From crochet.about.com - Stained Glass Look Bird Design Afghan Square Free Pattern

A colorful variegated yarn on black gives the look of stained glass to this bird design. When choosing a variegated yarn to use for the look of stained glass, it works best to choose one which has very short lengths between color changes. The yarn used in the example changes color about every 3 inches on the yarn strands.

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Materials Used In This Example
Worsted weight yarn in the following colors:
Black
Variegated - Red Heart Super Saver Color No. 0723 Pinata
US size G hook

Finished Size: 5 inches wide (before adding an outside round)

Gauge: 4 sc = 1 inch, 5 rows = 1 inch

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
ea = each
sc = single crochet

To Begin: Chain 21.
Row 1 on chart: sc in 2nd ch from hook. sc in ea chain across. (20 sc)
Rows 2 - 5 on chart: ch 1 (to turn), sc in ea sc across. (20 sc)
Row 6 on chart and continuing: On row 6, you will begin to add the second color. Read the chart as one square on the chart equals one single crochet stitch. On this row and on every row, you will start the row with a ch 1 (to turn) and sc in ea sc across, making the color changes as indicated on the chart. If you need help with changing colors, see the following links:
Changing Colors Diagram - http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa072697.htm
Changing Colors Photos - http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa041203.htm
Changing Colors Hints - http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa041203b.htm

Read the chart as one square on the chart = one single crochet stitch:

When finished, end off. Weave in ends - http://crochet.about.com/library/bl_weave_ends.htm.

Another Method: If you prefer cross stitch instead of changing colors in crochet, you could make a crocheted background of single crochet in one solid color, then cross stitch the bird on the finished square. To make a background the same size as the chart, your starting chain would be 21 chains. Single crochet for 22 rows. How To Cross Stitch on Single Crochet - http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa111702.htm. Or ... if you enjoy crocheting in afghan stitch (to do cross stitch on), your starting chain would be 20 chains (because there is no turning chain in afghan stitch).

Adapted from an antique filet crochet design published in the year 1915 (the copyright on the original form of that bird design has expired. That 1915 publication has fallen into public domain). I revised, recharted and recreated from the inspiration given by that antique filet crochet design.

Copyright: My example photo, chart and my written instructions on this page are copyright 2005 by Sandi Marshall, licensed to About.com, Inc. Free for your own personal use only. You are welcome to link to the main page for this pattern or link to this printing page but, per copyright law, do not place the actual content of the page on your own website; do not redistribute in any form! If others would like to have the instructions, please give them the URL of this page, so that they may come here for themselves. Thank you! Copyright Myths Explained - www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html, U.S. Government Copyright Office - http://www.loc.gov/copyright
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