California Ranch Afghan

Last updated on March 18th, 2025 at 12:28 am

With a comfortable 45 by 72 inch finished size (including fringe), this bright and colorful California Ranch crocheted afghan pattern is both practical and strikingly pretty.

Free Vintage Crochet Pattern – California Ranch Afghan, C-120, originally published in J. & P. Coats Clark’s “Afghans”, Afghan Book No. 289, First Edition, July 1952.

From the same book, also see: Siesta Afghan, with a completed size of 47 x 62 inches, and lots of “time for a nap” value.

MATERIALS:

CHADWICK’S RED HEART KNITTING WORSTED, 4 Ply, E.232: 48 skeins (1 oz. “Tangle-Proof” Pull-Out Skeins) of No. 909 Scarlet and 12 skeins of No. 1 White.

Bone Afghan Hook No. 6 (4¼ mm. size).

GAUGE: 5 sts make 1 inch; 4 rows make 1 inch. Each strip is 5 inches wide.

STRIP (Make 9) … Starting at lower edge with Scarlet, ch 31.

1st row: Insert hook in 2nd ch from hook and draw up a loop; retaining all loops on hook draw up a loop in each of next 13 ch, insert hook in next ch (center ch) and draw loop through, yarn over and draw through 1 loop (ch st made), make 1 more ch sts in same place (2 sts increased), draw up a loop in each of remaining 15 sts.  There are 33 loops on hook.  To complete row, yarn over and draw through 2 loops (1 st decreased), * yarn over and draw through 2 loops (this is not a dec).  Repeat from * across until there are 3 loops on hook, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook (another st decreased).  There are 31 sts on row.  The loop which remains on hook always counts as the first st on next row.

2nd, 3rd and 4th rows:  Insert hook under 3rd vertical bar and draw loop through; retaining all loops on hook draw up a loop in each vertical bar across to within center vertical bar, insert hook in st preceding center vertical bar and draw loop through (1 st increased), insert hook under center vertical bar and draw loop through, insert hook in st between center vertical bar and the following vertical bar and draw loop through (another st increased), and draw up a loop in each remaining vertical bar to within last 2 vertical bars, insert hook under both vertical bars and draw loop through (33 loops on hook), and complete last half of row as for first row.

5th row:  Draw a loop of White through loop on hook and drop Scarlet.  Working with White, insert hook under 3rd vertical bar and draw loop through, * yarn over twice, insert hook under next vertical bar on 3rd row down, yarn over and draw loop through (yarn over and draw through 2 loops) twice (tr loop made); skip the vertical bar directly behind the tr just completed, draw up a loop in next vertical bar on previous row.  Repeat from * 4 more times; insert hook from right of work through the center st 3 rows down and bring it out on wrong side, yarn over and draw loop through to height of row in work (long loop made), skip the vertical bar directly behind this st, draw up a loop in next vertical bar on previous row, draw up another long loop in same place as previous long loop was made, skip the vertical bar directly behind it, insert hook in st preceding next vertical bar (center st) on previous row and draw loop through (1 st increased), draw up a long loop in same place as previous long loops were drawn through, skip the center vertical bar on previous row, insert hook in st preceding next vertical bar and draw loop through (draw up another long loop where previous long loops were drawn through, skip the vertical bar on previous row directly behind this loop, draw up a loop in next vertical bar on previous row) twice; now make tr loops and short afghan sts alternately across to correspond with first half of row, ending within a short afghan st, insert hook under last 2 vertical bars and draw up a loop; make a loop on a new strand of Scarlet, break off White, draw Scarlet loop through 2 loop s on hook and complete as for first row.  This will be referred to as pattern row.  Break off the strand of Scarlet and pick up main Scarlet yarn.

6th to 9th rows incl:  Repeat 2nd to 5th rows incl.

10th, 11th and 12th row:  Repeat 2nd, 3rd and 4th rows.

13th row:  Repeat previous row, working long and short loops alternately at center as on pattern rows.

14th to 17th rows incl:  Repeat 2nd to 5th rows incl.

18th to 21st rows incl:  Repeat 10th to 13th row incl.  The 2nd to 21st rows constitute the pattern.  Repeat these rows until piece measures 65 inches, ending with the 10th row.

Last row:  Sl st in 3rd and each vertical bar across, working off last 2 loops as 1.  Break off.

Sew strips together, matching pattern rows.  Attach Scarlet to straight side and sc closely across.  Complete other side the same way.

FRINGE…  Cut 4 strands of White each 7 inches long.  Double these strands and draw through first st, draw loose ends through loop, pull ends up tightly.  Make Fringe evenly across, having a Fringe in each point, between points and 3 Fringes on straight edges.  Complete other end to correspond.