Easy Afghan to Crochet - Classically Simple Shell
Pretty Enough for the Advanced, Simple Enough for the Beginner
While it can be crocheted in a striped manner in your choice of colors, I prefer the look of a single color for this particular afghan pattern. The afghan works up very quickly and requires only a basic knowledge of the single and double crochet stitches and virtually no counting - easy to work on while watching TV without having to worry about losing your place.
Because every other row is simply double crochet, it gives a somewhat open, lacy appearance, the perfect afghan for curling up on the couch when there's a bit of chill in the air, without being too heavy and cumbersome.
This pattern is provided free and may not be sold. You may sell the items you make, but you may not sell the pattern. Feel free to share this pattern on your site, but please link to this page - do not post the pattern itself.
** Tip ** To learn how to join yarn invisibly when attaching a new skein, look here.
Materials Needed
Size K crochet hook
Worsted weight yarn in color of your choice
(4 7-oz skeins should yield an afghan approx 52" wide x 54" long)
Directions for Classically Simply Shell Afghan
Skill Level: Beginner
Abbreviations:
CH = Chain
SC = Single Crochet
DC = Double Crochet
The starting chain is a multiple of 3 plus 1. A chain of 145 will result in an afghan approximately 52" wide. If you would like the afghan to be wider or narrower, simply add or subtract the starting chain in increments of 3.
With size K crochet hook and worsted weight yarn in your choice of colors, chain 145.
Row 1: SC in second CH from hook and SC in each remaining stitch across. Ch 3, turn.
Row 2:*Skip first two stitches, 3 DC in third stitch, skip two stitches*, repeating from * to * across, ending with DC in last stitch. Ch 2, turn.
Row 3: Skip first stitch, DC across row. Ch 3, turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 for pattern, until afghan measures the desired length.
Last Row: After last row 2 of pattern, ch 1, turn. SC in second stitch and remaining stitches across. Bind off, weave in ends.
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Published by Marie Anne St. Jean - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
A Top 1000 Content Producer for the last three years, Marie Anne is a retired U.S. Marine MSgt whose weapons of choice are now crochet hook and pen. When not writing for Yahoo! sites such as YCN! Voice... View profile
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56 Comments
Post a CommentFor some reason with that row, you need that extra ch for when you do the last stitch in the top of turning ch. When I ch 2 it bunches up and makes the whole piece come out lopsided.
Marie, can I ask you why you do row 2 with a turning chain of 2 and row 3 in 3 chains ,instead of both row 2 and 3 with turning chains of 3? Thank-you.
we must of just missed each other as typing. okay, got it now ,Thank-you.
so in your pattern ,when you said to use turning chains of 2 for row 2 ,you mean use turning chains of 3 for that row also. meaning both are done with turning chains of 3?
No. Exactly as written.
When you do the DC across the row, ch 3 at the end. When you do the row of 3DC to make the shell, ch 2 at the end.
so you mean both rows 2and 3 are turned with 3 chains . not row 2 with turning 2 and row 3 with 3
Crafty, definitely a ch 3 before working the next row of shells. You'll need that very last ch to work into in order to make it come out even.
Could you tell me if I'm reading your pattern right. when working row 2 ,do you make the turning chains 2 or are they suppose to be 3 turning chains for bought row 2 and 3 . Thank -you.
I just began this afghan and as a beginner I had to start it over a few times... the pattern was confusing at first because it says to repeat from * to *.. and I thought I was to skip 4 stitches total at first.. I am hoping I have it right now and that it is simply double crochet in the 3rd stitch skip 2 and continue that way through out that row.. it is starting to look right hopefully!
ok...thank you i will probably stick to one color then