Contemporary Stash-Busting Blocks Throw

Looking to use up some of your scrap pile and still get a gorgeous crochet afghan? Then check out one of the cooled crochet afghan patterns around, the Contemporary Stash-Busting Blocks Throw. Based on a classic quilt pattern, this outstanding throw creates a colorful optical illusion. Using various colors, you'll create what looks like tumbling blocks throughout the main body of the afghan. Add a shell stitch border, and it will instantly become a statement piece in any home.

Intermediate

Crochet HookJ/10 or 6 mm hook

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

Materials:

2 skeins Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Black (A)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in True Blue (B)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Pewter (C)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Aubergine (D)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Lettuce (E)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Hot Pink (F)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Bubblegum (G)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Iced Aqua (H)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Holly Berry (I)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Daffodil (J)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Mango (K)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Lilac (L)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Tan (M)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Bluebell (N)
1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Evergreen (O)
6mm [US J-10] Susan Bates® Crochet Hook
Yarn needle

Measurements: Throw measures 44" (112 cm) wide and 54" (137 cm) long.

Gauge: One diamond measures about 2 x 3" (5 x 7.5 cm). CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Special Stitches:

sc2tog = [Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop] twice, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.
shell = (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in indicated stitch or space.
corner-shell = (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in indicated stitch or space.

Notes:

Throw is worked in columns of diamonds. Each column is worked from lower edge upwards.
Work each diamond in colors as shown in chart or in color of your choosing. Use different colors for diamonds in odd-numbered columns, and use black for all diamonds in even-numbered columns.
Border is worked around entire outer edge of Throw using two different colors.

Instructions:

Diamond Column 1
Work diamonds in different colors according to chart or as desired.

First Diamond
Ch 10.
Row 1 (right side): Working in back bars of ch, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch across, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn.
Rows 4–7: Repeat last 2 rows 2 more times. Fasten off.

Second Diamond
Row 1 (right side): With right side facing, join next color with sc in first st of last row of previous diamond, sc in same st as joining, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn.
Rows 4–7: Repeat last 2 rows 2 more times. Fasten off.

Third Diamond
Row 1 (right side): With right side facing, join next color with slip st in first st of last row of previous diamond, ch 1, beginning in same st as joining, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn.
Rows 4–7: Repeat last 2 rows 2 more times. Fasten off.

Next 17 Diamonds
Repeat second and third diamonds 8 more times, then repeat second diamond once more for a total of 20 diamonds.

Diamond Column 2
Work all the diamonds with A.

First Diamond
Row 1 (right side): With right side of previous column of diamonds facing, join yarn with sc in end of Row 1 of first diamond, work 8 more sc evenly spaced across side edge of first diamond, slip st in end of Row 1 of next diamond in previous column, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, skip next row of same diamond of previous column, slip st in end of next row of same diamond, turn.
Rows 4–7: Repeat last 2 rows 2 more times. Do not fasten off.

Next 9 Diamonds
Row 1 (right side): Ch 1, sc in end of Row 1 of next diamond of previous column, work 8 more sc evenly spaced across side edge of same diamond, slip st in end of Row 1 of next diamond in previous column, turn—9 sc.
Rows 2–7: Work same as Rows 2–7 of first diamond.
Fasten off after all 10 diamonds are complete.

Diamond Column 3
Work diamonds in different colors according to chart or as desired.

First Diamond
Row 1 (right side): With right side facing, draw up a loop in base ch of first sc of first diamond in previous odd-numbered column of diamonds (this is the column of diamonds of various colors), ch 10, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 8 ch, slip st in end of Row 1 of A-colored diamond in previous column of diamonds, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, skip next row of same diamond of previous column (the A-colored column), slip st in end of next row of same diamond, turn.
Rows 4–7: Repeat last 2 rows 2 more times. Fasten off.

Second Diamond
Row 1 (right side): With right side facing, join next color with slip st in first st of last row of previous diamond, ch 1, beginning in same st as joining, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, slip st in 2nd sc of last row of same diamond of previous column, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, skip next 2 sc of same diamond of previous column, slip st in next sc of same diamond, turn.
Rows 4 and 5: Repeat last 2 rows once more.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, slip st in tip of same diamond of previous column. Fasten off.

Third Diamond
Row 1 (right side): With right side facing, join next color with sc in first st of last row of previous diamond, sc in same st as joining, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, slip st in end of Row 1 of next diamond of previous column, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, skip next row of same diamond of previous column, slip st in end of next row of same diamond, turn.
Rows 4–7: Repeat last 2 rows 2 more times. Fasten off.

Next 17 Diamonds
Repeat second and third diamonds 8 more times, then repeat second diamond once more for a total of 20 diamonds.

Diamond Column 4
Work all the diamonds with A.

First Half Diamond
Row 1 (right side): With right side facing, draw up a loop in base ch of first sc of first diamond in previous column of diamonds, ch 10, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 8 ch, slip st in end of Row 1 of first diamond of previous column of diamonds, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn—7 sc.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, skip next row of same diamond in previous column, slip st in next row of same diamond, turn—5 sc.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each st across.
Row 5: Repeat Row 3—3 sc.
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in first sc, skip next sc, sc in last sc, turn—2 sc.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc2tog, slip st in end of last row of same diamond in previous column. Do not fasten off.

Second Diamond
Row 1 (right side): Ch 1, sc in end of Row 1 of next diamond of previous column, work 8 more sc evenly spaced across side edge of same diamond, slip st in end of Row 1 of next diamond in previous column, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, skip next row of same diamond of previous column, slip st in end of next row of same diamond, turn.
Rows 4–7: Repeat last 2 rows 2 more times. Do not fasten off.

Next 8 Diamonds
Row 1 (right side): Ch 1, sc in end of Row 1 of next diamond of previous column, work 8 more sc evenly spaced across side edge of same diamond, slip st in end of Row 1 of next diamond in previous column, turn—9 sc.
Rows 2–7: Work same as Rows 2–7 of second diamond.
Continue working diamonds until a total of one half diamond and 9 full diamonds have been worked

Last Half Diamond
Row 1 (right side): Ch 1, sc in end of Row 1 of last diamond of previous column, work 8 more sc evenly spaced across side edge of same diamond, turn—9 sc.
Rows 2 and 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn—5 sc.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 5: Repeat Row 2—3 sc.
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in first sc, skip next sc, sc in last sc, turn—2 sc.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc2tog—1 sc. Fasten off.

Diamond Column 5
Work diamonds in different colors according to chart or as desired.

First Diamond
Row 1 (right side): With right side facing, draw up a loop in base ch of first sc of first half diamond in previous column, ch 10, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 8 ch, slip st in end of Row 1 of same diamond in previous column, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog in last st, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, skip next row of same diamond of previous column, slip st in end of next row of same diamond, turn.
Rows 4–7: Repeat last 2 rows 2 more times. Fasten off.

Second Diamond
Row 1 (right side): With right side facing, join next color with sc in first st of last row of previous diamond, sc in same st as joining, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, slip st in end of Row 1 of next diamond of previous column, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, skip next row of same diamond of previous column, slip st in end of next row of same diamond, turn.
Rows 4–7: Repeat last 2 rows 2 more times. Fasten off.

Third Diamond
Row 1 (right side): With right side facing, join next color with slip st in first st of last row of previous diamond, ch 1, beginning in same st as joining, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, slip st in 2nd sc of last row of same diamond of previous column, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, skip next 2 sc of same diamond of previous column, slip st in next sc of same diamond, turn.
Rows 4 and 5: Repeat last 2 rows once more.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, slip st in tip of same diamond of previous column. Fasten off.

Next 17 Diamonds
Repeat second and third diamonds 8 more times, then repeat second diamond once more for a total of 20 diamonds.

Diamond Column 6-15
Repeat diamond columns 2–5 twice, then repeat diamond columns 2 and 3 once more.

Edge Column
Work all the triangles with A.

First Corner Triangle
Row 1 (right side): With right side facing, join yarn with sc in end of first row of first diamond in previous column, work 7 more sc evenly spaced across side edge of same diamond, turn—8 sc.
Rows 2–4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn—2 sc.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc2tog, do not turn—1 sc. Do not fasten off.
Slip st in the end of each row across side edge of corner triangle just made, slip st in end of last row of same diamond in previous column.

Next 18 Side Triangles
Row 1: Working in ends of rows across side edge of next diamonds in previous column, *slip st in end of next row, sc in end of next row, hdc in end of next row, dc in end of next row, tr in ends of next 6 rows, dc in end of next row, hdc in end of next row, sc in end of next row, slip st in end of next row; repeat from * across to beginning of last diamond in previous column. Do not fasten off.

Last Corner Triangle
Row 1: Ch 1, work 8 sc evenly spaced across side edge of last diamond in previous column—8 sc.
Rows 2–4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn—2 sc.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc2tog—1 sc. Fasten off.
Repeat edge column across opposite side edge, beginning with right side facing and joining to end of last row of last diamond of diamond column 1.

Border
Round 1 (right side): With right side facing, join B with sl st in corner to work across a long edge, *work 140 sc evenly spaced across long edge, ch 2 for corner, work 113 sc evenly spaced across short edge, ch 2 for corner; repeat from * once more; join with slip st in first sc—368 sc and 4 corner ch-2 spaces. Note: To aid in working evenly across the edges, designer recommends working (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner, 9 sc across the edge of each diamond or half diamond of upper and lower edges, 9 sc across edge of each triangle of edge columns, and 6 sc across the edges of the corner triangles.
Rounds 2–4: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, working (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner ch-2 space; join with slip st in first sc—392 sc (119 across each short edge and 146 across each long edge). Fasten off.
Round 5 (right side): With right side facing, join A with slip st in 21st sc following ch-2 corner of a short edge, ch 1, sc in same sc, [*skip next 2 sts, shell in next st, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st; repeat from * across to 2 sts before next corner ch-2 space, skip next 2 sts, corner-shell in corner ch-2 space, skip next st, sc in next st, **skip next 2 sts, shell in next st, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st; repeat from ** across to next corner ch-2 space, corner-shell in corner ch-2 space, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st] twice, skip next 2 sts, shell in next st, ***skip next 2 sts, sc in next st, skip next 2 sts, shell in next st; repeat from *** to last 2 sts, skip last 2 sts; join with slip st in first sc, turn.
Round 6 (wrong side): Slip st in each st to first ch-2 space, (slip st, ch 1, sc) in first ch-2 space, shell in next sc, [*sc in next ch-2 space, shell in next sc; repeat from * across to next corner-shell, skip next dc, sc in next dc, skip next dc, corner-shell in corner ch-2 space, skip next dc, sc in next dc, skip next dc, shell in next sc] 4 times, **sc in next ch-2 space, shell in next sc; repeat from ** to end of round; join with slip st in first sc, turn.
Rounds 7 and 8: Repeat Round 6 twice.
Round 9: [*Ch 3, (slip st, ch 3, slip st) in next ch-2 space, ch 3, slip st in next sc; repeat from * across to next corner-shell, ch 4, (slip st, ch 3, slip st) in corner ch-2 space, ch 4, slip st in next sc] 4 times, **ch 3, (slip st, ch 3, slip st) in next ch-2 space, ch 3, slip st in next sc; repeat from ** to end of round working last slip st in first sc. Fasten off.

Finishing
Weave in all ends. With wrong side of blanket facing, block lightly.

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Hippie Chick

Feb 10, 2017

That is a beautiful afghan, but wow that is a lot of different yarn colors. I am thinking there will be a lot of stray ends to sew in after joining all of those different colors. How long did it take you to make this afghan and how long did it take to finish it by sewing in all the ends?