PUPPY LOVE Crochet Afghan Pattern - FREE

HERE IT IS!!!! I like to call this pattern "PUPPY LOVE"!!  It is a combination of two of my latest patterns, Meandering Paw Prints and Hopeful Hearts. It is an advanced level pattern and I suggest that if you haven't already, that you work up the Meandering Paw Prints scarf first so that you are familiar with the paw print portion. That will make the pattern seem less overwhelming.

Right here I want to say a BIG heartfelt THANK YOU to the ladies who tested this pattern for me!! Without them this might have been a really big mess!! They have stood beside me as I made corrections and encouraged me!!  YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!! Without you, this would have been crazy!!

Please take time to read through the pattern NOTES first and refer back to them if you have questions. If you are still experiencing difficulty with the pattern you can comment here, but the best way to get adequate help from me is to private message me at my Amy B Stitched facebook page. If you include pictures of your troubled spot I can usually help you find your problem right away. But please be patient in waiting for a response, I work a day job (so that I can keep my patterns FREE and still have money to buy more yarn) and may not be able to answer right away, but will get to you as soon as I am able.

Remember....I am a human and sometimes make mistakes!!  If you find an error with my pattern, please let me know in the comment section and I will try to correct it as soon as possible!!!

This pattern is an Original Design by Amy B Stitched. Feel free to make finished items for profit, but remember to give credit to me, and link back to my blog
 www.amysastitchatatime.blogspot.com  Thank You!!! Amy B

A lot of hard work goes into writing patterns.  Please feel free to share the link, but do not copy and distribute this pattern by any other means. I offer my patterns for FREE so that everyone may enjoy them, but rely on blog traffic and ad clicks to generate a little bit of income for myself. I hope you understand and will respect this so that I can KEEP them FREE.  NOTE: I totally understand the need to make a copy for yourself to work from....just please do not mass produce and distribute. THANK YOU!!

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Blessings!!!

Amy B

PUPPY LOVE Afghan pattern

Click HERE for the PDF version

SKILL LEVEL: Advanced

Base pattern square used to determine gauge.

SIZE: Each base pattern square is approx. 10 ½ inches BEFORE blocking, each pattern repeat is 10 inches x 10 ½ inches. You will also add 1 ½ inches to the final size for border. Examples below:

4 base pattern square (two rows of two) 20 ½ inches tall x 21 inches wide + 1 ½ inch border = 22” x 22 ½”

9 base pattern square (three rows of three) 30 ½ inches tall x 31 ½ inches wide + 1 ½ inch border = 32” x 33”

MATERIALS: size I/9/5.5 mm crochet hook, worsted weight/size 4/medium yarn (57 yards per pattern repeat, *worsted weight yarn averages 50-52 yards per ounce), yarn needle.

EXAMPLE: This picture shows an afghan made with 4 of the base pattern square. When deciding how much yarn you need you will multiply  57 yards x 4, which tells you that you will need 228 yards to complete this small afghan, plus enough to finish your edging. 

GAUGE: Base pattern square = 10 ½ inches x 10 ½ inches BEFORE blocking. For gauge swatch follow the pattern for one repeat ending at the **.

STITCHES/TERMS USED:
YO – yarn over
Ch – chain
Dc – double crochet
Dc dec – double crochet decrease: yo, insert hook in next st, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo, insert hook into next st, yo, draw up a loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo, draw through remaining 3 loops on hook.
Yo – yarn over
Sc – single crochet`
Sk – skip
Sp – space
St(s) – stitch (stitches)
Sl st - slip stitch
BLO – back loop only

NOTES:
1) This afghan is worked in multiples of 34 sts + 2

2) Ch 2 at beginning of row does NOT count as a stitch.

3) Rows 2, 8, 10 and 16: Do not let the dc count confuse you. This row can be tricky if you don’t follow exactly as written.  You will see that it says “dc 18”, but don’t forget it is attached to a “dc, ch 1, sk 1” or variation thereof, so there are actually 19 dc together at some points within the pattern repeat.  Don’t let it confuse you when you go back to count your stitches.

4) Dc in last sk st: Insert the hook into the skipped stitch indicated and continue with your dc in the same manner as the other dc. This binds the two sts together into a cross stitch.

5) The (ch 1, dc) mesh surrounding the heart can mess with someone who likes symmetry and might be a little OCD. On the leading and ending edges you will have an uneven amount of mesh openings. This is actually correct. Because of the off-set mesh and the end of the row, this is the way I intended it to work. I hope you can push through!! The final results prove that it doesn't make too much difference once the border is in place.

leading edge mesh around heart close-up

and close up of the paw print...just because you may need it!!

AFGHAN
Chain desired length. (For one base pattern square chain 34 + 2, add 34 chains for each additional pattern repeat). The + 2 is added only once at the end for the turning chain. NOTE: if you are only doing one block (34 + 2 chs) you will end each row at the **.

Row 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each st across.

Row 2: Ch 2, turn. * Dc 18, (ch 1, sk 1, dc) 8 times. Repeat from * across.

Row 3: Ch 2, turn. Dc in first st. (Dc, ch 1, sk 1) 2 times. Dc, ch 1, sk 2, 3 dc next st, ch 1, sk 2, (dc, ch 1, sk 1) 3 times. * Dc 11, ch 4, sk 2, dc 4 **. (Ch 1, sk 1, dc) 3 times, ch 1, sk 2, 3 dc next st, ch 1, sk 2, (dc, ch 1, sk 1) 3 times. Repeat from * across ending at **.

Row 4: Ch 2, turn. Dc 2, * ch 1, sk 1, dc next st, 2 sc in ch 4 sp, dc next st, ch 1, sk 1, dc 10. (Ch 1, sk 1, dc) 2 times, ch 1, sk 2, 2 dc next st, dc, 2 dc next st, ch 1, sk 2, (dc, ch 1, sk 1) 2 times **, dc 3.  Repeat from * across ending at **. Dc in last st.

Row 5: Ch 2, turn. Dc 2, ch 1, sk 1, dc, * ch 1, sk 2, 2 dc next st, dc 3, 2 dc next st, ch 1, sk 2, (dc, ch 1, sk 1) 2 times. Dc 4, ch 4, sk 2, dc 4, ch 1, sk 2, dc in next st, dc in last sk st, ch 1, sk 1, dc 3 **, (ch 1, sk 1, dc) 2 times. Repeat from * across ending at **.

Row 6: Ch 2, turn. Dc 9, * ch 1, sk 1, dc next st, 2 sc in ch 4 sp, dc next st, ch 1, sk 1, dc 3.  Ch 1, sk 1, dc, ch 1, sk 2, 2 dc next st, dc 5, 2 dc next st, ch 1, sk 2, dc, ch 1, sk 1 **, dc 10. Repeat from * around ending at **. Dc in last st.

Row 7: Ch 2, turn. Dc 2, * ch 2, sk 2, (dc-dec over next 2 sts) two times, [dc, ch 3, dc] in next st, (dc-dec over next 2 sts) two times, ch 2, sk 2, dc, ch 1, sk 1, dc 3, ch 1, sk 2, dc next st, dc last sk st, ch 1, sk 1, dc 10 **, ch 1, sk 1, dc. Repeat from * across ending at **.

Row 8: Ch 2, turn. * Dc 18, (ch 1, sk 1, dc) 8 times. Repeat from * across.

Row 9: Ch 2, turn. Dc in each st across.

Row 10: Ch 2, turn. * (dc, ch 1, sk 1) 8 times, dc 18. Repeat from * across.

Row 11: Ch 2, turn. * Dc 4, ch 4, sk 2, dc 11.  (Ch 1, sk 1, dc) 3 times, ch 1, sk 2, 3 dc next st, ch 1, sk 2, (dc, ch 1, sk 1) ** 3 times. Repeat from * across ending at **. 2 times.  Dc in last 2 sts.

Row 12: Ch 2, turn. (Dc, ch 1, sk 1) 2 times, dc, * ch 1, sk 2, 2 dc next st, dc, 2 dc next st, ch 1, sk 2, (dc, ch 1, sk 1) 2 times.  Dc 10, ch 1, sk 1, dc next st, 2 sc in ch 4 sp, dc next st, ch 1, sk 1  **, dc 3.  (Ch 1, sk 1, dc) 2 times. Repeat form * across ending at **. Dc in last 2 sts.

Row 13: Ch 2, turn. * Dc 3, ch 1, sk 2, dc next st, dc in last sk st, ch 1, sk 1, dc 4, ch 4, sk 2, dc 4. (Ch 1, sk 1, dc) 2 times, ch 1, sk 2, 2 dc next st, dc 3, 2 dc next st, ch 1, sk 2 **, (dc, ch 1, sk 1) 2 times. Repeat from * across ending at **. Dc, ch 1, sk 1. Dc last 2 sts.

Row 14: Ch 2, turn. Dc, * ch 1, sk 1, dc, ch 1, sk 2, 2 dc next st, dc 5, 2 dc next st, ch 1, sk 2, dc, ch 1, sk 1.  Dc 3, ch 1, sk 1, dc next st, 2 sc in ch 4 sp, dc next st, ch 1, sk 1 **, dc 10. Repeat from * across ending at **. Dc last 9 sts.

Row 15: Ch 2, turn. * Dc 10, ch 1, sk 2, dc next st, dc last sk st, ch 1, sk 1, dc 3.  Ch 1, sk 1, dc, ch 2, sk 2, (dc-dec over 2 sts) 2 times, [dc, ch 3, dc] in next st, (dc-dec over 2 sts) 2 times, ch 2, sk 2, dc **, ch 1, sk 1. Repeat from * across ending at **. Dc in last st.

Row 16: Ch 2, turn. * (Dc, ch 1, sk 1) 8 times, dc 18. Repeat from * across.

Row 17: Ch 2, turn. Dc in each st across.

Repeat Rows 2-17 until desired length is reached. Do NOT finish off.

EDGING

Round 1: Ch 3, Dc evenly around blanet, placing 5 dc in each corner, 2 dc in the end of each row and 1 dc in each st around. Join with a sl st in the top of beg ch 3 to join.

Round 2: Working in BLO, sl st in each st around. Finish off. Weave in all ends securely.