Afghan With Cross-Stitch Embroidery
Materials Required:
13 skeins white, Bear Brand Germantown, 4-fold.
1 skein green No. 814, Germantown, 4-fold.
1 skein pink, Bear Brand Rococo Wool.
9 skeins “Glossilla Rope” No. 264, green.
2 skeins “Glossilla Rope” No. 200, pink.
1 pair amber or bone knitting pins No. 4 (14 inches long).
1 amber or bone crochet hook No. 4, same length.
(Note—These directions are based on 16 skeins to the box Germantown. If the “10 skeins to the box” wool is used, the number of skeins required will be proportionately less.)
The Cro-Knitting stripe is made first. Using the knitting pins and white wool, cast on 131 stitches for the length of the stripe. Knit 2 plain rows.
Third row: with crochet hook pick up a loop in each stitch and work back as in plain afghan stitch (see directions for afghan stripe below).
Fourth row: again pick up a row of loops, taking them on the back perpendicular bar of the row below, instead of the front perpendicular bar. Knit back with knitting pin. Knit 2 more plain rows.
Fancy row: with crochet hook pick up a loop in first stitch and slip off pin, wool over, pick up a loop about ½ inch high in second stitch, wool over, pick up another loop in same stitch, slip stitch off pin, wool over, skip the first loop above afghan stitch row (it will be seen that this row formed a row of twisted loops) and pick up a loop through the next 4 threads (2 loops) drawing loop up about 1 inch, * wool over, draw up another long loop through same space, wool over, through 8 loops on hook, ch. 1, pick up a loop in next stitch, slip off pin, wool over, pick up a loop in next stitch, wool over, pick up another loop in same stitch, slip off, wool over, insert hook in last space where long loops were worked into, pick up a loop through the next 4 threads and repeat from * to the end of row, ending by picking up a loop in last stitch.
Knit 3 plain rows.
Next row: repeat fancy row, taking up the long loop just above the clusters made before.
K. 4 rows, bind off on wrong side.
Make another Cro-Knitting stripe in same way.
Afghan Stitch Stripe: ch. 37, pick up a loop through the horizontal bar in the back of second and all succeeding chain stitches retaining loops on hook. There will be 37 loops on hook. This is half of the afghan row. Work back, as follows: wool over and through end loop * wool over and through 2 stitches and repeat from * to the end.
Second row: the stitch that remains on hook is the first stitch of this row. Pick up a loop through the second and succeeding perpendicular bars retaining loops on hook. The end stitch is picked up through the last bar and the thread back of it. This forms a chain edge which corresponds to the first edge. Work back as directed for first row.
Repeat the second row until the stripe is the same length as the Cro-Knitting stripe. It should be 7 inches wide. On each of the next six rows, narrow, as follows: pick up first loop, as usual, then draw it through the loop on hook, pick up succeeding loops and keep them on hook, pick up a loop through the last two bars together. Final row: pick up loop as usual, then draw wool through loop on hook.
Make two more stripes in same manner and embroider stripes, as illustrated.
Sew stripes together.
Around the afghan make cord edge, as follows: fasten two threads of white wool at corner, fasten two more threads into third stitch; chain 5 with first 2 threads, slip stitch into fifth stitch of edge. Withdraw hook, holding second working thread over chain just made, chain 5, catch into seventh stitch. Continue all around afghan. It is necessary to twist the working thread as each loop is being made.
Tassels are hung in crocheted loops, as illustrated. These are made while working edge, by an extra loop of 10 chain in their respective places. Tassels: cut 40 strands each 10 inches long, pull through loops and tie double. Put network of buttonhole stitch over head of each tassel with green Glossilla.