Crocheted Christmas Granny Stripe Afghan

Welcome to all of my subscribers and to those who have come here looking for an easy crochet pattern.  I know it's been ages since I've posted anything on this blog.  After we moved here a year ago, I mostly left my yarn packed in boxes or Rubbermaid containers.  The other day I saw this yarn and decided to start a crocheted Christmas afghan.  I love the granny stripe afghan pattern.  My full tutorial is on my blog post here  There are a lot more detailed photos and explanations there.

Here is my afghan so far.  I chained 145 to start this afghan.  You can see that it is the length of the love seat on my porch.

I'm using a worsted weight called Caron Simply Soft Party and an I hook.   



I have had a couple of questions recently from readers that are having problems with their work curling when they get to row 3 or 4.  I don't know why that is happening, and without seeing a photo it's hard to help.  I am not sure I did a good job explaining the starting rows to them so I've taken some photos as I started this afghan.

First chain 145 (there are different sizes listed in a chart in my other tutorial).  Turn and single crochet in the second chain from hook and each chain until you are back at the beginning.  Then chain 3 and turn your work.  Do another double crochet in that same stitch.  Skip 2 stitches and do 3 DC in the next stitch.

So your first row will be 3 DC in one stitch, skip 2 single crochets.  Repeat this until the end.  End with 2 DC (because you started with 2 DC).

Chain 3 and turn your work. (That counts as 1 double crochet.)   Do 3 DC in the space from the row below.  Continue across the afghan.  End the row with 1 DC the same as you started.

When I am ready to change colors, I cut the yarn and pull the tail through the loop on my hook.  

I know this isn't the way most people teach you how to end one color and add the next.  But, I have several afghans that my Mom made years ago, and where she had joined the yarn the afghan is coming apart.  So I tie my yarn off at the end of a color and tie the next one on as you can see in the photo below.
Pull the white yarn through the space.  That creates a loop on your hook, and you're ready to go again.

Then chain 3 (this makes your first double crochet). 

 Turn your work.   

Do another double crochet in that space.   There are two in the photo.  It's just hard to see with the white yarn


The same thing - still not a great photo.

 End that first row of white with 2 DC because you started with 2 DC.



When you get to the end of the first white row, chain 3, turn, and then do 3 DC in the space as seen below.  There are no chains between the DC clusters.  I just don't like the way it looks when you chain in between because the holes are so large in the afghan.

Here is where I am so far.  Again, there is a better tutorial here in one of my earlier blog posts.

 I hope you will give this afghan a try.  I really love this pattern.  Once you get the first couple of rows finished, it is just the same thing over and over.  I think it's pretty relaxing to crochet this one.

The other afghan I finished in this pattern was wider than it was long.  So I've opted to start with less stitches to make it narrower.  I can always make the afghan larger by adding some kind of a border.

If you have any questions, email me.  I'll do my best to help you.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

I hope you are finding some time to stitch today.