Afghan Circles in Rectangles

Make this free crochet pattern from Premier Yarns by using a variety of colors and crochet stitches.  With some patience and a little time, you can create this beautiful warm afghan. The bright circles on this afghan are great for adding color to any room in your home, and you can easily use colors that match your decor scheme.  It's great for lounging and you'll be proud that you made it yourself. 

Materials:

• 7 balls Dream yarn in Smoke (MC)
• 1 ball of yarn in Cream (CC)
• 1 ball of yarn in Rose Red (CC)
• 1 ball of yarn in Garnet (CC)
• 1 ball of yarn in Baby Fern (CC)
• 1 ball of yarn in Tuscon Teal (CC)
• 1 ball of yarn in Carolina Sky (CC)
• 1 ball of yarn in Navy (CC)
• 1 ball of yarn in Heather (CC)
• 1 ball of yarn in Eggplant (CC)
• US-H/8 (5mm) crochet hook
• Large-eye yarn needle

Gauge:  Motif = 5" x 8". Use any size hook necessary to obtain the specified gauge.

Instructions:
Afghan measures approximately 40" x 56", excluding border.

Motif (Make 56)
Working Rnds 1-3 seven times in two CCs and six times in seven CCs.

1. Rnd 1 (WS): With any CC, ch 4; join with a sl st to form a ring; ch 3 (counts as first dc), 14 dc in ring; join with sl st in top ch of beg ch-5 – 15 dc.
    
2. Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st as joining, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next dc, * 2 dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 2, sk next dc; rep from * around, join with a sl st in third ch of beg ch-3 – 20 dc, 5 ch-2 sps.
    
3. Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in same st as joining, 2 dc in each of next 3 dc, * ch 1, sk ch-2 sp, 2 dc in each of next 4 dc; rep from * around, ch 1, join with a sl st in third ch of beg ch-3 – 40 dc, 5 ch-1 sps; fasten off CC.
    
4. Rnd 4: With RS facing, join MC with a sl st in any ch-1 sp, ch 1, working in sts and in chs, * sc in next 5 sts, hdc in next st, dc in next st, tr in next st, ch 4, tr in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st; rep from * around; join with sl st in first sc; fasten off.
    
5. Ends—Row 1: With WS facing, join MC with a sl st in any ch-4 sp, ch 3, dc in same sp, dc in each st across to next ch-4 sp, 2 dc in ch-4 sp; turn - 15 dc.
    
6. Rows 2 and 3: Ch 3, dc in next dc and in each dc across; turn.
    
7. Rep Rows 1- 3 on opposite side of Motif.

Assembly

1. With RS facing, whipstitch rectangles tog along short ends, making 8 columns of 7 rectangles each.
    
2. With RS facing, join MC with a sl st in side of last row at bottom corner, ch 1, work 2 sc in side of each dc row, 2 sc in each ch-sp and 1 sc in each st across to next corner; fasten off – 189 sc.
    
3. Rep along second long edge of strip.
    
4. With RS of two strips facing and working through inside loops of thicknesses, with MC sc strips together; fasten off.

Edging

1. Rnd 1: With RS facing, join MC with a sl st in any corner, ch 1, sc in each sc around, working 1 extra sc in each sc seam, and (sc, ch 3, sc) in each corner; join with 1 sl st in first sc; fasten off.
    
2. Rnd 2: With RS facing, join any CC with a sl st in any corner ch-3 sp, * (sc, ch 3, sc) in corner ch-3 sp, [ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next sc] across to next corner; rep from * around; join with a sl st in first sc; fasten off.
    
3. Rnd 3: With RS facing, join MC with a sl st in any corner ch-3 sp, * (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner ch-3 sp, sc in each sc and ch-1 sp to next corner; rep from * around; join with a sl st in first sc; fasten off.
    
4. Weave in ends.