Granny Afghan (1951): vintage crochet pattern

Materials

• Worsted (#4) yarn. American Thread "Dawn" Knitting Worsted was a worsted-weight yarn; substitute any worsted yarn that matches the gauge.
• Colours: 31 oz Black and 50 oz assorted colours.
• Original hook: plastic crochet hook No. 4 or F.
• Hook: Start with 3.75 mm (US F-5) and change size to match the gauge.

Abbreviations (US terms)

ch

chain

dc

double crochet

sc

single crochet

rnd

round

rep

repeat

st

stitch

Notes before you start

• Source: "Granny Afghan", Beautiful, Beautiful Afghans (Star Book No. 82), American Thread Company, 1951. Public domain in the USA.
• As printed — materials: AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY “DAWN” KNITTING WORSTED, Article W 11 or W 15 or W 41 or W 42; 31 ozs. Black and 50 ozs. of Assorted Colors.; Plastic crochet hook No. 4 or F.. Gauge: Each motif measures about 4 inches..
• Modernisation note: The original is written in US terms; abbreviations were updated to modern style (s c → sc, d c → dc, tr c → tr, s d c → hdc). "Row" is written as "Rnd" where the work is in rounds.
• Modernisation note: "Cut yarn" is written as "fasten off"; "attach" is written as "join"; "yarn over" as "yo"; "skip" as "sk".
• Modernisation note: "Ch 1 loop" is written as "ch-1 loop".
• Modernisation note: Check: 11 squares of about 4 in make about 44 in, less than the printed 53 in width (and 16 × 4 in = 64 in against 75 in); squares may come out larger than "about 4 inches". Measure your first square against the size you want.
• Modernisation note: Metric conversions, the modern hook suggestion and the yardage estimate were added; they are not in the original.
• Modernisation note: Hook numbers from this period were not standardised to millimetres; the starting size given is a modern equivalent, and the gauge is what matters.

Square (make 176)

1. Rnd 1: With any color, ch 4, join to form a ring, ch 3 (counts as 1 dc in each rnd) and work 2 dc in ring, *ch 1, 3 dc in ring, repeat from * twice, ch 1, join in 3rd st of ch, fasten off.
2. Rnd 2: Join next color in ch-1 loop, ch 3, 2 dc in same loop, ch 1, 3 dc in same loop, *3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in next loop, repeat from * twice, join in 3rd st of ch, fasten off.
3. Rnd 3: Join next color in corner loop, ch 3, 2 dc in same loop, ch 1, 3 dc in same loop, *3 dc in next space between corners, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in next loop, repeat from * twice, 3 dc in next space, join in 3rd st of ch, fasten off.
4. Rnd 4: Join next color in corner loop, ch 3, 2 dc in same loop, ch 1, 3 dc in same loop, *3 dc in each of the next 2 spaces, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in corner loop, repeat from * twice, 3 dc in each of the next 2 spaces, join in 3rd st of ch, fasten off.
5. Rnd 5: Join Black in corner loop, ch 3, 2 dc in same loop, ch 1, 3 dc in same loop, *3 dc in each of the next 3 spaces, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in corner loop, repeat from * twice, 3 dc in each of the next 3 spaces, join in 3rd st of ch.
6. Rnd 6: Work a rnd of sc around entire square working 3 sc in each corner, fasten off.