Infant’s Roman Stripe Afghan

For details see Star Stitch, page 28, and Double Hook Afghan Stitch, page 27

MATERIALS

SUNLIGHT four-fold Germantown—9 skeins pink, 9 skeins white, 1 skein blue and 1 skein green

1 10-inch Bone Crochet Hook, No. 5

1 Amber Double-End Crochet Hook,

No. 5

INSTRUCTIONS

Start with pink yarn and make a chain 36 inches. Pick up 1 loop in each stitch on the chain; put yarn over hook and pull through 1 loop at a time.

Begin with the star stitch, taking up in the back of the loops on preceding row.

1st row: Make a chain of 3 stitches; take up 2 loops in the chain, then pick up 3 loops, 1 in each loop, on preceding row. Put yarn over hook and pull through all at once. Always pick up 5 loops and with the 1 on your needle you pull through 6.

2nd stitch: * Make 1 chain; take up 1 loop in space below this chain, pick up 1 loop in the back of last loop in preceding stitch. Take up 1 loop in same place as preceding stitch, then take up 2 more loops in the next 2 loops on row below. Put yarn over hook and pull through all at once and repeat from * to end of row. At end of row make a chain of 2 stitches, break off the yarn and pull the end tight.

2nd row: Same as 1st row; start in the chain on edge and make a chain of 3 stitches. Take up 2 loops in the chain, 1 loop in the back of 1st stitch on star below. Take up 4th loop through 2nd stitch on star below and 5th loop in the back of 1st stitch on 2nd star below. Pull through and repeat same as before.

Make 6 rows with the star stitch.

To make the pattern look well each star must come exactly above the other.

Start the next stripe with white yarn on wrong side of work and use the double-end hook.

1st row: Pick up 2 loops for each star below, taking up in the double stitch. Put yarn over hook and pull through 1 loop at a time.

2nd row: Take up the loops in front of the loops on preceding row. Start with blue yarn on the other end of row, use the other hook and pull through 1 loop at a time.

3rd row: Pick up the loops in front of the loops on preceding row. Break off the yarn, start on the other end of row, use the other hook and pull through 1 loop at a time.

4th row: Same as 2nd row, only starting with the white yarn.

845th row: Same as 3rd row.

Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows, making 1 rib in green and 1 rib in pink.

Make 6 rows in the star stitch with white yarn, then 5 ribs with the double-end hook as before in pink, green, white, blue and white.

Repeat these 4 stripes, until you have the blanket square.

Fasten the ends on the sides and make a row with the star stitch in white all around the blanket.

Start the scallop in white. Make a shell of 6 double crochet (draw up the loops long). Then make 1 single crochet in 3rd star from the shell, another single crochet in the next star, the shell of 6 double crochet in the 3rd star and repeat.

(Make 8 double crochet in the corners.) Work last row in pink: Take up 1 loop on each side of a double crochet. Put yarn over hook and pull through at once. Make a chain of 3 stitches and repeat, taking up 1 loop in same place as the last one and the other loop on the other side of the double crochet.

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