Hints and Tips

HINTS AND TIPS

This page will continually have new things added to it, so be sure to check back.

BASIC AFGHAN STITCH

Step 1: Chain the number of stitches called for by pattern. Insert hook in second ch from hook, yo, draw yarn through st, *insert hook in next ch, yo, draw yarn through st*, repeat from * to * across, keeping all loops on hook. This completes the first half of the row.

Step 2: Start second half of row. Yo, draw yarn through first loop on hook.

Step 3 & 4: *Yo, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook*, repeat across.

You will have one loop left on hook at end of row, this is the first loop of the next row.

Step 5: Start second row. Insert hook in next vertical stitch, yo, draw yarn through stitch.

Step 6: Continue to end with Step 5, inserting hook in last vertical stitch and the vertical stitch right behind it, yo, draw yarn through both vertical stitches. Repeat Steps 2-4 to finish Row 2. Repeat Steps 5 & 6 for each row.

Blocking Hint

I found a really easy way to block these little squares and wanted to share it with you.

Dig around in your needle stash and find a set of size 0 (that is zero) double pointed needles. You can just slip them through the edges of the block, measure a 5-1/2 inch square on your ironing board (gotta use it for something), put the block, with the needles in it face down on the ironing board, pin the corners, and steam it! I just put the ironing board away with the block still on it, and leave it there until it is totally dry. Be sure to use pins that won't rust!

Here are a couple of ideas for ways you might put your blocks together to form afghans when you have all twelve groups of them finished. The red squares are the pattern squares in the two diagrams. I'm going to join all of the blocks together with white. I'll just join each group of nine together until all twelve larger blocks are completed, then decide if I want to follow a monthly theme on putting them together, or just randomly connect them.

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