Shaded Shells Throw

The Shaded Shells Throw is a beautiful gradient crochet afghan pattern. The easy shell stitch softens the color changes to create a lovely design for your home. The ombre print color moves from light to dark and back again to create a unique effect you don't see in most free crochet afghan patterns. This throw is ideal for crocheters interested in an easy pattern they don't have to put much thought into. Once you get on a roll, you will have a wonderful new shell stitch blanket to wrap around your shoulders on a cool evening. This is the perfect afghan to grab when you want to relax on the sofa with a good book and a warm drink.

Easy

Crochet HookH/8 or 5 mm hook

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

Crochet GaugeIn pattern, (sc, 5 dc, sc, 5 dc, sc) = 4" [10 cm]; 8 rows = 4" [10 cm]. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Finished SizeThrow measures about 45 x 58" [114.5 x 147.5 cm]

Materials List

RED HEART® Super Saver Ombre™: 4 skeins 3987 Cocoa
Susan Bates® Crochet Hook: 5mm [US H-8]
Yarn needle

Special Abbreviation

dec (decrease) = [Yarn over and draw up a loop in next st, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] 5 times, yarn over and draw through all 6 loops on hook.

Throw

ch 188.
Row 1: Work 2 dc in 4th ch from hook (3 skipped ch count as first dc), *skip next 3 ch, sc in next ch, skip next 3 ch, 5 dc in next ch; repeat from * to last 8 ch, skip next 3 ch, sc in next ch, skip next 3 ch, 3 dc in last ch—Twenty-two 5-dc groups, 23 sc, and a 3-dc group at beginning and end of row.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in first dc, ch 3, dec, *ch 3, sc in next dc, ch 3, dec; repeat from * to beginning ch-3, ch 3, sc in top of beginning ch-3—23 dec, 24 sc, and 46 ch-3 spaces.
Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), turn, 2 dc in first sc, skip next ch-3 space, sc in top of next dec, *skip next ch-3 space, 5 dc in next sc, skip next ch-3 space, sc in top of next dec; repeat from * to last ch-3 space, skip last ch-3 space, 3 dc in last sc.
Rows 4-109: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 fiftythree times.
Row 110: Repeat Row 2.
Do not fasten off.

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Border

Working in ends of rows down side of throw, adjusting stitches as needed to keep work flat; ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in end of Row 110, [2 dc in end of next row, dc in end of next row] to last row, 2 dc in end of last row; working along opposite side of foundation ch, 3 dc in first ch, [2 dc in next ch-3 space, dc in ch opposite next sc, 2 dc in next ch-3 space, dc in ch opposite next 5-dc group] 22 times, 2 dc in next ch-3 space, dc in ch opposite next sc, 2 dc in next ch-3 space, 3 dc in last ch; working in ends of rows along next side of throw, 2 dc in end of first row, [dc in end of next row, 2 dc in end of next row] to last row, 2 dc in end of last row; working across Row 110, 3 dc in first sc (same sc as last dc worked), [2 dc in next ch-3 space, dc in next dec, 2 dc in next ch-3 space, dc in next sc] 22 times, 2 dc in next ch-3 space, dc in next dec, 2 dc in next ch-3 space, 3 dc in last st; join. Fasten off. Weave in ends.