Game of Thrones afghan

This is a Tunisian crochet pattern I created to make a blanket based off the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin. You can see the pattern on Ravelry here. This has nothing to do with the world of Five Fangs; it's just cool!

Background:

I made this afghan for a dear friend of mine who loves the Game of Thrones series, both the books and the TV show. It is made in Tunisian crochet from Red Heart SuperSaver and one color from Vanna's Choice acrylic yarns. They are cost-effective and hold their shape. I have attached my hand-drawn patterns below for anyone who would like to try them. Please note, they are drawn with pencil on graph paper with all my notes to myself, so they are not fancy, but should help you with your project. 

Thoughts for next time:

I have updated the panel for House Greyjoy. I was not pleased with how small the kraken was in comparison to the other panels, and the writing was too heavy, I thought. The updated pattern is attached, not the one shown in the picture of GOT afghan, mark I.   

The only other change I would make would be to make the lion in only gold, as the beige didn't add enough to be worth all the color changes. The stag needs the grey to separate out his jaw and ear, but I might leave out the eye in GOT afghan, mark II, since none of the other animals have eyes.  

Yarn colors and amounts:

light yellow - one skein

dark grey - one skein

light grey - one skein

dark red - one skein

medium red - one skein

gold - one skein (Vanna's Choice)

beige - one skein

white - one skein

black - four skeins 

Basic instructions:

Measures approximately 36 inches wide by 45 inches tall. Crocheted on a size G Tunisian hook.

1. Make each panel following the graphs in the basic Tunisian stitch. (There are many tutorials on this kind of crochet, as well as changing colors, on youtube. I learned from my sister-in-law. Thanks, Diane!)

2. Join each panel together by single crocheting the sides together. This makes a little ridge that separates the panels. I like it because it makes the panels look like windows. I used black yarn, but you could use any complementary color. Other options for joining: 1. Hand-sew them together with yarn and a yarn needle by holding two right sides together. 2. Hold two panels so the right sides are facing and slipstitch them together. 

2. Single crochet around the outside edge of the afghan x 2 rows.

3. Reverse single crochet around the outside edge x 1 row. Finish off and weave in the end.

4. Weave in the ends on the back of your afghans. Other finishing options: 1. Tie the ends in knots and dab with washable fabric glue. 2. Sew a back to it. This could be fabric, like fleece or something that doesn't fray, or another crocheted or knitted afghan.

Credit:

I modified cross stitch patterns for bookmarks for four of the panels - the stag, the dragon, the lion, and the dire wolf. You can find those patterns here. The artist has also posted four other house sigils here. If you wanted to use the exact bookmark patterns in Tunisian crochet, you could embroider the mottos on after the panels are made. Just remember - the more color changes you make, the more you will have to weave in at the end.

Thanks, and have fun!