This intermediate granny-square afghan is worked up in beachy shades of tan, white and jade to make a throw reminiscent of sand dollars on the beach. Perfect for an on-the-go project, this afghan is a great way to bring the sandy shore into your home.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 54” wide x 70” long 

Gauge: Each square will measure 12” x 12”

Materials

Yarn:

 Red Heart With Love (100% acrylic; 370 yards [338 meters]/198 grams): Tan (CA, 3 skeins), Jadeite (CB, 3 skeins), Aran (CC, 3 skeins)

Hook: US size J/10 (6.0 mm) hook or size needed to obtain gauge

Notions: Tapestry needle, removable stitch markers (4)

Special Stitches

Beg Cls (Beginning Cluster): Ch 3, YO twice, insert hook in st/sp, draw up loop (4 loops on hook). [YO, pull through first 2 loops on hook] 2x, YO twice. Insert hook in st/sp, draw up loop (5 loops on hook). [YO, pull through first 2 loops on hook] 2x, YO and draw through remaining 3 loops on hook.
Cls (Cluster): YO twice, insert hook in st/sp. Draw up loop (4 loops on hook). [YO, pull through first 2 loops on hook] 2x, YO twice. Insert hook in st/sp, draw up loop (5 loops on hook). [YO, pull through first 2 loops on hook] 2x. YO twice, insert hook in st/sp. Draw up loop (6 loops on hook). [YO, pull through first 2 loops on hook] 2x. YO and draw through remaining 4 loops on hook (if it is indicated to mark this st you will place the marker in the final draw through of 4 loops).
Cnr Cls (Corner Cluster): [Cluster, ch 4, cluster] in same st/sp.
CSDC (Chainless Starting Double Crochet): If working in rows, turn work. If working in rounds spin hook completely around, making a twist in the loop. Pull up a loop to the height of a normal dc. YO with the loop so that the hook is behind the loop. Insert the hook into the first st of row.  Compete a normal dc (YO and draw through st (3 loops on hook). YO and draw through first two loops on hook. YO and draw through last two loops on hook).

Pattern Notes

Every corner cluster will be placed in the 4-ch of the previous corner cluster, unless otherwise noted 

Pattern

Squares (Make 20)

Rnd 1: Beg with tan (CA), ch 5, sl st into first ch to join, ch 6, work (1 tr, ch 2) 7 times into ring, sl st into the 4th ch of beg ch-6 to join.
Rnd 2: Sl st into first ch-2 sp, Beg Cls, pm, ch 2, Cnr Cls in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, (Cls in the next ch-2 sp, pm, ch 2, Cnr Cls in next ch-2, ch 2) 3 times, sl st into the first marked st to join, remove marker.
Rnd 3: In marked st, (Beg Cls, ch 2, Cls, ch 2, Cls, ch 2) all in same st, Cnr Cls, ch 2, *(Cls, ch 2, Cls, ch 2, Cls, ch 2) in next marked st, Cnr Cls, ch 2**; rep from * to ** 2 times, sl st into the top of the Beg Cls to join. Change to teal (CB) on sl st. 
Rnd 4: Ch 5, sc in next cls, ch 2, dc in the next cls, ch 2, tr in the next cls, ch 1, Crn Cls, ch 1, tr in next cls, ch 2, (dc in the next cls, ch 2, sc in next cls, ch 2, dc in next cls, ch 2 ,tr in next cls, ch 1, Crn Cls, ch 1, tr in next cls, ch 2) 3 times, sl st into the 3rd ch of the ch 5.
Rnd 5: CSDS (OR ch 2 and dc in same st), 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, dc in next sc, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, dc in next tr, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next cls, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next ch-4 corner sp, dc in next cl, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next tr, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, dc in  next sc, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next ch-2, dc in next tr, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next cls, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next ch-4 corner sp, dc in next cls, dc in next ch-1, dc in next tr, 2 dc in next ch-2; rep from * 2 more times, sl st into the top of the CSDS (OR first dc, skipping over the ch-2 sp to join. Change to cream (CC) on sl st.
Rnd 6: CSDS (OR ch 2 and dc in same st), dc in each of next 13 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-3 corner sp, *dc in each of next 21 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-3 corner sp; rep from * 2 more times, dc in each of next 7 sts, sl st into the top of the CSDS (OR first dc, skipping over the ch-2 sp) to join.
Rnd 7: CSDS (OR ch 2 and dc in same st), dc in each of next 15 sts, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc] in next ch-2 corner sp, *dc in each of next 25 sts, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc] in next ch-2 corner sp; rep from * 2 more times, dc in each of next 9 sts, sl st into the top of the CSDS (OR first dc, skipping over the ch-2 sp) to join. Change to tan (CA) on sl st. 
Rnd 8: Ch 1 and sc in same st, sc in each of next 17 sts, 3 sc in next ch-1 corner sp, *sc in each of next 29 sts, 3 sc in next ch-1 corner sp; rep from * 2 more times, sc in each of next 11 sts, sl st into top of the first sc, skipping over the ch-1 sp to join.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Finishing – Join Squares

Work all joins with tan (CA).
Step 1: With RS of first square facing and working along one side only, Join yarn with sl st in 2nd sc of any corner, ch 1 and sc in same st, (ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc next st) 11 times, ch 1, turn, do not fasten. (11 ch-2 sps and 12 sc)
Step 2: Place RS of next square to RS of first square, you will be working into the wrong side of the first square. Insert hook in 2nd sc of corner of second square, join to first square with sl st, ch 1 and sc in same st, (ch 1, sc in ch-2 of first square, ch 1, sk 2 sts and sc in next st on second square) 11 times, ch 1, sl st in beg sc on first square. Fasten off.
Rep Steps 1-2 for a total of 4 squares in row, make 5 rows 

Joining Rows

Step 1: With RS of first strip facing and working along one side only, join yarn with sl st in 2nd sc of any corner st, ch 1 and sc in same st, *(ch 2, sk 2, sc next st) 10 times **, ch 2, sc in first ch sp of join, ch 2, sc in 2nd ch sp of join; rep from * 2 times; rep from * to ** once more, ch 2, sk 1, sc in next st, ch 1, turn, do not fasten. (47 ch-2 sps and 48 sc)
Step 2: Place RS of second strip to RS of first strip, you will be working into the wrong side of first strip. Insert hook in 2nd corner of second strip, join to first strip with sl st, ch 1 and sc in same st, *(ch 1, sc in next ch-2 of first strip, ch 1, sk 2 sts and sc in next st on second strip, sc next st) 10 times**, ch 1, sc in next ch-2 sp of first strip, ch 1, sc in first ch sp of center join on first strip, ch 1, sc in next ch-2 sp of first strip, ch 1, sc in second ch-2 sp of center join; rep from * 2 times; rep from * to ** once more. Fasten off.
Rep Steps 1- 2 for each strip for a total of 5 rows of 4 squares each assembled 

Edging

Each marked st will be a corner.
Rnd 1: Beg with tan (CA) and RS facing, join yarn with sl st in 2nd st of any corner, ch 4 and hdc in the same st, *sk next st, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next st, **sk 2 sts, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next st; rep from ** to next corner, (hdc, ch 3, hdc, mark corner ch 3) in 2nd st of next corner; rep from * to end, sl st in 2nd ch from beg ch-4 sp to join. Fasten off.
Rnd 2: Beg with jadeite (CA), and RS facing, join yarn in any marked st, *cnr cl in marked st, mark ch-4 of cnr cl, (dc, ch 3, dc) in every ch-2 sp to next marked st; rep from * to end, sl st in top of first cnr cl to join, do not fasten.
Rnd 3: Sl st to next marked st, *(ch 2, 3 hdc, ch 2, 4 hdc) in first marked st, *4 hdc in every ch-3 sp to next marked st, *(4 hdc, ch 2, 4 hdc) in marked st; rep from * to end, sl st into ch-2 sp to join, fasten off.
Weave in ends.