Free crochet pattern for how to crochet a Heart Afghan worked in corner to corner double crochet boxes. 10 sizes included!
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Every year after Christmas, I start thinking about a heart afghan worked in corner to corner double crochet boxes. The hearts following my C2C Enamored Heart Afghan Square pattern, and then all the squares joined together to make a nice little throw blanket. Every year, I always think about it too late in that I would not get it finished before Valentine’s Day if starting in mid to late January. This year has been no exception… Ha!
I’ve decided that I am going to start this afghan now, and work a little bit on it throughout the year so that come December, I’ll be ready to join all my squares together, and then have the afghan ready to use in the new year, and decorate with for Valentine’s Day into Spring.
While the pattern for the hearts is the same throughout, I hope you’ll join me in this little crochet along! I’ll be updating this post throughout the year adding in more details and video tutorials until I get the entire afghan finished.
Materials:
I’ll be working my afghan using Red Heart Super Saver with Aran Fleck being my main colorway, and then a variety of blues and greens for my hearts. You can use your favorite worsted weight yarn for this afghan! Some great yarn alternatives I recommend are {wools} WeCrochet Swish, Lion Brand Wool Ease, {non-wool} WeCrochet Brava, and Bernat Super Value.
If you have concerns about using Red Heart Super Saver and similar because of the roughness and stiffness of the fabric, I have a couple tips!
- If the yarn is too rough for your hands to crochet with, remove the skein wrapper, place the skein into a mesh lingerie bag (I bought mine at JoAnn’s), then machine wash it by itself on the gentle cycle in cold water with a mild detergent. Once it’s finished, toss it into the dryer on low heat – you may need to run it through 2 – 3 times to get the center dry.
- To add softness and better drape to the finished piece, crochet in it’s entirety and weave in the ends, then wash and dry in the same manner (with or without the lingerie bag) or simply dry once with a dryer sheet.
I did not come to my color decision easily, and if you’re like me, and choosing colors really stresses you out, then my tip is to think about when you will use this afghan and if you’re trying to match a specific color scheme (either for your own decor or in gifting). I’ll take you through my thought process, and how I landed on my colors, but keep in mind, this is what works for me as I’m hoping to match the decor that I will already be putting up in my home – you pick the colors that make you the most happy:
I usually don’t decorate for Valentine’s Day. Most years my Christmas decorations stay up past Valentine’s Day, and then I move into Spring, or Christmas actually gets put away a little after Three Kings Day, and I still move right on into Spring so I knew that I wanted an afghan that either matched my Christmas decor or my Spring decor.
Last year, I switched my Christmas decor to follow more of a woodland, rustic theme so traditional Valentine’s red doesn’t fit that scheme…
… and my Spring decor is full of turquoise, blue, and green (and a few others) bonded together with Farmhouse vibes.
I concluded that even though I felt like I wanted to do red hearts for my afghan, shades of blues and greens with my creamy neutral would work better, and for a longer time period. In fact, with my Christmas decor switch, this afghan will actually be able to stay out pretty much all year if I want, and I call that a win.
You’ll also need a H8/5mm crochet hook – I love my ergonomic Koi Fish one from SiennasBowtique on Etsy, tapestry needle, and if the finished size is essential to you, then you’ll want to have a soft tape measure.
Sizes & Measurements:
I will have 10 sizes available: two photo blanket sizes, newborn, lapghan, toddler/child, throw, twin, full, queen and king. My afghan will be the toddler/child size – I love this smaller throw size for keeping my legs warm while I’m on the couch or sitting to work at my computer, and it’s easier to store than the throw blanket size.
While I still have some final sizing details to sort out for the border and final measurements, the layout for each afghan should be:
- Newborn Photography Layering Blanket & Lovey: 1 square by 1 square – roughly 10″
- Newborn Photography Blanket: 2 squares by 2 squares – roughly 20″
- Newborn: 3 squares by 3 squares – roughly 30″
- Lapghan: 4 squares by 4 squares – roughly 35″
- Toddler/Child: 5 squares by 6 squares – roughly 45″ by 53″
- Throw: 6 squares by 7 squares – roughly 52″ by 60″
- Twin: 8 squares by 11 squares – roughly 68″ by 93″
- Full: 10 squares by 11 squares – roughly 86″ by 94″
- Queen: 11 squares by 11 squares – roughly 95″ by 95″
- King (and possibly California King): 12 squares by 11 squares – roughly 108″ by 95″
Photography sized afghans are meant to be used as photo props. Typically, the base is the blanket, and then the layering blanket is laid in a different direction on top, and then baby. Sometimes the newborn size is also used in photography.
Lovey blankets are perfect for babies and toddlers to cuddle. They are often square in shape, and range from 10-14″ in size.
Time & Schedule:
You can expect each square to take you about an hour and a half to complete, and this is one of the reasons why I am going to spread this project out over the next year. I’m planning on the following schedule:
- 5 squares each month: January, March, May, July, September, November
- Join squares together: December
Tutorial:
For the squares, we’ll be working with my C2C Enamored Heart Afghan Square pattern. Check gauge if the finished size is essential to you, and complete the finishing border round to give a nice, clean, finished edge that will be easy to join when the time comes.
C2C DC Enamored Heart Afghan Square Video Tutorial:
I’ll be updating this post shortly with another video showing how to work a continuous join to join your squares together so you’ll be able to do that at any point that you get all of your squares finished.
I’ll be adding a simple border to my finished afghan.
I’m not quite ready yet, but I’ll update with the final sizing details as soon as I can once sort out the details for the border.
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Candac says
These would be such adorable little washcloths made in cotton yarn for a baby shower gift! I can’t wait to see the finished afghan! I love the colors you chose!
Alexandra says
That is a sweet gift idea – love it!