My Secret Garden Afghan Crochet Blanket Pattern – CAL Part 2

Are you ready for the next step in My Secret Garden Afghan? In this blog post, we are connecting those 80 squares you made last week. If you didn’t see last week’s post, you can check out my part 1 here! Just can’t wait and want the full ad-free version? Check out my pattern on Etsy and Ravelry! Let’s get crocheting!

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Behind the Blanket

When connecting these squares, I wanted to keep that lacey feel that I was getting from those white border rows around the squares in part 1, but also wanted to make it unique from other connections I’ve designed in the past. When I look at this blanket and how the connecting stitches cross with each other, it reminds me of Italian vineyards and wiring around the greenery. Then, I just allow myself to be transported back to my time in Italy, when life was so much more carefree.

Do you ever wish you could go back to a certain time in your life? To a time that was so much less stressful? Wedding planning and graduating college all in the same summer has been amazing, but sometimes I wish time could just stop so I can take the time to enjoy things more.

I spent most of my time during high school living in Germany, which meant lots of traveling. Thinking about it now I find that amazing and love all the traveling I got to do, but in the moment it felt exhausting. My dad was always pushing to do and see everything, while my mom was trying to keep track of all seven kids, with my youngest sibling being three at the time. I remember us being those big loud Americans that everyone stared at and being embarrassed because that’s what teenagers do, but now it’s just funny how much we freak out over little things.

I’ve been spending so much time finding the perfect invitation fonts, bath towels… and even arguing with my fiance over what coffee percolator to get! As a perfectionist, I have to remind myself that what really matters is becoming man and wife, and hopefully not going broke in the process. No one else is going to remember what font was on their invitations. If the bath towel can dry my body, that’s all I need… and why am I even stressing about the “aesthetic” of a coffee percolator? If it makes coffee, then it’s fine by me. Having pretty towels isn’t going to help me or my future husband reach salvation.

And that’s where this blanket comes in. Each of these flowers are made from scrap yarn, nothing fancy, not super coordinated, not even matching greens for the leaf portion! Just a little hodge podge of what I had being brought together to make something beautiful. Isn’t that what relationships are all about? Each of you coming together, bringing the good, bad, and ugly, all to create something beautiful. No need to be perfect, just an intention to love and serve the other. I think that this connecting border does a wonderful job serving this afghan to not only connect each square in a practical manner, but also in a unique lacey design. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Let’s dive in!

The Pattern

When connecting the squares, we will still be using the Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in White that we used for the border around the squares in part 1.

R1:   Insert yarn into corner. (Ch3 [counts as first dc here and throughout] and 1dc into first corner. Dc into next 2 st. 4dc into ch4 space from previous row. Skip sc, 4dc into next ch4 space. Dc into next 2 st. *(2dc, ch3, 2dc) in next corner. Dc into next 2 st. 4dc into ch4 space, skip sc, 4dc into next ch4 space. Dc into next 2st.* Repeat from *to* two more times. 2dc into first corner, ch3, sl st into top of beginning ch3. 

R2:   (Ch3, 1dc, ch3, 2dc) into first corner. *Ch2, skip next 3 st, dc in next 2 st. Ch2, skip next 3 st, 2dc into space between the previous sets of 4dc. Ch2, skip next 3 st, dc in next 2st, ch2.* In corner, put 2dc, ch3, 2dc. * Repeat from *to* for every side, and (2dc, ch3, 2dc) for every corner until the end. At end, sl st into top of beginning ch3 and fasten off.

Conclusion

Isn’t it exciting to see your garden afghan come together? I’m so happy you’ve joined me on this crochet journey! Are you making your blanket for someone, or is this a treat for yourself? Comment below!

If you would like the full blanket pattern, you can find it on my Etsy and Ravelry shops. If you are looking for some crochet hooks to use, Clover Amour is my favorite! If you are not sure whether Clover Amour is right for you, I have a Clover Amour review post that offers some great cheap alternatives!

I love seeing your finished crochet projects! If you enjoyed making one of my patterns I’d love to see it on Instagram! Make sure to tag me @crochetwithgabriellarose. If you are more of a Facebook person, check out the Crochet with Gabriella Rose Facebook page for notifications of new blog posts and crochet patterns!