A Mommy Blanket is an afghan you create for a pregnant woman or new mom. It's a gift for her and her alone and has nothing to do with babies. It isn't cutesy (unless that's her style) and it is barely practical, although entirely comforting. It should be made from yarn too nice for baby puke, and in colors and a stitch pattern that reflects the pre-parent personality of the recipient. The best Mommy Blankets also have foot pockets.

Obviously, any afghan can be a Mommy Blanket. For this article I've written up the pattern I designed for my latest Mommy Blanket -- a 3-color crocheted plaid. This afghan is built up from strips which use front-post stitches to achieve a woven effect. (A hint to those who dabble with PhotoShop -- copy Diagram A below and use the color switcher to test different color combinations.)

• 1600 yds - DK or Light Worsted weight yarn, color A (shown using Lion Brand Imagine in Moss)
  500 yds - DK or Light Worsted weight yarn, color B (shown using Patons Classic Merino in Winter White)
  300 yds - DK or Light Worsted weight yarn, color C (shown using Patons Classic Merino in Old Gold)
• 5.50mm (US-I) hook

Finished size with border is 42" wide x 50" long

Follow instructions for Strip 1 to end of Row 17.
9 stitches = 2.75 inches
8 rows = 2.25 inches

US pattern notations used (click on db-ch or tr/rf for a tutorial)
sl st = slip stitch
ch = chain
db-ch = double base chain
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
tr/rf = front post triple

I made this throw for my husband.  It's made in a very easy shell pattern with a border that has one round of single crochet and one round of reverse single crochet.  I used Red Heart worsted weight yarn in the color of Aran Fleck to add more texture.

• Size I (5.50mm) hook or whatever hook size gives you gauge
• 39 oz worsted weight yarn
• Tapestry needle

50" by 50"

7 shells = 4 inches/10cm

Ch 151.

Row 1:  sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across.  ch1, turn.