Crochet Square 2, February of the Crochet Along Afghan Sampler

It's time for Square 2 (February) of the 2015 Afghan Sampler! Crochet along with us and you will have a finished blanket by the end of the year. This month: Basket Weave.



First, a quick reminder of where we're at:

• The Sampler Afghan will be comprised of twenty 9-inch squares.
• There will be five rows made up of four squares each. [Final size: approx. 36" x 45"]
• We will crochet ten sample-stitches.
• We will complete two squares each month using one sample-stitch.
• Each square will be a solid color, and each sample-stitch will be completed in two colors.
• The final blanket will have a total of three colors.*

*Unless you've opted for a monochromatic or multi-color look as we discussed previously.

At this point you should have two finished January Squares in colors A & B. If you're just joining us, don't panic! The squares work up quickly and you can easily catch up: be sure to START HERE.

SHARE YOUR PROGRESS

How are your squares coming? What yarn did you choose? What color palette? I'd love to see, so I've set up a Flickr Group where anyone working on the 2015 Afghan Sampler can share and discuss their progress so far. Join us! And don't forget to use the #afghansampler hashtag on Instagram.

SQUARE 2, FEBRUARY

February's Square is the Basket Weave. This stitch is completed using front-post double crochet and back-post double crochet. You achieve the weaved look by alternating four post stitches on the front of the fabric, then four post stitches on the back for three rows; then work the next three rows starting with four post stitches on the back followed by four post stitches on the front. The fabric is made by continuing those 6 rows until the size desired. Easy, right? Here's how it looks formally written up...

Hook

H/8 - 5.00MM, or size needed to obtain 9"x 9" square

Yarn

Colors B and C -- For me that means Caron Simply Soft in Light Country Blue (Color B) and Country Blue (Color C)

Stitch 

st: stitch
ch: chain
fdc: foundation double crochet
fpdc: front-post double crochet
bpdc: back-post double crochet

CONSTRUCTION

Row 1: Working in Color B, ch 38, dc in third stitch from hook and each ch across OR 36 fdc; 36 stitches
Row 2: ch 2 (does not count as stitch, here and throughout), turn, [fpdc 4, bpdc 4], repeat within [] to end; 36 stitches
Row 3: ch 2, turn, [bpdc 4, fpdc 4], repeat within [] to end; 36 stitches

***
Row 4:  ch 2, turn, [bpdc 4, fpdc 4], repeat within [] to end; 36 stitches

Row 5:  ch 2, turn, [fpdc 4, bpdc 4], repeat within [] to end; 36 stitches

Row 6:  ch 2, turn, [bpdc 4, fpdc 4], repeat within [] to end; 36 stitches

Row 7:  ch 2, turn, [bpdc 4, fpdc 4], repeat within [] to end; 36 stitches

Row 8:  ch 2, turn, [fpdc 4, bpdc 4], repeat within [] to end; 36 stitches

Row 9:  ch 2, turn, [bpdc 4, fpdc 4], repeat within [] to end; 36 stitches

***

Rows 10-27: repeat within *** three times; 36 stitches each row

Border: *work 38 sc along one side of the square, ch 1 (does not count as stitch); repeat from * on each side of the square. Yarn off, and weave in ends.

Repeat with Color C for a second, separate square.

HOMEWORK

You now have a total two stitches and four squares to work on in three colors between now and March 31 (and that gives you an extra week to work on them!). I suggest you start labeling your squares as you complete them ("Square 1, Color A"; "Square 1, Color B"; etc.) so that when we go to assemble the final blanket you won't have to spend time identifying each one first.

Be sure to upload your progress to our Flickr Group and tag your Instagram shots with #afghansampler, then meet me back here next month for Square 3.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Looking for the rest of the squares? Click on the Crochet Along tab a the top of this site!

Other questions? Size? Rows? Border Count? Visit Frequently Asked Questions!

Label the crochet squares as you go and you won't get confused when we finally put them all together.

Note: Edited 2/24/15 after publication to correct Rows 7-9 in the pattern -- with thanks to eagle-eyed Tamara of Ninja Designs.

Ren Murphy writes for The Inspired Wren.

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You should really see all that goes into each project!

From my marathon sewing sessions, to all that I do when I #shouldhavebeensewing catch daily updates on Instagram (and Flickr) of works-in-progress. Get that behind the scenes view you’re looking for, and sneak peeks of upcoming tutorials, too.

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