Retro Zag Afghan By Julie Yeager Designs
Loops and Threads Impeccable (#4 yarn with 4.5 ounce/127.5g skeins with 285 yards/260 m) Hook Size H ( 5.0 mm)
MC (Main Color): Aran 5 skeins Color A: Grass 2 skeins
Color B: Deep Forest 2 skeins Color C: Forest 2 skeins
Color D: Sphagnum 2 skeins Color E: Vanna’s Choice Espresso (discontinued) or Red Heart Super Saver Coffee 1 skein
Abbreviations and Special Stitches
beg – beginning BegPC – beginning popcorn Ch – chain dc – double crochet PC – popcorn sl- slip stitch sc – single crochet st – stitch sts – stitches sp – space
Beginning Popcorn: (Ch 3, 4 dc in designated st or sp.) Remove hook from 5th st. Place hook into the top of the beginning ch-3 from front to back, then into the working loop that was left hanging on the fourth dc, and pull that loop through the first st. The ch-2 that follows includes a ch-1 to tighten the popcorn.
Popcorn: (5 dc in designated st or sp.) Remove hook from 5th st. Place hook under the two loops of the first of 5 dc from front to back, then into the working loop that was left hanging on the fifth dc, and pull that loop through the first st. The ch-2 that follows includes a ch-1 to tighten the popcorn.
Space between groups: The 3-dc granny group is almost square, so when I say “space between groups” it either means a group of 3 dc whether they are lying vertically or horizontally. So we can work along the edge of rows in the same ratio as working in rows or rounds.
Ch-3 or Ch-2 at the beginning of a round counts as a dc. “Standing dc” can be substituted for the chain start.
Motif 2: Round Flower Offset Granny (Make 6)
Round 1: With E, ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring. Ch 3, (dc in ring) fifteen times, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off.(16 dc)
Round 2: Join A with sl st between 2 dc, Beg PC in same sp, [ch 2, sk 2 dc, PC in next sp between dc] seven times, ch 2, sl st to Beg PC, fasten off. (8 PC, 8 ch-2 sp)
Round 3: Join B with sl st in any ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 1) in same sp. [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 1) in next ch-2 sp] seven times, sl st to top of beg ch-3, fasten off. (32 dc, 16 ch-1 sp)
Round 4: Join C with sl st in any ch-1 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp. (3 dc in next ch-1 sp) fifteen times, sl st to top of beg ch-3, fasten off. (48 dc)
Round 5: (Sp refers to a space between groups of 3-dc.) Join MC with sl st in any sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp. [3 hdc in next sp, 3 sc in next sp, 3 hdc in next sp, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next sp] three times, 3 hdc in next sp, 3 sc in next sp, 3 hdc in next sp, 3 dc in same sp as beginning, then join to top of beg ch-3 with an hdc (counts as a ch-2 sp). Do Not fasten off. (60 st, 4 ch-2 sp)
Round 6: (Just working around 2 sides for this and next 3 rounds.) Tip: For the first granny group of this and each even numbered round, try (ch 2, 3 dc) instead of (ch 3, 2 dc) and leave the ch-2 unworked on the next row. Try both and see which you like better. With MC, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, (3 dc in next sp between groups) four times, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ch-2 sp, (3 dc in next sp between groups) four times, 3 dc in ch-2 sp, turn. (36 dc, one ch-2 sp)
Round 7: Ch 2 or 3 (counts as dc), (3 dc in next sp between groups) five times, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ch-2 sp, (3 dc in next sp between groups) five times, dc in top of beg ch-3. Turn. (38 dc, one ch-2 sp )
Round 8: Ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, (3 dc in next sp between groups) five times, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ch-2 sp, (3 dc in next sp between groups) five times, 3 dc in ch-2 sp, turn. (42 dc, one ch-2 sp)
Round 9: Ch 2 or 3 (counts as dc), (3 dc in next sp between groups) six times, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ch-2 sp, (3 dc in next sp between groups) six times, dc in top of beg ch-3. Fasten off MC OR add finishing Round. (44 dc, one ch-2 sp )
* After a number of motifs are finished, they will be joined together using a Continuous Granny Join as you Go which adds a final round and is described in many You tube videos. More Info Later. If you do not wish to use the Continuous Granny Join as you Go, you can add a final round here to the motif, and then join later with whipstitch, slip stitch, single crochet, or any preferred method. I recommend slip stitch through the front loops OR Flat Slip Stitch Join.
Final Round (If Desired):
Join MC with sl st in any corner sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp. [(3 dc in next sp between groups) six times, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next sp for corner] three times, (3 dc in next sp between groups) six times, 3 dc in same sp as beg, hdc join to top of beg ch-3, fasten off. (96 dc, 4 ch-2 sp)
Copyright 2025 Julie Yeager Designs.
See all at www.julieyeagerdesigns.com, or my Ravelry store. Contact me via e-mail at julieyeagerdesigns @gmail.com