See what others have done with this pattern in the Photo Gallery!
This pattern is copyrighted and provided here for your personal use only. This pattern may not be sold or published to other websites or electronic mailing lists, etc. Please do not distribute this pattern to anyone else. Distribution of copyrighted patterns will reduce traffic to my website. Please adhere to this policy when using this pattern.
Note for 2008: This pattern is one of the free patterns available on my website which may have been
available for as long as a decade. During 2008, I plan on trying to focus on these patterns. Where suitable, I may rework the design using current yarns. Or, I may change the pattern writing style. In the past 10 years, my writing style has changed, so I want to make sure that everything is still workable. In some cases, I may be re-designing some things to provide a better fit. Again, these patterns are old. So, they can no longer be considered something representative of my current work skill and experience. Where I formerly was only able to produce designs for drop shoulders, for instance, some things may be redesigned to my current standards of modified drop shoulders, waist shaping, etc. Whatever time will allow.
This afghan pattern is the most popular design on my website.
It has been made hundreds of times by internet users just like you!
Myself, I have crocheted it at least forty times for family and
friends. Please note that the afghan shown above is one of the
afghans that I personalized. You can personalize your afghan by
creating a graph with the complete alphabet set I have designed for
this afghan below. Your graph should be 65 stitches by 50 rows.
If you would like me to make a graph for you, it is $2.00 per graph. You can use
the PayPal link below. If the name you want me to graph is longer than eight
letters, please email me before sending your payment through PayPal. Due to the
space constraints, some names will not fit. Once I receive your payment, your
personalized graph(s) will be emailed to you within 48 hours. Please make sure that
your email box is set up to receive mail from me (crochetkim2@yahoo.com) and
you can receive attachments. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
New! I have added the following Tutorials to help out with questions you may have
regarding the different stitching techniques used in this afghan! (These are PDF files and will
require Adobe Reader.)
If you would like to see the entire alphabet set on one page, click here, but be aware that it is a
graphic intensive page and will take awhile to load.
This afghan is comprised of a personalized mat (worked from one of the graphs above), a heart border and an outside edging/border. Instructions are written separately for each. You can start with either the personalized mat or the heart border. Although the instructions are quite lengthy, once you start to see the pattern develop in the heart border, it will not seem nearly as intimidating. This link will take you to a graph of an individual heart which will enable you to see how each heart should look. You may want to make the hearts based on the graph instead of the written instructions, or a combination of both. Enjoy!
Note When counting double crochets, remember to count the turning 3-ch as one double crochet. Also, please note that I personally prefer to use a ch-2 as my turning chain rather than the ch-3 shown in this pattern since I crochet rather loosely. Please feel free to use the ch-2 if it works better for you as well.
New! Below is a link to the graph of the heart border of this afghan. This should really help in crocheting this portion since the written instructions can get confusing due the length of the instructions.
Row 1: With Main Color and H hook (Note: H hook is used throughout until Row 2 of the Edging/Border), chain 126. In fourth ch from hook, dc. Dc across. (124 dc) Attach a small piece of a contrasting color
yarn to mark this side as the RIGHT side. Ch 3, turn.
Rows 2 - 4: Work dc across. (124 dc) Remember
to count the turning ch as a dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row
5: Work 13 dc. * Ch 1, sk next stitch, work 18 dc. Repeat
from * 4 more times. Ch 1, sk next stitch, work 14 dc. (6 ch-1
sps) Ch 3, turn.
Row 6: Work 12 dc. * Ch 1, sk
next stitch, dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next stitch, work 16 dc.
Repeat from * 4 more times. Ch 1, sk next stitch, dc in ch-1
sp, ch 1, sk next stitch, work 13 dc. (12 ch-1 sps) Ch 3,
turn.
Row 7: Work 11 dc. * Ch 1, sk next stitch,
dc in ch-1 sp, in next stitch and in second ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk
next stitch, work 14 dc. Repeat from * 4 more times. Ch 1, sk
next stitch, dc in ch-1 sp, in next stitch and in second ch-1
sp, ch 1, sk next stitch, work 12 dc. Ch 3,
turn.
Row 8: Work 10 dc. * Ch 1, sk next stitch,
dc in ch-1 sp, in next three stitches and in second ch-1 sp,
ch 1, sk next stitch, work 12 dc. Repeat from * 4 more times.
Ch 1, sk next stitch, dc in ch-1 sp, in next three stitches
and in second ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next stitch, work 11 dc. Ch 3,
turn.
Row 9: Work 9 dc. * Ch 1, sk next stitch,
dc in ch-1 sp, in next 5 dc and in second ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk
next stitch, work 10 dc. Repeat from * 4 more times. Ch 1, sk
next stitch, dc in ch-1 sp, in next 5 dc and in second ch-1
sp, ch 1, sk next stitch, work 10 dc. Ch 3,
turn.
Row 10: Work 8 dc. * Ch 1, sk next stitch,
dc in ch-1 sp, in next 7 dc and in second ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk
next stitch, work 8 dc. Repeat from * 4 more times. Ch 1, sk
next stitch, dc in ch-1 sp, in next 7 dc and in ch-1 sp, ch 1,
sk next stitch, work 9 dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row 11:
Work 7 dc. * Ch 1, sk next stitch, dc in ch-1 sp, in next 9 dc
and in second ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next stitch, work 6 dc. Repeat
from * 4 more times. Ch 1, sk next stitch, dc in ch-1 sp, in
next 9 dc and in second ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next stitch, work 8
dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row 12: Work 6 dc. * Ch 1, sk
next stitch, dc in ch-1 sp and in next 5 dc. Ch 1, sk next
stitch, dc in next 5 dc and in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk next
stitch, work 4 dc. Repeat from * 4 more times. Ch 1, sk next
stitch, dc in ch-1 sp and in next 5 dc. Ch 1, sk next stitch,
dc in next 5 dc and in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk next stitch,
work 7 dc. (18 ch-1 sps) Ch 3, turn.
Row 13:
Work 6 dc. * Work dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next stitch, dc in
next 4 dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1
stitch, dc in next 4 dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc in ch-1 sp and
in next 4 dc. Repeat from * 5 more times. Dc in each of last 3
dc. (24 ch-1 sps) Ch 3, turn.
Row 14: Work 7 dc.
* Work dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next stitch, dc, ch 1, sk next
stitch, dc in each of dc, ch-1 space, next dc, ch-1 sp and
next dc, ch 1, sk next stitch, dc, ch 1, sk next stitch, dc in
ch-1 sp and in next 6 dc. Repeat from * 5 more times. Dc in
each of last 2 dc. (24 ch-1 sps) Ch 3, turn.
Row
15: Work dc in each dc and ch-1 sp across. (124 dc) Ch 3,
turn.
Row 16: Work dc in each dc across. (124
dc) Ch 3, turn.
Row 17: Work 25 dc across. (Ch
2, skip 2 stitches, dc) 24 times. Work 26 more dc across to
end. (24 open mesh spaces) Ch 3, turn. DO NOT CUT.
This
completes the lower portion. You will now begin working one
side, then the other (separately).
Row 18: Work
26 dc. Ch 2. Skip open mesh, dc in dc. Ch 5,
turn.
Row 19: Skip open mesh, work 12 dc, ch 1,
sk 1 stitch, 14 dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row 20: Work 12
dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, 11
dc, ch 2, dc in third ch of turning 5-ch lp. Ch 5,
turn.
Row 21: Skip open mesh, work 10 dc, ch 1,
sk 1 stitch, dc in ch-1 sp, dc and in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1
stitch, 12 dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row 22: Work 10 dc,
ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc in each of ch-1 sp, 3 dc and next ch-1
sp, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, 9 dc, ch 2, dc in third ch of turning
5-ch lp. Ch 5, turn.
Row 23: Skip open mesh,
work 8 dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc in each of ch-1 sp, 5 dc and
next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next stitch, 10 dc. Ch 3,
turn.
Row 24: Work 8 dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc
in each of ch-1 sp, 7 dc and next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1 stitch,
7 dc, ch 2, dc in third ch of turning 5-ch lp. Ch 5,
turn.
Row 25: Skip open mesh, work 6 dc, ch 1,
sk 1 stitch, dc in each of ch-1 sp, 9 dc, and next ch-1 sp, ch
1, sk 1 stitch, 8 dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row 26: Work 6
dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc in ch-1 sp and each of next 5 dc. Ch
1, sk 1 stitch, dc in each of next 5 dc and ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk
1 stitch, 5 dc, ch 2, dc in third ch of turning 5-ch lp. Ch 5,
turn.
Row 27: Skip open mesh, work dc in each of
5 dc and ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, 4 dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch,
dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, 4 dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc
in ch-1 sp and in each of 7 dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row
28: Work dc in each of 8 dc and ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1
stitch, dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc in each of dc, ch-1 sp, dc,
ch-1 sp, dc. Ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc in
each of ch-1 sp and 6 dc. Ch 2, dc in third ch of turning 5-ch
lp. Ch 5, turn.
Row 29: Skip open mesh, work dc
in each stitch across, including ch-1 sps. (27
dc)
Row 30: Work 26 dc, ch 2, dc in third ch of
turning 5-ch lp. Ch 5, turn.
Row 31: Work 27 dc
across. Ch 3, turn.
Row 32: Repeat Row
30.
Rows 33 - 42 Repeat Rows 19 through
28.
CUT yarn and fasten off.
For completion of
opposite side of heart border, with WRONG side facing you,
counting from the left, sk turning ch-3, sk 25 dc, sk 2 ch.
Attach yarn to the next dc. Ch 5.
Row 18: Skip
open mesh. Work dc across. (26 dc) Ch 3, turn.
Row
19: 13 dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, 11 dc, ch 2, sk open mesh,
dc in third ch of ch-5 turning lp. Ch 5, turn.
Row
20: Skip open mesh. Work 10 dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc in
ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, 13 dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row
21: Work 11 dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch. Work dc in each of ch-1
sp, dc and ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk 1 stitch, 9 dc. Ch 2, skip open
mesh, dc in third ch of ch-5 turning lp. Ch 5,
turn.
Row 22: Skip open mesh. Work 8 dc, ch 1,
sk 1 stitch. Dc in each of ch-1 sp, 3 dc and next ch-1 sp. Ch
1, sk 1 stitch, 11 dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row 23: Work
9 dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch. Work dc in each of ch-1 sp, 5 dc and
next ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk 1 stitch, 7 dc. Ch 2, skip open mesh,
dc in third ch of ch-5 turning lp. Ch 5, turn.
Row
24: Skip open mesh. Work 6 dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch. Dc in
each of ch-1 sp, 7 dc and next ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk 1 stitch, 9
dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row 25: Work 7 dc, ch 1, sk 1
stitch. Dc in each of ch-1 sp, 9 dc and next ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk
1 stitch, 5 dc. Ch 2, dc in third ch of turning ch-5 lp. Ch 5,
turn.
Row 26: Skip open mesh, work 4 dc, ch 1,
sk 1 stitch, dc in ch-1 sp and each of next 5 dc. Ch 1, sk 1
stitch, dc in each of next 5 dc and ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1
stitch, 7 dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row 27: Work dc in
each of 6 dc and ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, 4 dc, ch 1, sk 1
stitch, dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, 4 dc, ch 1, sk 1
stitch, dc in ch-1 sp and in each of 4 dc. Ch 2, skip open
mesh, dc in third ch of turning ch-5 lp. Ch 5,
turn.
Row 28: Skip open mesh, work dc in each of
5 dc and ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc
in each of dc, ch-1 sp, dc, ch-1 sp, dc. Ch 1, sk 1 stitch,
dc, ch 1, sk 1 stitch, dc in each of ch-1 sp and 8 dc. Ch 3,
turn.
Row 29: Work dc in each stitch across,
including ch-1 sps. Ch 2, dc in third ch of turning ch-5 lp.
Ch 5, turn.
Row 30: Skip open mesh, work dc
across. (26 dc) Ch 3, turn.
Row 31: Work 25 dc
across, ch 2, dc in third ch of turning ch-5 lp. Ch 5,
turn.
Row 32: Repeat Row 30.
Rows 33 -
43: Repeat Rows 19 through 29, except on Row 29, do not do
the ch-5 turning ch to turn. Continue with the following. Ch
65. Being careful not to twist the chain or the border, dc in
the top of the last dc of the first
side of the heart border, which you've already worked. Ch 2,
sk 2 ch and dc across. Ch 3, turn. (27 dc for this
side)
Row 44: Ch 3. Work 26 dc. Work 24 dc open
mesh spaces evenly across chains. Work 26 dc to the end. Ch 3,
turn.
Row 45: Work dc in each stitch across,
including all ch-2 sps and dc. Including the turning ch-3, you
will have 124 dc total.
Rows 46 - 58: Repeat
Rows 4 through 16.
Row 59: Work dc across. Ch
3, turn.
Row 60: Work dc across. Ch 1. DO NOT
CUT.
With RIGHT side facing, sc evenly around the
entire piece, with 3 sc in each corner. CUT and fasten
off.
Note: You have now completed the heart border
"frame." To make a nice even border around the inside for easy
attaching of the personalized mat, work the
following.
Attach yarn to the RIGHT side in any stitch
on the INSIDE of the heart border frame. Single crochet evenly
around, skipping stitches in the corners where necessary to
accommodate the curves.
CUT yarn and fasten
off.
Personalized Mat
Count the number of blocks across the width of your chosen graph. Use that number, plus one, as your beginning chain. Work
according to the personalized graph in SINGLE CROCHET. Use bobbins where
necessary for yarn not in use. Do not carry colors for more
than 5 or 6 stitches. Once completed, sc evenly around the
entire mat with the RIGHT side facing you.
Attach mat
to sides and bottom of heart border by whipstitching
together.
Edging/Border
Note: This border is perfect for either a girl or a boy. It makes a sort of "twisted rope" border. If you need some help learning the reverse crochet stitch, have a look at my Tips page. If you would like a
fancier, more feminine border, try the border design here. To see a photo of this afghan with the fancier border design, click here.
Row
1: Attach Contrasting Color to any center sc of corner on
RIGHT side. Ch 1. Sc around entire afghan. Sl st to the first
sc. CUT OFF.
Row 2: With two strands of
Contrasting Color held together at the same time and J hook,
attach Contrasting Color yarn to any sc on the outside of the
afghan. * Ch 1. Sk 1 sc, Rev Hdc in next sc. Rep from *
around, ending with ch 1. Sl st to beg ch. Fasten off and
weave in all ends. (Note: You do not need to use two
separate skeins of yarn for this portion. Just pull about half
of the skein of yarn out from the skein, then you will have
two separate skeins.)