Joyful Afghan – a free Tunisian crochet block stitch blanket
Good luck keeping this cuddly throw blanket all to yourself! Crochet the Joyful Afghan, a chunky Tunisian crochet block stitch blanket pattern designed in collaboration with Lion Brand.
Looking for a bit of me-time? Cuddle up in your favorite corner of the couch with the new Joyful Afghan. Customize this oversized Tunisian crochet throw blanket with the five-color palette of your choice, and enjoy a nap in the stillness of the afternoon. That is, if you can keep little hands and paws away!
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PIN IT NOW, MAKE IT LATER!
Make the Joyful Afghan!
- FREE PATTERN: Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Joyful Afghan
- PRINTABLE PDF: Get a printer-friendly, ad-free PDF version of the Joyful Afghan from Ravelry or TLYarnCrafts.com
- PROJECT KIT: Customize your Joyful Afgha project kit from Lion Brand HERE
Colorful Tunisian Crochet Block Stitch Blanket
Tunisian crochet creates a beautifully dense, cozy fabric, no matter the stitch. But, if you want to raise the cozy factor even more, add a little color like I did with this block stitch crochet blanket. The Joyful Afghan gets its character from the Tunisian crochet block stitch, a three-row repeat that creates pillowy pockets of color and texture throughout.
I’m a big fan of modern minimalism. I let elements like plants and photographs add depth to my space, and use accent pieces like throw blankets and pillows to soften the space without distracting too much. Adding the Joyful Afghan livens up my living room and entices everyone, from my mom to my dog, Pepper, to enjoy a couple winks on the couch. Enhance the atmosphere of your own space by adding the Joyful Afghan to the arm of your sofa or to a blanket ladder.
Soothing Color Palette for Crochet
Creating cohesive color palettes in crochet can seem daunting, but I’m here to make it easy. In this blog post, I covered several of my favorite color palette shortcuts, including crafting with contrasts to allow colors to stand out from one another. By using a contrasting neutral shade and a punchy five-color palette, the Joyful Afghan’s beautiful lines shine.
For the Joyful Afghan, I chose a color palette with a harmonious, relaxing color palette that combines pink and green. A smoky brown acts as the transition between these two strong colors, and a light neutral ties it all together. By using Lion Brand’s Hue + Me yarn, the result is striking, using colors that were intentionally created to match well together. You can build dozens of palettes with this yarn, or choose just 2 contrasting colors like I did in this version that I made for my best friend. READY TO TRY HUE + ME YARN? FIND IT HERE!
Make the Joyful Afghan!
- FREE PATTERN: Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Joyful Afghan
- PRINTABLE PDF: Get a printer-friendly, ad-free PDF version of the Joyful Afghan from Ravelry or TLYarnCrafts.com
- PROJECT KIT: Customize your Joyful Afgha project kit from Lion Brand HERE
Joyful Afghan Details
DESCRIPTION
Craft your own coziness with the beginner-friendly Joyful Afghan. This chunky Tunisian crochet block stitch blanket combines simplicity with modern style, using a custom five-color palette to match your unique vibe. The oversized dimensions make it perfect for cuddling with a good book or infusing elegant style into your space. Each section flows smoothly into the next, begging you to finish just one more row. You’ll be amazed how fast you finish this blanket (and how eager you’ll be to start another one!).
MATERIALS
- Lion Brand Hue + Me Yarn – MC – Desert, 6 skeins; 2 skeins each of A – Juniper, B – Sea Glass, C – Arrowwood, D – Rose Water, and E – Spicy. Substitute the bulky-weight yarn of your choice. CHECK YOUR GAUGE!
- 12mm crochet hook with 32″ cord (like this one)
- 10mm crochet hook (like this one)
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Steam blocking supplies
FINISHED SIZE
60″ long x 48″ wide after steam blocking
GAUGE
6” = 14 sts x 13 rows in block stitch pattern, unblocked
ABBREVIATIONS
CC = change color
Ch = chain
Lts = last Tunisian stitch
Rep = repeat
RetP = return pass
Sc = single crochet
Sl St = slip stitch
St(s) = stitch(es)
Tss = Tunisian simple stitch
XLTfpdc = extra long Tunisian front post double crochet
SPECIAL STITCHES
–Extra Long Tunisian Front Post Double Crochet (XLTfpdc): Yarn over, insert hook under the front and back vertical bars of the stitch 3 rows below, yarn over, pull up a loop, chain 1, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook. Skip the Tss behind the XLTfpdc on the working row.
–Last Tunisian Stitch (Lts): Insert hook under BOTH vertical bars of the last stitch and complete as for Tss.
–Return Pass (RetP): Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through the next 2 loops on hook) until 1 loop remains on hook.
NOTES:
-Adjust the width of this blanket by starting with a chain that is a multiple of 4 + 3. Make your blanket longer by adding more rows.
-Carry MC up the side of the work throughout. Fasten off accent colors at the end of each 8-stripe section.
Joyful Afghan Pattern
Need some help with the Tunisian crochet Block Stitch? Learn it in this tutorial video!
Make the Blanket
Blanket Body
With 12mm Tunisian crochet hook and MC, ch 103.
FOUNDATION ROW: Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, pull up a loop in the back bump of each ch across, RetP, CC to A.
ROWS 2-3: Tss across row, RetP, CC to MC at end of Row 3.
ROW 4: Tss 2, (XLTfpdc 1, tss 3) across row, working last st as for Lts, RetP, CC to A.
ROWS 5-121: Rep Rows 2-4, creating 8 stripes in each accent color A-E (40 total stripes long). Fasten off each accent color at the end of the 8-stripe section. Continue with MC to Bind Off and Border, fasten off E.
BIND OFF: Sl st bind off loosely with MC. Do not fasten off.
Blanket Border
Change to 10mm hook, ch 2, rotate blanket to work along Left Edge.
- Left Edge: Sc along row ends, placing one sc in each row. Ch 2 at end of row. Rotate to work along Bottom Edge.
- Bottom Edge: Sc in each ch of the Foundation Row. Ch 2 at end of row. Rotate to work along Right Edge.
- Right Edge: Sc along row ends, placing one sc in each row. Ch 2 at end of row. Join with a sl st in the first st of the Bind Off. Fasten off.
Finishing
Weave in all remaining ends.
Lightly steam block to final dimensions.
Prefer a printable, ad-free version of this pattern? Find it here!
The first time I cuddled on the couch with my colorful Joyful Afghan, Pepper gave it a good sniff and tucked himself in like it was his blanket all along. His little body and my new favorite blanket kept me warm while I caught up on the latest season of Love is Blind (get with it, Minneapolis!). I wonder how many other shows this block stitch blanket and I will enjoy together.
Before you enjoy that well-deserved nap, share your project in the TLYC Makers Facebook Group and tag @TLYarnCrafts on Instagram. We are so excited to see your beautiful progress.
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You’ve put this together so well, it’s a fantastic read.