Traveling Afghan Square 23 [Free Crochet Pattern]

As this year begins to come to an end (finally), I have completed the 23rd square of Lion Brand’s Traveling Afghan. This crochet project started out in New York City and has traveled the world during this unprecedented time. It thankfully made it’s return back to me in Northern Westchester New York just a little ways from where it took off! The journey for this easy crochet blanket is just about complete and I hope you have enjoyed making this crochet throw blanket with all of us! Keep scrolling for the free crochet afghan pattern below for my square or click this button to purchase an Ad-free PDF on Etsy!

My square for the crochet afghan pattern!

My Maker Story

A big part of this project is sharing our stories as makers and showing how we are all stitched together in this community. I don’t remember a time not knowing how to crochet. I was taught at a young age by my Grandma but it didn’t become a serious hobby until I wanted to make a crochet blanket for my little guy!

For me crochet was and is something to keep my hands busy so my mind wasn’t. I am by nature and over-thinker, and over-achiever and so many other over-things…but crochet has become something that helps me slow everything down. I didn’t know that this community existed for quite some time but once I found it I decided to hold on to it tight! I cherish all of the connections and relationships I have developed in these few short years that I have become part of this amazing community of makers!

Design Story and Inspiration

Sometimes I just want to make things that are simple, but what I really love is to create visual interest in my pieces. I am a lover of texture and all things satisfying to look at. I wanted that to come across in my square for the traveling afghan as part of this easy crochet blanket. If you have been around a while then you have probably noticed I use bobbles a lot! Of course they had to be the literal centerpiece of my square! I also love the diamond stitch but was always challenged by it so I decided it was fitting to add that to the beginning and end of my square. Life always has it challenges but if we take it day by day or in this case row by row the end result will be beautiful. So here’s to creating a beautiful crochet throw blanket that has a story!

About the Yarn

For this crochet blanket project we all used Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Natural Heather. This is a wonderful yarn to work with, it comes in amazing colors and it’s so soft! “Wool-Ease® is a 4-ply worsted-weight yarn that is so beloved by knitters and crocheters that it inspired an entire family of yarns. Wool-Ease® is appreciated for its versatility and value. It has the feel, warmth and softness of wool, combined with the easy care of machine wash-and-dryability.Its extensive color range makes it easy to design with and perfect for every project from socks to afghans.” From the Lion Brand Website. Remember, now you are not limited to certain colors for kits, you can pick any in the Wool-Ease lineup! Keep scrolling to use this easy crochet blanket pattern in this blog post or click the button below to get a Kit from Lion Brand!

Make yours today using this crochet afghan pattern!

I would love for you to come follow me on Instagram, Like my Facebook Page and Join my Facebook group! As Always you can grab a Printable PDF on Etsy! Remember, all likes, shares, follows and purchases are greatly appreciated by this Maker Mama and really do help to grow my craft business! So, if you are looking for more Free Crochet Patterns that are great beginner crochet projects then be sure to check out my Free Patterns Section!

Materials

98 yds / 1.5 oz #4 Wt. Yarn
1/2 Skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Worsted
6 mm hook

Gauge

The gauge for this square of this crochet throw blanket is 16 rows x 13 sts is 4″ x 4″ in sc. It is very important that you hit gauge since each square for the traveling afghan is different but must be the same size in order to fit together.

Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations

Chain Stitch – ch / Slip Stitch – Sl St / Stitch(es) – st(s) / Single Crochet – sc / Double Crochet – dc
Foundation Single Crochet – Fsc – Chain 2, insert hook into 2nd chain from hook, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through 1 loop, (2 loops on hook with 1 ch created), yarn over, draw through all loops (1 loop on hook, 1 foundation single crochet with chain at the bottom). *Insert hook to the
bottom of the stitch you just made, it will look like the top or “V” of a stitch, yarn over, pull up 1 loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through 1 loop (2 loops on hook with 1 ch created), yarn over, draw through all loops;* repeat from * to * for desired amount of stitches.
Bobble Stitch – bo – Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through two loops (2 loops on hook), *yarn over, insert hook in same stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through two loops (3 loops on hook) repeat from * two more times to have 5 loops on hook, yarn over, and draw through all loops on hook. Continue to next stitch.
Front Post Treble Crochet – FPTr – Yarn over hook TWICE, insert hook from front to back around the SC of the previous row, yarn over, pull up a loop, (4 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops, (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loop, (2 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through last 2 loops on hook.
FPTr2tog – Work your first FPTr round the designates stitch, then when you have 2 loops left, begin your next FPTr around the next designated stitch, then finish the stitch as one.

Pattern Notes

One Size – 10” x 10”
Ch 1 and Ch 2 beginning of Rows do not count as stitches.
Skill Level – Easy
If you missed some of the squares you can go to THIS POST to get the links to all the other squares in this crochet afghan pattern.

Seaming my square onto the Traveling Afghan.

Crochet Afghan Pattern – Square 23

Row 1 – Fsc 32
Rows 2 to 5 – Ch 1, turn, sc each stitch across. [32 sts]
Row 6 – Ch 2, turn, dc in next 32 sts.
Row 7 – Ch 1, turn, 1 sc in first st, FPtr around 4th sc of Row 5, *sc in next 3 sts, FPtr2tog around last stitch worked, skip 3-sc sts in Row 5, and FPtr around next sc-st in Row 5. Repeat from * until 6 sts remain, sc in next 3 sts, FPtr around last FPtr worked, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 8 – repeat Row 6
Row 9 – Ch 1, turn, sc in first 4 sts, FPTr2tog around first and next FPtr, *sc in next 3 sts, FPTRC 2 TOG around last FPTRC and next FPTr st, repeat from * to end, sc in last 3 sts.
Row 10 – Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 11 – Ch 1, turn, sc in first 3 sts, *ch1, sk 1, sc in next st, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st.
Row 12 to 14 – Ch 1, turn, sc in first 3 sts, *ch 1, sk 1, sc in ch-sp, repeat from * to last 3 sts, ch 1, sk 1, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 15 – Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 16 – Ch 1, turn, sc in first 3 sts, *bo, sc in next 3 sts, repeat from * 6 more times, sc in last st.
Row 17 – Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 18 – Ch 1, turn, sc in first 3 sts, *ch1, sk 1, sc in next st, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st.
Rows 19 to 21 – Ch 1, turn, sc in first 3 sts, *ch 1, sk 1, sc in ch-sp, repeat from * to last 3 sts, ch 1, sk 1, sc in last 2 sts.
Rows 22 and 23 – Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 24 – Ch 2, turn, dc in next 32 sts.
Row 25 to 27 – repeat Rows 7-9
Row 28 to 32 – Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Round 33 – Ch 1, turn, sc in each st to end, work 3 sc in last st, turn square 90 degrees, 1 sc in each ch-1 and 2 sc in each ch-2 down side, 3 sc in next corner, turn square 90 degrees, sc in each Fsc-st, 3 sc in next corner, turn square 90 degrees, 1 sc in each ch-1 and 2 sc in each ch-2 down side, place 2 sc in last st, sl st to first sc and finish off.

Thank You!

I hope you enjoyed making this all of the squares so far for the Crochet Traveling Afghan Pattern! Stay in the loop by signing up for the Life and Yarn Newsletter for more modern free crochet patterns! Before you go, check out my newest Free Crochet Patterns or you might like some of my other crochet throw blanket patterns below!