FREE PATTERN - Queen Size Double Crochet Striped Afghan (with Matching Pillow)

I started this project in May and as afghans tend to grow, due its sheer volume, I exclusively worked on it at home.

As you can see, I've had plenty of help of Xena. 

She tested the flavor and the strength of the yarn on many occasions and it appeared to be delicious.

Sometimes I couldn't even work on the afghan because Xena was enjoying it so much, even in its unfinished format.

I used a total of 19, 170 yards (155m/100g) skeins of Quince & Co. - Delft (the cadet blue color) and  10 170 yards (155m/100g) skeins of Quince & Co. - Egret (the egg shell color) for an afghan measuring 6'2" wide x 7'10" long.  Just winding the yarn took hours in itself, not to mention the days and months of actually crocheting it, but thousands of stitches and nearly $500 worth of 100% pure wool later, my husband finally has the enormous snuggly blanket and matching pillow he's always dreamed of.  Plus, he paid for the yarn so I'm not complaining!

I love stripes!  They're such a fun and easily flourish to keep an simple project interesting.

Consistent tension looks mesmerizing, even with the most basic stitches.

Although we're not planning on using it as bedding, the afghan fits on our queen size bed perfectly.

Obviously, if you want to try this pattern, you don't have to use the same yarn as me but if you want the same size, you'll need Aran weight wool or a similar double ply yarn and a size K hook.  Also, if you want your afghan to be more colorful, go ahead and add some different colors.

Instructions and supplies for afghan and pillow:
Color A (the main color, blue in my case), 19 skeins
Color B (the alternating stripes, white in my case), 10 skeins
Size K hook

Afghan:
1) Chain 202 stitches in Color A.
2) DC in the 4th stitch from the hook.  DC all of the way to the end of the chain.  This is your first row.
3) DC for 13 more rows (for a total of 14 rows in Color A).
4) Switch to Color B.  DC 1 row in Color B.
5) Switch to Color A. DC 1 row in Color A.
6) Switch to Color B.  DC 2 rows in Color B.
7) Switch to Color A. DC 1 row in Color A. * Note that when you're creating the alternating stripes, you only ever DC 1 row of Color A.
8) Switch to Color B. DC 3 rows in Color B.
9) Switch to Color A. DC 1 row in Color A.
10) Switch to Color B. DC 4 rows in Color B.
11) Switch to Color A. DC 1 row in Color A.
12) Switch to Color B. DC 5 rows in Color B.
13) Switch to Color A. DC 1 row in Color A.
14) Switch to Color B. DC 6 rows in Color B.
15) Switch to Color A. DC 1 row in Color A.
16) Switch to Color B. DC 7 rows in Color B.
17) Switch to Color A. DC 69 rows in Color A.
18) Repeat steps 4-16.
19) Switch to Color A. DC 14 rows in Color A.

I literally just used the pillow that came with an IKEA futon we bought a few years ago and crocheted around it.  This pattern will create a pillow measuring 24" W x 15" L.

Pillow:
1) Chain 66 stitches in Color B.
2) DC in the 4th stitch from the hook.  DC all of the way to the end of the chain.  This is your first row.
3) Switch to Color A. DC 1 row in Color A.
4) Switch to Color B.  DC 2 rows in Color B.
5) Switch to Color A. DC 1 row in Color A. * Note that when you're creating the alternating stripes, you only ever DC 1 row of Color A.
6) Switch to Color B. DC 3 rows in Color B.
7) Switch to Color A. DC 1 row in Color A.
8) Switch to Color B. DC 4 rows in Color B.
9) Switch to Color A. DC 1 row in Color A.
10) Switch to Color B. DC 5 rows in Color B.
11) Switch to Color A. DC 1 row in Color A.
12) Switch to Color B. DC 6 rows in Color B.
13) Switch to Color A. DC 26 rows in Color A (this is the back of the pillow).
14) Fold your work in half.  SC around all of the edges to seal the pillow.

If anyone actually bothers to try this pattern themselves, I'd love to see your finished work!