Easter Egg Blanket

The first row of an afghan with homespun or bouclé or other knobby style yarn can be frustrating. This afghan does not require finding chain stitches, even for the first row. The sides are a straight edge, and the top and bottom has a border with a loop edge.

This pattern was designed to be easy for homespun or bouclé style yarns, but it can be made with just about any yarn. Make it in a solid color or with as many color changes as you like.

The example is made in Sensations Rainbow Boucle.

Size: This blanket can be made any size. Five widths are given in the directions.

Size	Width (Inches)	Length (Inches)	Ounces of yarn	Yards of yarn
Extra Small	32	42.67	10.67	827.15
Small	41.14	54.86	17.63	1367.33
Medium	50.29	67.05	26.34	2042.56
Large	59.43	79.24	36.79	2852.83
Extra Large	68.57	91.43	48.98	3798.14

Materials:
Yarn – Sizing given for worsted weight yarn but other weights can be used
Size I (5.5mm) crochet hook

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
ch sp = chain space
dc = double crochet
sc = single crochet

Special Stitches:

Double treble crochet (dtr): Wrap the yarn over the hook 3 times and insert the hook into the space indicated. *Wrap the yarn over the hook and draw it through 2 loops.* Repeat from * to * 3 times to complete the double treble.

Decrease stitch (dec): yo, insert hook in ch sp, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo, insert hook in next ch sp, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Instructions:

Instead of a beginning chain, the blanket is begun with a first row of chain and dtr spaces.

For these widths, start with this number of chain and dtr spaces:
32″ = 28
41.25″ = 36
50.25″ = 44
59.5″ = 52
68.5″ = 60

Row 1: Chain 4. Dtr in first chain. This forms the first chain and dtr space. Form each additional space by chaining 4 and doing a dtr on the dtr of the prior space. Make an even number of chain and dtr spaces.

Do not turn.

Row 2: Ch 4. Without turning the work, rotate so that the following is worked across the dtr created in the first row. Over first dtr work dc, ch1, dc, dec. The dec will move to the next dtr. Over it and each dtr to the last work dc, ch1, dc, dec. The second part of the last dec will be in the last dtr. On the last dtr, also work dc, ch1, 2dc.

Row 3: Ch 3 and turn. Sc in ch-1 sp. Working across row, ch 4 and sc in each ch1 sp. At the end of the row, ch 3. Sc in the space created by the ch 4 turning chain.

Row 4: Ch4 and turn. In ch-3 sp work 3dc. Working across row ** ch2, skip a ch-4 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-4 sp. Repeat from ** across to last ch-4 and ch-3 spaces. Skip ch-4 sp, ch 2. In the last ch-3 sp, work 3 dc, ch-1, dc.

Row 5: Ch4 and turn. In first ch-1 space work 3 dc. Working across row ** ch2, (3 dc, ch1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp. Repeat from ** across to last ch-4 space, ch 2. In the last ch-4 sp, work 3 dc, ch-1, dc.

Row 6: Ch4 and turn. In first ch-1 space work 3 dc. Working across row ** ch 1, reach down to ch-2 space below ch-2 space of last row and make a sc , ch 1, (3 dc, ch1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp. Repeat from ** across to last ch-4 space, ch 1, reach down to ch-2 space below ch-2 space of last row and make a sc , ch 1. In the last ch-4 sp, work 3 dc, ch-1, dc.

Row 7: Ch4 and turn. In first ch-1 space work 3 dc. Working across row ** ch2, skip (ch1, sc, ch1), (3 dc, ch1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp. Repeat from ** across to last ch-4 space, ch 2, skip (ch1, sc, ch1). In the last ch-4 sp, work 3 dc, ch-1, dc.

Repeat rows 5 through 7 until afghan is desired length. End with a row 6 then work these last three rows:

Third to last row: Ch 6 and turn. Skip first ch-1 space. Working across row ** skip (ch1, sc, ch1), sc next ch-1 sp, ch 6. Repeat from ** across to last ch-1 space, ch 6, skip (ch1, sc, ch1). Sc in the last ch-4 sp.

Second to last row: Ch 4 and turn. In each ch-6 space across row up to the last ch-6 sp, work (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1). In last ch-6 sp, work (3 dc, ch 1, 4 dc).

Last row: Ch 4 and turn. Sc in ch-1 sp. Working across row to the ch-4 sp at end of the row – ch 4 and sc in each ch-1 sp. Sc in ch-4 sp at end of row. Finish off and weave in end.

The blanket can be made in a solid color or can be made with any number of color changes. The best way to make a color change is to finish all but the very last pull through of the two loops of the last stitch of a row. Cut yarn with a few inches of tail and join with new color next to stitch. Pull new color through last two loops. Weave in ends.