by Elizabeth Curtis

Created on: July 24, 2008   Last Updated: August 01, 2008

Creating a crochet afghan can be a fun and rewarding way to pass your time. While your local craft store carries books and magazines full of crochet afghan patterns, you can also find many afghan patterns that are completely free. You simply have to take the time to look in the right places.

1. Go to your local craft store or any store that sells yarn. Yarn companies often publish free pamphlets or fliers to encourage you to buy their yarn. Wander the aisles in the yarn section and look on the fabric counter for the newest free publications. You can even go ahead and buy your yarn and hook while you're feeling inspired!

2. Look online at craft store and yarn company websites. They have lots of projects to get you started. These are usually available to be downloaded in PDF format so that you can easily print them at home. Here are a few store sites to look at:
*www.michaels.com
*www.hobbylobby.com
*www.coatsand clark.com

3. Google it! Go online to www.google.com and enter "free crochet afghan pattern" into the search window. You will then have access to a large number of free crochet afghan projects. Many these projects were originally created as fliers in crafts stores. The specific yarn listed in these projects may have been discontinued by the manufacturer. This is not really a problem, though. You can easily substitute another yarn from the same manufacturer of the same weight.

4. Look in old magazines. Does your mother, grandmother, or great-aunt have needlework or crafting magazines stored away in her guest bedroom just waiting for someone to dig through them? These often have afghan patterns in them, and your relative will likely be thrilled to share her hobby with you. Also find out what magazines your local library has in its collection? Many women's magazines publish afghan pattens on occasion, also.

5. Yard sales can be a good resource, also. People who crochet also tend to collect crochet patterns. Yard sales are a great place to pick up these collections as people try to clear their crochet clutter. People will often sell an entire box of magazines for as little as a dollar. While magazines purchased at a yard sale are not completely free, you can usually pick up many patterns for very little money.

Sometimes the hardest part about making a crochet afghan is choosing the pattern. With all the free resources available, you are sure to find an afghan pattern that will be fun and rewarding to make. Soon you can be snuggled up under your soft afghan reading a good book or, more likely, taking a good nap.

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