Fair and Square Afghan in Caron United - Downloadable PDF

Fair and Square Afghan in Caron United – Crochet Pattern Summary

The Fair and Square Afghan is an intermediate crochet pattern from Caron that produces a striking, textured blanket measuring approximately 43" x 52" [109 x 132 cm]. The design is available as a downloadable PDF at no cost, making it an accessible project for crocheters who are comfortable with basic stitches and ready to explore more advanced post-stitch techniques. The finished piece is a generously sized throw, well suited for home décor, gifting, or cozy everyday use.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a large crocheted afghan blanket worked in a bold, geometric colorblock structure — hence the name "Fair and Square." The design features a repeating stripe and textured panel layout that creates visual depth through the use of raised front-post stitches worked several rows below the current row. The result is a dimensional, woven-like surface texture that elevates the piece beyond a simple striped throw.

Colorwork and Design Structure

The afghan is worked using three colors of Caron United™ yarn, each playing a distinct role in the pattern's visual rhythm:

• Color A – Royal (06013): A bold, saturated blue used as one of the primary stripe colors.
• Color B – Soft Grey Heather (06004): A neutral heather tone that anchors the design and appears in the post-stitch rows, requiring 6 balls — the largest quantity of any color.
• Color C – White (06001): A crisp white that provides high contrast against both the Royal and Soft Grey Heather sections.

Colors are joined and broken at regular intervals throughout the pattern, with a clear sequence of stripe blocks: Color A rows are followed by Color B transition rows, then Color C panels, and back again. The pattern instructs crocheters to join a new color by working to the last two loops on the hook and drawing the new color through — a clean, professional color-change method that minimizes bulk and keeps edges tidy.

Techniques Used

The Fair and Square Afghan is built on a foundation of simple single crochet but gains its signature texture from two specialized front post stitch techniques worked around stitches located several rows below the current working row. These raised stitches pull upward through the fabric, creating a sculptural, cable-like effect without requiring traditional cable techniques.

• Front Post Double Treble Crochet (Dtrfp): Worked by wrapping the yarn around the hook 3 times and drawing up a loop around the post of a stitch 5 rows below the current row, inserting the hook from right to left at the front of the work. This stitch creates a moderately raised vertical bar across the fabric surface.
• Front Post Quintuple Treble Crochet (Quin-trfp): A more dramatic version of the front post technique, worked by wrapping the yarn around the hook 6 times and drawing up a loop around the post of a stitch 9 rows below the current row. This produces a taller, more pronounced raised stitch that spans a greater vertical distance through the fabric, contributing to the bold geometric character of the design.
• Color Joining and Changing: Colors are joined and broken at the end of designated rows, with the new color drawn through the final two loops of the last stitch. This technique is used throughout the pattern to create clean, defined stripe transitions.
• Edging: Once the main body is complete, a simple single crochet edging is worked along both side edges of the afghan. With the right side facing, the main color (MC) is joined with a slip stitch at the bottom right corner, and single crochet stitches are worked evenly into the sides of the rows along each edge. This finishing step frames the blanket neatly and stabilizes the side edges.

Stitches Used

• Chain (ch) – Used for the foundation chain of 135 chains and for turning chains throughout.
• Single Crochet (sc) – The primary stitch used for the body of the afghan; all rows are worked in single crochet with post stitches inserted at intervals.
• Slip Stitch (sl st) – Used to join the edging yarn at the corner of the finished afghan.
• Front Post Double Treble Crochet (Dtr