Merry Melon Afghan

This Merry Melon Afghan is a lovely and fun way to liven up your home.  Made with an offset shell stitch, this unique crocheted afghan has a neat zig zag look that adds texture and style to this blanket.  This is a fun pattern for crochet fans of all skill levels, and it lends itself well to any variety of color combinations.  The light and lacy look of this afghan also makes it perfect for those cooler spring and summer evenings.

Materials:

• 1 skein Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Perfect Pink
• 1 skein Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Shocking Pink
• 1 skein Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Pumpkin
• 1 skein Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Honeydew
• 2 skeins Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Aran
• 4.5 mm (US G-6) crochet hook or size needed for gauge

Gauge: 4 rows – 3”;  Shell, V St – 2 ½”

Special Stitches:

• V stitch (V St) – (dc, ch 1, dc) as indicated in stitch or space.
• Shell – (sc, ch 3, 3 dcs) as indicated in stitch or space.

Instructions:
Afghan Measures:   44” x 56”                             

1. Row 1 (RS): With perfect pink ch 165, dc in 5th ch from hook, *ch 3, skip 4 chs, Shell in next ch, skip 4 chs**, V St in next ch, repeat from * across ending last repeat at **, V St in last ch, turn.
    
2. Row 2: Ch 4, dc in ch 1 space, *ch 3, Shell in next ch 3 space**, V St in ch 1 space of V St, repeat from * across ending last repeat at **, V St in ch 1 space of last V St, turn.
    
3. Rows 3-6: Repeat Row 2 and fasten off after Row 6, turn.
    
4. Row 7: Join aran with a slip stitch in first stitch, ch 4, dc in ch 1 space, continue with Row 2.
    
5. Row 8: Repeat Row 2 and fasten off.

Color Scheme
Continue pattern repeating Row 2 as follows for a total of 78 rows

• (6 rows perfect pink , 2 rows aran, 2 rows honeydew, 2 rows aran, 6 rows shocking pink, 2 rows aran, 2 rows honeydew, 2 rows aran, 6 rows pumpkin, 2 rows aran, 2 rows honeydew, 2 rows aran) 2X
• 6 rows perfect pink

Edging

1. With right side facing and aran work along top edge (sc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, sc) in first right corner V St, [Shell in each ch 3 space of Shell and ch 1 space of V St] across, (sc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, sc) in last V St.
    
2. Work along side edge [Shell in next dc, sc in next dc] across, (sc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, sc) in bottom V St.
    
3. Work along bottom edge [Shell in each ch space below Shell and V St] across, (sc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, sc) in last V St.
    
4. Work along side edge [Shell in next dc, sc in next dc] across, join to beginning sc and fasten off.