Becca Jean's Posts, Crochet, Yarn

Crochet Cancer Ribbon Afghan

The Design: Crochet Cancer Ribbon

When I found out that my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time. I became inspired to design an afghan for her. That took some trial and error because I wanted to incorporate the cancer ribbon into the design.

With the first design, I was trying to make the stitch look like the ribbon. In my head, it looked good but the execution of the pattern did not come out how I wanted it to. I went back to the drawing board. I decided to use graph paper to design the ribbon and to make it stand out in the corners. This approach worked much better for what I was visualizing.

The yarn, itself, was the inspiration behind the project. I kept seeing the Red Heart Ombre in Jazzy and thought that it would be perfect. With the RH Ombre, one can make the pattern for a number of different cancers. There are a number of gorgeous colors that match the ribbon colors of various cancers, including Ovarian cancer, Pancreatic cancer, Brain cancer and, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Here, you can find out more about the Red Heart Ombre yarn and all of the colors available. Click here for all of the cancer ribbon colors.

The Pattern: Crochet Cancer Ribbon Afghan

For the pattern, you’ll need about 73 oz for the pattern.

Using a 5.5mm – I hook – as called for on the yarn sleeve.

Special stitches – frdc (front raised double crochet): yo, insert hook from the front around the stem of the dc in the row below from right to left, then complete the stitch the normal way. brdc – (back raised double crochet): yo, insert hook from the back around the stem of the dc in the row below from right to left, then complete the stitch in the normal way.

Lower corner crochet cancer ribbon

Lower Ribbon

Chain 210

Row 1 – sc in the second stitch from the hook and every stitch across. Turn.

Row 2 – Ch 3, dc in every st across. Turn.

Graph to create the cancer ribbon

Row 3 – Ch 2. Follow the graph for the ribbon. hdc in front loop only for the blank stitches, frdc for the x’d squares for 29 stitches. Between the 2 ribbon corners hdc in each st across until 29 stitches are left, work from the graph for the ribbon to complete the row. Turn *For right side stitches be sure to read the graph from right to left for correct alignment of the blank stitches.

Row 4 – Continuing to follow the graph for the ribbon. Ch 2 hdc in back loop only for each blank stitch and brdc for the x’d squares. Between the ribbon corners, hdc in each st across until 29 stitches remain. Complete the second ribbon block to complete the row. Turn. *For wrong side stitches be sure to read the graph from left to right for correct alignment of the blank stitches.

Continue to follow the graph for the correct stitch placement. Repeat rows 3 and 4 for correct front or back loop placement and the stitches between the ribbon stitches thru row 37.

Row 38 – hdc in each stitch across.

Blanket body

Basket weave stitch in the body of the afghan
Basket Weave stitch

Starting in row 39 is the body of the blanket using a gorgeous basketweave stitch. Solid construction for great warmth and texture. The basketweave is a 4-row repeating pattern once it has been established.

Row 39 -ch 3, dc in each stitch across – basketweave base row.

Row 40 – ch 2, hdc in first 29 stitches for the border, in stitch 30 *1fpdc around each of the next 3 dc, 1bpdc around each of the next 3 dc repeat from * to the last 29 st from the end. hdc in the last 29 st of the row. Turn

Row 41 – ch 2, hdc in first 29 stitches, in stitch 30 *1brdc around each of the next 3 frdc, 1frdc around the next 3 brdc, repeat from * to the last 29 st. hdc in the last 29 st. Turn.

Row 42 – ch 2 hdc in 29 st, in st 30 *1brdc around each of the next 3 brdc, 1frdc around each of the next 3 frdc, repeat from * to the last 29 st. hdc in the last 29 st. Turn.

Row 43 – ch 2, hdc in 29 st, in stitch 30 *1frdc around each of the next 3 brdc, 1brdc around each of the next 3frdc, repeat from * to the last 29 st. hdc in the last 29 st. Turn.

Row 44 – ch 2, hdc in first 29 st, in stitch 30 *1frdc around each of the next 3 frdc, 1 brdc around each of the next 3 brdc. repeat from * to the last 29 st. hdc in the last 29 st. Turn.

Repeat rows 41 – 44 18 times.

Row 113 – ch 2 hdc in each st across.

Upper corner showing the Crochet cancer ribbon stitch

Upper Crochet Cancer Ribbon

Row 114 – ch 3, dc in each st across. Turn, ensure the right side is facing for row 115.

** If at the end of row 114 wrong side is facing you can either add another row of dc to correct or work the ribbon grid starting with back look hdc and brdc instead of front loop hdc and frdc.

Row 115 – Following the graph for the ribbon. Ch 2 hdc in front loop only for the blank stitches, frdc for the x’d squares for 29 stitches. Between the 2 ribbon corners hdc in each st across until 29 stitches are left, work from the graph for the ribbon to complete the row. Turn *For right side stitches be sure to read the graph from right to left for correct alignment of the blank stitches.

Row 116 – Continuing to follow the graph for the ribbon. Ch 2 hdc in back loop only for each blank stitch and brdc for the x’d squares. Between the ribbon corners, hdc in each st across until 29 stitches are remaining. Complete the second ribbon block to complete the row. Turn. * For wrong side stitches be sure to read the graph from left to right for correct alignment of the blank stitches.

Complete ribbon grid, turn

Row 150 – ch 2, hdc in each st across, turn

Row 151 – ch 3, dc in each stitch across, turn

The shell stitch border
Border shell stitch

Border

Row 1 – ch 1, sc in each st around afghan. On the sides ensure to work st evenly so that it doesn’t pull or pucker up. sl st to connect row 1 at the corner.

Row 2 – ch 1, sc in the first stitch, *skip 2 st, 5 dc in next st, skip 2 st, sc in next st repeat from * around the afghan. sc hits at the corners, if not adjust st into the corner for a natural look. sl st at the completion of row 2. Finish off.

Full view of the finished afghan showing the corner and the body of the afghan.

The Final Product: Crochet Cancer Ribbon Afghan

I must say that this is not a fast building afghan but the love that you put into it will mean that much more for the person that receives it. But to be fair when I first started it I was only doing a couple of rows at a time. After a while, it felt like it was dragging on and that was when I really put the time and effort into getting it done. It went where I went when I was going to be there for an extended period of time.

My cat enjoyed watching when some frogging occurred. You can meet all of my animals on my family page.

Hazel the cat watching the yarn closely.
Hazel loves yarn!

#crochet #crocheting #cancerribbon #pinkribbon #yarn #yarnaddict

4 thoughts on “Crochet Cancer Ribbon Afghan”

  1. I am a little confused by this pattern, Am I working from the top to the bottom or the bottom to the top?

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