Turn the traditional crochet granny stripe on it’s head when you make the Daphne Afghan, a FREE pattern designed in collaboration with Lion Brand.
It’s safe to say I’m pretty obsessed with the granny stitch. I’ve used the granny square and stripe in many of my favorite projects, like the Valentino Wrap, Josie Shawl, and the Sweet Granny Baby Blanket. I’m excited to add another pattern to that library – the Daphne Afghan. Made with colorful cake yarn and a striking accent, this blanket is an instant heirloom.
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Pin It Now, Make It Later!
Find a printer-friendly version of the Daphne Afghan on Ravelry and TLYarnCrafts.com. The PDF version includes 4 easy-to-read pages of instruction as well as seaming instructions without watermarks.
Get the all-in-one kit for the Daphne Afghan from Lion Brand now! Kit includes all the yarn you need for this project plus a printed version of the pattern. Explore the Daphne Afghan and all TL Yarn Crafts x Lion Brand crochet kits here.
Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Daphne Afghan.
Fall In Love With The Granny Stitch
The granny stitch and I go way back. When I was just a teenager, I first learned to crochet after my mom started a granny square for me and told me to “Keep going”. I was hooked on crochet after that (pun very much intended!).
The granny stitch in crochet is so classic. The meditative, easy stitching draws you into every project using this stitch. The Daphne Afghan incorporates this stitch in a whole new way.
The Daphne Afghan starts by making 4 granny stripe triangles, much like you’d do when making a granny triangle scarf. Those triangles are then joined together and a simple border is added. The result is a polished blanket fit for gifts or preparing for your own little one.
Picking The Perfect Yarn
As a certified yarn snob, I’m especially predisposed to dislike acrylic cake yarns. I’ve got my qualms with them, but Mandala Ombre from Lion Brand is one yarn I’ll make an exception for.
Mandala Ombre features subtle color changes that give it a tonal nature that you can’t find in most commercial cake yarns. The Daphne Afghan uses Mandala Ombre in the color Tranquil for a bright pop of color. It’s paired with Basic Stitch Premium, another Lion Brand yarn, for optimal contrast.
Get the Daphne Afghan all-in-one kit from Lion Brand now!
If you’re not a cake yarn fan, just about any yarn will do to make the Daphne Afghan. I’d suggest having plenty of your contrast color and keeping that consistent throughout the project. But play around with your stripes. Use yarn from your stash, or even make your own color gradient to personalize your project.
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If you’re ready to crochet the Daphne Afghan, keep scrolling for the free version of the pattern. Or, find a printable version of the Daphne Afghan pattern on TLYarnCrafts.com and Ravelry. You can also get the all-in-one kit from Lion Brand here.
Click here to get the Daphne Afghan PDF pattern on Ravelry!
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Daphne Afghan Details
MATERIALS:
- Lion Brand Basic Stitch Premium, 3 balls in the color Cream (A)
- Lion Brand Mandala Ombre, 3 cakes in the color Tranquil (B)
- 5.5mm crochet hook (find my favorite set of crochet hooks here!)
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
FINISHED SIZE:
35.5″ x 35.5″ square, after blocking
GAUGE:
14 dc x 9 rows = 4″, unblocked
ABBREVIATIONS:
Ch = chain
Clu = cluster (3dc in the same place)
Dc = double crochet
Rep = repeat
RS = right side
Sc = single crochet
Sl st = slip stitch
Sp = space
St = stitch
Tch = turning chain
Daphne Afghan Pattern
Need help with your Daphne Afghan? Follow along with this tutorial video:
Motif (make 4)
ROW 1 (WS): With A, make magic ring, ch 3, (dc 3, ch 1, dc 4) in magic ring, close ring, turn. (8 dc)
ROW 2 (RS): Ch 3, clu in sp between 1st and 2nd dc, (clu, ch 1, clu) in ch-1 sp, sk 3 dc, clu in sp between last skipped st and next st, dc in top of tch, turn. (4 clu)
ROW 3: With B, ch 3, clu in sp between 1st and 2nd dc, sk 3 dc, clu in sp between last skipped st and next st, (clu, ch 1, clu) in ch-1 sp, (sk 3 dc, clu in sp between last skipped st and next st) 2 times, dc in top of tch, turn. (6 clu)
ROW 4: Ch 3, clu in sp between 1st and 2nd dc, sk 3 dc, (clu in sp between last skipped st and next st, sk 3 dc) to ch-1 sp, (clu, ch 1, clu) in ch-1 sp, sk 3 dc, (clu in sp between last skipped st and next st, sk 3 dc) to tch, dc in top of tch, turn. (8 clu)
ROWS 5-26: Rep Row 4, changing color every 2 rows. Fasten off after Row 26.
Weave in all ends.
Assembly
Using this diagram as an aid, lay motifs with RS facing you and the tips of the triangles meeting in the middle to form a square. Slip stitch the 4 motifs together with Color A, working in the back loops only. Be sure to keep the slip stitches loose so the blanket will lay flat. Weave in all ends.
Border
ROUND 1: With RS facing and with A, join with a sl st in the side of the tch of any row, ch 1, 2sc in same sp as join, 2sc in the side of each tch and dc at the end of rows across the edge. At corners, ch 2 and continue placing 2sc in the end of rows across the next edge. Finish with a sl st in the first sc of round, turn.
ROUND 2: Ch 1, [(sl st in next st, dc in next st) across row to ch-2 sp, (sl st, dc 1) 2 times in ch-2 sp] 4 times, (sl st in next st, dc in next st) across final edge to the start of round, join with sl st in ch-1 sp, fasten off.
Finishing
- Weave in all remaining ends.
- Steam block lightly to finished dimensions.
If you’re new to blocking crochet projects made from acrylic yarn, watch this video to help you finish your Daphne Afghan:
That’s all, folks! I loved designing the Daphne Afghan and I really hope you enjoy making one (or several!). Special thanks to my friends at Lion Brand for sponsoring and inspiring this project. For more or my collaborations with LB, browse my all-in-one crochet kits here.
Please take a moment to upload your projects to Ravelry and don’t forget to PIN this pattern to Pinterest so you can share it with friends. I’d love to see your projects on social media – share them on Instagram using the hashtag #DaphneAfghan, then head over to the TLYC Makers Facebook group and share it there too!
Looking for more cheerful crochet projects? Check these out:
This is a very beautiful blanket! The colors are awesome.
Thanks so much! I think the colors really make this pattern pop 🙂
My sister in law just had baby #6, and I have been looking for a cute blanket to make for my newest niece. This is perfect. Fun and colorful, but simple enough that she can use it for years. Just ordered the yarn from the LB website. Can’t wait to start it!!
How exciting! I bet you’ve made a lot of baby blankets 🙂 I really hope your niece loves this one for a very long time.
Love the pattern, but can’t seem to get a good copy of the free pattern. The link from here takes me to Ravelry; but that link brings me back here. How do I get a good copy?
Hi Carolyn – I’m so glad you like this pattern! The free version is only here on my blog. If you’d like a printable version, the copy on Ravelry and TLYarnCrafts.com is $5.
This is such a beautiful pattern and the colors are amazing. I can’t wait to play around with some other color combos. I am relatively new to crochet so I thought I would ask instead of assume. Is there a way to make this bigger? Where would I add? Would I repeat certain rows until it’s the desired length? Thanks for your help and thanks for making wonderful patterns!
Great question! To make this bigger, just make your triangles bigger. The long side of your triangle is the side of your blanket. Just be sure that all 4 triangles still have the same number of rows as one another.
Perfect! Thank you so much! Can’t wait to start this!
Such a cute pattern! Is there an easy way to make this pattern bigger? I’d like it in a throw size.
Absolutely! Just make the triangles bigger. The long side of the triangle will be the long side of your blanket 🙂
I absolutely love the Daphne pattern! My go to blankets are usually the C2C. Now I will have 2 go to blankets . I just finished my first triangle and I love how it came out. This blanket is for a baby boy and I am using Lion Brand Pound of Love in white and Lion Brand Ice Cream Cotton Blend in Blueberry. I love carrying the yarn up the side so very few ends to weave in I added 4 rows to make it about 40”. I am planning on making a Daphne for my husband and me. He likes the blue one I am making now and I want something in black, gray, white and maybe a pop of red – looking for an ombré or striped yarn.
I also want to thank you for your Tunisian Crochet tutorials and patterns. I am totally hooked! Your videos and instructions are spot on. I am one of your biggest fans. I have been crocheting and knitting for 50+ years!
Hi Robin! It sounds like you’ve got your hands full with projects for a while, which is awesome! I love working on big projects like afghans too 🙂 And thank you for your kind words about my tutorial videos. I love making them, and it’s nice to know that they’re helpful.
I am halfway through making this blanket and I LOVE the pattern and the color contrast of the rainbow against the white. I plan to make it using other colors/yarns too. What other yarn brands/types would you recommend to use instead of those written in the pattern? During the pandemic it’s been hard to find many yarns.
Hi Anna! The Daphne Afghan lends itself to just about any yarn. And other worsted weight yarns will work great. Lion Brand has a great selection, as does WeCrochet and Yarnspirations 🙂
I just finished my first corner? and I’m loving the results! Very new to crocheting…just finished 2 scarves and now taking on this beautiful blanket for my new granddaughter! But let me tell you, that magic ring had me going back & forth for awhile! Can not wait to see the finished product!
I would like to make this blanket using Lion Brand Ice cream yarn. What size hook would I use? It is lightweight worsted #3
I think a 5mm hook with this yarn would be perfect 🙂
Thank you for this amazing pattern! It’s such a beautiful use of the yarn cakes – I can’t stop looking at your pictures. I’ve just started my first triangle and it is all coming together, and your video is so helpful. Now I have to make all your patterns! Thanks again!!
Trying to decide how much more yarn I’d need to order in my kit to get this to be a throw sized blanket. Suggestions on skein amounts?
It’s really tough to say. I’d start with 2 more balls of each. Maybe 3 extra just to be safe.
I like your gingham patterns were do I find the pda patterns
Hi! You can find PDF versions of all of my patterns on my website – TLYarnCrafts.com
I’m so excited to start this project for a gift. If I wanted to use a 5 or 6 weight yarn, what size hook would you recommend? I’m thinking a 9mm, but would love your recommendation. Specifically looking at Bernat Blanket Brights, because I need lots of bright colors for this project. Would I also follow the same yardage? Love your work!
Hi! For a category 5 yarn I’d recommend either a 6.5mm or an 8mm. For a 6 weight yarn, I’d likely go for a 10mm. But definitely play around with the hook size based on the yarn you land on. You’ll definitely need more yardage if you go for a larger weight yarn.
Ok how I love this pattern but I it driving me crazy too!!! hahah I love your tutorials and I wouldn’t be able to do this without the video The problem I am having is that I have done all 4 triangles and used the same hook and they rows count out but One seems to be larger than the others!!!! What have I done wrong!!!
Hi! It could be that your gauge was off for that triangle. Try seaming them as is, then block them to the finished size you want. This should manage the size discrepancy.
oh my gosh, I can’t wait to make this! I saw another person asked if they can make the pattern bigger and I am so happy it’s possible. I want to give this to my mom for her birthday. I’ve been sitting with 6 cakes of the mandala ombre, at a complete loss as to what to do with it. This pattern is perfect!
how do i unsubscribe? this stupid pop up keeps popping up it keeps coming across the screen. i thought i’d given you all that info already. i don’t trust this website. i don’t want to have anything else to do with it, but i find no place to unsubscribe which makes me even more suspicious.
You can unsubscribe from the newsletter by clicking unsubscribe next time I send a newsletter, but the pop up is part of the site. You can close out of it. If you don’t trust my blog, there are many other amazing crochet blogs to check out 🙂
This is absolutely adorable! I am making one right now! (Plus ordered the kit because the colors in yours are sooo beautiful!). Excellent video btw… clear precise instructions. Thank you!
I finished the baby-sized blanket last night. I wish I could show you how pretty it is. Thank you again for this adorable pattern!!!!
Hi Toni! I love this pattern! I am through the first triangle and haven’t used much of the Mandala cake. The pattern indicates 3 cakes which is what I purchased. Does it really take 3 cakes for 26 rows on each side or will I have a good amount extra? The reason I ask is to see if I have enough yarn to make the blanket bigger.
Hi! I used three cakes on mine to make the original sample. You can take the yardage or weight you have, divide it by 4, and you’ll see if you can use more yarn on each triangle 🙂
Love this & gonna make it a wedding present.
How do I make this into an adult blanket
Hi! To make this blanket bigger, make your individual triangles bigger.
I found this blanket in my search for a pattern to use for one of the 5 baby blankets I have to make this year. I love how quickly it works up and how when it starts to take longer on one triangle, you finish that and move on to the next one! When I’m done I’ll post pictures on Ravelry and Instagram…do you have a hashtag you want used?
I’m so glad this pattern works for the blankets you need 🙂 I’d love to see them – please tag @TLYarnCrafts and #DaphneAfghan on Instagram.
I LOVE this blanket and so much on your blog! But the color I want to use is Mandla baby, 3 weight. Should I use a 3 weight contrast yarn and a 5mm hook? Or will it work to just sub it in to your pattern as is? Thank you!
Hi! You’ll want your yarns to be the same weight. For a DK weight yarn. I’d recommend a 4.5mm hook.
Hi Toni…I’ve been working on making several of your gorgeous pattern designs. I’ve been unable to find a substitute for Lion Brand’s Basic Stitch Premium via Yarnsub. And,I don’t trust my own substitution knowledge yet. I’m somewhat new to crochet. Could you make some recommendations? Thank you …I so love your work.
Hi! Basic Stitch Premium is a middle-of-the-road worsted weight, so something like Red Heart Super Saver, Big Twist Value, Lion Brand’s Vanna’s Choice, and Bernat Super Value would all be good subs. Look for anything in a category 4 worsted weight.
Hi Toni, for the Saturday break I am picking out yarn for the Daphne Afghan. I’m kinda new but with your Crochet Academy instruction I’ve made some swatches I am actually proud of! Thanks for the head up about tension!! So far I’ve been practicing magic rings, granny squares, chainless foundations and getting straight edges on a square swatch, etc. Do you think this blanket is above beginner level? Also, I really want to do it in true pride rainbow colors and found the Mandala Baby Yarn in Rainbow Falls. It is the only one I have found (of any brand) that actually has all five rainbow colors. I’m worried that the dimensions are different and I don’t know how to adjust for that. Yarn Weight is 3 not 4 (below). Does the weight difference make that much difference? Won’t I just wind up with a bit different sized blanket?
3 Light
Crochet Gauge (4in x 4in)
16 sc x 20 r on H-8 (5 mm)
Knit Gauge (4in x 4in)
22 sts x 30 r on #5 (3.75mm)
Length (yd) 590
Length (m) 540
Weight (oz) 5.3
Weight (g) 150
Fiber Acrylic
Fiber Detail 100% Acrylic
Care Machine Wash, Machine Dry
Pattern Corrections No
OH and…I forgot to say I have a lot of white Cherub Chunky yarn from Cascade Yarns (the closest yarn store I could walk to during COVID only sells this brand) so if I use that for the white I will be using one size smaller for colors and one size bigger for the contrast. Will that just add fun texture or mess the whole thing up? It doesn’t have a number but as a chunky that advises using 6 – 8 mm hook I’m guessing it is at least one size up.
I made this exactly according to the instructions and it worked up quickly and beautifully! I’m 3/4 way through trying it again, this time with HDC instead of DC and: it’s not as good. The triangles don’t have a straight “base” and they won’t form a pleasing perfect square when joined. Learn from my mistake and follow this great pattern as written!
Hi Toni, love this pattern works up so quickly. Just a quick question, I finished the four triangles and have a full cake of the Mandala left. Worked 26 rows on each -just wondering if I missed something. Thank you!
That is quite odd! Is your gauge correct? And is longest side of the triangles about 35″ long? There should be *some* leftover, but not an entire skein.
Thanks for replying. Yes, my triangle measures 35.5 without blocking. I used almost all of the 3 Basic Stitch and almost 2 of the Mandala. On YouTube it’s written as requiring 2 of each, but on the written pattern it says 3 of each?
In any case, it came out beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing your talent 🥰
LOVE this pattern and how quick and easy it is working up! My only question/cocern though is that my outer edge of the triangle doesn’t stay straight? The more rows I add the more it starts to curve? Is there something I could be doing incorrectly?
Hi! This is completely normal (assuming you’re following the pattern correctly and adding just 2 clusters every row). Blocking your project at the end should solve this.
Toni, I love the look of this pattern! It’s gorgeous!
I’m planning on making one in April for St. Jude’s “Crochet and Fundraise”. Just a question: since Basic Stitch Premium has been discontinued, what yarn would you suggest is a good replacement, if we want to keep the color and feel of your sample?
Hi Sarah! You can find substitution ideas at YarnSub