Crochet the Peaceful Moments Afghan: A Detailed Guide
This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of crocheting the Peaceful Moments Afghan, featuring a beautiful puff stitch pattern. Even if you're new to reading crochet patterns with repeats, this detailed explanation, based on the video tutorial, will walk you through every step.
What You'll Need
To embark on this project, gather the following:
- Yarn: Approximately 1,832 yards of #4 worsted weight yarn. The sample uses Ice Yarns Favorite Worsted (100% acrylic, 100g skeins). This acrylic yarn is soft, smooth, and washable, making it a great, inexpensive choice. You can substitute any smooth, soft worsted weight yarn. The colorway used in the example is "powder pink." You'll need about 8 skeins of this type of yarn.
- Crochet Hook: A size I (5.5 mm) crochet hook.
- Tools:
- Scissors
- Yarn needle or blunt tapestry needle
- Measuring tape
- A small book or thick piece of cardboard (for making tassels later)
Gauge Swatch: Don't Skip This Step!
Before you start, it's crucial to check your gauge. The pattern includes written instructions for creating a gauge swatch in the specified stitch pattern. It also advises blocking your swatch for the most accurate measurement. If you're unfamiliar with gauge, it's essential for ensuring your blanket turns out the correct size and uses the right amount of yarn.
Starting the Afghan: Foundation Double Crochet
This pattern doesn't begin with a traditional foundation chain. Instead, it starts with a row of foundation double crochet (Fdc). This technique creates both the foundation chain and the first row of double crochet simultaneously, resulting in a much stretchier and cleaner finished edge than a regular chain.
How to make a Foundation Double Crochet (Fdc):
- Chain 3.
- Yarn over, insert hook into the third chain from the hook (the very first chain you made).
- Yarn over, pull up a loop (you now have 3 loops on your hook).
- Yarn over, pull through 1 loop (this creates the "chain" part of the stitch).
- Yarn over, pull through 2 loops.
- Yarn over, pull through the remaining 2 loops. This is your first Fdc. The starting chains do not count as a stitch.
For all subsequent Fdc stitches:
- Yarn over.
- Insert your hook into both strands at the base of the previous stitch (this looks like the top of a regular stitch, but upside down).
- Yarn over, pull up a loop.
- Yarn over, pull through 1 loop (chain part).
- Yarn over, pull through 2 loops.
- Yarn over, pull through the remaining 2 loops.
Row 1: Work a total of 154 foundation double crochet stitches.
- Adjusting Size: If you want to change the size of your blanket, start with a multiple of 21 stitches plus 7. So, any number of stitches you can divide evenly by 21, then add 7 to that total.
Building the Blanket: Rows 2-10
Row 2: Double Crochet All the Way Across
- Turn your work.
- Chainless Starting Double Crochet (Csdc) in the same stitch.
- To make a Csdc: Stretch the loop on your hook to the height of a double crochet. Hold the loop in place with your index finger. Bring your hook tip towards you, then down, and back behind the stretched-out loop (as if yarning over with it). Insert your hook into the very same stitch your yarn is coming from. Yarn over, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through the first loop and the yarn over from the stretched-out loop. Yarn over, pull through 2 loops.
- Work a regular double crochet (dc) in each stitch across the entire row. You should still have 154 stitches.
Row 3: Introducing the Puff Stitch (First Pattern Row)
This row introduces the puff stitch and the repeat structure. Pay close attention to the asterisks * * (which indicate a smaller, repeated sequence) and brackets [ ] (which indicate a larger, repeated section).
- Turn your work.
- Chainless Starting Single Crochet (Cssc) in the same stitch. (Stretch the loop on the hook a little, then work a regular single crochet in the same space. This eliminates the need for a starting chain.)
- Puff Stitch in the same stitch.
- How to make a Puff Stitch: Yarn over, insert hook into the same stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop. (Repeat this process two more times so you have 3 yarn overs and 3 loops pulled up, for a total of 7 loops on your hook). Yarn over, pull through all 7 loops on your hook.
*Skip 1 stitch.- Single crochet (sc) and puff stitch in the next stitch.
* - Repeat from
*to*3 more times. (You will have a total of 5 puff stitches in a row, including the first one made with the Cssc). [Skip 1 stitch.- Half double crochet (hdc) in the next 7 stitches.
- Single crochet and puff stitch in the next stitch.
*Skip 1 stitch.- Single crochet and puff stitch in the next stitch.
* - Repeat from
*to*6 more times. (You will have a total of 7 puff stitches in this section). ]Repeat the instructions within the brackets[ ]6 times total.- Skip 1 stitch.
- Half double crochet in the last stitch.
- You should have 154 stitches at the end of this row.
Row 4: Repeating the Puff Stitch Pattern
- Repeat Row 3.
- After Row 4, you'll start to see the beautiful texture of the puff stitches lining up, creating a raised effect. When blocking, you can gently push all the puff stitches to one side of the fabric to make them stand out.
Rows 5 & 6: Double Crochet Rows
- Repeat Row 2 for both Row 5 and Row 6.
Row 7: Half Double Crochet and Offset Puff Stitches
This row begins to offset the puff stitch pattern.
- Chain 1 and turn. (This chain does not count as a stitch).
- Half double crochet (hdc) in the same stitch and in each of the next 6 stitches (total of 7 hdc).
[Single crochet and puff stitch in the next stitch.*Skip 1 stitch.- Single crochet and puff stitch in the next stitch.
* - Repeat from
*to*5 more times. (Total of 7 puff stitches in this section). - Skip 1 stitch.
- Half double crochet in the next 7 stitches.
]Repeat the instructions within the brackets[ ]to the end of the row, ending with a half double crochet in the next 7 stitches.
Row 8: Continuing the Offset Puff Stitch Pattern
This row is similar to Row 7, but it's offset by one stitch.
- Chain 1 and turn.
- Half double crochet (hdc) in the same stitch and in each of the next 5 stitches (total of 6 hdc).
[Single crochet and puff stitch in the next stitch.*Skip 1 stitch.- Single crochet and puff stitch in the next stitch.
* - Repeat from
*to*5 more times. (Total of 7 puff stitches in this section, and they should stack directly on top of the ones in the previous row). - Skip 1 stitch.
- Half double crochet in the next 7 stitches.
]Repeat the instructions within the brackets[ ]until there is 1 stitch left in the row.- Half double crochet in the last stitch of the row.
Rows 9 & 10: Double Crochet Rows
- Repeat Row 2 for both Row 9 and Row 10.
Completing the Blanket: Repeating and Finishing
Now that the basic puff stitch design is established, you'll repeat the sequence of rows to reach the desired blanket size.
- Repeat Rows 3 to 10 for a total of 9 more times. This will form the main body of your blanket.
- After completing these repeats, work Rows 3 to 6 1 more time. This ensures that the top edge of your blanket matches the bottom edge, where the puff stitch clusters extend all the way to the edge.
- Once all rows are complete, leave a tail, cut your yarn, and tie off.
Finishing Touches: Weaving in Ends and Blocking
- Weave in all loose ends using your yarn needle.
- Block your Afghan.
- For acrylic yarn, steam blocking is highly recommended. This helps the stitches relax and evens out the fabric.
- As you steam block, gently push all the puff stitches towards the same side of the fabric with your fingers. This will make them "pop" and create a consistent texture on the front of your blanket. While both sides are currently the same, choosing a "front" and pushing all the puffs that way will enhance the design.
- Add Tassels (Optional): Use your small book or cardboard to wrap yarn around, then cut to create tassels for the corners of your blanket. The specific measurements for the book/cardboard would be in the full pattern.
You now have a beautifully textured and cozy Peaceful Moments Afghan!
0 Comments