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| Soft Squares Baby Blanket
Soft Squares Baby Blanket designed by Darla J. Fanton
DESCRIPTION
SIZING
Abbreviations Ch(s) = Chain(s) hdc = half double crochet
RS = right side sc = single crochet
Sl st = Slip stitch st(s) = stitch(es)
Details & Instructions MEASUREMENTS Afghan measures approximately 37"/94cm wide x 38"/96.5cm long.
MATERIALS Simply Soft
(170 g/6. oz;288 m/315 yds)
Contrast A Orchid (9717)
1
Contrast B Light Country Peach (9737)
1
Simply Soft
(113 g/4. oz;190 m/208 yds)
Contrast C Baby Brights Ombre (9801)
2
WS = wrong side
GAUGE In Tunisian purl stitch (Tps), with larger hook, 14 sts and 11 rows = 4"/10cm; One block measures 11 3/4"/30cm wide x 12"/30.5cm tall.
INSTRUCTIONS STITCHES USED Chain (ch), half double crochet (hdc), single crochet (sc), slip stitch (sl st)
SPECIAL STITCHES Tunisian Crochet: Each row of Tunisian crochet is worked in two steps, A forward pass and a return pass. Different Tunisian stitches (e.g. Tss and Tps) are created while working the forward pass. The return pass is worked in the same manner for Tss and Tps. Forward Pass: Tunisian Simple Stitch (Tss)—Working from right to left, hold working yarn behind work, insert hook in next vertical bar, yarn over and draw up a loop. Tunisian Purl Stitch (Tps)—Working from right to left, hold working yarn in front of work, insert hook in next vertical bar, yarn over and draw up a loop. Return Pass (Tss and Tps): Working from left to right, yarn over and draw through first TWO loops on hook (2-st cluster made), *yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook; repeat from * across. Note: On next forward pass treat 2-st cluster as TWO individual vertical bars.
NOTES 1. Each row of Tunisian crochet consists of a forward pass and a return pass. A row is considered complete when only one loop remains on the hook. 2.The RS of work is always facing you. 3. Always skip the first vertical bar in a row as this stitch is already on the hook. 4. Always work final stitch of the row under both strands. 5. Drop unused color to WS of work until needed. When picking up a dropped color, always pick up from underneath the current color, twisting the strands to avoid leaving a hole. 6. For this project, the return pass is NOT worked in the traditional manner. In order to avoid making a hole at the left edge, the return pass begins with: Yarn over, draw through TWO loops. The resulting 2-st cluster is treated as 2 individual vertical bars on the next forward pass. 7. Roll A and B into two separate balls of yarn before beginning.
HELPFUL
For help in assembly, you may wish to mark the final row of each block.
BLOCK #1 (make 4) With A, ch 41. Row 1 (RS): Forward Pass: Working in back bars only, insert hook in 2nd ch from hook and draw up a loop, draw up a loop in each remaining ch across—41 loops on hook. Return Pass: Work Return Pass (see Special Stitches). Rows 2–5: Forward Pass: Tps in each st across to last st; with yarn in back of work, pick up last loop under both strands of final vertical bar—41 loops on hook. Return Pass: Work Return Pass (see Special Stitches). Row 6: Forward Pass: With A, Tps in first 6 sts; with C, Tps in next 27 sts; with a 2nd ball of A, Tps in next 6 sts; with yarn in back of work, pick up last loop under both strands of final vertical bar—41 loops on hook. Return Pass: With A, [yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] 6 times; with C, [yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times; continuing with C, *ch 1, yarn over and draw through 4 loops on hook (3-st cluster made), ch 1, [yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times; repeat from * until 8 loops remain on hook; with A, [yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] 7 times—1 loop remains on hook. Row 7: Forward Pass: With A, Tps in first 6 sts; *with C, Tss in next 2 sts; draw up loop under next ch-1 sp, draw up loop in top of 3-st cluster, draw up loop under next ch-1 sp; repeat from * to last 9 sts; Tss in next 2 sts; with A, Tps in next 6 sts; with yarn in back of work, pick up last loop under both strands of final vertical bar —41 loops on hook. Return Pass: Work Row 6 Return Pass. Rows 8–26: Repeat Row 7. Row 27: Forward Pass: Work Row 7 Forward Pass. Return Pass: With A, work Return Pass (See Special Stitches), fastening off C and 2nd ball of A. Rows 28–32: With A, repeat Row 2. Bind off: With A, working from right to left, *insert hook in back vertical bar, yarn over and draw up loop and through loop on hook (1 loop remains on hook); repeat from * across. Fasten off.
BLOCK #2 (make 5) Work same as Block #1, using B (instead of A) and C.
FINISHING Arrange blocks in 3 rows of 3 blocks each, alternating Block #1 and Block #2, making sure the bind-off row is always at the top. Assembly Join two neighboring blocks (right and left) together as follows: With RS facing and smaller hook, join C with sl st in end of Row 1 of block on left, remove loop from hook. With RS facing, insert hook from front to back in end of Row 1 of block on right, place dropped loop back on hook and draw through, ch 1; *sl st in end of next row on left block, remove loop from hook, insert hook in end of next row on right block, place dropped loop back on hook and draw through, ch 1; repeat from * across edge. Continue to join neighboring blocks in this manner to form 3 strips of 3 blocks each. Join strips together in same manner, matching foundation row to bound-off edge and aligning stitches. Border Round 1: With RS facing, join C with sc in any corner, 2 sc in same sp, sc evenly around, working 3 sc in each corner; join with sl st in first sc. Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), 3 hdc in next st, hdc in each st around; working 3 hdc in each corner; join with sl st in top of beginning ch. Fasten off C. Round 3: Join A with sc in any corner hdc, 2 sc in same st, sc in each st around, working 3 sc in each corner; join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off. Using yarn needle, weave in all ends. Block gently, if desired.