This free crochet pattern is for a chunky, beautifully textured afghan featuring the Suzette stitch pattern, which is comprised of simple single and double crochets. Worked in two strands of worsted weight yarn (or one strand of chunky weight yarn), this cozy afghan works up fairly quickly.

When I was in high school, I was a proud Marching Grenadier. As an alumni, I am still happy to attend the school’s football games, band concerts and other band functions. They have two concert band concerts scheduled this year, and at both, they will be having a silent auction. I have offered to make a few items to donate – one of them being this afghan.

Enjoy this photo of me holding my Tuba! This was a special senior event at our last home football game – hence the flowers and sash. You can’t really see it on my in this photo, but there is a thin white strip on the bottom of my jacket and separates the black pants and red jacket. This uniform was my inspiration for this afghan.
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Materials:
- 2545 yards of Worsted Weight Yarn – I used Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn, approximately 2.33 skeins of Black, 3 skeins of Red, and 1.5 skeins of White
- M13/9mm Hook
- Tapestry Needle for Weaving
Material Notes:
For this afghan, two strands of worsted weight yarn are held together. In it’s place, you could use one strand of chunky/bulky (#5) yarn. Take a gauge. If you don’t mind a slight difference in measurements, gauge isn’t essential. You could even go up a hook size, and use super bulky yarn for a larger afghan.
Yarn Alternative: Red Heart With Love
Time Spent:
This blanket was completed in approximately 11.5 hours, including the border and weaving
Measurements:
With border: 42″ Wide x 46″ in Length – – this is a little larger than a toddler/child size afghan, and a little smaller than the standard throw blanket size.
Gauge:
11 DC by 6 Rows = 5″ by 4.5″
Abbreviations (US Terms):
- DC – Double Crochet (Photo Tutorial)
- SC – Single Crochet (Photo Tutorial)
- HDC – Half Double Crochet
Pattern Notes:
I used Red, Black and White and am going to refer to them as such in the pattern below, but feel free to use your own color combinations.
Beginning chain 1 does not count as a stitch. Join to the 1st stitch.
Work color changes in the final yarn over of the last stitch. If you need a refresher, I have a photo tutorial for this technique – How to Change Yarn Colors.
I suggest leaving the color changes on even rows, as I have, otherwise the sides of your blanket will have a funny little visible yarn change thing going on – I learned this the hard way on another project I worked. It’s not real obvious, but was obvious enough for me not to try it again.
You have two options for the tails of the color change: fasten off and weave in ends, or carry yarn up the side and work over the tails. I chose to fasten off and weave in my ends. Yes, it is quite a bit of time dedicated to weaving in ends (about 30 minutes) mostly because it’s three different colors (rather than two) but I didn’t feel like dealing with the yarn tangling from turning each row. It would be very easy though to carry the yarn up the side, and crochet the border over it to hide.
Pattern:
With Black: Chain 87, (SC, DC) in the 3rd stitch, [skip next stitch, (SC, DC) in the next stitch] across. (43 clusters)
R2-R10 Black: Chain 1, turn. Work (SC, DC) in the 2nd stitch, [skip next stitch, (SC, DC) in the next stitch] across.
R11-14 White: Chain 1, turn. Work (SC, DC) in the 2nd stitch, [skip next stitch, (SC, DC) in the next stitch] across.
R15-R24 Red: Chain 1, turn. Work (SC, DC) in the 2nd stitch, [skip next stitch, (SC, DC) in the next stitch] across.
R25-R28 White: Chain 1, turn. Work (SC, DC) in the 2nd stitch, [skip next stitch, (SC, DC) in the next stitch] across.
R29-R38 Black: Chain 1, turn. Work (SC, DC) in the 2nd stitch, [skip next stitch, (SC, DC) in the next stitch] across.
R39-R42 White: Chain 1, turn. Work (SC, DC) in the 2nd stitch, [skip next stitch, (SC, DC) in the next stitch] across.
R43-R52 Red: Chain 1, turn. Work (SC, DC) in the 2nd stitch, [skip next stitch, (SC, DC) in the next stitch] across.
R53-R56 White: Chain 1, turn. Work (SC, DC) in the 2nd stitch, [skip next stitch, (SC, DC) in the next stitch] across.
R57-R66 Black: Chain 1, turn. Work (SC, DC) in the 2nd stitch, [skip next stitch, (SC, DC) in the next stitch] across.
R67-R70 White: Chain 1, turn. Work (SC, DC) in the 2nd stitch, [skip next stitch, (SC, DC) in the next stitch] across.
R71-R80 Red: Chain 1, turn. Work (SC, DC) in the 2nd stitch, [skip next stitch, (SC, DC) in the next stitch] across.
Border – Adds 1″ to each side:
Chain 1, turn. Work 2 SC in the 1st stitch, SC in the next 85 stitches, 3 SC in the next stitch – corner – evenly SC down the next side, working 1 SC in the side of each SC, and 2 SC in the side of each DC, 3 SC in last stitch – corner, SC 85 along the opposite side of the foundation row, 3 SC in the next stitch – corner – evenly SC up the next side, working the same as the first, 1 HDC in the same stitch as the first. Join.
R2: Chain 1, DO NOT turn. Work 2 HDC in the 1st stitch, HDC in the next 87 stitches, 3 HDC in the next stitch – corner, evenly HDC down the next side, 3 SC in the last stitch – corner, HDC in the next 87 stitches, 3 HDC in the next stitch – corner – evenly HDC up the next side, 1 HDC in the same stitch as the first. Join.
This would look nice with an extra round of half double crochet. I was on a time crunch, and didn’t have time to add another round. It still looks great as is, it’s completely up to you!

Please feel free to make and sell your own Suzette’s Chunky Afghan, but please DO NOT claim this pattern as your own nor should you sell my pattern, and DO NOT re-publish my photos as your own. DO NOT copy and paste my pattern anywhere, link to it instead.
I love it! And I am sure your donation will raise top dollar for auction! Love the picture you posted with your TUBA! Have a great weekend!
Thanks Kim! I had a lot of fun, both playing the Tuba and working on this blanket. I am a little sad I won't be able to make it to the concert, but I am glad I was able to help a little. I have another free pattern coming next week for a second blanket, as my second donation.
That is sad 🙁 but your donations will put a smile on someones face for sure… I will be waiting for the second pattern also! I will Pin it as well..Thanks for all you do!
Hi I love the look of this pattern, however I would like to use a blanket yarn. Would you be kind enough to tell how much of each color I would need. Weight of yarn is 6 and 97 yds on each skein. Thank you.
Hi Nancy. Made of single crochets and double crochets, I would imagine it’s similar to my Super Chunky Through the Window Afghan (https://eyeloveknots.com/2020/10/super-chunky-through-the-window-afghan-free-crochet-pattern.html), which I used around 2000 yards total for a throw size. I’m not sure not what a breakdown would be for stripes.
Hi Alexandra:
I, too was in marching band, but thankfully did not have to lug a tuba! I’d like to make this for my great niece, but want it a bit bigger. Would I just repeat rows at the top or is there a formula to add length and width? Beautiful blanket!
Maxine
Thanks, Maxine! Fun times. I really miss it. For this afghan, you can add chain multiples of 2 to the foundation, and since it’s a one row repeat, you can just keep adding rows until you’ve reached your desired length.
Thank you so much!
What was the pattern for your second blanket donation?
My second blanket donation was done in a ripple stitch pattern. I didn’t get photos so never got around to writing up, and publishing the pattern, but I would love to make another to share. My third blanket for donation for the following year was this suzette stitch one: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/slanted-shell-afghan
You note “two strands of worsted weight yarn are held together”. Would you please explain? Thanks!
Sure, Peggi! To equal a chunky weight yarn, I held two strands together as if they were one, and crocheted as normal. The best way to do it is to have two balls of yarn, and pull the strand from the center for each, but if you only have one ball of yarn, you can work from the center pull and the strand that wraps around the outside – it just tangles easier this way. Alternatively, you can just use a chunky weight yarn, like Lion Brand Hue and Me.