The flowers and leaves of this throw are plucked directly from traditional Irish crochet. The thread used for Irish crochet is typically a very fine ecru or white, but the richly colored hues we chose here are feminine and moody and make the shapes stand out vibrantly from the background. The motifs are also worked at a larger gauge than is typical in Irish crochet, creating an appliquéd effect. When the shapes are completed, they are joined using an improvised chain mesh. Improvising is both challenging and fun, and lends the afghan a loose, organic shape.
Finished Measurements
43" square
Yarn
Berroco Comfort (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fine acrylic; 100 grams / 210 yards): 5 skeins #9734 Liquorice (A); 4 skeins #9721 Sprig (B); 3 skeins each #9717 Raspberry Coulis (C) and #9780 Dried Plum (D); 2 skeins each #9739 Grape Jelly (E) and #9754 Rabe (F)
Crochet Hook
Crochet hook size US G/6 (4 mm)
Change hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
Gauge
16 sc and 20 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Single Crochet (sc)
Afghan
CROCHET FLOWERS
Small Flower (make 25)
Using E, ch 10, sl st to form ring. Ch 1, work 14 sc into ring, end sl st in first sc.
Rnd 1: *Sl st in first sc, ch 6, sl st in next sc. Do not turn.
Bring working yarn under ch-6, work 8 sc into ch-6 loop, begin at the beginning of the ch; repeat from * 6 times. Fasten off.
Medium Flower (make 24)
Using D, ch 12, sl st to form ring. Ch 1, work 18 sc into ring, end sl st in first sc.
Rnd 1: *Sl st in first sc, ch 7, sl st in next sc. Do not turn.
Bring working yarn under ch-7, work 9 sc into ch-7 loop, begin at the beginning of the ch; repeat from * 8 times. Fasten off.
Large Flower (make 17)
Using C, ch 16, sl st to form ring. Ch 1, work 20 sc into ring, end sl st in first sc.
Rnd 1: *Sl st in first sc, ch 20, sl st in next sc. Do not turn.
Bring working yarn under ch-20, work 22 sc into ch-20 loop, begin at the beginning of the ch; repeat from * 9 times. Fasten off.
SMALL LEAF (make 11)
Stem: Using F, ch 27, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across to last ch, work 3 sc in last ch, continue to work 1 sc in the bottom of each ch, end 2 in last st, sl st to beg sc. Break yarn.
Leaf: With WS of Stem facing, using B, beg in 12th sc from end, work 16 sc, 3 sc in point (center st of previous 3 sc), 16 sc. Turn. *Sl st in first sc, sc in each sc to center of point, work 3 sc in point, sc to within 2 sc. Turn. Repeat from * 4 times. Fasten off.
LARGE LEAF (make 8)
Stem: Using F, ch 41. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across to last ch. Work 3 sc in last ch, continue to work 1 sc in the bottom of each ch, end 2 sc in last st, sl st to first sc. Break yarn.
Leaf: With WS of Stem facing, using B, beg in 17th sc from end, work 25 sc, 3 sc in point (center st of previous 3 sc), work 25 sc. Turn. *Sl st in first sc, sc in each sc to center point, work 3 sc in point, sc to within last 2 sc. Turn. Repeat from * 4 times. Fasten off.
Finishing
Edging (for each Flower and Leaf): Using A, sl st in st along edge of piece, *ch 3, sl st into another st; repeat from * around.
Joining: Arrange pieces randomly (or see photo), into a rough 43" Square. Join all pieces together as follows: Using A, sl st in st along edge of piece, *ch 3 or 4, sl st into adjacent piece, ch 3 or 4, sl st into first piece; repeat from * until all pieces are joined.
Block lightly (see Special Techniques, page 158).