Free Star-Shaped Afghan Pattern

YarnDiva's Crocheted Baby Starghan (Star Afghan)
© April 2003 by Beth Espina-Cole aka mamabeth aka yarndiva

Kudos to lissie of ravelry.com for figuring out why this pattern is such a mystery to almost everyone!! Here is the link to her "aha" moment: lissie

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Materials:

1. Red Heart Sport Baby Pompadour Yarn in colors of choice.

2. Aluminum Crochet Hook Size F/5
Gauge: 6 rows from center to one point is 4”

(As long as the afghan is relatively flat…gauge is really not that important).

You may also use soft or worsted weight yarn and a larger hook for “bigger” babies!!

Special Stitch: Shell Stitch = 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc

Auhor’s Note: It is to be understood that ch 3 = 1 dc at the beginning of each round throughout the entire pattern.

The size of the afghan is up to you…these are just the basic instructions to start with.

Please read the entire pattern before starting! It could save you a headache!

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Instructions:

Ch 5, sl st in first ch to form ring.

Round 1

Round 1: 20 dc = (ch 3 + 19 dc) around ring, sl st in 3rd ring of first ch 3.

The ch 3 for every new row is a substitute for 1 dc...it makes it easier to start your dc's at the right height.

Round 2

Round 2: Sc in first dc, {sk next dc, shell (3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) in next dc, sk next dc, sc in next dc}. Repeat { } all around. 5 shells & 5 sc’s.

Round 3

Round 3: Sl st in sc, sl st in first 2 dc’s of first shell, ch 3, dc in 3rd dc of first shell, {shell in ch 2 sp, 2 dc over next 2 dc, sk next ([dc, sc, dc] ...yes, skip all three...the skipped stitches becomes your "valley"), 2 dc over next 2 dc’s}. Repeat { } all around. * Sl st in 3rd ch of ch 3, sl st in dc after ch 3 of R 3.

(User friendly terms: Basically, R 3 is this: the sc & the first dc is skipped, you sl st in the sc, the first dc and the 2nd dc and then from the sl st in the 2nd dc, you make 2 dc's (1 ch 3 + 1 dc) over the previous 2 dc's and then the 3 dc shell in the ch 2 sp. Shove the shell over and 2 dc over the next 2 dc, skipping the last dc on one side, skip the sc and then skipping the first dc on the next side. Then you 2 dc over the next 2 dc and shell in the ch 2 sp. Repeat around.)

Round 4

Round 4: Ch 3, dc each over next 3 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 4 dc’s, sk 2 dc's (this is the valley), dc in next 4 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 5: Ch 3, dc in next 5 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 6 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 6 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 6: Ch 3, dc in next 6 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 8 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s (again, this is the valley), dc in next 8 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 7: Ch 3, dc in next 7 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 10 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 10 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 8: Ch 3, dc in next 8 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 12 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 12 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 9: Ch 3, dc in next 9 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 14 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 14 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 10: Ch 3, dc in next 10 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 16 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 16 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 11: Ch 3, dc in next 11 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 18 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 18 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 12: Ch 3, dc in next 12 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 20 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 20 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 13: Ch 3, dc in next 13 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 22 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 22 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 14: Ch 3, dc in next 14 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 24 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 24 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 15: Ch 3, dc in next 15 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 26 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 26 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Continue pattern until desired size. Edging of sc or reverse sc is recommended.

Do choice of edging stitch in each dc stitch below. *3 stitches in ch 2 of shell, sk 2 dc’s when you reached the stitches that were skipped in the previous row.

Fasten off and weave in ends. After 15 rows, you can see where the pattern is going…just add 2 dc’s in between the skipped dc’s and make the shell in the ch 2 space of the previous shell (or otherwise known as the star "tips") on every row and you should be fine.

You may alternate colors to give it a bit o’ sparkle!

A star pillow can be made by making 2 stars of 10 (or so)rounds each.

Trace the star shape on to fabric and make 2 fabric stars, sew 4 sides together and turn inside out. Stuff to desired “squishiness”, sew last side of star together. With the crocheted stars, place wrong sides together and sc through both thicknesses around 3 points, place stuffed pillow and sc the star closed.

Clear as mud?