Paintbox Yarns Fallen Leaves Afghan Crochet Pattern

Paintbox Yarns Fallen Leaves Afghan

What is Being Made

The Fallen Leaves Afghan is a large crocheted blanket and throw designed for intermediate-level crafters. This finished piece measures 51¼ inches wide by 70¾ inches long (130cm x 180cm), making it a substantial home accessory suitable for draping over furniture or use as a decorative throw blanket. The afghan features a textured base in a warm light caramel colorway, accented with decorative leaf appliqués and pom pom embellishments in slate green.

Techniques Used

The Fallen Leaves Afghan is constructed using a bottom-up, seamless, worked-flat approach. This method means the crocheter begins at the foundation chain and works upward in rows without joining pieces together, maintaining a flat fabric throughout the project. The seamless construction eliminates the need for finishing seams, streamlining the assembly process. The blanket body is worked entirely in half double crochet (half treble in UK terminology), a fundamental stitch that creates a dense, warm fabric suitable for throws and blankets.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the main body of the afghan is half double crochet (hdc), also known as half treble (htr) in UK terminology. The pattern begins with a foundation chain of 91 stitches, followed by a set-up row of half double crochet worked into the second chain from the hook and across all remaining chains, establishing 90 stitches. Subsequent rows continue in half double crochet as set until the blanket reaches its full length of 71 inches from the foundation edge. Slip stitches are used when attaching the crocheted leaf appliqués to the blanket surface using the smaller crochet hook.

Materials: Yarn and Tools

The Fallen Leaves Afghan requires Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Super Chunky yarn, available exclusively through Lovecrafts. The project calls for 30 balls of 3.5oz/100g each in Light Caramel (yarn A) for the main blanket body, and 8 balls in Slate Green (yarn B) for the leaf appliqués and finishing details. The pattern specifies a US O/16 (12mm) crochet hook for the main blanket construction and a US N/15 (10mm) crochet hook for attaching the leaf details. Additional tools include a large pom pom maker for creating 14 decorative pom poms, scissors, and a large-eyed needle for weaving in loose ends and threading yarn through finished pom poms.

Gauge and Construction Details

The pattern specifies a gauge of 7 stitches and 5.5 rows to a 4-inch (10cm) square when worked in half double crochet using the US O/16 (12mm) crochet hook. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished dimensions of the blanket.

Finishing and Embellishment

The finishing process involves two main decorative elements. First, 9 crocheted leaves are slip-stitched onto the blanket surface at each end, arranged in two rows: a row of 5 leaves closest to the edge, followed by a row of 4 leaves. These leaves are spaced evenly and positioned at varying angles to create a natural appearance, covering approximately 17¾ inches (45cm) at each end of the blanket. Second, 14 pom poms are created using the large pom pom maker and attached to the top and bottom edges of the blanket, with 7 pom poms distributed evenly along each edge. All loose yarn ends are woven in and trimmed for a polished finish.

Pattern Notes

• Instructions are provided in US crochet terminology with UK terminology given in parentheses for international crafters
• Yarn quantities are approximate and based on average requirements
• Paintbox Yarns recommends using only the specified yarn for best results and cannot accept responsibility for finished items made with alternative yarns
• This is a downloadable PDF pattern available for free