Criss Cross Afghan Pattern #629

An interesting use of the rib stitch and a choice of harmonious colors combine to make an afghan that is pleasing and appealing.

Ridges that seem to cross and recross form a pattern and texture that serve to give this very simple stitch a definite character and design of its own.

Materials: Chadwick's Red Heart Germantown (1 ounce balls), 32 balls of a light color (for criss crosses), 17 balls of a medium color (for the light squares), and 24 balls of a dark color (for the dark squares and dark triangles).
Milward's Casein crochet hook No. 6.

When completed, afghan measures approximately 53 x 78 inches. Motifs are made individually and then sewed together.

Criss Cross. With the light color, ch 30, turn. 1st row: S c in 2nd ch from hook, s c in each of next 13 ch, 3 s c in next ch (to start point), s c in each of next 14 ch. Ch 1, turn. Hereafter pick up only the back loop of each s c of previous row, except otherwise specified. 2nd row: Skip 1st s c, s c in each of next 14 s c, 3 s c in next s c (picking up both loops of s c), s c in each of next 13 s c, skip next s c, s c in last s c. Ch 1, turn. Repeat 2nd row until 24 rows in all are made. Break off. Work should measure about 5 inches in length along center. Make 96 criss crosses in all.

Light Squares. With the medium color, ch 4 and join with sl st to form ring. 1st rnd: Ch 3 (to count as d c), 2 d c in ring, ch 1, 3 d c in ring, ch 1, 3 d c in ring, ch 1, 3 d c in ring, ch 1. Join with sl st to 3rd st of ch-3 first made. 2nd rnd: S c in same place as sl st, s c in each of next 2 d c, * s c in sp, ch 2, s c in same sp (an increase), s c in each of next 3 d c, repeat from * twice more. 3rd to 11th rnds incl: Make s c in each s c of previous rnd, making s c, ch 2, s c in each sp. At end of 11th rnd, break off. There will be 23 s c on each side of square and it should measure about 4½ inches square. Make 24 of these squares in all.

Dark Squares. With the dark color, ch 25, turn. 1st row: S c in 2nd ch from hook, s c in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. 2nd to 24th rows incl: S c in each s c. Ch 1, turn. At end of 24th row, break off. Work should measure about 5 inches square. Make 38 dark squares in all.

Dark Triangles. With the dark color, ch 25, turn. 1st row: S c in 2nd ch from hook, s c in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. 2nd row: S c in each s c to within 2 s c from end, skip next s c, s c in last s c. Ch 1, turn. 3rd row: Skip 1 s c, s c in each s c across. Ch 1, turn. Repeat the 2nd and 3rd rows alternately, until 24 rows in all are made. Break off. This triangle must measure ½ of dark square diagonally. Make 20 dark triangles in all.

Arrange motifs in position, as on diagram, and sew together with over and over stitches on wrong side.

Border. Attach the medium color to one corner and with right side of work toward you, work a row of s c around entire afghan, spacing s c so that work lies flat and uneven edges are straightened out, working 3 s c in each corner st. 2nd and 3rd rows: S c in each s c, picking up only the back loop of each s c of previous row. Break off.