Classic Tree Holiday Afghan

Materials:

• Caron International's Simply Soft (100% acrylic; 6 oz/170 g, 315 yds/288 m):

#9702 Off White (A), 12 oz
#9730 Autumn Red (B), 24 oz
#9707 Dark Sage (C), 6 oz
#9703 Bone (D), 6 oz

• Caron International's Simply Soft Shadows (100% acrylic; 3 oz/85g, 150 yds/137m):

#0006 Dark Moss (E), 6 oz
#0004 Autumn (F), 18 oz

• Caron International's Simply Soft Heather (100% Acrylic; 5 oz/141.8 g, 250 yds/228m):

#9508 Charcoal Heather (G), 5 oz
#9503 Woodland Heather (H), 5 oz

• Crochet Hook: One size US H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook, or size to obtain gauge
• Gold thread (for cross-stitch embellishment, star and edging)
• Yarn needle

SIZE: Throw measures approximately 48"/122cm wide x 60"/cm long

GAUGE:

In textured stitch, using H/8 (5 mm), 15 sts and 13 rows = 4"/10 cm

Gauge is not critical for this project

STITCHES USED

Chain (ch)

Double crochet (dc)

Single crochet (sc)

Slip stitch (slip st)

SPECIAL TERMS

Lsc: Long single crochet—Insert hook in indicated st 2 rows below, yarn over and draw up a loop to height of current row, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook. Skip the corresponding st in the current row.

dc2tog: Double crochet 2 together –[Yarn over, insert hook in next st and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops] twice, yarn over and draw through 3 loops on hook.

PATTERN STITCH

Textured Stitch (multiple of 2 sts + 1)

Row 1 (RS): (Sc, dc) in second ch from hook, skip next ch, *(sc, dc) in next ch, skip next ch; repeat from * to last ch, sc in last ch, turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, *(sc, dc) in next st, skip next st; repeat from * to last st, sc in last st, turn.

Repeat Row 2 for textured stitch pattern.

HELPFUL

Before fastening off appliqué shapes, leave sufficient yarn for sewing appliqué to throw.

TREE BLOCK (make 12)

With A, chain 16.

Work 27 rows in textured stitch pattern.

Fasten off.

Border

With RS facing, join B with slip st in lower corner of block, to work along long edge.

Round 1: Ch 1, *3 sc in corner, work 25 sc evenly along long edge, 3 sc in next corner, work 13 sc evenly across short edge; repeat from * once more; join with slip st in first sc.

Round 2: Slip st in next sc, ch 3, 4 dc in same sc, skip next sc, dc in next sc, skip next sc, [3 dc in next sc, skip next sc, dc in next sc, skip next sc] to next corner sc, *5 dc in next corner sc, skip next sc, dc in next sc, skip next sc, [3 dc in next sc, skip next sc, dc in next sc, skip next sc] to next corner sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch.

Round 3: Slip st in next dc, ch 3, *5 dc in corner dc, dc in next dc, [skip next dc, 3 dc in next dc, skip next dc, dc in next dc] to next corner dc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch.

Round 4: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st as join, skip next dc, dc in next dc, *5 dc in corner dc, dc in next dc, [skip next dc, 3 dc in next dc, skip next dc, dc in next dc] to next corner dc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch.

Round 5: Slip st in next st, ch 3, skip next st, 3 dc in next st, skip next st, dc in next st, *5 dc in corner dc, dc in next st, [skip next st, 3 dc in next st, skip next st, dc in next st] to next corner dc; repeat from * around, join with slip st in top of beginning ch.

Rounds 6 and 7: Ch 1, [sc in each st to corner, 3 sc in corner st] 4 times, sc in each remaining st; join with slip st in first sc—160 sts consisting of 45 sts along each long side, 33 sts along each short side, and 4 corner sts.

Fasten off.

TREE (make 12 – 6 each with C and E)

Chain 4.

Row 1 (RS): 4 dc in 4th ch from hook, turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.

Row 3 (increase row): Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in first sc (increase made), dc in each sc to last sc, 2 dc in last sc, turn—6 sts.

Rows 4–21: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 nine more times—24 sts.

Row 22: Repeat Row 2. Fasten off.

Using gold thread and yarn needle, work cross-stitch across 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th rows of four of the color C trees.

TRUNK (make 12)

With G, chain 6.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in second ch from hook and in each remaining ch across, turn—5 sc.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first sc, [Lsc in next sc 2 rows below, sc in next sc] twice, turn.

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first 2 sts, Lsc in next sc 2 rows below, sc in last 2 sts, turn.

Row 5: Repeat Row 3. Fasten off.

STAR (make 12)

With one strand each of D and gold thread held together, chain 2.

Round 1: Work 10 sc in second ch from hook; join with slip st in first sc.

Round 2: *3 sc in next sc, skip next sc; repeat from * around—five 3-sc groups.

Round 3: *Slip st in next sc, ch 3, dc2tog, ch 3, slip st in back loop of third ch from hook, ch 3, slip st in same st as last dc worked; repeat from * 4 more times—5 points. Fasten off.

STRIPED BLOCK (make 4)

With E, chain 24.

Work 25 rows in textured stitch pattern in the following color sequence: work 5 rows with E, 5 rows with D, 5 rows with B, 5 rows with G, and 5 rows with H.

Fasten off.

Border

With RS facing, join B with slip st in lower corner of block, to work along long edge.

Round 1: Ch 1, *3 sc in corner, work 33 sc evenly along long edge, 3 sc in next corner, work 23 sc evenly across short edge; repeat from * once more; join with slip st in first sc—124 sts consisting of 35 sts along each long side, 25 sts along each short side, and 4 corner sts. Fasten off.

FINISHING

Using photograph and assembly diagram as a guide to placement, sew trees, stars and trunks to tree blocks.

Assembly

Arrange blocks according to assembly diagram. Join blocks by holding RS together and whip stitching the edges together.

Edging

With RS facing and holding one strand each of gold thread and C together, join yarn with slip st in any corner st.

Round 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 4 dc in same st, [dc in each st to next corner st, 5 dc in corner st] 3 times, dc in each remaining st around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch—612 sts consisting of 140 sts along each short edge, 164 sts along each long edge, and 4 corner sts. Fasten off.

Join F with slip st in any corner st.

Round 2 (RS): Ch 3, 4 dc in same st, *skip next st, [3 dc in next st, skip next 2 sts] to next corner st, 5 dc in corner st; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch, turn.

Round 3 (WS): Slip st in next 2 sts, ch 1, (sc, ch 3, sc) in same st (corner st), ch 2, [sc in next space between 3-dc groups, ch 2] to corner st, *(sc, ch 3, sc) in corner st, ch 2, [sc in next space between 3-dc groups, ch 2] to next corner st; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first sc, turn.

Round 4 (RS): (Slip st, ch 3, 4 dc) in corner ch-3 space, 3 dc in each ch-2 space to corner, *5 dc in corner ch-3 space, 3 dc in each ch-2 space to next corner ch-3 space; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch.

Rounds 5–16: Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 six times.

Fasten off.

Using yarn needle, weave in ends.