Handmade by Mother: This Is Not a Christmas Afghan

Bedspread and Pillow patterns from Mon Tricot Special Crochet, c. 1980

There is nothing Christmassy about this afghan.

But it’s red and green, you say?

Bah, humbug!

This, my friend, is “A Great Classic.” Mon Tricot further assures me that this is “Old Colonial style in its most classic form; patchwork motifs with a raised center dress up a bed or divan to perfection.”

You still have doubts? Why just look at this picture of an Old Colonial style patchwork quilt.

You see? The resemblance is uncanny!

For the complete pattern (and more snark!):

A GREAT CLASSIC

This is not a safe house where elves go to the mattresses.

Size. Bed-spread: 39 1/2 ins. by 70 ins. Pillow: Approx. 18 ins. square.

Materials. 35 oz. 4-ply knitting worsted in green, col. A; same quantity in red, col. B; 7 oz. in white, col. C; a crochet hook size H/8 (5); lining fabric and foam scraps for making pillow form.

Stitches Used. 1. Chain (ch.) See p. 5. 2. Slip stitch (sl.st.). 3. Single crochet (s.c.). 4. Double crochet (d.c.). See basic stitches. p. 10-11.

If you’re going to make this bedspread without knowing these basic stitches, you need more help than I can give you.

Gauge. One square measures just under 8 ins. each way.

SQUARE. Using col. A work 4 ch. and join into a ring by working a sl.st. into 1st ch. Round 1. Col. A. Work 8 s.c into ring, join with a sl.st. to 1st s.c. Round 2. Col. A. Make a long loop by drawing out the loop on hook to 5/8 in., *insert hook in 1st s.c., y.o.h., draw thru a long loop, then into same st. work (y.o.h., insert hook into st., y.o.h., draw thru a long loop) 3 times in same st., y.o.h., and draw yarn thru all 8 loops on hook, 3 ch., miss next s.c., * rep. between *’s 3 times more, 1 sl.st. into the st. which drew together the 1st petal. You have made 4 petals on round.

That’s 5/8ths of an inch. Not half an inch, or 3/4ths of an inch. 5/8ths!

So make sure you’ve got your ruler handy. And you better skip those meds you were prescribed for your Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

After all, who needs drugs, when crocheting alone will give you a deranged smile and glassy, staring eyes?

Round 3. Col. A. Sl.st. into 1st 3-ch. arc, * in same arc work a petal thus: insert hook beneath arc, y.o.h., draw thru a long loop, (y.o.h., insert hook beneath arc, y.o.h., draw thru a long loop) 4 times, y.o.h., and draw yarn thru all 10 loops on hook – petal completed – 3 ch., then work another petal in same arc, * rep. between *’s 3 times more, thus working 2 petals with 3 ch. between them into each of the 4 arcs, and finish in same way as Round 2. Round 4. Col. A. Sl.st. into 3-ch. arc between 1st and 2nd petals – this is the 1st corner – into this arc work 3 ch. to stand as 1 d.c., then 2 d.c., 3 ch., 3 d.c. into same arc, * 2 ch., then into next corner arc work 3 d.c., 3 ch., 3 d.c., * rep. between *’s twice more, 2 ch., 1 sl.st. into 3rd of 3 ch. at beg. of round. Fasten off.

And don’t forget, this is not a Christmas Afghan. It’s Old Colonial style patchwork, and that means you can proudly display it all year round!

Trust me, your family will be thrilled.

Round 5. Col. B. Join yarn to a corner arc of 3 ch., then into this arc work 3 ch. to stand as 1 d.c., then 3 d.c., 3 ch., 3 d.c. into same arc, * 2 ch., then 3 d.c. in 2-ch. sp. on side, 2 ch., then into next corner arc work 3 d.c., 3 ch., 3 d.c., * rep between *’s twice more, 2 ch., 3 d.c., in 2-ch. sp. on 4th side, 2 ch., sl.st. into top of 3 ch. at beg. Round 6. Col. B. Sl.st. in each of 1st 2 d.c., 1 sl.st. into corner arc, then into this arc work 3 ch., 2 d.c., 3 ch., 3 d.c. into same arc, * (2 ch., 3 d.c. into 2 ch. sp. on side) twice, 2 ch., then into corner arc work 3 d.c., 3 ch., 3 d.c., * rep. between *’s twice more, (2 ch., 3 d.c. into 2-ch. sp. on 4th side) twice, 2 ch., sl.st. into top of 3 ch. at beg. Fasten off. Round 7. Col. A. Join yarn to a corner arc and into this arc work 3 ch., 2 d.c., 3 ch., 3 d.c., * (2 ch., 3 d.c. into 2-ch. sp. on side) 3 times, 2 ch., then into corner arc work 3 d.c., 3 ch., 3 d.c., * rep. between *’s twice more, (2 ch., 3 d.c., into 2-ch. sp. on 4th side) 3 times, 2 ch., sl.st. into top of 3 ch. at beg. Fasten off.

This is not a Christmas nipple.

BED-SPREAD. Work 22 squares as described above, these will be called Square A, then make 23 squares using col. B for center and Round 7, and col. A for Rounds 5 and 6. These will be called Square B. Join squares into bands as follows: for 1st band take 5 squares, starting with square B, then square A, then B, then A, then B. To join the squares place 2 squares together, right sides inside, and working on wrong side using col. B and working thru both thicknesses, work 2 s.c. into corner arc, 3 ch., (2 s.c. in next 2 ch. sp. on the 2 squares 3 ch.) 4 times, 2 s.c. in corner arc. When all 5 squares are joined make 2nd band of 5 squares, beg. with square A, then B, then A, and so on. Continue forming bands in this way until you have 9 bands using all the squares and assemble them in same way, always alternating colors.

Here’s another Colonial-Style home, providing further proof of the undeniable kinship between this afghan and Early Americana.

That’s not a candy cane on the couch. It’s an Old Colonial crochet hook.

Border. Working on right side and using col. B, work a round of s.c. working 1 s.c. in each d.c., 2 d.c. in each 2-ch. sp., 1 s.c. in joining point between 2 adjacent squares, and 3 s.c. in corner arc at the 4 corners of bed spread.

PILLOW. For front of pillow work 4 squares as for bed-spread, using col. A for Rounds 1, 2, 3 and 4, col. C for Rounds 5 and 6 and col. A for Round 7.
Back. Using col. C work 42 ch. and work in rows of d.c. for 24 rows. Now all round outer edge of this piecework a round of s.c. using C. working 1 s.c. in each d.c. along last row and 1 s.c. in each ch. at other end, 3 s.c. in 1 st. at corners and along sides work * (2 s.c. into side of 1 d.c.) 3 times, 1 s.c. into side of next d.c., * rep. between *’s 5 times more. Now work another round of s.c. working 3 s.c. into center s.c. at each corner. Fasten off.

And this is not a Christmas tree!

completion. Using col. C join the 4 squares of front in same way as for bed-spread then all around outer edges work 1 round of s.c. using col. A and working 42 s.c. on each side and 3 s.c. in 1 st. at corners. Join back and front together along 3 sides, having wrong sides inside and working s.c. using col. A thru both thicknesses. Now cut out lining double, making it same size as pillow plus seam allowance. Join on three sides, stuff firmly, then sew up end. Insert pillow form inside cover, and join along 4th side as before. If preferred a purchased pillow form of correct size can be used.

As Mon Tricot was published in France, it’s possible that they were referring to the French Colonial style rather than the American one. So, let’s take a look at an example of a “French Colonial Bedroom”.