Easy Crochet Baby Afghan Pattern

This easy crochet baby afghan was originally published in September 1927 in The Needlecraft Magazine.

Materials required are eight balls of fourfold Germantown, pink (or blue, as preferred), three balls of white silk-and-wool, one ounce each of pink and white Shetland, and a bone crochet hook, No. 3. Using the Germantown, make a chain of 135 stitches, turn.

Yarn over, miss 2 stitches of chain, insert hook in next, yarn over and draw through, over and draw up another loop in the same stitch, over and draw up a loop in next stitch, over and draw through all the loops (7) now on the needle, forming a cluster- or bean-stitch, chain 1, * over, draw up a loop in next stitch, over, draw up a loop in same stitch, over, draw up a loop in next stitch, over, draw through all the loops, as before, chain 1, and repeat from * the length of chain, ending with 1 treble in last stitch.

The center of the afghan is made entirely in this stitch, and is 61 "beans" in width; for a larger robe one has simply to add to the foundation-chain 2 stitches for each additional bean-stitch. Each row should be begun with 3 chain, or a chain corresponding in length to the bean-stitch, in order to keep the edge straight and afford a foundation for the border, and the same number of clusters or beans should be preserved throughout-61 in each row. The afghan shown has 101 rows, but may be made longer or shorter, as desired, in proportion to its width.

For the border: Using the silk-and- wool yarn work 4 rows of doubles, widening at corners by making 2 doubles in same place, in order to prevent drawing and keep the work flat and even; with the pink work 1 row of doubles, taking up both veins of threads of each stitch, always, to avoid a ridge, then 4 more rows of the white. Finish with a shell-scallop of the pink as follows: A double in double, chain 1, miss 3 doubles, 5 trebles in next, chain 1, miss 3; repeat.

At center of the afghan is fastened a large rose, and at each corner a smaller one made as follows: Using the pink Shetland single, make a chain of 7 stitches, join.

1. Ch 6, (tr in ring, ch 3) 4 times, join to 3d of 6 ch, making 5 sp in all.

2. Fill each sp with 1 d c, 2 tr and 1 d c.

3. (Ch 6, fasten between petals, letting the ch pass at the back) 5 times.

4. Fill each ch with 1 d c, 5 tr, 1 d c; fasten off.

For the large rose: Like small rose through 1st row.

2. Fill each ch with 1 d c, 3 tr and 1 d c.

3. Like 3d row of small rose.

4. Fill each ch with 1 d c, 2 tr, 2 d tr, 2 tr and 1 d c.

5. (Ch 9, fasten between petals, letting ch pass at back) 5 times.

6. Fill each ch with 1 d c, 2 tr, 4 d tr, 2 tr and 1 d c; join to the d c between petals and fasten off.

The petals of both large and small roses are all edged with the white Shetland, working 1 d c in each st.

Sew a small rose at each corner of afghan, counting 10 rows or bean-stitches from the edge, both ways, and the large rose in center, leaving the petals free. This addition gives a very pretty effect, and the roses are very quickly and easily made.

Download printable version (.pdf)