Animal Afghan

Materials
Size 9 or "I" Susan Bates crochet hook
Size 9 or "I" Susan Bates afghan hook
Large-eyed crewel embroidery needle
4-ply washable yarn. ?? oz. Red Heart is machine washable and dryable, durable, and has lots of colors. Background works well with off-white,
pale yellow, baby blue, or pure white. You will need scraps of yarn for cross-stitch and embroidery; 3-ply, 4-ply, Lustersheen, and size 10
crochet thread were all used in the sample.
Make strips of alternating afghan blocks with Dc blocks. The afghan blocks will be embroidered.
Abbreviations:
ch = chain sc = single crochet dc = double crochet slst = slip stitch
hk = hook yo = yarn over or wrap yarn

Afghan Block
Odd numbered strips (1,3,5, etc.): Afghan stitch Row 1: With afghan hook, chain 22. Keeping all loops on the hk, insert hk into 2nd. Ch and
draw up a loop, draw up a loop in each remaining ch. 22 loops on hk
2nd Half of Row 1: Yo and pull through 1 loop, *yo and pull through 2 loops.* Repeat
from * to * across until there is one loop remaining on hk.
Row 2: Insert hk under the 2nd. vertical bar (up & down loop), yo and pull up loop,
*insert hk under next vertical bar and pull up loop*. Repeat from * to * across
22 loops on hk
2nd. half of row 2: work same as 2nd. half of row 1.
Repeat row 2 until there are a total of 19 rows, ending the last row by working slst across as follows: draw up a loop under the next vertical bar
and pull this through loop on hk. Repeat across. One loop will remain on the hook to start the dc square. The afghan square will measure 6" by
6" Do not turn.
Keeping the one remaining loop in place, remove the afghan hook and replace it with the "I" crochet hook. Begin the dc pattern block

Double Crochet Pattern Block
Row 1: Ch 4, turn, 1 dc in 3rd. slst, 1dc in next slst, *ch 1, skip 1, 1 dc in each of the next 2 slst.* Repeat from * to * across (working the last
dc in the loop in the side of the square). There will be 7 groups of 2 dc and 7 spaces.
Row 2: Ch 4, turn, 2 dc in 1st. ch 1 space, *ch 1, 2 dc in next ch 1 space.* Repeat from
* to * 4 times, ending with ch 1, 1 dc in the 4th ch of the previous turning ch, 1 dc in 3rd. ch of previous turning ch. Repeat Row 2 for the
double crochet pattern. Work even in pattern until there are a total of 9 rows of dc. The double crochet square will measure 6" by 6".
Afghan Square: Keeping the one remaining loop in place, remove the crochet hook and replace it with the "I" afghan hook. Turn. Insert hk in top
of the 2nd. dc and pull up a loop, *insert hk under ch and pull up a loop, pull up a loop in each of next 2 dc*, Repeat from * to * across, ending
with pulling up a loop in the 4th ch of the turning ch 4, pull up a loop in the 3rd. ch of the turning ch 4. There will be 22 loops on hk.
Work remainder of the square the same as the first square.

Alternate squares of the afghan stitch with squares of the dc pattern for the number of blocks required for the size you are making. Do not finish
off. Make 2 rounds of sc around outside edge, with 19 sc per block along sides, and 3 sc in each corner. Work the 2nd. round in back loops
only. Fasten off.

Even numbered strips (2,4,etc.): Start with a dc block. With crochet hook, ch 25. Work 1 dc in the 6th ch, 1 dc in the next ch, *ch1, skipp 1
ch, 1 dc in each of the next 2 ch*. Repeat from * to * across. Repeat pattern Row 2 of the first dc crochet square.
Then alternate the afghan block with the double crochet block for the length of the strip, continuing with the 2 rounds of sc around outside edge.
Fasten off.

Border
Make 2 rounds of sc, with 3 sc in each corner. Make 2 rounds of 2 dc, ch1 around. Make 2 - 3 rounds of sc, with 3 sc in each corner. Make 2
rounds of 2 dc, ch 1 around. Make 2 -3 rounds of sc, with 3 sc in each corner. Make scallop edge: *sc, skip 2 sc,
5 dc in next sc, skip 2 sc, sc in next sc*. Repeat from * to * around. Fasten off.


You can make an afghan with 11 by 7 blocks and have 39blocks for embroidery.
You can make an afghanwith 9 by 5 blocks and have23 blocks for embroidery.   
You can make an afghanwith 7 by 5 blocks and have18 blocks for embroidery.

                                     Animal Blocks
1. Alligator: Bright green with
the back and teeth using half
cross-stitches in red to make
a jagged edge. (^^^^^)

2. Chickie: Bright, hard yellow,
outlined with hot orange
(almost florescent). The legs are
whip-stitched over a couple of
threads to give a raised
appearance.

3. Dolphin: Silver/gray size 10 crochet
thread with metallic filaments. Outlined
in black. Splashes of water done in
blue thread with silver metallic filaments.

4. Squirrel: Medium or light
brown, outlined in med. or dark
brown. Acorn also in brown.
Tail could be done in French
knots for a textured feel

5. Snake: Light green, outlined in
dark green. Red eyes and red
forked tongue.

6. Elephant: Baby pink with blue outline
and a blanket of bright bold/black thread
(or whatever contrast color you like).

7. Owl: Medium variegated yarn used
for light areas. Dark variegated yarn
for wings and outside of the head.
Outlined in black, and little black V's
were placed overall to simulate the
look of feathers

8. Fox: Muted, burnt-orange. Outlined
in brown. Optionally, a tail could be
made with brushed threads for a
3-D effect.

9. Sheep: Black face, feet and tail.
Body done in gray French knots.
Alternately, you can cross-stitch
it, but it loses a lot of character
without the texture of the
French knots.

10. Swan: Light blue, outlined in
med. blue. Waves in blue.

11. Pig: Light pink, outlined in magenta.
Tail is a 3D corkscrew, made by
chain 12, 3 sc in each chain.

12. Cat: Pale teal. Outlined in
med teal.

13. Snail: Body in light green. Round
back in bright yellow. Outlined and
accented with magenta

14. Skunk: Black with red eyes