The Modern Rose Afghan is a gorgeous motif based blanket, that can be made in any size, and features gorgeous modern spirals that pop out in 3D for a floral impression that is modern and fun! It's a wonderful balance between the floral and the graphic - for everyone to enjoy!

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Multiply by 6 to make this blanket in any size!

Each motif is 6" square, so pictured here you see the baby size - 36" x 36". But of course you can make it any size you like - and I've provided some guidelines below! Using 2 skeins of the recommended yarn, I was able to make 8 squares - but save the odds and ends to sew them together and add the border!

The 3D Spiral that's added to each square creates a lot of movement in the blanket - the one photographed here has not been blocked. If you prefer a "calmer" look, you can block out each square and flower before joining. Or you might even find you like these motifs better without the 3D flower added - both ways are a great look!

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Modern Rose Afghan

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US - I, 5.5 mm hook (Furls Fiberarts)

50+ yds Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (100% cotton; Worsted/10 ply/”4″; 186 yds/170 m; 100 grams/3.53 oz) - 1800 yds shown
Main Color (MC): White (5 skeins used)
Contrast Color (CC): Rose, Goldenrod, Jade, Grass, Lilac (1 skein each used

Stitch Markers

Gauge: finished motif = 6" x 6"

Helpful Links and Tutorials

Modern Rose Afghan Tutorial

Charted instructions, courtesy of Moogly reader Jane Caggiano

Crochet Abbreviations

Magic Circle

Join to the magic circle ring with a sc

CSDC - Chainless Starting Double Crochet

Mattress Stitch

NOTES:

• For the first 4 rounds, MC stitches are only worked into the CC stitches, and CC stitches are only worked into the MC stitches.
• The ch-1 between the dc sts are included in the stitch counts.
• The first 4 rounds of this pattern are worked as a two color spiral - there is no joining until the pattern indicates to join, and no chaining for height at the beginning of the first 4 rounds.
• Each round is written in 2 parts - the MC section, and the CC section.
• Use stitch markers to keep unused active loops open, and to mark the first stitch of each CC round.
• Video tutorials that may help are linked within the pattern.

MODERN ROSE AFGHAN INSTRUCTIONS:

Round 1:
MC: Make a magic circle, work (sc, hdc, 4 dc) into the ring; remove hook from loop (secure with stitch marker), do NOT pull magic circle closed. (6 sts)
CC: Join to the magic circle ring with a sc, then (hdc, 4 dc) into the ring; remove hook from loop (secure with stitch marker), pull magic circle closed. (6 sts)

Round 2:
MC: Insert hook in loop, 2 dc in each CC st; remove hook from loop. (12 sts)
CC: Insert hook in loop, (ch 1, dc) in each MC st; remove hook from loop. (12 sts)

Round 3:
MC: Insert hook in loop, [dc in next ch-1 sp, 2 dc in next st] 6 times; remove hook from loop. (18 sts)
CC: Insert hook in loop, [ch 1, skip the next st, dc in the next st, (ch 1, dc in the next st) twice] 3 times; remove hook from loop. (18 sts)

Round 4:
MC: Insert hook in loop, [2 dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next st, dc in next ch-1 sp, 2 dc in next st, dc in ch-1 sp, dc in next st] 3 times; remove hook from loop. (24 sts)
CC: Insert hook in loop, ch 1, dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st] 6 times; remove hook from loop. (24 sts)

Round 5:
MC:  Insert hook in loop, [2 dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next st, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next st] 3 times, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next st, dc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next st, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next st, 2 sc in next ch-1 sp, sl st in next st, sl st in next ch-1 sp, sl st in next st; remove hook from loop. (30 sts)
CC:  Insert hook in loop, [ch 1, dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st, ch 1, dc in next st], ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st, repeat from [ to ], ch 1, skip next st, hdc in next st, ch 1, hdc in next st, ch 1, skip next st, sc in next st, ch 1, skip next st, 2 sc in next st, sl st in next 3 sts; break yarn and finish off. (30 sts)

Round 6: (NOTE: Only MC used in remainder of pattern; if preferred, substitute ch 3 for CSDC. On sides 3 and 4 of this square there are no ch-1 sps, so just work into the next st.)
CSDC in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, dc in same ch-1 sp, dc in next st, dc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next st, [sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next st] twice, hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next st, dc in next ch-1 sp, *(dc, ch 2, dc) in next st, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, [sc in next st, sc in next ch-1 sp] twice, hdc in next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next st, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next st,** (dc, ch 2, dc) in next ch-1 sp, dc in next st, dc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next st, [sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next st] twice, hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next st, hdc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next st, dc in next ch-1 sp, repeat from * to **, join with sl st in CSDC. (64 sts, 8 ch)

Round 7: Ch 1, sc in each st around, working 3 sc in each ch-2 corner space; join with sl st in first sc, break yarn and finish off. (76 sts)

Add 3D Spiral (the st that is joined to is highlighted in green in the photo above)
With CC, join with sc around top of post (as for a front post stitch) of last CC dc in Round 1, hdc, dc around same post, working toward the bottom of the post; then work 3 dc around next 36 CC dc sts, working from the top of the post to the bottom of the post each time; then work 2 dc around post of next CC st, 2 hdc around next CC st, sc around next CC st; break yarn and finish off. When sewing in these ends, use yarn needle to tack ends of 3D spiral down so they blend into the CC sts at either end.

Assembly:

Use the mattress stitch and leftover MC yarn to sew squares together (shown), or any joining technique you prefer. Shown is a simple MC edging - I really wanted the spirals to pop! But of course you can add any fun or fanciful borders you prefer! See the tips below.

LAYOUT AND SIZE OPTIONS AND TIPS:

Shown in these photos is a 6 x 6 layout. Working across the rows, each motif was turned a quarter turn, so that the spirals end in different places. Here's an overhead shot of the finished blanket:

Of course, the great thing about motif style blankets is that you can make them any size you like!

When purchasing yarn, be sure to buy a bit more than you think you need, and take into account additional yarn that may be needed for fancy borders and edgings - and remember that it will make the blanket bigger. Plan on purchasing half the yarn in the MC, and half in the CC (divided between however many CCs you choose)

Modern Rose Afghan Sizing Ideas and Yardage Estimates

Here are the block counts, layouts, and yardage requirements for the most common sizes:

Baby Blanket: 36" x 36"

Block Count: 36
Layout: 6 blocks x 6 blocks
Yardage Estimate: 1800

Throw: 48" x 60"

Block Count: 80
Layout: 8 blocks x 10 blocks
Yardage Estimate: 4000

Twin: 60" x 84"

Block Count: 140
Layout: 10 blocks x 14 blocks
Yardage Estimate: 7000

Queen/Full: 90" x 90"

Block Count: 225
Layout: 15 blocks x 15 blocks
Yardage Estimate: 11,250

King: 108" x 90"

Block Count: 270 total
Layout: 18 blocks x 15 blocks
Yardage Estimate: 13,500

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And that's the Modern Rose Afghan! I hope you enjoy this fun free crochet afghan pattern. I've got a couple more ideas for these motifs that I hope to share in the future!

The Fine Print

Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2016, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern. Please do link to this page to share this pattern with others. If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern, or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details. Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for this pattern!