How to Crochet an Afghan | Crocheting

Watch more How to Crochet videos: http://www.howcast.com/videos/472084-How-to-Fasten-Off-Yarn-CrochetingLearn how to crochet an afghan from Lion Brand Yarn's Andrea Lemire in this Howcast video.Hey, I'm Andrea Lemire, the education coordinator here at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio. I'm going to show you some really cool techniques for beginning crochet, and hopefully, you'll have as much fun as I have with it. Okay, lets get started.So, I'm going to talk to you about how to crochet an afghan, or a blanket. They are the same thing. So I have a few examples here, just to show you the differences in construction. Afghans or blankets can be crocheted either in pieces or blocks, and then sewn together or joined. Or they can be done all in one piece. It depends on what your crochet style is. Some people find it easier to think about crocheting an entire blanket in one piece, and then when you're done, you're done. Other people like the convenience of blocks, because these are easier to travel with. And so this would be a great on the go afghan project. And with something like blocks, you can get as simple or as creative as you like. And a sampler, throw like this, or sampler afghan is a great way to practice combining those basic stitches. The single crochet, the half double, the double and the treble. All these blocks are again, your beginning chain. Either the single, half double, double, or treble stitches, and then fastening off. So, you can combine those stitches in different ways to create different textures. But, as long as you know those basic stitches, nothing in this afghan is going to be new for you. A different kind of a joined afghan is what is called a motif afghan. And that is made up of what we call crochet motifs, which are blocks that are done in the round. So if you're trying to practice crocheting in the round, this would be a great practice piece for that as well. And so each of these begins with one of those rounds joined methods. And then you work your rounds until the blocks are as big as you want them to be. And then they're joined or sewn together. So that's another way to practice a different technique if you do not want to work in rows or work flat, back and forth, like this sampler afghan. So 2 different types of joined afghans. Both great ways to practice, and have that project be an on the go piece. The last afghan I'm going to show you is just a really fun one to make. If you want to practice those rows, and you feel like it's not as daunting for you to work that afghan all in one piece. And this is a great lap throw size. It could be a child's blanket as well. But a lap throw is about 30 inches by 40 inches. About the same as the child's blanket. Larger adult size afghans are either 50 by 60, or 60 by 70, around there. And this is a Chevron stitch. A Chevron stitch is a great way to practice your increasing and decreasing. So this afghan begins with that beginning chain. It's done in the double crochet. And then, at the bottom of every Chevron, so where it dips, there's a decrease. And at the top of every point in the ripple, there's an increase. So, decreasing, increasing, double crochet, chaining, all that stuff from those basic stitches, combined to make a really interesting texture. So all of these patterns, the child's ripple throw, the motif afghan, the crochet sampler afghan, and the summer flower baby throw are all available for free on lionbrand.com. So choose one, and start crocheting.