook, 5 Wine dc in corner sc, leav­ing last 2 loops of last dc on hook, change to Grey. Repeat from * around, ending with 2 Grey dc. Join. 4th rnd: Ch 3, * dc in each Grey dc, change to Wine as before and make dc in next 3 dc, change to Grey and make 3 dc in same place as last dc, change to Wine and make another dc in same place as last dc, dc in next 2 dc, change to Grey. Repeat from * around. Join and break off.

Make 11 rows of 16 blocks and sew them neatly together on  rong side.

BORDER . . . 1st rnd: Attach Wine to one corner, * 3 sc in corner, sc in each dc to next corner. Repeat from * around. Join. 2nd to 5th rnds incl: Sc in each sc, making 3 sc in center sc of each corner and working 4th rnd with Grey. Join. Break off at end of 5th rnd.

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