Lacy Valentine Afghan

 Lacy Valentine Afghan

An incurable romantic will love this charming wrap! The four colorful hearts of each block are joined as you go and then bordered with a lacy pattern to form a square. A scalloped edging completes the feminine look. We used dreamy pastels for our hearts, but you should choose any colors that make your heart beat faster.

FREE FOR YOU from crochetpattern.us , These instructions may be photocopied and shared with your friends. They may not be kitted or sold. We have made every effort to ensure that these instructions are accurate and complete. We cannot, however, be responsible for human error, typographical mistakes, or variations in individual work.

Materials

• Worsted Weight Yarn [3 ounces (170 yards) per skein]:
  
  
  
  
  • Ecru - 12 skeins
    
    
  • Blue - 2 skeins
    
    
  • Yellow - 2 skeins
    
    
  • Spruce - 2 skeins
    
    
  • Pink - 2 skeins
    
    
• Crochet hook, size H (5.00 mm) or size needed for gauge
  
  

GAUGE: Each Heart $= 3\frac{1}{2}\text{'' w} \times 3\text{'' h}$

Each Square $= 10\frac{1}{2}\text{''}$

Finished Size: $46\text{''} \times 67\text{''}$

BASIC INFORMATION

• ch(s): chain(s)
  
  
• dc: double crochet(s)
  
  
• dtr: double treble crochet(s)
  
  
• hdc: half double crochet(s)
  
  
• mm: millimeters
  
  
• Rnd(s): Round(s)
  
  
• sc: single crochet(s)
  
  
• sp(s): space(s)
  
  
• st(s): stitch(es)
  
  
• tr: treble crochet(s)
  
  
• tr tr: treble treble crochet(s)
  
  
• YO: yarn over
  
  

• $\star$ - work instructions following $\star$ as many more times as indicated in addition to the first time.
  
  
• ( ) or [ ] - work enclosed instructions as many times as specified by the number immediately following or work all enclosed instructions in the stitch or space indicated or contains explanatory remarks.
  
  
• colon (:) - the number(s) given after a colon at the end of a row or round denote(s) the number of stitches or spaces you should have on that row or round.

GAUGE

Gauge is the number of stitches and rows or rounds per inch and is used to determine the finished size of a project. All crochet patterns will specify the gauge that you must match to ensure proper size and to ensure that you have enough yarn to complete the project.

Hook size given in instructions is merely a guide. Because everyone crochets differently - loosely, tightly, or somewhere in between - the finished size can vary, even when crocheters use the very same pattern, yarn, and hook.

Before beginning any crocheted item, it is absolutely necessary for you to crochet a gauge swatch in the pattern stitch indicated and using the weight of yarn and hook size suggested. Your swatch must be large enough to measure your gauge. Lay your swatch on a hard, smooth, flat surface. Then measure it, counting your stitches and rows or rounds carefully. If your swatch is larger or smaller than specified, make another, changing the hook size to get the right gauge. Keep trying until you find the size that will give you the specified gauge. DO NOT HESITATE TO CHANGE HOOK SIZE TO OBTAIN CORRECT GAUGE. Once proper gauge is obtained, measure width of piece approximately every 3" to be sure gauge remains consistent.

STITCH GUIDE

DECREASE

Pull up a loop in next 3 sts, YO and draw through all 4 loops on hook (counts as one sc).

FIRST SQUARE

FIRST HEART

With Blue, ch 12 loosely.

Rnd 1 (Right side): 2 Sc in second ch from hook, sc in next 3 chs, decrease, sc in next 3 chs, 3 sc in last ch; working in free loops of beginning ch (Fig. 1), sc in next 4 chs, 3 sc in next ch, sc in next 5 chs; join with slip st to first sc: 24 sc.

Note: Mark last round as right side.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st and in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, decrease, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in each of next 3 sc, sc in next 5 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 5...

Figure 1

Free Loops

After working in Back and Front Loops Only on a row or round, there will be a ridge of unused loops. These are called free loops. When instructed to work in a free loop of a beginning chain, work in loop indicated by arrow (Fig. 1)

sc, 2 sc in last sc; join with slip st to first sc: 30 sc.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st and in each of next 2 sc, sc in next 2 sc, decrease, sc in next 2 sc, place marker around last sc made for st placement, 2 sc in each of next 5 sc, sc in next 6 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in each of last 2 sc; join with slip st to first sc, finish off: 40 sc.

Rnd 4: With right side facing, join Ecru with sc in marked sc (see Joining With Sc); ch 3, skip next sc, (sc in next sc, ch 3, skip next sc) 8 times, (sc, ch 3) twice in next sc, skip next sc, sc in next sc, (ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc) 3 times, place marker around last ch-3 made for st placement, (ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc) 5 times, skip last 3 sc; join with slip st to first sc, finish off: 19 ch-3 sps.

Joining with SC

When instructed to join with sc, begin with a slip knot on hook. Insert hook in stitch or space indicated, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through both loops on hook.

SECOND HEART

With Yellow, work same as First Heart through Rnd 3: 40 sc.

Rnd 4 (Joining rnd): With right side facing, join Ecru with sc in marked sc; (ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc) 5 times, ch 1, holding Hearts with wrong sides together, sc in marked ch-3 sp on First Heart (Fig. 2), ch 1, $\star$ skip next sc on Second Heart, sc in next sc, ch 1, sc in next ch-3 sp on First Heart, ch 1; repeat from $\star$ 3 times more, sc in same st on Second Heart, (ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc) 4 times, place marker around last ch-3 made for st placement, (ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc) 5 times, skip last 3 sc; join with slip st to first sc, finish off: 19 sps.

THIRD HEART

With Spruce, work same as First Heart through Rnd 3: 40 sc.

Rnd 4 (Joining rnd): With right side facing, join Ecru with sc in marked sc; (ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc) 5 times, ch 1, holding Hearts with wrong sides together, sc in marked ch-3 sp on Second Heart, ch 1, skip next sc on Third Heart, sc in next sc, ch 1, $\star$ sc in next ch-3 sp on Second Heart, ch 1, skip next sc on Third Heart, sc in next sc, ch 1; repeat from $\star$ 2 times more, sc in side of sc joining corner sps of first two Hearts, ch 1, sc in same st on Third Heart, (ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc) 4 times, place marker around last ch-3 made for st placement, (ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc) 5 times, skip last 3 sc; join with slip st to first sc, finish off: 19 sps.

Figure 2 (Diagram showing the crochet hook joining two pieces with wrong sides together)

BORDER

When adding Rnd 1 to each Square, be sure to join yarn to the Heart marked with a dot on diagram.

Rnd 1: With right side facing, join Ecru with sc in first ch-3 sp to left of notch at center top of marked Heart; ch 2, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2) twice, dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, tr in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip joining, tr in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, $\star$ (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2) 6 times, dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, tr in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip joining, tr in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2; repeat from $\star$ 2 times more, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2) 3 times; join with slip st to first sc: 40 sps.

Rnd 2: Slip st in first ch-2 sp, ch 2, slip st in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, skip next ch-2 sp, in next ch-1 sp work [(dtr, ch 1) twice, tr tr, ch 2, tr tr, ch 1, (dtr, ch 1) twice], skip next ch-2 sp, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, $\star$ (slip st in next ch-2 sp, ch 2) 5 times, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, skip next ch-2 sp, in next ch-1 sp work [(dtr, ch 1) twice, tr tr, ch 2, tr tr, ch 1, (dtr, ch 1) twice], skip next ch-2 sp, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2; repeat from $\star$ 2 times more, (slip st in next ch-2 sp, ch 2) 3 times; join with slip st to first slip st: 52 sps.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in same st and in each sp and each st around working 3 sc in each corner ch-2 sp; join with slip st to first sc: 112 sc.

Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in same st and in each sc around working 3 sc in center sc of each corner 3-sc group; join with slip st to first sc: 120 sc.

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Rnd 5: Slip st in next sc, ch 1, sc in same st, ch 3, $\star$ skip next sc, (sc in next sc, ch 3, skip next sc) across to center sc of next corner 3-sc group, (sc, ch 3) twice in center sc; repeat from $\star$ 3 times more, skip next sc, (sc in next sc, ch 3, skip next st) across; join with slip st to first sc, finish off: 64 ch-3 sps.

ADDITIONAL SQUARES

Using Placement Diagram as a guide, work and join Squares in vertical rows from top to bottom.

Work same as First Square through Rnd 4 of Border: 120 sc.

Rnd 5 (Joining rnd): Work One or Two Side Joining.

ONE SIDE JOINING

Rnd 5 (Joining rnd): Slip st in next sc, ch 1, sc in same st, ch 3, skip next sc, (sc in next sc, ch 3, skip next sc) across to center sc of next corner 3-sc group, $\star$ (sc, ch 3) twice in center sc, skip next sc, (sc in next sc, ch 3, skip next sc) across to center sc of next corner 3-sc group; repeat from $\star$ once more, sc in center sc, ch 1, holding Squares with wrong sides together, sc in corresponding corner ch-3 sp on adjacent Square, ch 1, sc in same st on new Square, ch 1, sc in next ch-3 sp on adjacent Square, ch 1, (skip next sc on new Square, sc in next sc, ch 1, sc in next ch-3 sp on adjacent Square, ch 1) 15 times, sc in same st on new Square, ch 3, skip next sc, (sc in next sc, ch 3, skip next st) across; join with slip st to first sc, finish off: 64 sps.

TWO SIDE JOINING

Rnd 5 (Joining rnd): Slip st in next sc, ch 1, sc in same st, ch 3, skip next sc, (sc in next sc, ch 3, skip next sc) across to center sc of next corner 3-sc group, (sc, ch 3) twice in center sc, skip next sc, (sc in next sc, ch 3, skip next sc) across to center sc of next corner 3-sc group, sc in center sc, ch 1, holding Squares with wrong sides together, sc in corresponding corner ch-3 sp on adjacent Square, ch 1, sc in same st on new Square, ch 1, (sc in next ch-3 sp on adjacent Square, ch 1, skip next sc on new Square, sc in next sc, ch 1) 15 times, sc in next 3 corner sps on adjacent Squares, ch 1, sc in same st on new Square, ch 1, sc in next ch-3 sp on adjacent Square, ch 1, (skip next sc on new Square, sc in next sc, ch 1, sc in next ch-3 sp on adjacent Square, ch 1) 15 times, sc in same st on new Square, ch 3, skip next sc, (sc in next sc, ch 3, skip next st) across; join with slip st to first sc, finish off: 64 sps.

EDGING 

Rnd 1: With right side of one short edge facing, join Ecru with sc in first ch‑3 sp to left of top right corner ch‑3 sp; † ch 1, (sc, ch 5, sc) in next ch‑3 sp, ch 1, [(sc in next sp, ch 1) twice, (sc, ch 5, sc) in next sp, ch 1] across to within one ch‑3 sp of next corner ch‑3 sp, sc in next ch‑3 sp, ch 1, in corner ch‑3 sp work (sc, ch 1, sc, ch 5, sc), ch 1, [(sc in next sp, ch 1) twice, (sc, ch 5, sc) in next sp, ch 1] across to within one ch‑3 sp of next corner ch‑3 sp, sc in next ch‑3 sp, ch 1, in corner ch‑3 sp work [sc, ch 1, sc, ch 5, (sc, ch 1) twice] †, sc in next ch‑3 sp, repeat from † to † once; join with slip st to first sc: 342 ch‑1 sps and 114 ch‑5 sps. 

Rnd 2: Slip st in next 2 sts and in next ch‑5 sp, ch 4, dc in same sp, (ch 1, dc in same sp) 4 times, skip next ch‑1 sp, sc in next ch‑1 sp, skip next ch‑1 sp, H [dc in next ch‑5 sp, (ch 1, dc in same sp) 5 times, skip next ch‑1 sp, sc in next ch‑1 sp, skip next ch‑1 sp] across to next corner ch‑5 sp, dc in corner ch‑5 sp, (ch 1, dc in same sp) 7 times, skip next ch‑1 sp, sc in next ch‑1 sp, skip next ch‑1 sp; repeat from H around; join with slip st to third ch of beginning ch‑4: 578 ch‑1 sps. 

Rnd 3: Slip st in first ch‑1 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp and in next ch‑1 sp, ch 3, (sc, ch 5, sc) in next ch‑1 sp, ch 3, H † [sc in next 4 ch‑1 sps, ch 3, (sc, ch 5, sc) in next ch‑1 sp, ch 3] across to within 5 ch‑1 sps of next corner ch‑1 sp, sc in next 3 ch‑1 sps, ch 3, (sc in next ch‑1 sp, ch 3) twice, (sc, ch 5, sc) in corner ch‑1 sp, ch 3, (sc in next ch‑1 sp, ch 3) twice †, sc in next 3 ch‑1 sps, ch 3, (sc, ch 5, sc) in next ch‑1 sp, ch 3; repeat from H 2 times more, then repeat from † to † once, sc in last ch‑1 sp; join with slip st to first sc, finish off.