I’m so excited to share my latest pattern with you all — Fall Foliage Afghan! This blanket has been almost a year in the making. I started it last year with the intention of taking beautiful pictures of it with the Autumn leaves, which were my color inspiration.
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Check out the matching throw pillow pattern called the Fall Foliage Pillow!
As it turns out, I was working on this in between other projects and by the time I was half way finished, the leaves were all brown and had fallen from the trees. We were in the less attractive gap between fall and winter. So I made the decision to hold onto the blanket and release the pattern the following year.
I wanted to get this pattern out early as well so that you would have plenty of time to make it before Autumn set in. It was one of my goals for this year — to get patterns out before the actual season so you’d have time to make them. And even though I don’t have the colorful leafy photographs right now, I have a fully finished blanket, ready and waiting for the perfect Fall day to go out and get those photos!
I’ll update this blog post once those pictures are ready. For now, I’m pleased with the ones I took on my front porch. I finally got new furniture for out there this year and it happens to be one of my most favorite places to crochet! Even my sweet crochet buddy, Teagan, loves it!
That’s enough backstory for now. Let’s get into the details of the pattern.
The stitches that you need to know for the Fall Foliage Afghan are single crochets, half double crochets (only for the final row) and double crochets. Yep, that’s it. The only part that takes a little getting used to is crocheting over top of the chains from the previous row and working your double crochets into the stitches that are two rows below the row you’re working on. It felt a little awkward at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s smooth sailing! I’ve included some photos to help illustrate the written instructions.
I love the staggered look of the stripes, which gives this afghan more visual interest than a standard striped blanket. My husband is the one that chose the fringe. After I got so far into the blanket and let him see it, he pretty much claimed it as his own. He loved how thick and warm it was. (He doesn’t care for the blankets with a lot of holes in them.) So right now, it is draped over his recliner and he couldn’t be happier!
It was brought to my attention that the lovely Tamara Kelly from Moogly blog has a similar baby blanket pattern called the Leaping Stripes and Blocks blanket. You can see her pattern at the link. She offers many sizing options and a different border!
Add this project to your Ravelry queue here…
Fall Foliage Afghan
Materials Used:
- 2.5 skeins of I Love This Yarn in Sungold – 7 oz/199g – 355 yds/325 m
- 2.5 skeins of I Love This Yarn in Burnt Pumpkin – 7 oz/199g – 355 yds/325 m
- 1.5 skeins of I Love This Yarn in Brown – 7 oz/199g – 355 yds/325 m
- 3.5 skeins of I Love This Yarn in Cranberry – 7 oz/199g – 355 yds/325 m
- Or any medium weight yarn.
- J (5.75 mm) hook — My favorite hooks! I use them daily!
- I/9 (5.25 mm) hook
- Tapestry needle
Finished Size Approximately:
52 ½” Width x 61” Height
Gauge:
13 double crochet stitches and 6 rows in a 4” (10cm) square.
Abbreviations:
FC – foundation chain
st(s) – stitch(es)
ch(s) – chain(s)
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
sl st – slip stitch
Notes:
- You will use the larger hook for the foundation chain and then switch to the smaller hook for Row 1. This keeps the blankets foundation chain from being too tight.
- You can make any size blanket you desire if you use a foundation chain with a multiple of 4 chains plus 2.
- The pattern is made up of four rows per stripe of color.
- If you work four rows per color, all of your ends will be on one side of the blanket. You have the option to crochet over them or weave them in. The sides of the blanket come out neat and don’t require a border unless you’d like to add one. The fringe is optional.
*** American crochet terms used throughout.
Instructions:
With Cranberry and J hook
FC: Ch 182
Switch to I hook
Row 1: In 4th ch from hook, dc. Dc in next ch. *Ch 2, skip 2 chs, dc in next 2 chs* Repeat from * to * across. Dc in last ch. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc in same st the ch 2 comes out of, ch 2, skip next 2 sts. *Crocheting into the open FC below (the stitches will cover the 2 chs from the previous row), dc in the next 2 FC’s. Ch 2, skip next 2 sts.* Repeat from * to * across. Hdc in the top of the ch 3 from the previous row. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 2, hdc in same st the ch 2 comes out of. Crocheting into the open sts from 2 rows below (the stitches will cover the 2 chs from the previous row), dc in those next 2 sts. *Ch 2, skip next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts from 2 rows below* Repeat from * to * across. Hdc in last st. Turn.
Row 4: Ch 2, hdc in same st the ch 2 comes out of, ch 2, skip next 2 sts. *Crocheting into the open sts from 2 rows below, dc in those next 2 sts. Ch 2, skip next 2 sts.* Repeat from * to * across. Hdc in the last st. Turn.
Finish off if changing colors. Continue to alternate Row 3 and Row 4 for pattern for a total of 188 rows (47 stripes). There are 4 rows per stripe.
Final Row (to close the gaps) will be a modified Row 4. If working the stripes, for your final stripe complete 3 rows following the instructions above. For the final row of the Fall Foliage Afghan:
Ch 1, sc in the same st the ch 1 comes out of, sc in the next 2 sts, *hdc in the next 2 unworked sts from 2 rows below, sc in next 2 sts* Repeat from * to * across. Sc in last st. Finish off. Weave in ends.
Color Pattern
Cranberry
Sungold
Burnt Pumpkin
Cranberry
Sungold
Burnt Pumpkin
Cranberry
Brown
Cranberry
Sungold
Burnt Pumpkin
Cranberry
Sungold
Burnt Pumpkin
Brown
Repeat
Finishing
Using a hardback book, wrap your yarn around the exterior of the closed book over and over. Insert your scissors into the gap created by the hard cover of the book and the indented pages. Cut along the yarn that is raised just above the pages. This shouldn’t damage the book in any way. You will now have many equal length strands ready for fringe.
Holding three pieces of fringe together, insert your hook through the stitch at the end of the blanket and draw the center of the fringe back through the stitch. Don’t pull the entire way through. (The six ends of the fringe will be sticking out one side of the stitch and the 3-strand loop will be sticking out the other side of the stitch.) Insert all 6 ends through the loop of fringe you pulled through the other side and pull tight. It will be wrapped around the stitch from the blanket. Repeat this process for every other stitch across the bottom of the blanket and then repeat on the opposite side of the blanket. Trim ends to make them even.
Don’t forget the matching throw pillow pattern called the Fall Foliage Pillow!
I hope you’ve enjoyed the Fall Foliage Afghan pattern!
***Click here for the ad-free, large print PDF from Etsy***
***Click here for the ad-free, large print PDF from Ravelry***
Please note: If you purchase the PDF from either Ravelry or Etsy, you will receive 2 PDF’s. One will have the pattern shown on this page and the other will contain the photo tutorial. They are separate to make it easier to print if you aren’t interested in printing the photos.
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Hello! No, there is no wrong or right side. It looks exactly the same on both sides. Thanks for commenting!
I’m making this blanket right now and I love it. Can you tell me if there is a right or a wrong side to it? Thank you.
Hi Bettina! The brand of yarn that I used is called I Love This Yarn! and you can purchase it from Hobby Lobby. I believe that you can also purchase yarn from their website if you don’t have a store near you. I highly recommend this brand of yarn. It’s so soft! Thanks for commenting!
What brand of yarn so I can match your beautiful colors?
Thanks, Georgia! I know not everyone likes fringe. It’s nice that it’s optional. Thanks for commenting!
Not a fan of Fringe on any blanket, would omit that if I made this!
Hi Pam! Yes, it is correct. The last stitch of every row is a half double crochet. All the stitches in the middle of the rows are double crochets. Since you hate the half double crochet stitch, I can recommend a pattern that produces a similar blanket, but without the half double crochet. I believe hers uses single crochet at the ends of the rows. You can see the Leaping Stripes and Blocks Blanket pattern from Moogly at https://www.mooglyblog.com/leapingstripes-blocks-blanket-crochet/. Thanks for commenting!
I was reading about your pattern and you stated that the half double crochet is only used in the final row,but when reading the actual pattern their are half double crochet stitches in every row, or is that a misprint in the pattern? Would really love to start this pattern but I hate the half double crocher. Thank you for your help. Pam Dyle. pamdyle@yahoo.com
Hello! The only links I have on the page are to purchase the ad-free, large print PDF of the pattern. But if you are able to print the blog post from your computer, you have that option as well. Thank you for commenting!
was this a free to print just the pattern instructions. if so i can not find the link to do this.
Hi Terry! I’m so glad to hear that you are loving the pattern! The instructions for the final row are in the pattern just above the Color Pattern heading where it tells you what order the color stripes go in. If you need a better explanation of those instructions, just let me know. I wasn’t sure if you saw the instructions or missed them. Thank you for commenting! Erica
Hi Erica
How do you finish the final row? I’m working on this right now as a gift for someone. It’s gorgeous!
You’re welcome, Ruth! I’m so thrilled that you love it! It’s become one of my favorites. So warm!
I love the afgan it’s self and the colors are fantastic! Thank you for sharing.
Hi Amber! Oh, please don’t be upset. We can fix this. Tamara Kelly from Mooglyblog.com has created a video tutorial. Her pattern is similar to mine. Even though the patterns aren’t completely the same, I’m hoping you can get the gist of the stitches. If you still need help, please feel free to email me at highlandhickorydesigns @ gmail dot com and I’d be more than happy to give you more one on one assistance. (I apologize for the written out email address. It’s just to keep bots from picking it up.) Here is the address for the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3m5buKF13Y I hope this helps! But let me know if it doesn’t. Thanks!
Admittedly, I’m a novice who is determined to make this blanket! However, I’m SO lost about starting row 2. I don’t understand your directions and have tried so many times to produce what’s in the picture and I’m baffled. Do you have any direction/clarification you can offer a struggler like me? I’m in tears at this point.
Yep, that was my mistake. I’ve gone back into the post and corrected it. There are no stripes of the same color together. Thank you for bringing that to my attention! Have a great day!
Beautiful work, Erica. I’m making this and am on stripe 5.
One question: in the pattern repeat, do you make a double stripe of cranberry. You say “repeat” and your pattern as written begins and ends with cranberry as the stripe color but I don’t think in looking at the picture that you make 8 rows of cranberry anywhere.
Just checking.