Two-Toned Reversible Afghan (1951): vintage crochet pattern

Materials

• Worsted (#4) yarn. American Thread "Dawn" Knitting Worsted was a worsted-weight yarn; substitute any worsted yarn that matches the gauge.
• Colours: 41 oz Lt. Gray, 44 oz Amber.
• Original hook: plastic crochet hook No. 10 or aluminum J.
• Hook: Start with 6 mm (US J-10) and change size to match the gauge.

Abbreviations (US terms)

ch

chain

hdc

half double crochet

sc

single crochet

yo

yarn over

st

stitch

rep

repeat

Notes before you start

• Source: "Two-Toned Reversible Afghan", Beautiful, Beautiful Afghans (Star Book No. 82), American Thread Company, 1951. Public domain in the USA.
• As printed — materials: AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY “DAWN” KNITTING WORSTED, Article W 11 or W 15 or W 41 or W 42; 41 ozs. Lt. Gray; 44 ozs. Amber; Plastic crochet hook No. 10 or aluminum J. Gauge: Not given.
• Modernisation note: "S d c" (printed as "short double crochet" in the book's abbreviation list, and defined in the pattern as yarn over, insert, pull through, yarn over and pull through all loops) is written as "hdc", the modern name for this stitch; the printed definition is kept.
• Modernisation note: "Yarn over hook" is written as "yo"; "s c" as "sc".
• Modernisation note: "Cut yarn" is kept in this pattern because the colours are cut and restarted at every row, as the original describes.
• Modernisation note: The label "Row 1" is ours for the unlabelled first row.
• Modernisation note: The finishing step "Weave in all ends" is ours.
• Modernisation note: Metric conversions, the modern hook suggestion and the yardage estimate were added; they are not in the original.
• Modernisation note: Hook numbers from this period were not standardised to millimetres; the starting size given is a modern equivalent, and the gauge is what matters.

Afghan

1. The entire afghan is worked in hdc worked very loosely (hdc: yo, insert in stitch, pull through, yo and work off all loops at one time).
2. Cut yarn at end of each row and start 2nd color at end of previous row.
3. Row 1: With Gray, crochet a chain about 55 in (140 cm), keeping ch slack while measuring, work 1st hdc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 hdc in each remaining ch, ch 1 at end of row and tighten yarn, slip 2nd color through loop and yarn of previous color, ch 2, turn, cut the yarn of previous row leaving an end to fasten.
4. Row 2: Pick up a single loop of 2nd hdc in back of work of previous row, work 1 hdc in each hdc in same manner as in 1st row, working last hdc in end ch. Work should form a chain ridge, ending row in same manner.
5. Pick up the 1st color and work a row of hdc in same manner as in 2nd row.
6. Repeat row 2 alternating colors, 1 row of each color, until work measures about 70 in (178 cm), ending with the same color as the 1st row.