How to Crochet the For the Love of Texture Afghan

Hi guys! I am so excited to be sharing a new blanket pattern with you: For the Love of Texture Afghan. It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve posted about a blanket, so it’s nice to switch things up, and bring some balance back to the blog. This multi textured crochet afghan is made using the single crochet, half double crochet, and puff stitch to create a unique crochet blanket. There is also some fun colour work to hold your interest as you crochet. Whose ready to get started?

Here is a post featuring a collection of For the Love of Texture Afghans made by some amazing crocheters. If you are looking for colour inspiration or blanket border ideas, then this post is for you!

You can find the free pattern below.

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Inspiration for the For the Love of Texture Afghan

I started this blanket over a year and a half ago, and I didn’t have an end goal in mind when I crocheted the first panel. I just played around with some stitches until I liked what I saw! I was able to finish the first three panels of the blanket before I got busy with other things; life always gets in the way of our crochet time, doesn’t it?

Anyway, this blanket got put on the back burner and thrown in the closet, until I re-discovered it during quarantine. While the isolation hasn’t been great, I have to admit that it’s given me plenty of time to crochet.

Pin this Multi Textured Crochet Afghan – Here!

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Materials:

• Approximately 1960 yds of any medium 4 worsted weight yarn
• 6.0 mm crochet hook
• Scissors
• Yarn Needle

My Yarn Choice

• Colour A: Vanna’s Choice Weight 4 Medium (100% Acrylic, 170 yd/ 155 m, 3.5 oz/ 99 g) – Linen

• Colour B: Vanna’s Choice Weight 4 Medium (100% Acrylic, 170 yd/ 155 m, 3.5 oz/ 99 g) – Honey

• Colour C: Caron One Pound Weight 4 Medium (100% acrylic, 812 yd/ 742 m, 454g/ 16 oz) – Denim (discontinued)

• Colour D: Bernat Premium Weight 4 Medium (100% Acrylic, 360 yd/ 329 m, 7 oz/ 198 g) – White

Yarn Note: I used a variety of yarns because this is what I had in my yarn stash. However, you can use ANY medium 4 (worsted/aran) weight yarn of your choosing as a substitute.

Yardage:

• Colour A: 570 yds (4 Skeins)
• Colour B: 580 yds (4 Skeins)
• Colour C: 480 yds (1 Skein)
• Colour D: 330 yds (1 Skein)

Alternative Yarn Options:

You can use ANY medium 4 worsted weight yarn of your choosing. However, if you would like to use the colour palette that I did, I’ve listed alternative yarn options for Colour C and D because they are hard to find: 

Colour C is Caron One Pound in the colour Denim. Unfortunately, this yarn has been discontinued. So here are a couple of alternative options: 

• Caron One Pound – Cape Cod
• Caron One Pound – Canal
• Vanna’s Choice – Dusty Blue
• Big Twist – Denim
  

Colour D is Bernat Premium in the colour White. This yarn is available at Yarnspirations, but here are a couple of alternatives:

• Bernat Super Value – White
• Vanna’s Choice – White
• Big Twist – White
• Caron One Pound – White

More Colour Inspiration:

If you’d like to see some examples of afghans done in similar or different colour combinations to this blanket, then check out this post – here. It features a collection of For the Love of Texture Afghans made by some amazing crocheters!

You can purchase the Ad-Free Printable PDF of the For the Love of Texture Afghan pattern on Etsy HERE! or Ravelry HERE! This 12 page PDF includes the complete pattern, instructions and yardages for 10 blanket sizes (Baby to California King), and step-by-step pictures.

Pattern Measurements

The For the Love of Texture Afghan measures 45″ x 53″, which is a little short for most throws (I sadly ran out of yarn). You can easily make this multi textured crochet afghan longer by using the adjustment instructions below. The length and width of this blanket make it a nice size for a lapghan or a small throw.

• Width: 45”
• Length: 53”

Customizing the Size of Your Blanket

Width: The width of your blanket is determined by your starting chain. The original pattern calls for chaining 138, but if you’d like to customize the width of your blanket (i.e. make it shorter/longer), your chain must be a multiple of 10 + 8.

Length: To make your blanket shorter/longer than the original pattern, continue to repeat Rows 7 – 18, until you are satisfied with the length of your blanket. Then finish the blanket with Rows 115 – 123.

The Puff Stitch Photo Tutorial

I’ve included a photo tutorial below, to guide you through the steps of making a puff stitch. However, if you prefer to learn through video, here is a link to an excellent tutorial by ExpressionsFiberArts.

• Step 1: Yarn over, and insert hook into the indicated st.

• Step 2: Yarn over and draw up a loop – there should be 3 loops on the hook.

• Step 3: Repeat Step 2, three more times – there should be 9 loops on the hook.

• Step 4: Yarn over and pull through the first 8 loops on the hook – there should be 2 loops remaining on the hook.

• Step 5: Yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops to close the st.

The Crossed Half Double Crochet Stitch – Video Tutorial

The crossed half double crochet stitch looks like an “X” because one half double crochet is worked over the other. To make this stitch, skip the first stitch and work one half double crochet in the next stitch. Then, go back to the stitch you skipped, and work one half double crochet in that stitch from behind. This technique is a little different than what you might be used to, but it creates a really pretty faux cable look.

Changing Colour Tutorial:

This multi textured crochet afghan changes colour at the end of each panel, and throughout Row 8. Whether you are changing colour at the end of the row or mid-way through a row, the technique is the same. You will always be changing colours before you complete the final stitch in a given colour. For example, in Row 8, you will be working single crochets in white, and puff stitches in a different colour. The pattern tells you to make 4 single crochets between each puff stitch.

• Before you close the last single crochet (pulling through the two loops on your hook), drop the white yarn.

• Pick up the new colour (green) and pull it through the remaining 2 loops on your hook. You’ve closed the single crochet and changed colours!

Abbreviations:

• St(s) – stitch(es)
• Ch – chain
• Sk – skip
• Sc – single crochet
• Hdc – half double crochet
• PS – puff stitch
• [] – Repeat the instructions inside these brackets.
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side

Gauge Swatch (4” x 4”): 

The final swatch should measure 4” x 4” unblocked. The beginning ch 2 does not count as a stitch.

• Ch 14
• Row 1: Hdc in third ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. <12 hdc>
• Rows 2 – 3: Ch 1, hdc in first st, [sk 1 st, hdc in next st, hdc in skipped st] until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. <2 hdc, 5 crossed hdc pairs>
• Rows 4 – 6: Ch 1, hdc in each st across. <12 hdc>
• Rows 7 – 8: Repeat Rows 2 – 3.
• Row 9: Repeat Row 4. 

Trouble with Gauge? 

If your gauge is too small, try using a thicker weight 4 yarn or a larger crochet hook. If your gauge is too big, try using a thinner weight 4 yarn or a smaller crochet hook.

Video Tutorial Links:

• Gauge Swatch Pattern
• Row 8 (Puff Stitch/Changing Colours) Tutorial
• Crossed Half Double Crochet Stitch (Different Technique for this Stitch!)

Pattern:

Notes:

• A colour chart is provided below to show when to change colour throughout the blanket.

• The beginning chain of each row does NOT count as a stitch.

• The crossed half double crochets in Rows 4 – 5 are worked differently than what you might be used to. Please watch the video for how to do this stitch, before starting these rows!

• In Row 8, you will be working with two colours. All of the sc sts are worked with Colour D and all of the PS sts are worked in the panel colour (Colour A, B, or C). There is a tutorial for changing colour above. 

• When crocheting row 8, make sure to carry the yarn through the row, to create seamless colour changes. There is a video tutorial for Row 8 here. 

• Odd numbered rows are considered the RS, while even numbered rows are considered the WS.

Ch 138 (or a multiple of 10 + 8)

Panel #1:

Row 1 (RS): With Colour A, hdc in third ch from hook, and in each ch across. Turn. (136 hdc).

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, hdc in each st across. Turn. (136 hdc).

Row 3: Repeat Row 2.

Row 4: Ch 1, hdc in first st, [sk 1 st, hdc in next st, hdc in skipped st] until 1 st remains; hdc in last st of row. Turn. (2 hdc + 67 crossed hdc pairs)

Row 5: Repeat Row 4.

Row 6: Repeat Row 2.

Panel #2:

Row 7: With Colour D, ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (136 sc)

Row 8: With Colours B and D, ch 1, sc in first 3 sts, [PS in next st, sc in next 4 sts] 26 times; PS in next st, sc in last 2 sts. Turn. (27 PS + 109 sc)

Working with 2 Colours in Row 8 – Video Tutorial:

• Begin working your first set of single crochets in Colour D (white) and change colour before you finish your last single crochet (Picture 1 & 2).

• With your new colour (green), work a puff stitch in the next stitch (Picture 3).

• When there are two loops remaining on your hook, drop your new colour, and pull Colour D through the 2 loops on your hook to close the puff stitch (Picture 4 & 5).

• Now work the next set of single crochets with Colour D (Picture 6).

• Make sure to carry your yarn through as you crochet, so that you can easily make these colour changes (shown in Picture 6).

Row 9: With Colour D, repeat Row 7. (Sc row)

Row 10: With Colour B, repeat Row 2. (Hdc row)

Rows 11 – 12: Repeat Row 4. (Hdc cross row)

Rows 13 – 15: Repeat Row 2. (Hdc row)

Rows 16 – 17: Repeat Row 4. (Hdc cross row)

Row 18: Repeat Row 2. (Hdc row)

Panel #3 – 10:

Repeat Rows 7 – 18 while following the colour chart below.

To make a longer blanket, continue to repeat Rows 7 – 18 in your desired colors, until satisfied with the length. Then finish the blanket with Panel #11.

Panel # 11 (End):

Row 115 – 123: Repeat Rows 7 – 15.

Fasten off and weave in ends!

Colour Chart:

Blanket Border:

This blanket does not have a border, but that hasn’t stopped people from adding one! If you’d like to add a border to your blanket, but aren’t sure which one you should add, check out this post. You’ll find a collection of For the Love of Texture Afghans that feature different blanket borders. I hope this gives you some inspiration for your own afghan!

And You’re Done!

Congratulations! You’ve finished making your first multi textured crochet afghan. I hope that you enjoyed making this as much as I did. If you loved this pattern, please share it, so that others can make it too!

If you would like to explore some more fun and budget friendly crochet patterns on this blog, click here.

Other Crochet Patterns You’ll Love:

• Fall in Love Blanket
• Smiles for Miles Blanket
• Loops and Bobbles Blanket

Questions?

If you have any questions about the pattern and need some clarification, please send me a message through the “Contact” section of this website. I am happy to help!

Disclaimer: You are welcome to sell items that you’ve made from this pattern; however, you are not allowed to use my pictures or sell my pattern as your own (Copyright @ ThisPixieCreates).

Thank you guys so much for following along. I can’t wait to see all of your beautiful multi textured crochet afghans. I hope your families treasure these blankets for years to come.

Love, Dayna
Instagram: @thispixiecreates