Christmas Sweetheart Afghan

The Christmas Sweetheart Afghan is a simple and cute granny square blanket for the holidays. The squares are crocheted in the traditional red and green, edged in white, and then whip stitched together with a red and green multi yarn. To spice up a traditional looking granny square blanket, this free crochet pattern includes a little crochet flower pattern and crochet heart pattern to add to the green squares. This Christmas crochet afghan will make the perfect gift for your sweetheart.

Skill Level: Easy

Afghan Measures:  44” x 50”

Materials:

RED HEART CLASSIC: 2 skeins 0001 white, 4 skeins 0902 jockey red, 4 skeins 0686 paddy green

HERRSCHNERS HOLIDAY: 2 skeins 0101 Christmas multi

Crochet Hooks: 5.0mm (US H-8), 5.5mm (US I-9), 6.0mm (US J-10), 6.5mm (US K-10 ½) or size needed for gauge                                                  

Yarn Needle

GAUGE:  Square measures 7” x 7”

Instructions:

SQUARES:  (make 21 red and 21 green)

Row 1 (RS):  With H hook and green or red ch 25, 3 dc in 5^th ch from hook, *skip 2 ch, 3 dc in next ch, repeat from * across, dc in last ch, ch 1 and turn.

Row 2:  Sc in first st, *ch 2, skip 3 dc, sc between 3^rd and 4^th dc, repeat from * across, sc in last st, ch 3 and  turn.

Row 3:  3 dc in each ch 2 space across, dc in last st, ch 1 and turn.

Rows 4-11:  Repeat Rows 2 and 3.

SQUARE  EDGING

With white and H hook starting at upper right corner work along top edge (sc, ch 3, sc) in first dc, *ch 3, skip 3 dc, sc between 3^rd and 4^th dc, repeat from * across, (sc, ch 3, sc) in last corner dc.

Work along side edge *ch 3, sc in sc row, repeat from * across, (sc, ch 3, sc) in first bottom ch.

Work along bottom edge *ch 3, sc in ch 2 sp, repeat from * across, (sc, ch 3, sc) in last ch.

Work along side edge *ch 3, sc in sc row, repeat from * across, join to beginning sc and fasten off.

FLOWERS 

 – Flower #1  (make 6)

Center: With Christmas multi and H hook ch 2, 6 scs in 2^nd ch from hook, join to beginning sc.

Petals:  (Sc, ch 3, 2 trc, ch 3, sc) in each sc around, join to beg sc and fasten off.

 – Flower #2  (make 6)

Center:  With Christmas multi and I hook ch 2, 6 scs in 2^nd ch from hook, join to beginning sc.

Petals:  With J hook (sc, 5 dc) in each sc around, join to beginning sc and fasten off.

Sew on flowers.  See Hearts and Flowers Placement Diagram.

HEARTS  (make 9)

With Christmas multi and J hook ch 4, (3 trc, 3 dc, ch 1, trc, ch 1, 3 dc, 3 trc) in 4^th ch from hook, ch 3, slip stitch in first ch of beginning ch 4.  With K hook work 1 sc in each stitch around heart, slip stitch in center of heart and fasten off.

Sew on hearts.  See Hearts and Flowers Placement Diagram.

JOINING OF SQUARES

With Christmas multi whip stitch squares together sewing every 2^nd stitch and making a loop when sewing scs together.  Whip stitch rows together sewing every 2^nd stitch, making a loop when sewing scs and joinings together.  See Color Placement Diagram.

AFGHAN EDGING

With H hook and Christmas multi work along top edge, 3 dc in corner ch 3 space, *ch 3, sc in next ch 3 space, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 3 space, continue from * across working in each ch 3 space and in seam joining, ending ch 3, 3 dc in corner ch 3 space, continue pattern around entire blanket, join to beginning dc and fasten off.