Heavenly Hearts Afghan

This pattern was designed especially for charitable use by Heavenly Angels in Need, a (now closed) mothers’ bereavement and preemie support group.

Heavenly Hearts Square

Make 5 (preemie) or 13 (baby).

With CC, ch 4.

Row 1. 4 dc in fourth ch from hook (first 3 ch count as 1 dc, now and throughout). 5 dc.

Row 2. Ch 3; turn. Dc in first 4 dc, 2 dc in last dc. 7 dc.

Row 3. Ch 3; turn. Dc in first 6 dc, 2 dc in last dc. 9 dc.

Row 4. Ch 1; turn. Sc in first dc, skip next dc, 5 dc in next dc, skip next dc, sc in next dc; shell made. Skip next dc, 5 dc in next dc, skip next dc, sc in last dc. Do not finish off; 2 shells.

Edge. Rotating work clockwise, work 5 sc evenly down end of rows, 3 sc in beg ch of row 1, 5 sc evenly up end of rows on opposite side, sc in first sc and first 3 dc of first shell, ch 7, skip rem stitches in first shell, sc in third dc of next shell, sc in next 2 dc, sc in next sc. Finish off. 21 sc.

Square is worked in rounds without turning from this point forward.

Join MC with sl st in ch-7 sp.

Rnd 1. Ch 1, 10 sc in ch-7 sp, sc in next 3 sc, 5 sc in next sc, *sc in next 6 sc, 5 sc in next sc, rep from * once. Sc in next 3 sc; join with sl st to first sc in rnd. 44 sc.

Rnd 2. Ch 1, sc in same sc as sl st and next 3 sc, 3 sc in next sc, *sc in next 10 sc, 3 sc in next sc; rep from * twice. Sc in next 6 sc; join with sl st to first sc in rnd. 52 sc.

Rnd 3. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc now and throughout), skip same sc as sl st, dc in next 4 sc, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next sc, *dc in next 12 sc, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next sc; rep from * twice. Dc in next 7 sc; join with sl st to first dc. 56 dc.

Rnd 4. Ch 1, sc in same dc as sl st and next 5 dc, 5 sc in next ch-3 sp, *sc in next 14 dc, 5 sc in next ch-3 sp; rep from * twice. Sc in next 8 dc; join with sl st to first sc in rnd. 76 sc.

Rnd 5. Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch-1 sp), skip same sc as sl st and next sc, dc in next 3 sc, ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next 2 sc, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next sc, *dc in next 2 sc, ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next 3 sc, ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next 4 sc, ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next 3 ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next 2 sc, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next sc; rep from * twice. Dc in next 3 sc, ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next 3 sc; join with sl st to first dc in rnd. 62 dc.

Rnd 6.  Ch 1, sc in same dc as sl st and next ch-1 sp, sc in next 3 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 3 dc, 5 sc in next ch-3 sp, *sc in next 3 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 3 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 4 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 3 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 3 dc, 5 sc in next ch-5 sp; rep from * around. Sc in next 3 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 3 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 3 dc; join with sl st to first sc in rnd. 100 sc.

Rnd 7.  Ch 1, sc in same sc as sl st and next 10 sc, (sc, ch 1, sc) in next sc, *sc in next 24 sc, (sc, ch 1, sc) in next sc; rep from * twice. Sc in next 13 sc; join with sl st to first sc in rnd. Finish off. 104 sc.

 Join CC with sl st in any ch-1 sp.

Rnd 8.  Ch 1, 3 sc in same ch-1 sp as joining, sc in next 26 sc, *3 sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 26 sc; rep from * twice. Join with sl st to first sc in rnd. Finish off. 116 sc.

Triangle

Make 4 (preemie) or 8 (baby)

With MC, ch 54.

Row 1. Sc in second ch from hook and next 25 ch, sc cluster over next 3 sc, sc in ea rem ch across. 51 sc.

Row 2. Ch 1; turn. Dec 1 sc in first 2 sc, sc in next 22 sc, sc cluster over next 3 sc, sc in next 22 sc, dec 1 sc in last 2 sc. 47 sc.

Row 3. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc now and throughout); turn. Skip first 2 sc, *dc in next 3 sc, ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next 3 sc, ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next 4 sc, ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next 3 sc, ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next 3 sc*, skip next 3 stitches; rep from * to * once. Skip next sc, dc in last sc. 18 dc.

Row 4. Ch 1; turn. Dec 1 sc in first 2 dc, sc in next 2 dc, *sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 3 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 4 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 3 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp*, (dec 1 sc in next 2 dc) twice, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * to * once. Sc in next 2 dc, dec 1 sc in last 2 dc. 38 sc.

Row 5. Ch 3; turn. Skip first 2 sc, dc in next 15 sc, skip next 4 sc, dc in next 15 sc, skip next sc, dc in last sc. 32 dc.

Row 6. Ch 1; turn. Dec 1 sc in first 2 dc, sc in next 12 dc, (dec 1 sc in next 2 dc) twice, sc in next 12 dc, dec 1 sc in last 2 dc. 28 sc.

Row 7. Ch 1; turn. Dec 1 sc in first 2 dc, sc in next 10 dc, (dec 1 sc in next 2 dc) twice, sc in next 10 dc, dec 1 sc in last 2 dc. 24 sc.

Row 8. Ch 1; turn. Dec 1 sc in first 2 dc, sc in next 8 dc, (dec 1 sc in next 2 dc) twice, sc in next 8 dc, dec 1 sc in last 2 dc. 20 sc.

Row 9. Ch 1; turn. Dec 1 sc in first 2 dc, sc in next 6 dc, (dec 1 sc in next 2 dc) twice, sc in next 6 dc, dec 1 sc in last 2 dc. 16 sc.

Row 10. Ch 1; turn. Dec 1 sc in first 2 dc, sc in next 4 dc, (dec 1 sc in next 2 dc) twice, sc in next 4 dc, dec 1 sc in last 2 dc. 12 sc.

Row 11. Ch 1; turn. Dec 1 sc in first 2 dc, sc in next 2 dc, (dec 1 sc in next 2 dc) twice, sc in next 2 dc, dec 1 sc in last 2 dc. 8 sc.

Row 12. Ch 1; turn. (Dec 1 sc in next 2 dc) four times. Finish off. 4 sc.

Edge. Join CC with sl st in any sc. Sc evenly around, working 1 sc in ea sc and end of rows, and 3 sc in ea corner. Join with sl st to beginning sc. Finish off.

Finishing

Block pieces, if desired. With CC, whipstitch pieces together as shown in the schematic. Weave in all ends.

Border

Join CC with sl st in any sc. Sc evenly around, working 1 sc in ea sc and 3 sc in ea corner. Join with sl st to beginning sc. Finish off. Weave in ends.

Optional Lining

Lie afghan flat on fleece and pin into place. Use afghan as a template, and cut the fleece around the afghan leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Machine- or hand-sew into place.

Abbreviations

• beg (beginning)
• CC (contrasting color)
• ch (chain)
• dc (double crochet)
• dec (decrease)
• ea (each)
• MC (main color)
• mm (millimeter)
• rem (remaining)
• rep (repeat)
• rnd (round)
• sc (single crochet)
• sl st (slip stitch)
• sp (space)
• yd (yard)