Granny Afghan (No. 1745): vintage crochet pattern

Materials

• Worsted (#4) yarn. Bear Brand DeLuxe Knitting Worsted and Fleisher’s Superior Knitting Worsted were worsted-weight knitting yarns; substitute any worsted yarn that matches the gauge.
• Colours: 26 oz Black; 5 oz Red 4 (A), 3 oz Red 5 (B), 4 oz Green (C), 3 oz Emerald (D), 3 oz Yellow (E), 1 oz Orange (F), 2 oz Russet Brown 381 (G), 1 oz Russet Brown 380 (I), 3 oz Lavender (J), 3 oz Purple (K), 6 oz Grey (L), 4 oz Turquoise (M), 2 oz Geranium (N).
• Original hook: “Boye” crochet hook Size 3 (F).
• Rustproof pins for blocking the squares; tapestry needle for sewing.
• Hook: Start with 3.75 mm (US F-5) and change size to match the gauge.

Abbreviations (US terms)

ch

chain

sc

single crochet

dc

double crochet

sl st

slip stitch

st

stitch

sts

stitches

sk

skip

rep

repeat

rnd

round

sp

space

ch-sp

chain space

sh

shell

Notes before you start

• Source: "Granny Afghan" (No. 1745), Your All-time Favorite Afghans to Knit or Crochet in Bear Brand and Fleisher Yarns (Vol. 44, Revised Edition), Bear Brand and Fleisher Yarns (the yarn brands named on the cover; no separate publisher is printed). Public domain in the USA.
• As printed — materials: Color Key | Ounces Needed | Bear Brand DeLuxe Knitting Worsted | Fleisher’s Superior Knitting Worsted; A | 5 | Red 4 | Red 104; B | 3 | Red 5 | Red 105; C | 4 | Green 96 | Green 196; D | 3 | Emerald 93 | Emerald 193; E | 3 | Yellow 52 | Yellow 152; F | 1 | Orange 56 | Orange 156; G | 2 | Russet Brown 381 | Russet Brown 481; I | 1 | Russet Brown 380 | Russet Brown 480; J | 3 | Lavender 62 | Lavender 162; K | 3 | Purple 66 | Purple 166; L | 6 | Grey 60 | Grey 160; M | 4 | Turquoise 14 | Turquoise 114; N | 2 | Geranium 99 | Geranium 199; | 26 | Black | Black; “Boye” Crochet Hook, Size 3 (F).. Gauge: Each square should measure 4½ inches across center..
• Modernisation note: Abbreviations updated to modern US style: "rpt" → rep, "skip" → sk, "thru" → through, "chs" → ch, "d c" → dc, "back loop of sts" → back loop only (blo). Row labels such as "Row 2—" are written as "Row 2:".
• Modernisation note: The book's rule is that "rpt from * (†) 3 times" means the pattern is made 4 times in all; such repeats are written as "rep from * 3 more times" ("once" → "once more", "twice" → "twice more") so the stitch count is unchanged. Repeats "across", "around" or "to next corner" are unchanged.
• Modernisation note: Square brackets are kept as printed: [ ] means all sts inside are worked in the same st or place, except where the bracket is followed by a number of times, when the bracketed steps are repeated.
• Modernisation note: The printed colour and materials tables are given one table row per line, with | between columns.
• Modernisation note: "Join (with sl st)" is written as "join with sl st"; "picking top loops" is written as "picking up top loops".
• Modernisation note: The printed materials table header reads "Ounce Needed s" (a split word); it is written as "Ounces Needed".
• Modernisation note: The Color Combination Chart is given one combination per line ("Yellow, E" → "Yellow (E)"); the arrangement chart, printed as a grid, is given one chart row per line, top to bottom, left to right as printed.
• Modernisation note: The book says there are 19 colour combinations; they are numbered 1–9 and 11–20 (there is no No. 10), as printed.
• Modernisation note: Check: the printed square counts total 165, matching the 11 × 15 arrangement chart, but the chart itself shows No. 6 four times (5 squares are listed) and No. 9 eleven times (10 squares are listed). Make squares to match the chart you follow.
• Modernisation note: The book's rounds are turned ("Turn, make a loop on hook") and each round is fastened off; this is kept.
• Modernisation note: The blocking step is the book's general "To Block Crocheted or Knitted Afghans" directions. Modern advice (ours, not in the original): hot steam can permanently flatten acrylic yarn, so if you substitute acrylic, steam very lightly or wet-block instead.
• Modernisation note: Long printed paragraphs were split into one step per row, round or sentence; no stitches were added, removed or reordered.
• Modernisation note: Metric conversions, the CYC yarn weight, the modern hook suggestion and the yardage estimate were added; they are not in the original.
• Modernisation note: “Boye” hook sizes from this period (e.g. Size 3 (F), Size 5 (G)) were not tied to millimetres; the starting size given is a modern equivalent, and the gauge is what matters.