Beginner Crochet Afghan Patterns

Afghan Crochet is also known as Tunisian crochet, Tricot Crochet, Shepherd's Knitting, Hook Knitting, and Railroad Knitting. Crochet Afghans are the same thing as Tunisian crochet.

When making crochet afghan patterns, you may come across various free crochet afghan patterns like how to crochet a simple afghan, crochet apple afghan or may be instructions on how to make a double crochet ripple baby afghan, but they are not worthwhile if you are unaware of the basic stitches and stitch types.

With more then a dozen variety of stitches including Tunisian stitch, cheek stitch, cluster stitch, crossed stitch, cross over stitch, fence stitch, knot stitch, mahogany stitch, rib stitch, diagonal rib stitch, star stitch, stocking stitch, treble stitch, eyelet stitch, fan stitch, four sided stitch and braid stitch, it is difficult for one to start without knowing at least few of these stitches.

There are other crochet styles such as the balaclava crochet, amigurumi crochet, teapot crochet and etc

For your convenience I am writing about two stitches, so that at least you can start a project.

CLASSIC AFGHAN STITCH:

1. Make a chain consisting of even number of stitches.

2. Foundation stitch: Insert hook into 2nd chain, put yarn around hook and draw one loop through chain, yarn around hook and draw through one loop, repeat till end. Number of loop now will be the same as that of the number of chains we started as.

3. 2nd row: Do not turn, yarn around hook and draw loop through the first loop on hook, repeat until only one loop remains. Now you are working from left to right hand of the chain.

4. 3rd row: From 1st chain, insert hook from right to left through first upright thread of previous row, yarn around hook and then draw through one loop, repeat from 1st into every upright thread working along the row to the left. Once again, number of loops on the hook should be as that of number of chains at the beginning.

5. 4th row: Just like the 2nd. 3rd and 4th rows are repeated as par the requirement. For neater finish you can finish of with double crochet in the last row.

KNOT STITCH:

This is worked on the background of classic Afghan stitch. Work the first row in an ordinary way.

On the return now, work to the place where the knot is required, work 5 chains, insert hook into first of these chains, yarn round hook, and draw 3 loops on hook (i.e. the 1st chain, the working loop on hook and the next stitch along the row).