f you think afghan I itch is used mainly as background for cross stitching you're only half right! Afghan crochet (also called Tunisian crochet) is a versatile technique that can produce an incredible variety of pattern stitches. All you need to get started is an afghan hook—which looks like a crochet hook that will delight you. weno All About Afghan Stitch Stretched. Just like a regular crochet hook. afghan hooks come in sizes B through K Unlike regular crochet, each row of afghan stitch consists of two parts. No matter which pattern you choose, on the first half of a row you always pick up stitches, and on the second half, you get rid of them. Depending on just how you do this, determines is a great experts alike. If you'd like to learn new and unusual patterns this afghan whether you get popcorn, shells, a knit-like-fabric or a woven effect. The finishing row loosely worked slip single crochet. Some stitches have a tendency to pull on the bias and must be carefully blocked to insure shape Blocking is recommended for all stitches to produce best results. To guarantee uniform size motifs, mark a ten-inch square on a piece of cardboard and pin your work to this before steam ironing Leave in place until thorougly dry. If you already know basic afghan stitch and would lik: to make a gorgeous tapestry like blanket, our beautifully embroidered afghan is for you. First you combine basic stitch with popcorns and chevrons for a textured look. Then, you add a cross stitch pattern on top. It’s a true masterpiece. Feel like experimenting? Try our 16-stitch sampler, By working three squares in each stitch you can make a 60°x80" afghan, For a $0"x70" afghan make only 35 squares in an assortment of stitches. If you get hooked on 2 or 3 favorites, just make sufficient quantities of these 10” squares to suit your needs. So start now. Show your skill. Chooseall 16 patterns or just 2 Once you've learned these intriguing stitches you can use them to make sh placemats, tablerunners and your own original blankets. Some of our afghan stitch variations look like knitting Others have a woven texture You won't \ lovely waffl to miss the stitch square Afghan stitch can also imitate crocheted lace and many of Your other favorite stitches, By using a kc jk. all of the stitches are on your n at once. This way it’s easy to keep track of your Siitches...and hard to lose or gain stitches. rochet ig hoo! wis, scarves, edle a r q £ With desired size hook and yarn, loosely ch length required. Row 1 (First Hall): Insert hook in 2nd ch from hook. draw up loop, insert hook in next ch, draw up loop: rep from * across. There will be the same number of loops on hook as ch made. & Row I (Sccond Half: Work off 2 loopsas follows: YO, dra & & 2 through ‘one loop on hook, *YO, draw through 2 loopsan hook; rep from * across until one loop remains on hook. This lop is beg loop of next row Te Create a work of art. This TEXTURED TAPESTRY is for experienced afghan stitchers only Yarn by Coats and Clark Soe ITCH |= a 4 # Row 2 (First Half): Ipsert hook inf first upright st or vertical bar. YO, % draw through bar forming Joop on hook. Continue drawing up loops in this manner across, 4 Row 2 (Second Hail) 4 loops as in Second Hall of Row | Rep Row |-2 for pat until pieve is # desired length 4 To bind off: Bep.on Pat Row 2 # 4 4 r 4 % # a Work off (Second. Half), sk first bar, "insert hook in next bir. YO, draw loosely through bar and loop on hook: rep from * across, Cut yarn and draw through rem loop,Scrapbasket Decorating Turn your overflowing basket: and boxes of yarn into beautiful home decorating accessories. ho would believe that these cleverly conceived afghans were crocheted totally from scraps! Some using as little as half an ounce of each color! The artfully planned patterns interlock the Make ROSY different yarns in such a way eae that no one would guess you fini your hadn't planned the colors just room an extra homespun touch. for the project. It looks right Two of the afghans even at home with have the fringe worked at the Liki saat same time as the crochet, not calico toys ‘ond old Goll: only saving time but the bother of working the ends in. You'll be happiest with the results if you do a little eel cnet, planning before you begin. ond Kang stltches The first thing to do is make to create a anioae sure that you have enough yarn to complete the project, so check the yarn re- quirements for the afghan you This NAVAHO BLANKET AND WALLHANGING kt plan to make, then weigh the aralieee yarns that you plan to use. Susan Bates. (We use a postal scale for weighing.) Add a couple of extra ounces to be on the safe side in case you decide that you want to highlight one color or color family over the others. Next analyze the yarn by