There is a variation of crochet which has become very popular called the afghan crochet.
Afghan crotchet is also known as Tunisian crochet. This particular type of crocheting uses an elongated hook which is equipped with a stopper on the end where the handle is located. This is what is known as the Afghan hook.

When employing the afghan method, the rows are worked in two halves. The first half of the rows is done from right going to the left while the other one is worked from left towards the right. The pattern is never turned as compared to other forms of crocheting.

After one has done the starting chain, the beginning row is done by inserting the afghan hook through the chain. This pulls a loop from the yarn and the hook is inserted to the next chain. This is done without having the loop off the hook. After one has been able to finish a row, she will have the same number of loops and the number of stitches across. The other half of the row, one will work the loops off the afghan hook.

Patterns

There are a lot of afghan crochet patterns from which to choose. Each pattern has a different technique and personality that goes with it. Here are some resources pertaining these patterns.

Medallion Strips

This is an afghan pattern which consists of strips which were crocheted as a medallion pattern. This is an example of what one might call as a "patchwork crochet," where the strips are done individually but are then later sewn together. A wool or acrylic yarn is the best choice for this kind of pattern.

Baby Afghan

This is a pattern which can be used for babies' fabric. This is a very easy pattern to develop and can be done in a few hours. The colors can be changed to suit what the parent wants or if the baby is a boy or a girl.

This is a pattern which uses the granny square pattern. One must do six round of white and one round blue. Put these two together in a checkerboard pattern. One can use a whip stitch to be able to join the squares. After one has been able to join all the squares, she should then have a small blanket. This is usually around 3 by 4 squares.

Afghan Medallion

This colorful medallion looking pattern are made out of afghan patterns. These medallions are laced.

Beefy V

This is a crochet fabric that is suitable as gifts for men. They are long enough to cover one's toes and have enough width to embrace the body. This is done using a worsted-weighted yarn.

There are a lot of patterns out there that crocheters can utilize. One can buy different resource books about afghan crochet. These resources can be very helpful for people who would want to pursue afghan crochet. However, the best choice for afghan enthusiasts would be the Internet. The Internet contains a lot of resources about crocheting in general and afghan crocheting as well. There are sites which contains pictures and step-by-step ways of developing afghan patterns.

BlueWaterArticles.com: - Afghan Crochet Pattern Variables

About the Author

C.S.Cox published the acclaimed instructional book, "Crocheting Made Simple" which has taught numerous people how to crochet. Find out how to sign up for the FREE Crocheting Made Simple Newsletter at http://www.crochetmadesimple.com