Lilac Lane Crochet Afghan

This blanket stitch crochet baby afghan has everything I love in a project. It’s the perfect trifecta: an easy-to-memorize stitch pattern, affordable color-transitioning yarn, and my all-time favorite color… purple. Best of all, it’s easy to adjust the size, so you can crochet it as a baby blanket or make it larger for a cozy throw.

There’s nothing I enjoy more than settling in with a relaxing crochet project, and when the finished blanket turns out this beautiful? Well… I have a feeling this might become your next favorite pattern too.

Meet the Lilac Lane Crochet Afghan

Let’s talk details. If you’ve been with me for a minute, you know that I have a soft spot for Red Heart Super Saver Ombre yarn. This unsung hero features color changes that flow beautifully no matter which color way you choose. The yarn is affordable, often available locally and it works up so nicely.

For this particular afghan, I used the purple color way. If you find this color a bit difficult to find, there are many other color ways of Red Heart Super Saver Ombre that are just as beautiful. My Sedge Stitch Baby Blanket and the Beneficent Bella Afghan also use this beautiful yarn.

My secret love is the blanket stitch which I also used for my Bespoke Bliss Scrap afghan. I love, love, love this stitch. It’s easy to memorize and you can just crochet away while binge watching movies or visiting with family.

When I designed the Bespoke Bliss afghan I kept things simple with no border. I love that look too, but for this afghan I thought a special border was in order.

And this border is perfection! It’s a bit of a scallop but it still carries the feel of the blanket stitch vibe. It’s the perfect easy finish to an easy blanket. And best yet.. the afghan is an easy 3 stitch repeat so changing the size is simple: Simply increase (or decrease) in multiples of 3 and then add 1 more stitch to your starting chain.

I think I might just make the Lilac Lane Afghan my signature baby gift going forward. It looks great in variegated yarn, solid yarn, different weight yarns. You can make it bigger or smaller. It can be a square or a rectangle. It truly looks good no matter how you make it your own.

Crochet Afghan Essentials

This afghan uses basic stitches which makes it the perfect project for crocheters of all skill levels.

We start with an easy chain in a multiple of 3 + 1.

Then afghan is worked back and forth in a 2 row repeat. In one row, you’ll do single crochet, chain some stitches and skip some stitches. In the next you double crochet in the spaces you created in the previous row.

After you’ve worked the afghan to the desired length, you’ll crochet a border around the edges using single crochet, double crochet and chain stitches.

It has that magical quality I always love in a crochet project: simple stitches that come together to create something that looks far more impressive than the effort involved. The finished afghan has a beautiful, heirloom-quality look while remaining wonderfully easy to crochet.

Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, US to UK Crochet Conversion Chart.  Find links to stitches on the “Tutorial” menu: Getting Started will show basic stitches used in many patterns and Crochet Stitch Dictionary shows our growing collection of crochet stitch tutorials.

Crochet Abbreviations:

• ch(s) = chain(s)
• cluster = 3 dc worked in one space
• dc = double crochet
• sc = single crochet
• st = stitch(es)

Finished Baby Afghan Size

Blanket is approximately 31” x 31”

Blanket:

Ch 100. (Note: to make afghan larger or smaller, chain in a multiple of 3 + 1 more stitch to the length you desire)

Row 1:  Sc in 2^nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, *ch 2, skip next 2 ch, sc in next ch, repeat from * across, ending with a sc in the last ch.  Turn. (32 ch-2 spaces, 35 sc)

Row 2:  Ch 3 (counts as 1^st st), 3 dc in each ch-2 space across, ending with one dc in the last sc of row.  Turn. (32 clusters, 2 dc)

Row 3:  Ch 1, sc in 1^st st, sc in space before next cluster, *ch 2, skip cluster, sc in next space.  Repeat from * around.  Sc in the last st of the row.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until the blanket is square.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Afghan Border:

Round 1:  Attach yarn with a slip stitch to any stitch and ch 1.  Sc around afghan, spacing sc stitches evenly on edges and working 3 sc in each corner stitch.  Join with a slip stitch to the top of the first sc in the round.

Note:  Specific stitch count matters less than keeping even spacing of stitches.  If your border begins to curl, you are working too few stitches.  If your border begins to ruffle, you are working too many stitches.  Rip out in either case and try again to maintain a flat border.

Round 2:  Ch 1, sc around, working 3 sc in each corner stitch.  Join with a slip stitch to the top of the first sc in the round.  Fasten off yarn.

Re-attach yarn with a sl st to the 6^th st to the right of a corner (excluding the corner stitch)

Round 3:  Ch 1, sc in in same st, ch 2, *[skip 2 st, sc in next st, ch 2] around until the 3 corner stitches from prior round, then sc in next st (this is in the 1^st of the 3 corner stitches), ch 2, skip next st, sc in next st (this is 2^nd of the 3 corner stitches), ch 2.  Repeat from * around, making sure to only skip 1 stitch at the corners.  Join with a slip stitch to the top of the first sc in the round.  Note: It’s important to work the corners as described over the 3 corner stitches from the prior row.  You may need to adjust the stitches you skip prior to the corner (skipping 1 instead of 2 stitches) to make the corner work properly if your stitch count isn’t a multiple of 3.

Round 4:  Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, 2dc) in ea ch-2 space around.  Join to top of 1^st st. 

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Make It Your Own

One of my favorite things about the Lilac Lane Blanket Stitch Baby Afghan pattern is how customizable it is!

Try:

• Pastel colors for a traditional baby afghan
• Solid colors to match baby decor
• Neutral color for a classic look
• Change the size for a full size afghan
• Change up the yarn weight for a lightweight afghan or a bulky afghan

With its easy repeat and timeless design, this is the sort of afghan you’ll return to whenever you need a beautiful project that doesn’t require a lot of concentration.

Final Thoughts on this Darling Afghan

I had so much fun designing the Lilac Lane Afghan. From the easy, relaxing blanket stitch to the sweet scalloped border, it has all the things I love most in a crochet project: simple stitches, beautiful texture, and a finished look that feels extra special.

Whether you’re crocheting it for a new baby, a thoughtful handmade gift, or simply because you fell in love with the stitch pattern, I hope you enjoy every minute spent with your hook and yarn. And don’t be surprised if one Lilac Lane Afghan leads to another—this is the kind of pattern you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again.

I love seeing your finished projects! If you enjoyed making the Lilac Lane Crochet Afghan I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo. If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!