If crochet blankets are your thing, give this vibrant and intricately textured crochet afghan square a try using Lion Brand Yarn Vanna’s Choice!
Classic crochet afghans are worked by chaining huge numbers for length, then working tons of rows for height, but crochet afghan blocks are a great alternative:
- these are far more portable,
- you can customize each individual piece,
- and you may feel more satisfaction with each square you complete.
This design is worked in joined rounds of crochet from the center outward and the instructions include a decreasing technique to create an open fabric.
Whether you’ve got tons of crochet experience and you’re looking for a new challenge, or you’ve just learned to crochet and you want to learn more, the Vanna’s Afghan Square crochet pattern will guide you through every step of the process with success.
Each square offers a fun challenge to try new stitches and techniques, making this a fantastic skill-building crochet project for all levels of skill.
- Blocks are worked individually, then joined when you’re done!
- Small motifs are much more portable than other traditional crochet blanket designs!
- Use any yarn you like to make your afghan block (the finished sizes are up to you)!
- You’ll get to practice a lot of crochet skills: joined rounds, color changes, specialty stitches, gauge & size, finishing techniques & more!
This post may contain affiliate links.
Table of contents
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Introduction
What is a crochet afghan block?
An afghan block in crochet is a small motif, usually square in shape, and typically used to make blankets.
To make a traditional crochet afghan, start by creating a long chain to achieve the total width of the traditional crochet afghan, and then work back and forth in rows to attain the desired length.
Crochet afghan blocks typically involve working in rounds, beginning from the center and expanding outward to achieve the desired motif shape and size.
While granny squares are a classic illustration, various stitch patterns can be used to create afghan blocks.
It’s also possible to work afghan blocks in alternative methods, such as rows, to achieve any desired shape.
What does Dc4Tog mean in crochet?
Create the open fabric in Vanna’s Afghan Square by using the decreasing technique known as Dc4Tog.
Use specialty technique by working a group of nearly completed double crochet stitches into one stitch or space, and then finishing them together according to the provided instructions.
By following the instructions in this pattern, the decreases will result in a triangle shape, thereby opening up the fabric.
The Dc4Tog technique bears similarities to a crochet cluster stitch, and you can observe the step-by-step process of working these stitches in our tutorial available right here:
Selecting the Perfect Yarn
What yarn should I use?
The Vanna’s Afghan Square is designed for the 2016 Moogly CAL, and one of the criteria to participate in this challenge is that all blocks are to be worked using Lion Brand yarn Vanna’s Choice.
Vanna’s Choice has been around for many years because it is one of the best yarns to crochet blankets for many reasons.
Lion Brand Yarn Vanna’s Choice is 100% acrylic, which means it is dense yet soft, easy to care for, has a great price, and is this yarn is typically available anywhere yarn is sold.
There are dozens of colors you can choose from, and each skein has 170 yards of yarn to use.
How can I choose yarn substitutes?
The great thing about crochet blankets is that you can make them in a yarn weight and fiber that you love!
To choose the best yarn to make this crochet afghan block, start by choosing a yarn that is in the same weight category if you are looking to stay within the size range that this motif creates.
If you choose a lighter weight yarn, you’ll create a smaller project that is also lighter in actual weight.
If you choose a heavier weight yarn, you’ll create a larger project that is also heavier in actual weight.
YarnSub.com has a list of Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice yarn alternatives that you can review, right here.
You can read more about how to substitute yarn right here: Understanding Yarn Substitution – An Easy Reference For Crocheters
For a close match to Vanna’s Choice yarn, here are some yarns I recommend when crocheting your afghan squares:
Sizing Options
How can I change the size of my afghan?
The size of the yarn and hook you choose will determine the size of each block.
When all blocks are formed, join them together to create the finished size of your crochet afghan.
Each finished afghan block joins together to create the overall width and height, so it is important to decide the best size to crochet based on the motif sizes you crochet.
Be sure to measure each afghan block as you go to make sure you are creating your desired size.
Popular Crochet Blanket Sizes
Here are 8 of the most popular crochet blanket size measurements for you to use as a guide, right here:
Helpful resources when crocheting this afghan block
Project Inspiration
You can view lots of completed Vanna’s Afghan Square projects for inspiration when you visit ravelry, right here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vannas-square
Check out other finished Vanna’s Afghan Squares, here:
How to change colors in crochet rounds
This afghan block uses quite a few color changes to really make the design stand out.
If you need help finding the best technique to change colors in rounds of crochet, check out this quick video tutorial, right here:
How to join crochet motifs together
Crochet can be joined together in many ways, and these 9 video tutorials share some of the most popular techniques:
Crochet Pieces Together As You Work (JAYGO): Removable Loop Join, Sc Join, Sl St Join
Crochet Pieces Together When Done: Sl St join, Sc join, Mesh Combo join
Sew Crochet Pieces Together: Whip, Blanket, Mattress
You can read more about each of these popular joining techniques right here:
Blocking Your Motif
I suggest blocking each afghan square as you complete them, before you join them all together. For tips about how to block, and the best tools to use to block these crochet motifs, read more right here:
More crochet motif blocks
If you love the idea of crocheting blankets and other projects with afghan motif blocks, we have a few more patterns you can view.
Even more crochet afghan motif block patterns are free to view on our site, including these popular patterns, right here:
Policy for Individual Use
This crochet pattern is designed by Salena Baca Crochet for the American Crochet Association.
Pattern instructions are protected by copyright laws.
Users must acknowledge and respect the intellectual property rights of pattern creators and designers as follows:
- This pattern is for personal use only. Pattern instructions may be accessed and used by individuals for personal, non-commercial purposes only. Users may create finished products based on the pattern instructions for personal use or gifting.
- Users may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works of pattern instructions without explicit permission from the copyright holder.
- Selling or commercially exploiting products made from pattern instructions will require additional permissions or licensing from the copyright holder.
- It is unlawful to share or distribute pattern instructions in any way, including but not limited to: print, digital, video.
- It is unlawful to create derivative works based on pattern instructions, including but not limited to translations, adaptations, or variations.
- Users should provide proper attribution when sharing or displaying finished products made using these pattern instructions, giving credit to the original pattern creator and source.
- Users are expected to conduct themselves in an ethical and respectful manner when using pattern instructions. Users should not engage in plagiarism, claim others’ work as their own, or misrepresent the origin of pattern instructions.
By accessing and using pattern instructions, individuals agree to abide by the usage policy herein.
Users may be held responsible for any damages or legal liabilities resulting from their non-compliance with this policy.
Purchase a PDF file on Ravelry
Click Here to purchase a downloadable PDF version of this pattern!
Making Vanna’s Afghan Square
Yarn
Lion Brand Yarn Vanna’s Choice, aran weight #4 yarn (100% Acrylic; 170 yards / 155 meters per 3.53 ounce / 100 gram skein). Approximately 50 yards per color used.
- Color A: Burgundy
- Color B: Purple
- Color C: Dusty Purple
- Color D: Poodle Pink
- Color E: Kelly Green
Tools
- US Size (I/9) 5.5 mm crochet hook
- measuring tape
- yarn needle
Size
- 12” x 12”
Gauge
- 15 pattern stitches = 4″
- 6 pattern rows = 4”
Stitch Key
- Ch(s) – chain(s)
- Sc – single crochet
- Dc – double crochet
- Sl St – slip stitch
- St(s) – stitch(es)
Specialty Stitches and Techniques
- Adjustable Loop
- dc4tog: Double crochet 4 stitches together [yo, insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop, yo, pull through two loops] x 4 (5 loops on hook), yo, pull through all 5 loops.
Pattern Notes
You can change colors to fit your taste and style when crocheting these afghan squares. To follow the example, change colors as follows:
- Rounds 1-2: Color A
- Rounds 3-4: Color B
- Rounds 5-6: Color C
- Rounds 7-8: Color D
- Rounds 9-10: Color E
Step-by-step instructions: Vanna’s Afghan Square
Motif
Form adjustable loop.
Round 1 (Right Side): Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc, now and throughout), 3 dc in ring, [ch 6, 4 dc into ring] 3 times, ch 6, sl st to top of first dc to join – 16 dc, 4 ch-6 spaces
Round 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st, now and throughout), [dc4tog, ch 3, sc into ch-6 space, ch 3] 4 times, sl st to top of first dc4tog to join – 4 dc4tog clusters, 8 ch-3 spaces
Round 3: Sl st to first ch-3 space, Ch 3, 3 dc into space, [ch 6, 4 dc into next ch-3 space] 7 times, ch 6, sl st to top of first dc to join – 32 dc, 8 ch-6 spaces. Round 4: Ch 2, [dc4tog, ch 3, sc into ch-6 space, ch 3] 8 times, sl st to top of first dc4tog to join – 8 dc4tog clusters, 16 ch-3 spaces
Round 5: Sl st to first ch-3 space, ch 3, 3 dc into space, [ch 6, 4 dc into next ch-3 space] 15 times, ch 6, sl st to top of first dc to join – 64 dc, 16 ch-6 spaces
Round 6: Ch 2, [dc4tog, ch 3, sc into ch-6 space, ch 3] 16 times, sl st to top of first dc4tog to join – 16 dc4tog clusters, 32 ch-3 spaces.
Round 7: Sl st to first ch-3 space, ch 3, 3 dc into space, [ch 6, 4dc into next ch-3 space, (ch 3, sc into next ch-3 space) 6 times, ch 3, 4 dc into next ch-3 space] 3 times, ch 6, 4dc into next ch-3 space, [ch 3, sc into next ch-3 space] 6 times, ch 3, sl st to first dc to join – 32 dc, 4 ch-6 spaces, 28 ch-3 spaces
Round 8: Ch 2, [dc4tog, ch 3, sc into ch-6 space, ch 3, dc 4 tog, (ch 3, sc into next ch-3 space) 7 times, ch 3] 4 times, sl st to first dc4tog to join – 8 dc4tog clusters, 40 ch-3 spaces
Round 9: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), [sc, ch 3] into each ch-3 space around, sl st to first sc to join – 40 sc, 40 ch-3 spaces
Round 10: Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) into first ch-3 space, [3 dc into following 9 ch-3 spaces, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) into the next ch-3 space] 3 times, 3 dc into following 9 ch-3 spaces, sl st to first dc to join, fasten off – 132 dc, 4 ch-3 spaces
Video Chat
For more details on this crochet pattern, and all the parts of this article, come watch my chat right here:
Click Here to share your finished project in our community!
Peace + Love + Crochet
Salena
This would be great for a scrapghan project! I bet it would be really pretty in a monochromatic theme too!! Just lovely ❤️
I was just thinking about what I was planning to do for a summer project. This might be the one! I absolutely ADORE those GREENS.
I could see these turned brightly colored bunting! So many possibilities!
This is so delicate looking! I’m excited to whip it up 🙂 I’m thinking ivory, rose and tea green. Thank you for sharing your pattern!
A fun square great scrap stash buster.
This is a gorgeous square! I love working on projects that I can easily take with me.
This looks like a lovely project for my future crocheting!
The color possibilities with this are endless! I’m on the go a lot so the portability of this while sitting at my kids practices is a huge bonus!
Hooray for portable projects 🙂
Gorgeous square. Will make some into a stunning blanket
please share when you do!