Stairsteps Texture and Open Path Afghan
Crocheted in One Piece (with directions for 4 sizes)
Designed by Sandi Marshall
Knowing that some people prefer to crochet afghans in one piece rather than in squares to be joined, I combined the designs of two of my updown afghan squares and wrote directions for crocheting as a one-piece afghan. This afghan has lines of texture patterning with open path portions, combining my Stairsteps Texture Square and my Open Path Square. I've figured the starting chains and pattern differences for 4 different sizes in this design.
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ch = chain
dc = double crochet
sc = single crochet
sp = space
st = stitch
sts = stitches
Example is made with worsted weight yarn and a U.S. size H hook. You could make this all in one solid color or with sections of different colors. In the example above, after the first 7 rows, I changed colors after every 6 rows. I mixed brands of yarn but they are the same weight, using these colors: Red Heart Super Saver color Ocean, Red Heart Super Saver color Delft Blue, Caron One Pound Sky Blue, Caron One Pound Bright White
How To Do The Crossed dc (crdc): skip next st, dc in next st, then dc in the skipped st. Note: In this pattern, the dc is worked in the back loop only. It's helpful to bend the dc just made forward, when crossing the hook in back of that dc, making it easier to see the skipped stitch to work into (insert the hook from front to back in the back loop of the skipped stitch to begin making the dc in the skipped stitch). Photos showing how to do the crossed dc at: http://crochet.about.com/library/blcrosseddc.htm
Understanding Pattern Directions: What Do The Parenthesis Mean? - http://crochet.about.com/library/blrepeats2.htm
How To Crochet In The Back Loop Only - http://crochet.about.com/library/blbackfrontloop.htm
Pattern Directions
Created by Sandi Marshall, (c) 2006 by Sandi Marshall, licensed to About.com, Inc.
About The Starting Chains: The repeat is 36 stitches wide, with one finishing section 26 stitches wide at the very end of each row. Each 36 stitch repeat is about 9 inches wide, with the finishing section about 7 inches wide. Afghans vary greatly in size so if your finished size is different than these measurements, that's ok. These are just basic guidelines to give a general idea of the various sizes. If you want to make a size other than the sizes listed below, starting chain formula is a multiple of 36, plus 27.
For Baby Blanket: chain 99. About 25 inches wide; crochet rows until piece measures about 30 inches in length (before edging is added - a 2 1/2 inch edging all the way around the finished piece will make this blanket about 30 inches wide x 35 inches long)
For Lapghan or Child Size Blanket: chain 135. About 34 inches wide; crochet rows until piece measures about 40 inches in length (before edging is added).
For Throw: chain 171. About 43 inches wide; crochet rows until piece measures about 54 inches in length (before edging is added).
For Full Size Afghan: chain 207. About 52 inches wide; crochet rows until piece measures about 62 inches in length (before edging is added).
Starting Chain Choices: Chain 99 for baby blanket (135 for lapghan, 171 for throw, 207 for full size afghan)
Directions are for Baby Blanket size, with Lapghan, Throw and Full Size Afghan repeat differences given.
Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, (dc in next ch, sc in next ch) 3 times, dc in next ch, sc in ea of next 11 chs, (dc in next ch, sc in next ch) 3 times, dc in next ch, sc in ea of next 10 chs, * (dc in next ch, sc in next ch) 4 times, sc in ea of next 11 chs, (dc in next ch, sc in next ch) 3 times, dc in next ch, sc in ea of next 10 chs **, repeat the directions between * and ** no more times for baby blanket, (once more for lapghan, or twice more for throw, or 3 more times for full size afghan), then (sc in next ch, dc in next ch) 4 times, sc in ea of next 10 chs, (dc in next ch, sc in next ch) 4 times.
Row 2: Ch 1 to turn, sc in first sc, (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next dc, (crdc in back loop only over next 2 sc - see the how-to for crossed dc above, dc in back loop only of ea of next 2 sc) twice, crdc in back loop only over next 2 sc, then working in both loops of each stitch again, (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) 4 times, dc in back loop only of ea of next 2 sc, ch 1, skip 2 sc, dc in back loop only of next sc, ch 2, dc in back loop only of next sc, ch 1, skip 2 sc, dc in back loop only of ea of next 2 sc, then working in both loops of each stitch again, * (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) 4 times, (crdc in back loop only over next 2 sc - see the how-to for crossed dc above, dc in back loop only of ea of next 2 sc) twice, crdc in back loop only over next 2 sc, then working in both loops of each stitch again, (dc in next sc, sc in next dc) 4 times, dc in back loop only of ea of next 2 sc, ch 1, skip 2 sc, dc in back loop only of next sc, ch 2, dc in back loop only of next sc, ch 1, skip 2 sc, dc in back loop only of ea of next 2 sc, then working in both loops of each stitch again **, repeat the directions between * and ** no more times for baby blanket, (once more for lapghan, or twice more for throw, or 3 more times for full size afghan), then (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) 4 times, (crdc in back loop only over next 2 sc, dc in back loop only of ea of next 2 sc) twice, crdc in back loop only over next 2 sc, then working in both loops of each stitch again, (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next dc, sc in last sc.
Row 3: Ch 1 to turn, sc in first sc, (dc in next sc, sc in next dc) 3 times, dc in next sc, sc in back loop only of ea of next 10 dc, then working in both loops of each stitch again, (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) 4 times, sc in back loop only of ea of next 2 dc, sc in back loop only of next ch, sc in back loop only of next dc, sc in back loop only of each of next 2 chains, sc in back loop only of next dc, sc in back loop only of next ch, sc in back loop only of ea of next 2 dc, then working in both loops of each stitch again, * (dc in next sc, sc in next dc) 4 times, sc in back loop only of ea of next 10 dc, then working in both loops of each stitch again, (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) 4 times, sc in back loop only of ea of next 2 dc, sc in back loop only of next ch, sc in back loop only of next dc, sc in back loop only of each of next 2 chains, sc in back loop only of next dc, sc in back loop only of next ch, sc in back loop only of ea of next 2 dc, then working in both loops of each stitch again **, repeat the directions between * and ** no more times for baby blanket (or once more for lapghan, or twice more for throw, or 3 more times for full size afghan), then (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) 4 times, sc in back loop only of ea of next 10 dc, then working in both loops of each stitch again, (dc in next sc, sc in next dc) 4 times.
Additional Rows: Repeat Rows 2 and 3, consecutively, until you reach the length you want.
Optional Outside Round: If you wish to, work one round of single crochet all around the four sides of the outside edge, with a corner group such as 3 sc or (sc, ch 2, sc) each time you come to a corner.
Optional Edging: If you wish to add an edging, there are free edging patterns to choose from at http://crochet.about.com/od/bytype/a/edgings.htm
Copyright - This pattern was designed by Sandi Marshall. These afghan pattern directions and the pattern photos are copyright 
2006 by Sandi Marshall, licensed to About.com, Inc.
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Copyright Myths Explained, U.S. Government Copyright Law Web Site - http://www.loc.gov/copyright
Owner of Some Well-Known Pattern Companies Answers Questions About Copyright Law Regarding Patterns: www.drgnetwork.com/pages/copyrights/index.html
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