Here’s a free crochet afghan pattern for the more advanced workers in the crowd. We are stepping our Tunsian crochet techniques by adding in enterlac. Entrelac is traditionally a knitting technique used to create a diamond texture that looks like the weave of a basket. Here we’ve adapted the technique using crochet. While not that difficult, this Tunsian crochet pattern does take a bit of extra skill and concentration, but the bright and festive design is certainly worth the extra work. Baby will love this cheerful crochet baby afghan for years to come, and you’ll have a smile while making it up because of the happy colors. If you are more of a beginning crocheter, don’t focus on the whole project; instead, focus on each step, and soon you’ll have mastered the technique and you’ll be flying along with the pros. Trust us on this one, the work is worth the reward at the end.
Rainbow Tunisian Entrelac Crochet Afghan Pattern
Provided by Yarnspirations
SKILL Intermediate
MEASUREMENTS Approx 35″ x 42″ [89 x 106.5 cm].
GAUGE 9 sts and 10 rows = 4″ [10 cm].
MATERIALS
Bernat® Softee Baby Chunky™ (5 oz/142 g; 155 yds/142 m)
- Contrast A Candy Apple Red (96008); 1 ball
- Contrast B Creamsicle (96013); 1 ball
- Contrast C Buttercup (96014); 1 ball
- Contrast D Sprout Green (96010); 1 ball
- Contrast E Dragon Green (96009); 1 ball
- Contrast F Blue Lagoon (96011); 1 ball
- Contrast G Indigo (96015); 1 ball
- Contrast H Grape (96012); 1 ball
Size U.S. M/13 (9 mm) flexible cable Tunisian crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.
ABBREVIATIONS
- Alt = Alternate
- Approx = Approximately
- Beg = Beginning
- Ch = Chain(s)
- Cont = Continue(ity)
- Pat = Pattern
- Rem = Remain(ing)
- Rep = Repeat
- RS = Right side
- Sc = Single crochet
- Sl st = Slip stitch
- Sp = Space(s)
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- Tss = Tunisian simple stitch
- Yoh = Yarn over hook
Stripe Pat:
Work 1 Strip of each color: A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. These 8 rows form Stripe Pat.
Notes: Work all rows with RS of work facing. To draw up a loop through single vertical bar or front bar of first st, always insert hook from right to left. For easier count of side sts, do not work Ch 1 at beg and end of every row.
INSTRUCTIONS
FIRST STRIP (worked with A)
With A, ch 112.
First Triangle
1st row: Work 1 regular sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not turn.
2nd row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Draw up a loop through front bar of first st. Draw up a loop in next ch. 3 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return pass: (Left to right). (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice. 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
3rd row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 2 sts. Draw up a loop in next ch. 4 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return pass: (Left to right). (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times. 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
4th row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 3 sts. Draw up a loop in next ch. 5 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return pass: (Left to right). (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) 4 times. 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
5th row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 4 sts. Draw up a loop in next ch. 6 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return pass: (Left to right). (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) 5 times. 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
6th row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 5 sts. Draw up a loop in next ch. 7 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return pass: (Left to right). (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) 6 times. 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
7th row: Sl st loosely in each of next 5 single vertical bars. Sl st in same sp as last st worked. First Triangle complete. 1 loop rem on hook.
First Square:
**1st row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Draw up a loop in each of next 6 ch and leave on hook. 7 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return pass for all rows: (Left to right). *Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook. Rep from * until 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
2nd to 5th rows: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 5 sts. Draw up a loop in next ch. Do not turn.
Rep, then Return pass once.
Next row: Sl st loosely into each of next 5 single vertical bars. Sl st in last worked ch.** First Square complete.
Second to Ninth Squares: Work from ** to ** as given for First Square.
Last Triangle
1st row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Draw up a loop in each of next 6 ch and leave on hook. 7 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return pass for all rows: (Left to right). *Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook. Rep from * until 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
2nd row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 5 sts. Do not turn.
3rd row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 4 sts. Do not turn.
4th row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 3 sts. Do not turn.
5th row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 2 sts. Do not turn.
6th row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in first st. Do not turn.
Return pass: (Left to right). Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook. 1 loop rem on hook. Fasten off.
SECOND STRIP (worked with B)
First Square
With RS facing, join B with sl st at top corner of First Triangle.
***1st row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Working through both loops of sl sts, draw up a loop in each of next 6 sl sts and leave on hook. 7 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return pass for all rows:(Left to right). *Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook. Rep from * until 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
2nd to 5th rows: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 5 sts. Draw up a loop in next st of next Square. Do not turn.
Rep, then Return pass once.
Next row: Sl st loosely into each of next 5 single vertical bars. Sl st in top of square of 1st Strip.*** First Square complete.
Second to Eighth Squares: Rep from *** to *** as given for First Square of Second Strip. Fasten off at end of last Square.
THIRD STRIP (worked with C)
First Triangle
With RS facing, join C with sl st to same sp where First Square of previous row started.
1st row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Ch 1. 1 sc in same sp as sl st. Draw up a loop through front vertical bar of first sc. Draw up a loop in first st of First Square of Second Strip and leave on hook. 3 loops on hook.
Return pass: (Left to right). (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice. 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
2nd row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 2 sts. Tss in single vertical bar of next Square. 4 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return pass: (Left to right). (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times. 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
3rd row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 3 sts. Tss in single vertical bar of next Square. 5 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return pass: (Left to right). (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) 4 times. 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
4th row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 4 sts. Tss in single vertical bar of next square. 6 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return pass: (Left to right). (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) 5 times. 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
5th row: Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 5 sts. Tss in single vertical bar of next square. 7 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return pass: (Left to right). (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) 6 times. 1 loop rem on hook. Do not turn.
6th row: Forward pass: Sl st loosely in each of next 5 single vertical bars. Sl st in top of next square. First Triangle of Third Strip is complete.
First to Eighth Squares: With C, work as given for First Square of Second Strip.
Last Triangle
1st row:
Forward pass: (Right to left). Tss in each of first 5 sts. Draw up a loop in same sp were last st was made. 7 loops on hook. Do not turn.
Work from **** to ** as given for last Triangle of First Strip. Fasten off at end of last row.
Keeping cont of Stripe Pat, rep Second and Third Strips for pat until work from beg measures approx 42″ [106.5 cm], ending on 3rd Strip. Fasten off.
Have you ever tried entrelac before?
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Love any crochet patterns that are free,
have made something like this but started from the middle and made blankets from the size of cribs to queen,. I have made crib size and had them sent back to me to make twin and then sent back to me to make into queen for them, It is the same pattern and I love it but you work it from the middle working around 7 squares to make the middle and continuing from there. THIS IS A WONDERFUL PATTERN.
I have seen this pattern before, but thought that would be way to hard to crochet. But after really reading the directions for this Tunisian Entrelac Crochet Afghan, I know I can do it! Wow, it is a beautiful afghan and I love the colors used. This pattern is very well written and if followed step by step it will come out great! I have to learn that just because it looks hard, doesn’t mean it would be. Just read and take your time.
Thank you so much for this free crochet pattern that I have been admiring for a while now..
Thank you for the Lovely pattern. The stitch actually looks more difficult than it is. This stitch used to be called the “afghan stitch” or “single needle knitting”. Any afghan made with this stitch with proper car will last for decades [the one my mother made for me is now 50 plus years old and still graces my bed].