Vanna’s Afghan Square: Simple Crochet Pattern Motif

If you love to crochet blankets, give this colorful, textured afghan motif a try!

This design is worked in joined rounds and includes a decreasing technique to create an open fabric. It’s a great afghan (blanket) option because:

• 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!

Before you get started…

Need some inspiration?

Check out other finished Vanna Squares, here:

Not sure how to join your finished squares?

Try one of these 9 popular joins:

• 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

Wondering what size blanket you should make?

Check out this awesome cheat sheet with some of the most common sizes to make!

Let’s get started!

Pattern Designed By: Salena Baca Crochet. This pattern is copyright protected; it is unlawful to distribute this pattern in any form (free, sale or trade).

Click Here to purchase a downloadable PDF version of this pattern!

Yarn: Lion Brand Yarn Vanna’s Choice, 100% Acrylic.

Tools: US Size (I/9) 5.5 mm crochet hook, measuring tape, scissors

Size: 12” x 12”

Gauge: 15 sts and 6 pattern rows = 4”

Stitch Key: ch(s) – chain(s), sc – single crochet, st(s) – stitch(es), dc – double crochet, sl st – slip
stitch

Specialty Stitches & 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.

Instructions

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

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Peace + Love + Crochet

Salena