A Scrap Sampler Afghan is almost like freeform crochet; it is made using any stitches you like, with a new color for every row. I like to put contrasting colors next to each other every now and then.
I wanted to show you guys how inspiring and fun it is to put together a scrap sampler afghan with the bits of yarn you have left over from other projects. I love this one, and I think I'll add a border! I'll have to update this blog post when I do.
I love, in particular, the way that the earth tones look with the turquoise and teal colors. Most of all I love how little bits of black and white (cream, really) really really make it pop!
Here are the instructions; if you enjoy them, please look at my reasonably priced small project patterns on Etsy and Amazon. Thanks you guys!
SCRAP AFGHAN INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1: Start with a foundation chain in the desired length of the longest side of your planned afghan. In my case, I made a foundation chain approximately 60". Personally, I liked using a yarn for this which has a bit more stretch so that it wouldn't "pinch" my later work.
Step 2: Work your desired number of rows in various colors, tying off and changing your color after each row. My first row was a dc row in teal. It is very important to lay your afghan on a flat surface and check that your width is not increasing or decreasing: it's very easy to inadvertently create a sloping edge even when you are careful with your stitch count. The weight of the afghan and how that affects your crochet work can still cause shrinking edges. My suggestion is to keep track of your width and adapt by increasing your stitch count evenly as needed.
My favorite stitches you can use in your rows:
Shell stitch with (or without) surface crochet - see photo below: ch 3 for first dc, skip next st, 5 dc in next st, skip next st, sc in next st, continue to end of row, ending mid-shell if necessary.
Consider working surface crochet through the curving stops of your shells so as to obtain a nice contrasting thin line of color (see black shells with surface crochet in cream in the example below)
Here is a helpful youtube video about working surface crochet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN8WIB9hYJQ
When you end a row which has curvy shapes like shell stitches, make sure to even out your edge in the following row. When I am "evening out" after rows of shell stitch, I work sc in every stitch, switching to dc when I come to a sc in the prev row.
V Stitch: (see photo below) work a row as follows: ch 3 for first dc, skip next st, *work 2 dc tog in next st, ch 1, work 2 dc tog in same st, skip next 2 st, repeat from * across, ending abruptly in the middle of a "V" if necessary.
If you work more rows of V stich on top of this one (remember to change color!), Ch3 for your first dc, then work your Vs across in the spaces between Vs on the previous row.
Below: Here's how two rows of V-stitch look on top of each other:
Granny Stitch: (see below) A nice choice for a few rows is this familiar stitch, which goes quickly and is easy to work. Ch 3 for your first dc, then skip 1 st, *work 2 dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st, repeat from * across. If you work successive rows on top of each other, simply ch3 for first st, work 2 dc in between every cluster of 2 dc in the previous row.
Rows of DC or SC: (see photo below)
I guess it's obvious that you can simply choose colors and work dc across; break it up by working smaller lines of color in sc across as well. In the photo you may notice that the single crochets in the center of the photo are worked in back loops only (to get a different effect).
Row of DC followed by a row (in a contrasting color) of sc with regular intervals of spike stitch sc: see below
Sometimes you may wish to make a couple of rows which look like they have little vertical stripes by working a row of dc first (see the white dc in the photo above). Then, in the next row, switch to a contrasting color and work sc across, making spike stitch sc at regular intervals. In my case I chose black and worked sc, sc, spike sc across and loved the way that it almost looked like black and white boxes or dots. To work a spike stitch, you simply insert your hook for that particular sc into the row below the working row, so that when you pull up and yarn over, the yarn stretches across for a long "footprint". Sometimes I call this a "long single crochet". You can see a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gNcV7MBojA
Step 3: Tie off and weave any loose ends through your work. If you wish, you can create a dc border around the edges of your work.
Thanks for looking and check out my other blog posts, like this one with a free pattern for chunky crocheted bowls:
My Etsy pattern store
My amazon store with pattern eBooks
Thanks for looking and happy crocheting!
Susan
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