Vintage Crochet Pattern - Christmas Afghan

Use this free crochet pattern to make a beautiful Christmas afghan that you can use to cuddle up in front of the Christmas tree. The pattern suggests that you use red and white yarn. Using red and white color allows you to keep the afghan in view year round, as it does not look too much like Christmas. However, you can use red and green yarn if you prefer for a more traditional Christmas look.

This crochet pattern is a vintage pattern that was originally published in J&P Coats Afghans, No. 289, 1952. The pattern has passed into public domain so you are free to use this pattern as you wish. You may also sell any afghans you make using this pattern.

[Vintage Crochet Pattern - 1916 Woman's Cape]

Since this is a vintage pattern, the yarns suggested may no longer be available. You can substitute for any similar yarn. The pattern calls for 48 ounces total of red 4 ply worsted and 12 ounces total of white 4 ply worsted. You can use whatever brand you like and just buy enough of each color to give you the total ounces you need.

Instructions for the Christmas afghan:

CHADWICK'S RED HEART KNITTING WORSTED, 4 Ply, Art. E.232: 48 skeins (1 oz. "Tangle-Proof" Pull-Out Skeins) of No. 909 Scarlet and 12 skeins of No. 1 White.

Afghan Hook No. 6 (4 ¼ mm. size).

GAUGE: 5 sts make 1 inch; 4 rows make 1 inch. Each strip is 5 inches wide.

STRIP (Make 9) . . . Starting at lower edge with Scarlet, ch 31. 1st row: Insert hook in 2nd ch from hook and draw up a loop; retaining all loops on hook draw up a loop in each of next 13 ch, insert hook in next ch (center ch) and draw loop through, yarn over and draw through 1 loop (ch st made), make 2 more ch sts in same place (2 sts increased), draw up a loop in each of remaining 15 sts. There are 33 loops on hook.

[Vintage Crochet Pattern - 1941 Pin Wheel Afghan]

To complete row, yarn over and draw through 2 loops (1 st decreased), * yarn over and draw through 2 loops (this is not a dec). Repeat from * across until there are 3 loops on hook, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook (another st decreased). There are 31 sts on row. The loop which remains on hook always counts as the first st on next row.

2nd, 3rd and 4th rows: Insert hook under 3rd vertical bar and draw loop through; retaining all loops on hook draw up a loop in each vertical bar across to within center vertical bar, insert hook in st preceding center vertical bar and draw loop through (1 st increased), insert hook under center vertical bar and draw loop through, insert hook in st between center vertical bar and the following vertical bar and draw loop through (another st increased), and draw up a loop in each remaining vertical bar to within last 2 vertical bars, insert hook under both vertical bars and draw loop through (33 loops on hook), and complete last half of row as for first row.

5th row: Draw a loop of White through loop on hook and drop Scarlet. Working with White, insert hook under 3rd vertical bar and draw loop through, * yarn over twice, insert hook under next vertical bar on 3rd row down, yarn over and draw loop through, (yarn over and draw through 2 loops) twice (tr loop made); skip the vertical bar directly behind the tr just completed, draw up a loop in next vertical bar on previous row. Repeat from * 4 more times; insert hook from right of work through the center st 3 rows down and bring it out on wrong side, yarn over and draw loop through to height of row in work (long loop made), skip the vertical bar directly behind this st, draw up a loop in next vertical bar on previous row, draw up another long loop in same place as previous long loop was made, skip the vertical bar directly behind it, insert hook in st preceding next vertical bar (center st) on previous row and draw loop through (1 st increased), draw up a long loop in same place as previous long loops were drawn through, skip the center vertical bar on previous row, insert hook in st preceding next vertical bar and draw loop through, (draw up another long loop where previous long loops were drawn through, skip the vertical bar on previous row directly behind this loop, draw up a loop in next vertical bar on previous row) twice; now make tr loops and short afghan sts alternately across to correspond with first half of row, ending within a short afghan st, insert hook under last 2 vertical bars and draw up a loop; make a loop on a new strand of Scarlet, break off White, draw Scarlet loop through 2 loops on hook and complete as for first row. This will be referred to as pattern row.

Break off the strand of Scarlet and pick up main Scarlet yarn. 6th to 9th rows incl: Repeat 2nd to 5th rows incl. 10th, 11th and 12th rows: Repeat 2nd, 3rd and 4th rows. 13th row: Repeat previous row, working long and short loops alternately at center as on pattern rows. 14th to 17th rows incl: Repeat 2nd to 5th rows incl. 18th to 21st rows incl: Repeat 10th to 13th rows incl. The 2nd to 21st rows incl constitute the pattern. Repeat these rows until piece measures 65 inches, ending with the 10th row. Last row: Sl st in 3rd and each vertical bar across, working off last 2 loops as 1. Break off.

Sew strips together, matching pattern rows. Attach Scarlet to straight side and sc closely across. Complete other side the same way.

FRINGE . . . Cut 4 strands of White each 7 inches long. Double these strands and draw through first st, draw loose ends through loop, pull ends up tightly. Make Fringe evenly across, having a Fringe in each point, between points and 3 Fringes on straight edges. Complete other end to correspond.