Taking a nap has never been cozier! Settle in with a hot cup of cocoa and watch the snow fall outside. Made up of calming mandala squares, this is the afghan you’ll have on your favorite chair all winter long.

Skill Level: Easy

Size: 42” x 56” before edging and 47” x 61” with edging

Gauge: Squares measure 14” x 14”

Materials

Yarn:

 Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice (100% Acrylic; 170 yards [156 meters]/100 grams): 123 Beige (A), 1 skein; 126 Chocolate (B), 2 skeins; 148 Burgundy (C), 2 skeins; 149 Silver Grey (D), 2 skeins; 105 Silver Blue (E), 2 skeins; 100 White (F), 5 skeins.

Hook: US size 10/J (6.00 mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle; scissors

Abbreviations

PC – Popcorn

Special Stitches

Beg 3 Double Crochet Popcorn (Beg3dcPC)

Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc into ring or sp, drop lp of last dc, insert hook from front to back of 3^rd ch in beg ch-3 and through back of lp on last dc, yo, pull through all lps on hook, ch 1 to close dcPC.

3 Double Crochet Popcorn (3dcPC)

Work 3 dc into ring or sp, drop lp of last tr, insert hook from front to back of first dc and through back of lp on last dc, yo, pull through all lps on hook, ch 1 to close dcPC.

Pattern

Square (make 12)

With A, ch 6, sl st to join to form ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 2 dc in ring, work Beg3dcPC, (ch 1, 3dcPC) 7 more times, ch 1, sl st to join in top of first P – 8 PC and 8 sc; 16 sts total.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, *sc in PC, 2 sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * around – 24 sc.

Fasten off A.

Rnd 3: Attach B in any sc, ch 1, sc in same sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, *sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around – 32 sc.

Rnd 4: With B, ch 1, sc in same sp, *skip 1 sc, 5 dc in next sc, skip 1 sc**, sc in next sc; rep from * around, ending at **, sl st to first sc to join – 8 shells, 8 sc.

Fasten off B.

Rnd 5: Attach C in center dc of 5-dc, ch 1, work 2 sc in same dc, *ch 5**, 2 sc in next center dc; rep from * around, ending at**, sl st to join in first sc – 8 (2-sc), 8 (ch-5 sp).

Rnd 6: Ch 1, 2 sc in each of first 2 sc, *8 dc in ch-5 sp***, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc; rep from * around, ending at ***, sl st to join in first sc.

Fasten off C.

Rnd 7: Attach D in 2^nd sc, ch 5 (counts as first dc, ch 2), dc in next sc, *ch 3, skip (next sc, next 3 dc), sc in next 2 dc, skip (next 3 dc, next sc), ch 3**, dc in next sc, ch 2, dc in next dc; rep from * around, ending at **, sl st to join in 3^rd ch of beg ch-5.

Rnd 8: Sl st into ch-2 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, Beg3dcPC, *ch 3, 2 sc in next ch-3 sp, (3 dc in next sc) twice, 2 sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3**, work 3dcPC in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ending at **, sl st to join in top of first PC.

Fasten off D.

Rnd 9: Attach E in 3^rd dc of 6-dc group, ch 1, sc in same dc, sc in next dc, *skip next (2 dc, 2 sc, ch-3), ch 6, work 2 sc in 3dcPC, ch 6, skip next (ch-3, 2 sc, 2 dc)**, sc in next 2 dc; rep from * around, ending at **, sl st to join in first sc.

Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in first 2 sc, *work 5 dc in next ch-6 sp**, sc in next 2 sc; rep from * around, ending at **, sl st to join in first sc.

Fasten off E.

Rnd 11: Attach F in 3^rd dc of any 5 dc group, ch 1, sc in same dc, sc in next dc, *hdc in next dc, dc in next 2 sc, hdc in next dc, sc in next 3 dc; rep from * around, ending with sc in last 2 dc, sl st to join in first sc.

Rnd 12: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), *tr in next sc, tr in next hdc, (3 dtr, ch 1) in next dc, 3 dtr in next dc, tr in next hdc, tr in next sc, dc in next 5 sts, hdc in next 5 sts, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 5 sts**, dc in next 5 sts, tr in next 2 sts; rep from * around, ending at **, dc in next 4 sts, sl st in 3^rd ch of beg ch-3 to join.

Rnd 13: Ch 1, sc in every st around, working 3 sc in every corner ch-1 sp, ending with sl st to join.

Finishing

Weave in loose ends. Block Squares.

Sew Squares together using F, joining corresponding sc on last rnd of squares, beginning with the center sc at corner across to the center sc at next corner. Sew 3 strips of 4 squares, then sew the strips together to make a 3 x 4 throw.

Outside Edging

Note: Work on RS unless otherwise indicated.

Outside Edging Rnd 1: Attach F at outside corner center sc with ch 1, work 3 sc in this corner sc, *sc evenly along throw until next corner sc**, work 3 sc in center sc; rep from * around, ending at **, sl st to join in first sc. Fasten off F.

Outside Edging Rnd 2: Attach E, rep Outside Edge Rnd 1. Fasten off E.

Outside Edging Rnd 3: Attach D, rept Outside Edge Rnd 1. Fasten off D.

Outside Edging Rnd 4: Attach C, rep Outside Edge Rnd 1. Fasten off C.

Outside Edging Rnd 5: Attach B, rep Outside Edge Rnd 1. Fasten off B.

Outside Edging Rnd 6: With WS facing, attach A, rep Outside Edge Rnd 1, working on WS throughout. Fasten off A

Outside Edging Rnd 7: With RS facing, attach F, ch 1 in any sc, sc in same sc, *ch 2, sl st in 2^nd ch from hook (picot made), skip 1 sc**, sc in next sc; rep from * around, ending at **, sl st in first sc to join. Fasten off F.

Weave in rem ends.