Crochet Afghan With Full and Half Shell Motifs

You’ll Need:

4 balls of Columbia-Minerva Nantuk 4-ply (4 oz. ball) - Color A;

3 balls each of Colors B, C, and D:

Nantuk colors shown are (A) Winter White, (B) Lt Iced Jade, (C) Med Iced Jade, (D) Dk Iced Jade;

Crochet hook I.

Size:

Approximately 54” x 62”.

Stitch Control:

1 motif = 10 ½” across the widest point and 6 ½” from lower point to upper edge.

Used Patterns

Full Shell Motifs:

1st Row: (RS) Begin at point, ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch-2 sp), dc in the first ch; there are 2 dc with ch-2 sp between. Ch 5, turn;

2nd Row: Dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2, dc in 3rd ch of ch-5; there are 3 dc and 2 ch-2 sps. Ch 5, turn;

3rd Row: [Dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2] twice, dc in 3rd ch of ch-5; there are 4 dc and 3 ch-2 sps. Ch 5, turn;

4th Row: [Dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2] 3 times, dc in 3rd ch of ch-5; there are 5 dc and 4 ch-2 sps. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), turn;

5th Row: Work 5 dc in each ch-2 sp, end with dc in 3rd ch of ch-5; 22 dc in all. Ch 3, turn;

6th Row: Dc in first dc for inc, dc in each dc across, end with 2 dc in 3rd ch of ch-3; 23 dc. Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch-1 sp), turn;

7th Row: Dc in first dc for inc, ch 1, skip 1 dc, * dc in next dc, ch 1, skip 1 dc; repeat from * across, end with dc, ch 1, dc all in 3rd ch of ch-3; 14 dc and 13 ch-1 sps. Ch 3, turn;

8th Row: Work 2 dc in first ch-1 sp, * dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp; repeat from * across, end with 2 dc in 3rd ch of ch-4; 35 dc. Ch 3, turn;

9th Row - Popcorn Row: (RS) Dc in 2nd dc, * work a popcorn (PC) in next st as follows - work 5 dc all in same st, drop lp of last dc from hook and insert hook in top of 5th dc from end, draw dropped lp through dc and tighten st pushing PC to right side (PC complete), dc in each of next 2 dc; repeat from * across working last dc in 3rd ch of ch-3; 11 PC with 2 dc each side. Ch 3, turn;

10th Row: Dc in first dc for inc, dc in next dc, * work 2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc; repeat from * across, end with 2 dc in 3rd ch of ch-3; 53 dc. Fasten off leaving a 20" end for sewing.

Half Shell Motif:

1st-4th Rows: Leaving a 12" end for sewing at beginning of point, repeat rows 1-4 of full shell motif; 5 dc and 4 ch-2 sps. Ch 3, turn;

5th Row: Work 2 dc in each ch-2 sp across, end with dc in 3rd ch of ch-5; 10 dc in all. Ch 3, turn.

Note: Throughout remaining rows of motif, end with last dc(s) of repeat in 3rd ch of turning ch.

6th Row: Dc in first dc for inc, dc in each dc to end; 11 dc. Ch 4, turn;

7th Row: Dc in 3rd dc, * ch 1, skip 1 dc, dc in next dc; repeat from * to end; there are 6 dc and 5 ch-1 sps. Ch 3, turn;

8th Row: Dc in first dc, * work 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc; repeat from * to end; 17 dc in all. Ch 3, turn;

9th Row: Dc in 2nd dc, * work PC in next dc, dc in each of the next 2 dc; repeat from * to end; 5 PC with 2 dc each side. Ch 3, turn;

10th Row: Dc in first dc, * dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * to end; 26 dc. Fasten off.

Instructions:

Make 77 full shell motifs - 25 with A, 16 with B, 20 with C, and 16 with D. Make 16 half shell motifs - 8 with B and 8 with D.

Assembly:

Follow the arrangement chart for placement and color of motifs. Sew motifs together from the right side using a blunt needle and an overhand stitch, working through the back loop of each stitch along the top edge of full shells. Use long ends for sewing, working with the darker of the two colors to be joined. Secure ends and work in on the wrong side after all joining points on each row are completed.

Begin in the upper right corner with the first 2 rows of full shells. Mark the center stitch (27th stitch) on the top edge of one full B shell. Begin at point, sew the lower left edge of A shell along the top right half of B shell to the center stitch; with the same yarn, sew the lower right edge of the next A shell along the remaining half of B shell. Repeat across the row having 5 A shells and 4 B shells.

To join half shells, with the top edge of half shell at the side edge of the afghan, fit the upper side edge of half shell along one lower side edge of the full shell above; matching rows, sew in place. Stretch the lower side edge of half shell along half of the top edge of the full shell below and sew in place.

Join motifs in the same way through the next to last row. On the last row, reverse full shells and sew lower side edges together forming a scalloped edge. Steam afghan lightly on the wrong side and pat into shape.