An afghan square with loads of simple texture for the Memories Blanket
The fourth and final afghan square of the Memories Blanket crochet along
The Front Post Afghan Square for the Memories Blanket CAL
Welcome to the Front Post afghan square pattern, the fourth and final square of the Memories Blanket crochet along!
Note: This pattern will be forever free to view here on my blog. Bookmark this page to easily return when you have to step away.
When Biz and I created the one-of-a-kind Memories Blanket, we drew inspiration from designs we had made in the recent past. I’m always looking for ways to vary the traditional granny square. In this afghan square, I’ve added front posts to the granny stitch for a square that adds texture to the overall Memories Blanket.
Memories Blanket CAL
If you’ve decided to crochet the Memories Blanket in our free crochet along, you’re in for a treat!
The Memories Blanket is a way to capture and preserve the past through techniques that we’ve used in our designs and through leftover yarn from memorable projects. It’s the perfect vehicle for reducing your yarn stash and creating a cost-efficient yet beloved heirloom.
In this beautiful work of art you’ll find stitches, techniques and stitch patterns that will recall old favorites while presenting you with some that will help you grow as a crocheter.
The Memories Blanket isn’t a sampler blanket in the traditional sense. However, the sheer number and variety of stitches we’ve incorporated will add to your crochet toolbox for future use.
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Purchase the memories Blanket full pattern PDF in the version you like by clicking the appropriate image below.
What is the Front Post Afghan Square?
The inspiration for the Memories Blanket came from designs that Biz and I had created in the last year or so. We chose stitches and techniques from those designs and combined them in this beautiful sampler style blanket.
The inspiration for the Front Post afghan square is the traditional granny square, the design of which forms the foundation for the Front Post afghan square. I don’t typically use a front post double crochet in my designs but I wanted to see what it would add to the traditional granny square.
The result is an afghan square that has subtle yet angular texture, the perfect addition to the stitch sampler style blanket.
Design + Construction
The Front Post afghan square begins with a granny stitch center. Rnd 2 is worked much like a solid granny square. The difference is that a front post double crochet replaces the typical double crochet in the center stitch along each side. This begins the pattern of lines out from the center of the afghan square created by the front post double crochets.
To make it easier to tell where you are in the instructions, I’ve used a bold font for the stitches that are worked at the center.
In Rnd 3, you’ll work a modified granny stitch [(dc, FPdc, dc) in the same stitch] at the center of each side. You’ll also work a FPdc on either side of the center group as the number of stitches along each side increases.
In Rnd 4, you’ll build on what you established in the previous round. Be sure to follow the instructions closely so that your stitch placement is correct. Plus, the FPdc and dc alternate along each side between corners.
Tip for Rnds 3 & 4: Work the 1st dc in the center stitch, then work the FPdc around the same stitch. The final dc of the trio is worked in the same stitch; you’ll have to look behind the FPdc to find it.
The Front Post afghan square is all about stitch placement which can seem tricky at first. But, once you’ve made the 1st square, you’ll know exactly what to do for the others!
The Free Pattern Starts Here
Materials
Yarn
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Make this afghan square in any worsted weight yarn you like, with yarn from your stash or some that you’ve purchased. If working from your stash, make sure the fiber content of your chosen yarn is compatible with what you’ll be using for the rest of the blanket so that your blanket is easy to care for when it’s finished.
I used Paintbox “Wool Mix Aran” for my blanket; Biz used Hobby Lobby’s “I Love This Yarn” for hers (see the details for both on the main CAL post).
How to make the Front Post square for the Memories Blanket CAL
Each afghan square requires only one color. Choose the color that fits your blanket’s color palette using the yarn you have on hand.
Make all 8 squares in the same color for a unified look. Or, choose a different color for each square like I did. There is no wrong answer here!
I made each square in a different color: Caramel, Seafoam, White, Rose, Banana, Peach, Spearmint and Teal. They are sewn together in a strip in this color order from left to right.
Hook: US size H-8 (5mm) or size needed to get a 5″ square
Finished Size: Approx. 5″ across
Abbreviations – US crochet terminology
- beg – beginning
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- FPdc – front post double crochet
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- YO – yarn over
Repeats
- (…) – Work everything within the parentheses in the same st or sp.
- […] – Repeat everything within the brackets the indicated number of times.
Special Stitches
Granny stitch (GS) – 3 dc in the same st or sp.
Stacked single crochet (STsc) – (This stitch is used at the beginning of a row or round to replace the traditional turning ch-3. It has the appearance of a dc.) – Insert hook in same st as loop, YO, draw up loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (bottom sc made), insert hook in left vertical bar of bottom sc, YO, draw up loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (top sc made).
Pattern Notes
- Every round in this square is worked from the right side without turning.
- A ch-3 may be substituted for the STsc at any time. The STsc counts as a dc throughout.
- The group of stitches in bold indicate the center of each side.
- A MR may be substituted for the ch-4 ring. Be sure to tighten the ring at the end of Rnd 1.
- This square is worked in one color.
Pattern Instructions
Make 8 for the Memories Blanket.
Ch 4, join with slip st to form ring.
Rnd 1: (STsc, 2 dc) in the ring (counts as GS), ch 3, [GS, ch 3] 3 times, join with slip st to beg st. < 4 GS, 4 ch-3 corner sp >
Rnd 2: STsc in the corner just made, sk 1 st, FPdc around the next st, sk 1 st, [(GS, ch 3, GS) in the corner, sk 1 st, FPdc around the next st, sk 1 st] 3 times, (GS, ch 3, 2 dc) in the 1st corner to complete the corner, join with slip st to beg st. < 4 FPdc, 8 GS, 4 ch-3 corner sp >
Rnd 3: Slip st into the next st, (STsc, FPdc, dc) in the same st, sk 1 st, FPdc around the next st, sk 1 st, [(GS, ch 3, GS) in the next corner, sk 1 st, FPdc around the next st, sk 1 st, (dc, FPdc, dc) in the next st, sk 1 st, FPdc around the next st, sk 1 st] 3 times, (GS, ch 3, GS) in the next corner, sk 1 st, FPdc around the next st, sk 1 st, join with slip st to beg st. < 12 FPdc, 8 dc, 8 GS, 4 ch-3 corner sp >
Rnd 4: Slip st into the next st, (STsc, FPdc, dc) in the same st, sk 1 st, FPdc around the next st, sk 1 st, (dc, FPdc) in the next st, sk 1 st, (GS, ch 2, GS) in the next corner, [sk 1 st, (FPdc, dc) in the next st, sk 1 st, FPdc around the next st, sk 1 st, (dc, FPdc, dc) in the next st, sk 1 st, FPdc around the next st, sk 1 st, (dc, FPdc) in the next st, sk 1 st, (GS, ch 2, GS) in the next corner] 3 times, sk 1 st, (FPdc, dc) in the next st, sk 1 st, FPdc around the next st, sk 1 st, join with slip st to beg st. < 20 FPdc, 16 dc, 8 GS, 4 ch-2 corner sp>
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Sew the 8 squares into a strip for the Memories Blanket.
Use your favorite seaming method (Biz used whip stitching; Debbie used mattress stitch) to join the squares into a strip, keeping all right sides facing. Start and end each seam in the ch-1 corner.
Note: Before you begin Section 4, you’ll work the edging rows just as you did for the Rustic Square strip. You will also be joining the Front Post Square strip to the top of Section 3. These instructions are included in the Section 4 post.
You’re now ready for Section 4 of the Memories Blanket which will be released on Thursday, March 14th. Return to the main CAL post to find the link when it’s posted.
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