Holiday Balls Throw

You're sure to dazzle your guests with your crochet skills once they see this Holiday Balls Throw. Use your favorite holidays colors to create a Christmas crochet afghan that will be right at home with your Christmas decorations. It's perfect for keeping warm on those long winter nights, and this free Christmas crochet pattern is one you can start on now in time for the holidays. By the time winter comes, you'll have a cozy throw to craft under.

Throw measures 58" (147 cm) wide and 58" (147 cm) long, including edging

RED HEART®  Super Soft™ 2 skeins 9925 Really Red A, 2 skeins 4412 Grass Green B, and 1 skein 4600 White C.

Susan Bates® Crochet Hook: 6.5mm [US K-10½].

Yarn needle, stitch marker.

GAUGE: 1 motif measures 5 x 5" (13 x 13 cm). CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

(4 medium) RED HEART® Super Soft™, Art E777, available in solid color 10oz (283g), 515 yd (471m) skeins.


FIRST MOTIF
Round 1 (RS): With C, ch 6; join with slip st in first ch to form a ring, ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 11 dc in ring; join with slip st in top of beginning ch—12 dc. Fasten off C.
Round 2 (RS): Join A in any dc, ch 3, dc in same st as join, 2 dc in next 11 sts; join with slip st in top of beginning ch—24 dc.
Round 3: Ch 3, dc in same st as join, dc in next st, [2 dc in next st, dc in next st] 11 times; join with slip st in top of beginning ch—36 dc. Fasten off A.
Round 4 (RS): Join C in any dc, *ch 8, skip 2 dc, sc in next dc, [ch 4, skip 2 dc, sc in next dc] 2 times; repeat from * around; join with slip st in base of beginning ch—4 ch-8 spaces and 8 ch-4 spaces. Fasten off C.
Round 5 (RS): Join B in any ch-8 space, ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2), 6 dc in same ch-8 space, [ch 1, sc in next ch-4 space, ch 4, sc in next ch-4 space, ch 1, (6 dc, ch 2, 6 dc) in next ch-8 space] 3 times, ch 1, sc in next ch-4 space, ch 4, sc in next ch-4 space, ch 1, 5 dc in same ch-8 space as beginning; join with slip st in 3rd ch of beginning ch. Fasten off B.

MOTIF 2-80 (make and join 80)
Sequence #1 (make 7 more): 1 round C, 2 rounds A, 1 round C, 1 round B.
Sequence #2 (make 12): 3 rounds B, 1 round C, 1 round A.
Sequence #3 (make 24): 3 rounds A, 1 round C, 1 round B.
Sequence #4 (make 24): 1 round A, 2 rounds B, 1 round C, 1 round A.
Sequence #5 (make 12): 1 round B, 2 rounds A, 1 round C, 1 round B.
Sequence #6 (make 1): 1 round C, 2 rounds B, 1 round C, 1 round A.
Work Rounds 1–4 of first motif, with specified color sequences. Refer to assembly diagram for placement of next motif.
Round 5 (RS): Join last color in any ch-8 space, ch 5, 6 dc in same ch-8 space, ch 1, sc in next ch-4 space, ch 4, sc in next ch-4 space, ch 1, *6 dc in next ch-8 space, ch 1, slip st in corresponding ch-2 space of neighbor, ch 1, 6 dc in same ch-8 space of current motif, ch 1, sc in next ch-4 space, ch 2, slip st in corresponding ch-4 space of neighbor, ch 2, sc in next ch-4 space, ch 1; repeat from * if there is a 2nd neighbor, 6 dc in next ch-8 space, ch 1, slip st in corresponding ch-2 space of neighbor, ch 1, 6 dc in same ch-8 space of current motif, work across remaining side(s) in same manner as first side without joining to any neighbors; join with slip st in 3rd ch of beginning ch. Fasten off.

FINISHING
Edging
Round 1 (RS): Join A in any corner ch-2 space of throw, ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), dc in same ch-2 space, ch 1, *[skip 1 dc, dc in next dc, ch 1] 3 times, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch-4 space, ch 1, dc in next dc, [ch 1, skip 1 dc, dc in next dc] 2 times, ch 1, dc in next ch-2 space, ch 1, dc in corner ch-2 space of next motif, ch 1; repeat from * across to next corner of throw, (dc, ch 2, dc) in corner ch-2 space, ch 1, continue in same manner all the way around throw; join with slip st in 3rd ch of beginning ch. Fasten off.
Round 2 (RS): Join C in any corner ch-2 space of throw, ch 3 (counts as hdc, ch 1), hdc in same ch-2 space, ch 1, *hdc in next ch-1 space, ch 1; repeat from * around, working (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in each corner; join with slip st in 2nd ch of beginning ch. Fasten off.
Round 3: With A, repeat Round 2.
Round 4: With C, repeat Round 2.
Round 5 (RS): Join A in any corner ch-2 space of throw, ch 4, dc in same ch-2 space, ch 1, *dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1; repeat from * around, working (dc, ch 2, dc) in each corner; join with slip st in 3rd ch of beginning ch. Do not fasten off.
Last Round: *Ch 3, slip st in next dc; repeat from * around, ch 3, slip st in base of beginning ch. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Diagram

ABBREVIATIONS: A, B, and C = Color A, B, and C; ch = chain; dc = double crochet; hdc = half double crochet; RS = right side; sc = single crochet; st(s) = stitch(es); WS = wrong side; * or ** = repeat whatever follows the * or ** as indicated; [] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified; () = work directions in parentheses into same stitch.

If you'd like to see more holiday patterns, take a look at the new "Have a Red Heart Holiday: 20 Knit & Crochet Gifts and Decorating Ideas" eBook from Red Heart Yarns.
 

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