Not Your Granny's Afghans in Caron Simply Soft & Simply Soft Collection - Downloadable PDF

Not Your Granny's Afghans in Caron Simply Soft & Simply Soft Collection – Pattern Summary

Designed by Margret Willson, Not Your Granny's Afghans is a free, downloadable PDF crochet pattern that puts a fresh, modern spin on the beloved classic granny square blanket. Available in two distinct colorways, this pattern produces a large, generously sized throw that works up beautifully in Caron Simply Soft and Caron Simply Soft Collection yarns. The finished afghan measures approximately 50 inches wide by 63 inches long (127 cm x 160 cm), making it an ideal lap blanket, sofa throw, or bed accent. Rated as a beginner-friendly crochet project, it is an excellent choice for crafters who are comfortable with basic crochet stitches and are ready to explore simple modular construction.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a crocheted afghan blanket assembled from individual granny-style squares in two sizes. The design cleverly combines Large Squares (each measuring 6½ x 6½ inches / 16.5 x 16.5 cm) and Small Squares (each measuring 3¼ x 3¼ inches / 8.5 x 8.5 cm) to create a dynamic, patchwork-style layout. The "not your granny's" concept refers to the updated, contemporary color combinations and the refined construction that elevates the traditional granny square aesthetic into something decidedly more modern. A total of 32 Large Squares are worked for the main body of the throw, supplemented by the smaller accent squares. The finished piece has a structured, geometric look with clearly defined corners and a rich textural surface created by layering multiple stitch types across each square's rounds.

Two Colorway Versions

The pattern offers two complete color versions, each using four contrast colors labeled A, B, C, and D. Both versions use Caron Simply Soft yarn in the same ball quantities and weights, but in different shade combinations.

Version 1

• Contrast A: 5 balls (color not specified in available text)
• Contrast B: 2 balls (color not specified in available text)
• Contrast C: Passion (0012) – 2 balls of Caron Simply Soft
• Contrast D: 2 balls (color not specified in available text)

Version 2

• Contrast A: 5 balls (color not specified in available text)
• Contrast B: Harvest Red (9763) – 2 balls of Caron Simply Soft
• Contrast C: Pistachio (0003) – 2 balls of Caron Simply Soft
• Contrast D: 2 balls (color not specified in available text)

The use of four contrast colors per version allows for rich, layered color play across each square's concentric rounds, giving the finished afghan a vibrant, eye-catching appearance regardless of which version is chosen.

Materials

Both versions of this pattern are worked in Caron Simply Soft, a smooth, worsted to aran weight acrylic yarn. Each ball of Caron Simply Soft contains 170 g / 6 oz and approximately 288 m / 315 yards of yarn. This yarn is well known for its soft hand feel, easy-care machine washability, and wide range of available colors, making it a popular choice for blanket and throw projects. The smooth, consistent texture of Simply Soft also makes it ideal for stitch definition, which is particularly important in a pattern that relies on the visual contrast between different stitch types within each square.

A crochet hook appropriate for worsted/aran weight yarn is required. While the specific hook size is not fully detailed in the available PDF excerpt, crafters should swatch to achieve the stated gauge of a Large Square at 6½ x 6½ inches and a Small Square at 3¼ x 3¼ inches before beginning the full project. Additional materials typically needed include a yarn needle for weaving