Amanda’s Baby Avatarghan

This pattern came about because I needed a quick and easy baby gift.  I can vouch for it taking 8 hours to make!  My avatar afghan pattern seemed easy to co-opt!

This pattern is copyright to me : you may make items from this pattern but not for sale (i.e. etsy) and you may not replicate this pattern in text form without my approval.

 I have used Bella Baby’s Layette in the lilac and the ivory. This is a bamboo blend and utterly delicious to work with – right up until you have to change to a new ball. Then it’s tedious.

I made a second Baby Avatar Afghan for my former housemate (from the house of the Labrademons) – but as I had a little more time, I changed the border – I have noted this down, so please consider the pattern Amanda’s Baby Avatar Afghan Luxe.

Notes.

The pattern is worked in two stages, the body, and then the border.  The body section works up very quickly and then the border takes a little time to get used to, then you can rip along.  The pattern also can be easily adjusted to the size that you want and to the yarn you’re using.

Yarn choice.

I used Bella Baby in their Bamboo and Merino blend, with a 3.75mm hook.  This pattern will work with any fingering weight to DK weight yarn – just adjust the number of repeats of the shells to get the size baby ghan you’re looking for.

With 17 shells across by 24 repeats of the two rows, plus the border I had a blanket 90 x 110cm.

This pattern is worked in in repeats of 6, plus 1 to start and 3 as a turning chain.

My babyghan was done : as 17 x 6 = 102, + 1 + 3 = 106.

This pattern is also self adjusting in the border – I wil explain shortly.

Stitches

Despite being Australian I always use US terminology.

I will use:

CH – Chain

SC – single crochet

BLO – Back loop only

HDC – half double crochet

DC – Double crochet

FPDC – Front post double crochet (if you dont know this stitch, see here for a pictorial demonstration.

Afghan Body

To start at the body of the afghan, worked in rows,

with yarn, appropriate hook and chocolate at the ready!

Row 1.  chain 106.  In the 7th chain from the hook, make shell (two dcs, ch2, 2 dcs), skip 2 chaiins, 1 dc in next chain. *skip 2 chains,  shell in next chain, skip 2 chains, dc in next*. Repeat from * to * all the way along finishing on a dc in the last ch,  this constitutes the “Shell row”.

Row 2.   Chain 5, turn (this is now the WRONG side) single crochet into the top of the shell. Ch 2 and skipping remainder of shell, make a double crochet into the next dc (that is by itself).  * chain 2, sc into top of the next shell, chain 2, skip rest of shell, dc into next dc* – repeat from *to * all the way along.

Continue with these two rows until the afghan is the size you’re looking for – I went for 24 repeats.

Do not finish off at the end – we’re at the border!

Border

I did my border in a contrasting colour to give it some drama, the but the afghan works if you do it all in the same colour.  Don’t finish off the main could until the second round of the border however

The border is now worked in rounds.  

Round 1  Turn to the right side, and single crochet all the way around, spacing stitches evenly along the vertical sides (i.e. the sideof the shells), in each corner, make 3 sc’s to shape it nicely. Finish with Slip stitch into the first SC, and finish off yarn.

 Round 2.

With new colour, SC in every sc around, making 3 sc in the centre of the previous 3 sc grouping to keep your corners nice and square, join with slip stitch into first sc made.

Round 3.

 Chain 2, HDC in the Back Loops Only of every SC around, making 3 HDCS in the centre sc of the corner, join with slip stitch into first HDC made.

Round 4.

This is where some adjustments can be made to allow for the size of your afghan.

Chain 2 – this equates to a HDC – you will be alternating HDCs and FPDC all the way around.  This is where you can adjust to the size of your afghan.   When you reach a corner – in the centre hdc of your 3 HDCs in the same stitch of the previous row, continue with the HDC/FPDC/HDC repeat – as long as you have three stitches as your corner, this will work!!  Finish with slip stitch into top of starting chain.

(eat chocolate – it’ll help!)

Round 4.

Chain 2, FPDC around the next FPDC, HDC into next HDc, repeat all the way round, not forgetting the corners. slip stitch into top of starting chain to finish.

Continue the border rounds ( I did 7)  until your baby afghan is the size you are looking for, finish off and SMILE!

As always, please dont forget to send me a picture of your finished babyghans – I love posting them! 

And the baby blanket being unpacked:

 No prizes for guessing who this was made for.

Debra (in the grey top) also knitted Linda a lovely little Kimono jacket and matching beanie.

Update: Linda gave birth to the adorable Jasmine Isabella 2 June 2010, Jasmine was a healthy 6lbs 12, everyone doing very, very well.