Staying Neutral Afghan

When decorating a room, it can be so difficult to find the perfect piece of neutral home decor. You want something that will tie the whole room together without standing out, and something you won't necessarily have to replace if you decide to redecorate. This Staying Neutral Afghan checks all those boxes. This easy crochet blanket is a great neutral accent for any room. Even if you do end up redecorating, you can easily move this blanket to another area of the house and it will work just as well.

Intermediate

Crochet HookI/9 or 5.5 mm hook, J/10 or 6 mm hook

Crochet Gauge Rounds 1-4 = 4" (10 cm) across with larger hook

Finished SizeThrow measures 42½ x 51½" (108 x 131 cm).

Materials List

RED HEART® Soft®: 2 balls 4601 Off White A, 1 ball each 9344 Chocolate B, 9388 Wheat C, and 9010 Charcoal D, 4 balls 9440 light gray heather E
Susan Bates® Crochet Hooks: 6mm [US J-10] and 5.5mm [US I-9]
Yarn needle

Instructions

ABBREVIATIONS
A, B, C = Color A, Color B, Color C etc; ch = chain; dc = double crochet; sc = single crochet; st(s) = stitch(es); [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified; * or ** = repeat whatever follows the * or ** as indicated.

Special Stitch
Joining Stitch: Remove loop from hook being careful to not unravel, bring loop through corresponding space on adjoining motif going under then over, then place loop back onto hook.

Motif Center

Make 28 Motif centers with A, 22 with B, 27 with C, and 22 with D as follows: With larger hook, ch 4, and join with slip st in first ch to form a ring.

Round 1: Do not ch 1, [sc in ring, ch 3] 8 times, join with slip st in first sc.
Round 2: [Ch 4, slip st in next sc] 7 times, ch 4, join with slip st in joining slip st of Round 1.
Round 3: Do not ch 1, * (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in next ch-4 space, ch 1; repeat from * around, join with slip st in first sc.
Round 4: * Ch 2, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next ch-2 space, ch 2, slip st in next ch-1 space; repeat from * around, join with slip st in joining slip st of Round 3. Fasten off.

Borders and Joining

First Motif
With larger hook, join E with slip st in any ch-2 space between 2 scs.
Round 5: * Ch 2, dc in next slip st, ch 2, slip st in next ch-2 space between 2 scs, ch 2, (dc, ch 4, dc) in next slip st, ch 2, slip st in next ch-2 space between 2 scs; repeat from * 3 more times, join with slip st in first slip st.
Round 6: * Ch 2, slip st in next dc, ch 2, slip st in next slip st, ch 2, slip st in next dc, ch 2, (slip st, ch 4, slip st) in next ch-4 space, ch 2, slip st in next dc, ch 2, slip st in next slip st; repeat from * 3 more times. Fasten off.
All Remaining Motifs
Referring to diagram for color placement, join remaining Motifs as follows: Join E and work Round 5 same as first Motif.
Round 6: Ch 2, slip st in next dc, ch 2, slip st in next slip st, ch 2, slip st in next dc, ch 2, slip st in next ch-4 space, ch 2, * work Joining st, ch 2, slip st in same ch-4 space as last slip st on current Motif, ch 1, work Joining st, ch 1, [slip st in next dc, ch 1, work Joining st, ch 1, slip st in next slip st, ch 1, work Joining st, ch 1] twice, slip st in next dc, ch 1, work Joining st, ch 1, slip st in next ch-4 space, ch 2, work Joining st, ch 1; repeat from * for each edge to be joined, then complete Round 2 same as first Motif. Fasten off.

Finishing

Throw Border
With larger hook, join E with slip st in ch-2 space to the left of any corner space.

Round 1: * [Ch 3, slip st in next ch-2 space] to corner ch-4 space, ch 3, (slip st, ch 4, slip st) in corner ch-4 space; repeat from * 3 more times, [ch 3, slip st in next ch-2 space] to end, working last slip st in first slip st of round
Round 2: Slip st in next ch-3 space, * [ch 3, slip st in next ch-3 space] to corner ch-4 space, ch 3, (slip st, ch 4, slip st) in corner ch-4 space; repeat from * 3 more times, [ch 3, slip st in next ch-3 space] to end, working last slip st in first slip st of round.
Note: On next round, work tightly or use smaller hook.
Round 3: Ch 1, * (sc, ch 2, sc) in each ch-3 space to corner ch-4 space, (sc, ch 2, sc, ch 3, sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-4 space; repeat from * 3 more times, (sc, ch 2, sc) in each ch-3 space to end, join with slip st in first sc. Fasten off.
Weave in all loose ends.
Block lightly with wrong side facing