Christmas  is my favorite time of the year. Aside from the stark white snow softly falling and completely blanketing the ground, reflecting the twinkling lights set up everywhere you look, I’m completely enamored with the spirit of the season, the spirit of giving. To give some context, my mom is an incredibly giving person and always showers those she loves with gifts whenever she can. Not only would I get many birthday and Christmas presents, but I’d get some random just because gifts as well. She applied this same giving spirit to her own friends, her coworkers and ever to MY friends… and she still does today.

Growing up around that, it figures I’d pick up on that spirit. I tend to overdo gifts because I love finding perfect things for my friends and seeing their faces light up, and nothing beats the joy you feel when you give to friends and loved ones. And for those whose hearts are overflowing, giving to charity is also an option. There are many crochet charities out there, each one accepting a variety of items: some are looking for specific items (just beanies or baby items), while others are more broad in what they’re accepting (a variety of warm winterwear).

With a quick search online for crochet charities, you can see what’s out there and what’s currently accepting (the Craft Yarn Council and the Crochet Guild of America are both good resources). Make sure you read all the requirements for the items: some might be very broad and accepting of all types of crochet projects, but some might be a bit more narrow in scope, like red baby hats.

Warm Up America, a cause shared by the Craft Yarn Council, is a current initiative you can crochet for that accepts afghan squares, finished afghans or any type of accessories year-round. They also partner with various other charities and programs for more specific needs, so be sure to visit their Current Needs page for more information. If you’re in need of an eye-catching crochet granny square afghan, check out the pattern below and consider working on it for a future charity.

Other ways you can give back include donating any unused yarn or extra crochet hooks to charities that accept them or even to any sort of shelters. What better way to spread the holiday cheer than by helping others?

Lacy Monet Throw

Pattern by Red Heart

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 38″ x 48″

Gauge: Rnds 1-3 = 4″; 1 square = 7 1/4″

Materials

Yarn: Red Heart With Love Multis (100% acrylic; 370 yards [230 meters]/211 grams): #1816 Waterlily (B, 2 skeins); Red Heart With Love Solids (100% acrylic; 370 yards [338 meters]/198 grams): #1502 Iced Aqua (B, 2 skeins)
Hook: US size J/10 (6.0 mm) hook

Pattern Notes

Blanket is made from 20 squares worked in joined rounds.
Squares are joined together while working last round using a join-as-you-go technique. Refer to Assembly Diagram for joining sequence.
When instructed to work into a V-stitch, always work into the ch-2 space of the V-stitch unless otherwise stated.
To change color, work last stitch of old color to last yarn over. Yarn over with new color and draw through all loops on hook to complete stitch. Proceed with new color. Cut old color.

Special Stitches

Ch-4 join (chain-4 join): (Sc, ch 2, drop loop from hook, insert hook from front to back in ch-4 space of neighboring square, pick up loop on hook, pull through same space, ch 2, sc) in indicated space.
Ch-4 3-c join (chain-4 3-corner join): (Sc, ch 2, drop loop from hook, insert hook from front to back in ch-4 space of neighboring square, pick up loop on hook, pull through same space, ch 1, drop loop from hook, insert hook from front to back in ch-4 space of square diagonally opposite neighboring square, pick up loop on hook, pull through same space, ch 2, sc) in indicated space.
Lg V-st (large V-stitch): (Dc, ch 2, dc) in indicated stitch.
Sm V-st (small V-stitch): (Sc, ch 2, sc) in indicated stitch or space.
Sm v-st join (small V-stitch join): (Sc, ch 1, drop loop from hook, insert hook from front to back in corresponding sm V-st of neighboring square, pick up loop on hook, pull through same space, ch 1, sc) in indicated stitch or space.

Pattern

Square 1

With A, ch 5; join with slip st in first ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 15 dc in ring; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3. (16 dc)
Rnd 2: Slip st in next dc, ch 1, sm V-st in same dc, [ch 1, skip next dc, sm V-st in next dc] 7 times, ch 1, skip last dc; join with slip st in first sc of first sm V-st. (8 sm V-sts and 8 ch-1 spaces) Fasten off.
Rnd 3: Join B with slip st in any sm V-st, ch 1, sm V-st in same space, *ch 1, slip st in next ch-1 space, ch 1, sm V-st in next sm V-st; repeat from * around to last ch-1 space, ch 1, slip st in last ch-1 space, ch 1; join with slip st in first sc of first sm V-st. (8 sm V-sts and 16 ch-1 spaces) Fasten off.
Rnd 4: Join A with slip st in any sm V-st, ch 1, sm V-st in same space, (ch 3, sm V-st) in each sm V-st around, ch 3; join with slip st in first sc of first sm V-st. (8 sm V-sts and 8 ch-3 spaces)
Rnd 5: Slip st in first sm V-st, ch 1, sm V-st in same V-st, *ch 2, slip st in next ch-3 space, ch 2, sm V-st in next sm V-st; repeat from * around to last ch-3 space, ch 2, slip st in last ch-3 space, ch 2; join with slip st in first sc of first sm V-st. (8 sm V-sts and 16 ch-2 spaces) Fasten off.
Rnd 6: Join B with slip st in any sm V-st, ch 1, sm V-st in same space, *ch 1, lg V-st in next slip st, ch 1, sm V-st in next sm V-st; repeat from * around to last slip st, ch 1, lg V-st in last slip st, ch 1; join with slip st in first sc of first sm V-st. (8 sm V-sts and 8 lg V-sts)
Rnd 7: Slip st in first sm V-st, ch 1, sc in same V-st, ch 3, sc in next V-st, *ch 3, (2 tr, ch 3, 2 tr) in next sm V-st (corner made), (ch 3, sc) in next 3 V-sts; repeat from * twice, ch 3, (2 tr, ch 3, 2 tr) in next sm V-st (corner made), ch 3, sc in last V-st; join with slip st in first sc. (12 sc, 16 tr, 16 ch-3 space, and 4 corner ch-3 spaces) Fasten off.
Rnd 8: Join A with slip st in first tr after any corner ch-3 space, ch 1, sm V-st in same tr, *(ch 1, sm V-st) in each ch-3 space across to next tr, ch 1, skip next tr, sm V-st in next tr, ch 1, (sc, ch 4, sc) in next corner ch-3 space, ch 1, sm V-st in next tr; repeat from * around, ch 1, (sc, ch 4, sc) in last corner ch-3 space; join with slip st in first sc of first sm V-st. (24 sm V-sts, 8 sc, and 4 ch-4 spaces) Fasten off.

Square 2 (Make Seven)

Rnds 1-7: Work same as Rnds 1-7 of square 1.
Rnd 8 (one-sided join): Join A with sc in any corner ch-3 space, (ch 4, sc) in same space (corner made), *ch 1, sm V-st in next tr, skip next tr, (ch 1, sm V-st) in each ch-3 space across to next tr, skip next tr, ch 1, sm V-st in next tr*, ch 1, (sc, ch-4 join, sc) in next corner ch-3 space; repeat from * to * once, ch 1, (sc, ch-4 join, sc) in next corner ch-3 space, ch 1, sm V-st join in next tr, (ch 1, sm V-st join) in each ch-3 space across to next tr, ch 1, skip next tr, sm V-st join in next tr, ch 1, (sc, ch-4 join, sc) in last corner ch-3 space; repeat from * to * once, ch 1; join with slip st in first sc. (18 sm V-sts, 6 sm V-st joins, 2 ch-4 spaces, and 2 ch-4 joins) Fasten off.

Square 3 (Make 12)

Rnds 1-7: Work same as Rnds 1-7 of square 1.
Rnd 8 (2-sided join): Join A with sc in any corner ch-3 space, (ch 4, sc) in same space (corner made), *ch 1, sm V-st in next tr, skip next tr, (ch 1, sm V-st) in each ch-3 space across to next tr, skip next tr, ch 1, sm V-st in next tr*, ch 1, (sc, ch-4 join, sc) in next corner ch-3 space; **ch 1, sm V-st join in next tr, skip next tr, (ch 1, sm V-st join) in each ch-3 space across to next tr, skip next tr, ch 1, sm V-st join in next tr**, ch 1, (sc, ch-4 3-c join, sc) in next corner ch-3 space; repeat from ** to ** once, (sc, ch-4 join, sc) in next corner ch-3 space; repeat from * to * once, ch 1; join with slip st in first sc. (12 sm V-sts, 12 sm V-st joins, 1 ch-4 space, and 3 ch-4 joins) Fasten off.

Border

Note: When instructed to work into a ch-4 join, you may be working into a ch-4 space of an inner corner or a ch-4 join.
Rnd 1 (RS): With right side of short edge facing, join A with slip st in first sm V-st, ch 1, sm V-st in same sm V-st, [*(ch 1, sm V-st) in each sm V-st across to next ch-4 join**, ch 1, sm V-st in next 2 ch-4 joins; repeat from * across to next outer ch-4 space ending last repeat at **, ch 1, (sc, ch 4, sc) in next ch-4 space (corner made)] 4 times, ch 1; join with slip st in first sc of first sm V-st—136 sm V-sts, 8 sc, and 4 corner ch-4 spaces.
Rnd 2: Slip st in first sm V-st, ch 1, sm V-st in same space, *(ch 1, sm V-st) in each sm V-st across to last sc before next corner ch-4 space, ch 1, sm V-st in last sc, ch 1, (sc, ch 4, sc) in next corner ch-4 space**, ch 1, sm V-st in next sc; repeat from * around ending last repeat at **, ch 1; join with slip st in first sc of first sm V-st. (144 sm V-sts, 8 sc, and 4 corner ch-4 spaces) Fasten off.
Rnd 3: With right side facing, join B with slip st in first sm V-st, ch 1, sm V-st in same space, *(ch 1, sm V-st) in each sm V-st across to last sc before next corner ch-4 space, ch 1, sm V-st in last sc, to next corner ch-4 space, ch 1, (sm V-st, ch 2, sm V-st) in next corner ch-4 space**, ch 1, sm V-st in next sc; repeat from * around ending last repeat at **, ch 1; join with slip st in first sc of first sm V-st. (160 sm V-sts and 4 corner ch-2 spaces) Place marker on each corner ch-2 space. Move markers up as each round is completed or to indicated sts.
Rnd 4: Slip st in first sm V-st, ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2 here and throughout), dc in same sm V-st (lg V-st made), *(ch 1, lg V-st) in each sm V-st and marked ch-2 space around, ch 1; join with slip st in 3rd ch of beginning ch. (164 lg V-sts)
Rnd 5: *(Ch 1, sm V-st) in each lg V-st to next marked lg V-st, ch 1, (sc, ch 4, sc) in marked lg V-st; repeat from * around, ch 1; join with slip st in first sc of first sm V-st. (160 sm V-sts, 8 sc, and 4 corner ch-4 spaces)
Rnd 6: Slip st in first sm V-st, ch 5, dc in same sm V-st (lg V-st made), *(ch 1, lg V-st) in each sm V-st around to next marked ch-4 space, ch 1, (lg V-st, ch 2, lg V-st) in next marked ch-4 space, ch 1; join with slip st in 3rd ch of beginning ch. (168 lg V-sts and 4 corner ch-2 spaces) Move markers up to each corner ch-2 space.
Rnd 7: *(Ch 1, sm V-st) in each lg V-st to marked ch-2 space, ch 1, sm V-st in marked ch-2 space, place marker on sm V-st just made; repeat from * around, ch 1, sm V-st in last lg V-st, ch 1; join with slip st in first sc of first sm V-st. Fasten off.
Rnd 8: With right side facing, join A with slip st in first sm V-st after marked st, ch 3, 2 dc in same V-st, *3 dc in each sm V-st around to next marked st, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next marked st; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch. Move markers up to each corner ch-2 space.
Rnd 9: Slip st in next dc, ch 1, sm V-st in same dc, *(ch 1, sm V-st) in center dc of each 3-dc group to next marked ch-2 space, ch 1, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next ch-2 space; repeat from * around, (ch 1, sm V-st) in center dc of last 3-dc group, ch 1; join with slip st in first sc of first sm V-st. Fasten off.

Finishing

Weave in ends.

For more holiday crochet patterns, check out the website subscription of I Like Crochet and see additional creative patterns such as: 

Holiday Corner-to-Corner Throw
12 Days of Gift Card Cozies
Peppermint Pals Hotpad Set