Holiday Crocheted Granny Square Throw

By: Marianne Forrestal for Red Heart Yarn

Looking for some handmade gift ideas for Christmas? How about making a Holiday Crocheted Granny Square Throw? It's perfect for the living room, bedroom, or snuggling by the fireplace. This large and comfortable crocheted afghan can also be made with any color combination of your choosing. Try using this pattern to create an afghan for summer or spring by selecting pastel or brightly colored yarns instead. This is a great beginner project for anyone new to crochet, and you'll be so happy to show off your new afghan to all your visiting friends and family!

Find more festive holiday patterns in Red Heart's special eBook, Jolly Holidays: 15 Free Knit and Crochet Gifts and Holiday Projects.

Materials:

4 skeins Red Heart® Holiday yarn in White/Silver (A)
2 skeins Red Heart® Holiday yarn in Red/Silver (B)
2 skeins Red Heart® Holiday yarn in Green/Silver (C)
6mm [US J-10] crochet hook

Gauge: Measures 8” square after first 7 rounds of pattern. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Special Stitches:

Front Post Treble (FPtr): Yo (twice), insert hook from front to back to front around the post of next st, yo and draw up a loop, [yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 3 times.
Front Post Double Treble (FPdtr): Yo (3 times), insert hook from front to back to front around the post of next st, yo and draw up a loop, [yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 4 times.

Instructions:
When changing colors at the end of a round, fasten off old color after slip st that joins the round and with right side facing, join next color with slip st in any corner FPdtr or ch-1 space. When not changing colors between rounds, after slip st that joins the round, slip st in next 2 dc and next ch-1 space or FPdtr to begin next round.

With A, ch 5, slip st in 5th ch from hook to form a ring.
Round 1 (right side): Ch 3, 2 dc in ring, [ch 3, 3 dc] 3 times in ring, ch 3; join with a slip st in top of beginning ch- 3. Fasten off A.
Round 2: With right side facing, join B with slip st in any ch-3 space, ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 2 dc in same ch-3 space, dtr in center ch-5 ring 2 rounds below (between 3-dc groups), 3 dc in same ch-3 space in current round, *3 dc in next ch-3 space, dtr in center ch-5 ring 2 rounds below (between 3-dc groups), 3 dc in same ch-3 space in current round; repeat from * twice; join with a slip st in top of beginning ch-3. Fasten off B.
Round 3: With right side facing, join C with a slip st in any corner dtr, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same st, *dc between next two 3-dc groups, FPtr around the post of center st of 3-dc group 2 rounds below (round 1), dc in same place as last dc**, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next dtr; repeat from * twice; repeat from * to ** once, join with a slip st in top of beginning ch-3. Fasten off C.
Round 4: With right side facing, join A with a slip st in any corner ch-1 space, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch-1 space, FPdtr around the post of next FPdtr 2 rounds below, 3 dc in same ch-1 space, *[3 dc between next 3-st groups] twice**, 3 dc in next ch-1 space, FPdtr around the post of next FPdtr 2 rounds below, 3 dc in same ch-1 space; repeat from * twice, repeat from * to ** once; join with a slip st in top of beginning ch-3. Fasten off A.
Round 5: With right side facing, join B with slip st in any corner FPdtr, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same st, *3 dc between next two 3-dc groups, dc between next two 3-dc groups, FPtr around the post of next FPtr 2 rounds below, dc in same place as last dc, 3 dc between next two 3-dc groups**, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next FPdtr; repeat from * twice; repeat from * to ** once; join with a slip st in top of beginning ch-3. Fasten off B.
Round 6: With right side facing, join C with a slip st in any ch-1 space, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch-1 space, FPdtr around the post of next FPdtr 2 rounds below, 3 dc in same ch-1 space, *[3 dc between next two 3-st groups] across to next corner ch-1 space**, 3 dc in next corner ch-1 space, FPdtr around the post of next FPdtr 2 rounds below, 3 dc in same ch-1 space; repeat from * twice; repeat from * to ** once; join with a slip st in top of beginning ch-3. Fasten off C.
Round 7: With right side facing, join A with a slip st in any corner FPdtr, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same st, *[3 dc between next two 3-dc groups] twice, dc between next two 3-dc groups, FPtr around the post of next FPtr 2 rounds below, dc in same place as last dc, [3 dc between next two 3-dc groups] twice**, [3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc] in next FPdtr; repeat from * twice; repeat from * to ** once; join with a slip st in top of beginning ch-3.
Continue in color sequence as established throughout (Color Sequence: Work in the following color sequence: [1 round each with A, B and C] twice, [4 rounds A, 1 round each with B, C, A, B and C] 4 times.). Slip st to or rejoin new color in corner FPdtr or ch-1 space each round as required.
Round 8: Repeat Round 6.
Round 9: Ch 3, [2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc] in same corner FPdtr, *[3 dc between next two 3-dc groups, dc between next two 3-dc groups, FPtr around the post of center st of 3-st group two rounds below, dc in same place as last dc] 3 times, 3 dc between next two 3-dc groups**, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next FPdtr, repeat from * twice, repeat from * to ** once; join with a slip st in top of beginning ch-3.
Round 10: Repeat round 6.
Round 11: Ch 3, [2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc] in same corner FPdtr, *3 dc between next two 3-dc groups, [3 dc between next two 3-dc groups, dc between next two 3-dc groups, FPtr around the post of center st of 3-st group two rounds below, dc in same place as last dc] 3 times, [3 dc between next two 3-dc groups] twice**, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next FPdtr, repeat from * twice, repeat from * to ** once; join with a slip st in top of beginning ch-3.
Round 12: Repeat round 6.
Round 13: Ch 3, [2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc] in same corner FPdtr, *[3 dc between next two 3-dc groups, dc between next two 3-dc groups, FPtr around the post of center st of 3-st group two rounds below, dc in same place as last dc] 5 times, 3 dc between next two 3-dc groups**, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next FPdtr, repeat from * twice, repeat from * to ** once; join with a slip st in top of beginning ch-3.
Rounds 14-41: Maintaining color sequence as established, repeat Rounds 10-13 seven times, increasing two repeats between [ ] on every odd numbered round.
Round 42: Repeat Round 6. Fasten off C. Weave in ends.