Rainbow Fuzz - a P hook chunky yarn tunisan crochet afghan

Here is another really basic design, it's only the beginning chain count / yarn combo suggestion / hook size / edging / technique I've gone through the work of figuring out. I originally searched for and could no longer find the "Easy Tunisian Cable Hook Afghans" pattern booklet that was meant for the Easy Tunisian Cable hooks I found on ebay, so that was part of the inspiration for this.

This is done in a chunky weight (weight 5) mohair type yarn of a self-striping variety. The Sensations brand found at JoAnn's fabric store is what I used. Finding this "Multi" and "Multi 2" that I worked with might prove to be impossible most months of the year, I am thinking. Substitute some other chunky if you want, like Patons Chunky or Lion Brand Jiffy. I used 4 skiens (2 of each color A and B), each skein YARDAGE = 447 (each skein meters = 409), so with a total of 894 yards (818 meters) in each of 2 colors, you should be safe (if you stick to my edging, or equal or lesser edging).

Required skill: Basic Tunisian Crochet stitch

Yarn: Chunky weight (5) self striping, 894 yards color A darker color, 894 yards color B (lighter color) [2 skeins Sensations "Rainbow Multi", 2 skeins Sensations "Rainbow Multi 2"]

Hooks: Tunisian Size P (12 MM) extended Tunisian crochet hook (with cable)
Standard crochet hook size K (6.5 mm) for edging

GAUGE - 8 tunisian vertical front loops = 4 inches

Starting Chain: Chain 93 with darker color A or starting color of your choice

Beginning with basic Tunisian simple stitch technique, load hook with loops.

WHENEVER YOU ARRIVE AT THE LEFT SIDE (with RIGHT side always facing you as tunisian is not turned), SWITCH TO THE OTHER COLOR. ON THE LEFT SIDE ONLY. Drop finished color to the forward, bring up new color from the rear (to keep a consistent left edge).

Work loops off hook in standard basic tunisian crochet method.

Continue pattern stitch in this way until afghan height reaches about 57 inches tall (about 44.25 inches wide), ending with darker color A (or color of choice for round 1 of edging). Break off other color and fasten off.

Edging: Round 1: Continue with color A, Chain 2,hdc (half double crochet (UK - half treble) all around, 3 hdc at corners. Join at top of starting chain 2, fasten off.
Round 2: Join other color (B) anywhere, chain 2, hdc all around, 3 hdc at corners, join with slip stitch to top of beginning chain, fasten off. Round 3 final round: Join A anywhere, hdc all around, 3 hdc at corners.

Weave in ends.

Optional edging (built in border edges as you go) to help with curl (untested):
Bottom edge: Begin main body with 6 rows Tunisian reverse stitch (Kim Guzman/Arnie tunisian "purl" stitch: insert hook in back vertical loop, YO, pull through (purl made).
Side edges: Precede and end each row with 6 Tunisian reverse stitches
Top edge: End main body after height reaches about 57 inches tall with 6 rows Tunisian reverse stitch, fasten off, weave in ends. (maintain color change throughout).

Double Cuddles

A cuddly stitch pattern combines with a cuddly yarn to make a super quick reversible baby blanket! Took me 3 days. The special thing about this technique & design (besides the extra touchable combination of a fluffy yarn & a cuddly stitch) is its economics. It only uses 4 skeins of yarn, works up quickly, and does not leave giant holes. If you were to try 4 skeins with a standard double-crochet stitch and a large hook trying to achieve the same size, the holes would be big.

Skill level: Intermediate if you do not already know Tunisian, Crochenit & Crochenit Bedspread technique, Easy if you've learned these skills already.

Size: approximately 35" x 38.5"

Materials: Super Bulky Yarn (6); 9 ounces color A (multi) / 210 yards, 11 oz color B (solid) / 245 yards ; designed for use with Red Heart Baby Clouds, 2 skeins Multi, 2 skeins Solid (pattern worked out to have no Multi left, 1.5 oz Solid left). note - if 2 solids are chosen, blanket can be a bit longer; if you choose 2 multis, you will have to stop shorter than 38.5" and leave room for edging.

Hook: Size Q double-ended hook (or a size Q cabled double-ended hook)




Technique: Crochenit/crochet-on-the-double/double-ended basic stitch

Gauge: 10 sts = 7"wide

With solid color, ch 50.

Proceed with basic Crochenit stitch pattern until muti color yarn runs out (about 34.5" high at 33" wide).

End with solid color, finishing last forward solid color row with: ch 1, sc across as follows: (*insert hook in next vertical bar, yo, pull through, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook*) to end of row (counts as top sc edging).

Edging - continue with solid color after top edge sc across; at corner, *sc, ch 1, sc* in each corner, sc evenly along edges, join with sl st to first sc, finish off.

Tip: join new yarn at edge, not in middle of row, weave in ends vertically along edge, not horizontally into row.

Make your own size tip:
at 33 - 35" wide, 1 skein baby clouds multi = 16" high
at 33 - 35" wide, 1 skein baby clouds solid = 23.5" high

At the time of this pattern design, Red Heart Baby Clouds specs: Multi = 4.5 oz / 127 g, 105 yd / 96 m; Solid = 6 oz / 170 g, 140 yd / 128 m

This is my first pattern design, offered for free, on ravelry.com. You may have linked to this blog from here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/double-cuddles

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Prerequisite knowledge: basic double-ended hook crochet method/stitch and "bedspread technique" variation of this skill -

- Tunisian (Afghan stitch) crochet: basic stitch. Double-ended hook basic stitch is a two-ended variation of this.

- Basic technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mfF4O3qyxc

- Bedspread technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_PgFcdqKtA
update 9/18/09 - you don't need to know the bedspread technique of you have a cabled double ended hook in the proper size.

- Optional: Explanation of the double-ended hook crochet brand-naming and how it is a variation of Tunisian
crochet: http://kimguzman.bravejournal.com/entry/21484 (scroll to
"Tunisian, Afghan Stitch, Crochenit, Cro-Hook, MoEZ? What's the difference?")

Size Q 16 mm double-ended crochet hook can be purchased online, for example:
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat2873&PRODID=prd12626

Alternatively, the Denise crochet hook set http://www.stitchdiva.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=DEN-001 comes with the possibility of creating up to a size Q double-ended cabled hook, as well as tunisan and standard. Found it at stitchdiva.com (this would eliminate using the bedspread technique if a cabled double-ended hook is used) (puchasing the additional hook pack is neccessary to create the double-ended, here is a link to the 4 head pack, there is also a 3 head pack http://www.stitchdiva.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=DEN-003 )