Simple Aran Crochet Afghan

Materials:

• Caron Simply Soft Main Color Off White (9702), 12 skeins
• One crochet hook each size US H/8 and I/9 (5 and 5.5 mm), or size to obtain gauge.
• Stitch markers
• Yarn needle

Gauge: 14 sts in hdc and 8 rows = 4"/10 cm using smaller hook

Measurements: 48" / 122 cm x 62" / 157.5 cm, excluding fringe

Special Stitches:

• Cross Cable: Skip next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, FPdc around each of next 2 sts; working in front of last 2 FPdc made, FPdc around each skipped FPdc.
• FPdc: (Front Post double crochet) Yo, insert hook from front to back to front around stitch indicated, yo and pull up loop, complete as dc. (Note: Skip st on current row behind FPdc).
• Popcorn: Work 5 dc in stitch indicated; drop loop from hook, insert hook into first dc of 5-dc group, return dropped loop to hook, draw loop st on hook.

Notes:

1. Afghan is worked in five panels – two 3-Cable panels edged with Popcorn edging, and three 1-Cable panels edged with Reverse single crochet. Cable Panels are worked vertically, edging on all panel is worked from side to side.
2. It is important that all Cable panels be worked the same number of rows; place a marker at even intervals while working, to help keep track of rows and to help pick up the correct number of sts evenly for the edging.

PATTERN

3-CABLE PANELS (Make 2)
Using larger hook, chain 29.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in second ch from hook and each ch across, turn—28 sts.
Rows 2 and 4: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn—28 sts.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first 4 sts, FPdc around st 2 rows below next st and each of next 3 sts 2 rows below, [sc in next 4 sts, FPdc around each of next 4 sts 2 rows below] twice, sc in last 4 sts, turn—28 sts.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first 4 sts, Cross Cable over next 4 sts, [sc in next 4 sts, Cross Cable] twice, sc in last 4 sts, turn—28 sts.
Rows 6 and 8: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc in first 4 sts, * FPdc around each of next 4 FPdc, sc in next 4 sts; repeat from * across, turn—28 sts.
Rows 9 – 188: Repeat Rows 5 – 8.
Rows 189 – 191: Repeat Rows 5 – 7 once more.
Fasten off.

Popcorn Edging

Turn Cable Panel with one long edge facing up.
With RS facing, using smaller hook, attach yarn at corner, ready to work across long edge.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, working in row ends, sc in each row across—191 sts; do NOT turn.
Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, working from left to right, Rev sc in front loop only of each st across; do NOT turn.
Row 3 (RS): Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc in unworked back loop of next st from Row 1 and each st across, turn.
Row 4, 6, and 8 (WS): Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc in both loops of next st and each st across, turn.
Row 5 (RS): Ch 2, * hdc in each of next 9 sts, work popcorn in next st; repeat from * across, turn—191 sts; 19 popcorns.
Row 7 (RS): Ch 2, hdc in each of next 4 sts, popcorn in next st, * hdc in each of next 9 sts, popcorn in next st; repeat from * across to last 5 sts, hdc in each of last 5 sts, turn—191 sts; 19 popcorns.
Row 9 (RS): Repeat Row 5.
Row 10 (WS): Repeat Row 4, but do NOT turn at end of row.
Row 11 (WS): Repeat Row 2.
Row 12 (WS): Ch 1, sc in unworked back loop of next st from Row 10 and each st across.
Fasten off.

Repeat Popcorn edging on opposite long side of 3-Cable Panel.

1-CABLE PANEL (make 3)

Using larger hook, chain 13.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in second ch from hook and each ch across, turn—12 sts.
Rows 2 and 4: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first 4 sts, FPdc around st 2 rows below next st and each of next 3 sts 2 rows below, sc in last 4 sts, turn—12 sts.
Rows 5 – 191: Work as for 3-Cable Panel, working only one cable across instead of three.
Fasten off.

Edging

Turn Cable Panel with one long edge facing up.
With RS facing, using smaller hook, attach yarn at corner, ready to work across long edge.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, working in row ends, sc in each row across—191 sts; do NOT turn.
Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, working from left to right, Rev sc in front loop only of each st across; do NOT turn.
Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, sc in unworked back loop of next st from Row 1 and each st across.
Fasten off.
Repeat Edging on opposite long side of 1-Cable Panel for Center Panel.

NOTE
For two Side Panels: Repeat Edging as given above for the long side that will be attached to the 3-Cable Panels; on the long side that will become the outer edge, repeat Rows 2 and 3 once.

FINISHING

Using yarn needle, weave in all ends.

Join Panels: Using smaller hook, with WS of one 3-Cable Panel and Center 1-Cable Panel held together, beginning at left-hand corner, join yarn with slip st. Working from left to right, pick up a loop in each Panel and work in Rev sc across to join. Repeat for second 3-Cable Panel on opposite side of Center Panel. Join remaining 1-Cable Panels to remaining sides of 3-Cable Panels, making sure that the outer edges (with the extra row of Rev
sc) are facing towards the outer edges.

Edging – Upper and Lower edges

Using larger hook, join yarn with slip st to corner at one short edge of Afghan; ch 1, work 1 row of sc evenly across. Repeat at opposite end.

Fringe (Work on both ends of Afghan)

Cut strands 18" long.
With RS facing, holding 4 strands together, fold fringe in half. Using larger crochet hook, * insert hook from WS to RS into corner st at one short end, pull through fold of strands (loop), insert ends into loop and pull tight against edge; repeat from *, working into every other stitch across.  Knot Fringe.