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7-Day Afghans
Rita Weiss’s classic, bestselling guide—which sold more than 500,000 copies—has been thoroughly redesigned, completely updated, and made more beautiful and fashionable
than ever before.
Think of this as a new book, not just a mere revision of the original 7-Day Afghans. It’s undergone a complete transformation through the addition of full color, with all the patterns rechecked for accuracy and rewritten in an easy-to-follow form. Almost all the original afghans appear, gorgeous as ever, but remade in fashionable, contemporary yarns and shades. Plus, several entirely original designs have been added to enhance the modernization. One look will have knitters and crocheters pulling out their needles, eager to begin. (A “refresher course” will quickly get rusty crafters up to speed.) Make an exquisite Watercolors blanket with fun-to-do cross stitches; a lacy Ice Crystals afghan; Pink Perfection, an easy crochet design that’s perfect for beginners; and other beautiful patterns. The author lives in San Marcos, CA.
than ever before.
Think of this as a new book, not just a mere revision of the original 7-Day Afghans. It’s undergone a complete transformation through the addition of full color, with all the patterns rechecked for accuracy and rewritten in an easy-to-follow form. Almost all the original afghans appear, gorgeous as ever, but remade in fashionable, contemporary yarns and shades. Plus, several entirely original designs have been added to enhance the modernization. One look will have knitters and crocheters pulling out their needles, eager to begin. (A “refresher course” will quickly get rusty crafters up to speed.) Make an exquisite Watercolors blanket with fun-to-do cross stitches; a lacy Ice Crystals afghan; Pink Perfection, an easy crochet design that’s perfect for beginners; and other beautiful patterns. The author lives in San Marcos, CA.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published July 22, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 17, 2015
This book of fast and easy afghans contains 16 knit patterns and 29 crochet patterns, each with both an overall and a detail color photo. Many of the patterns are basic and will blend in with furnishings subtly, though a few have interesting textures and/or openwork patterns. The afghans range from baby size to lapghan size to twin bed/couch size. Most unique is the “Peppermint Candy Baby Afghan,” a round crocheted red-and-white striped afghan to put on the floor beneath the tiny one’s tummy.
My favorite patterns are variations of the granny square (fortunate since I crochet more accurately to gauge than I knit). “Flower Field Lapghan” is made of easy squares with 8-petaled daisies in the middle. “Ice Crystals” features unique openwork hexagons, some of which have a snowflake pattern worked in; they are arranged in an appealing asymmetrical pattern, with long fringe flowing off the bi-level ends. “Rosy Future” has raised popcorn-like roses in the center of each square, though I would adapt the color scheme a bit. “Roses in the Snow” is made up of red-centered hexagons that look more like poinsettias than roses. “Gingham and Lace” is a kids’ afghan, made up of mini-grannies and picot-edged.
A few variations on crocheted chevrons are included, and “Fantastic Fisherman” is unique in that it is worked end-to-end rather than crosswise, and fringed as you go. More unusual textured patterns include the subtly striped, semi-open “In the Pink” and “Beautiful Bobbles,” in which bumpy, braided-looking bands alternate with tiny-holed openwork. “Rippling Shells” is exactly what it sounds like, the delicate shell pattern worked in 4-color stripes. In “Dimensional Shells” the shell pattern is worked thickly into a pleasingly nubby 3-dimensional afghan.
Cable knit patterns include fisherman variations and my favorite, “Beautiful in Blue Cables,” alternating large stripes of cream and two shades of blue, with fun fringed zigzag ends. There are a couple of scalloped knits; “Orchid Lace” is easy and appealing. “Sweet Cream” and “Vanilla Lace Throw” are semi-openwork patterns. “Blue Boy,” another kiddie afghan, alternates seed stitch panels with semi-open chevrons.
Thickly textured knit patterns include “Sedona Rocks,” large bands of popcorn-like stitches alternating with thin bands of garter stitch. “Raspberries and Cream” is a thick kids’ afghan that uses slipped stitches to create a checkered look that is solid rather than open.
One great feature of this book is that the table of contents page shows a rectangle of each afghan along with its name and page number for easy identification. The last chapter contains basic knitting and crocheting instructions and abbreviations, along with different edging and fringing techniques.
Beginning knitters and crochet-ers will get good ideas from this book and not be frustrated because the patterns are relatively simple and progress is fast. Knitters without a lot of time will appreciate the quickness with which these projects can be completed. Casual crochet-ers and knitters will like to pick up this book for easy afghan ideas.
My favorite patterns are variations of the granny square (fortunate since I crochet more accurately to gauge than I knit). “Flower Field Lapghan” is made of easy squares with 8-petaled daisies in the middle. “Ice Crystals” features unique openwork hexagons, some of which have a snowflake pattern worked in; they are arranged in an appealing asymmetrical pattern, with long fringe flowing off the bi-level ends. “Rosy Future” has raised popcorn-like roses in the center of each square, though I would adapt the color scheme a bit. “Roses in the Snow” is made up of red-centered hexagons that look more like poinsettias than roses. “Gingham and Lace” is a kids’ afghan, made up of mini-grannies and picot-edged.
A few variations on crocheted chevrons are included, and “Fantastic Fisherman” is unique in that it is worked end-to-end rather than crosswise, and fringed as you go. More unusual textured patterns include the subtly striped, semi-open “In the Pink” and “Beautiful Bobbles,” in which bumpy, braided-looking bands alternate with tiny-holed openwork. “Rippling Shells” is exactly what it sounds like, the delicate shell pattern worked in 4-color stripes. In “Dimensional Shells” the shell pattern is worked thickly into a pleasingly nubby 3-dimensional afghan.
Cable knit patterns include fisherman variations and my favorite, “Beautiful in Blue Cables,” alternating large stripes of cream and two shades of blue, with fun fringed zigzag ends. There are a couple of scalloped knits; “Orchid Lace” is easy and appealing. “Sweet Cream” and “Vanilla Lace Throw” are semi-openwork patterns. “Blue Boy,” another kiddie afghan, alternates seed stitch panels with semi-open chevrons.
Thickly textured knit patterns include “Sedona Rocks,” large bands of popcorn-like stitches alternating with thin bands of garter stitch. “Raspberries and Cream” is a thick kids’ afghan that uses slipped stitches to create a checkered look that is solid rather than open.
One great feature of this book is that the table of contents page shows a rectangle of each afghan along with its name and page number for easy identification. The last chapter contains basic knitting and crocheting instructions and abbreviations, along with different edging and fringing techniques.
Beginning knitters and crochet-ers will get good ideas from this book and not be frustrated because the patterns are relatively simple and progress is fast. Knitters without a lot of time will appreciate the quickness with which these projects can be completed. Casual crochet-ers and knitters will like to pick up this book for easy afghan ideas.
February 12, 2023
My mom and I made several of these in the late 90s. They did not take seven days. At least three of our blankets still exist in our family.
July 23, 2008
knit afghans,crochet afghans
January 18, 2010
If I didn't already have a couple books with quick afghans, I might be more interested in this book, but as it is, none of the patterns really grabbed me.
Read
May 1, 2010Page 9 - Ice crystals - found online, but wrong color
June 19, 2011
I am unsure of the 7 day part of these afghans, but they seem doable. Maybe I will come back to this one when I have the time.
January 9, 2013
I've made quite a few of these afghans and I've been eased with the patterns and results.
September 5, 2014
The drawback to this edition is the limited colour photographs - that's what you get for producing a knitting book back in 1985.
Full of quick and easy patterns.
Full of quick and easy patterns.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews