Practical Crocheter and I both really enjoy using diagonal crazy stitch. It's fast, easy, attracted, has a nice drape, and because it's worked on the diagonal, has no hard edges. Practical Crocheter posted instructions for it several years ago. I do crazy stitch a little differently from the instructions at the link. Here's how I do it:
Crazy Stitch
Row 1: Ch5, sk 2, dc in next 3 sts, leaving a ch-2 space. The 3 dc make a little block.
Row 2: Ch5, turn, sk2, dc in each of next 3 sts to make another block. Sc1 in ch-2 space from previous row -- this anchors the corner of the current block. Ch2, dc3 in same ch-2 space to make another block. At this point it looks like a little heart, or like three little blocks.
Row 3: Ch5, turn, sk2, dc in each of next 3 sts to make a new block. Sc1 in last ch-2 space from previous row to anchor the block. Ch2, dc3 in same ch-2 space to make a new block. Sc1 in next ch-2 space to anchor. Ch2, dc3 in same ch-2 space to make a new block.
Pattern Row: Row 4: Ch5, turn, sk2, dc in each of next 3 sts to make a new block. Sc1 in last ch-2 space from prev row to anchor the block. (Ch2, dc3 in same ch-2 space to make a new block. Sc1 in next ch-2 space to anchor) across. End with ch2, dc3 in same ch-2 space to make a new block -- there is no place to anchor this, so this is the end of the row.
Repeat Row 4 until the piece is as big as you want. Makes a great triangle. Notice that the two short edges of the triangle are really straight.
If you are making an afghan on the diagonal, you can make a rectangle by keeping increasing on one side and starting to decrease on the other. If that sounds too much like math, just make a square and start decreasing when you are halfway through your yarn.
Here is how to decrease:
Row 1: Turn. The sc that anchored the last block of the prev row serves the same purpose as a turning chain. Sl st across the next 3 dc to get to the corner of the little block. (Ch2, dc3 in same ch-2 space to make a new block. Sc in next ch-2 space to anchor) across. Repeat this row until only 1 block is left. Finish off, or edge as desired.
One of the fun things about having a group of double crochets is that you can play around with replacing some of them with other stitches. I recently experimented with two variations. The first I'm calling Open Crazy Stitch. The second I'm calling Crazy Filet. Open Crazy Stitch is the trickier of the two, because where you put your stitches matters . If you just put everything in the ch2 spaces, it won't have a crisp, grid-like appearance (the lower right corner of the swatch was worked putting everything in the ch2 space).
Open Crazy Stitch
Row 1: Ch5, sk 2, (dc1, ch1, sk1, dc1) across the next 3 sts, leaving a ch-2 space.
Row 2: Ch5, turn, sk2, (dc1, ch1, sk1, dc1) in each of next 3 sts to make another block. Sc1 in the top of the dc from prev row. Ch2, dc1 in same dc as the last sc, ch1, dc1 in the sc on the other side of the ch2 space to make another block. At this point it looks like a little heart, or like three little blocks.
Row 3: Ch5, turn, sk2, (dc1, ch1, sk1, dc1) in each of next 3 sts to make a new block. Sc1 in last dc from prev row to anchor the block. Ch2, dc1 in same dc as the last sc, ch1, dc1 in the sc on the other side of the ch2 space to make a new block. Sc1 in next dc to anchor. Ch2, dc1 in same dc as the last sc, ch1, dc1 in the sc on the other side of the ch2 space to make a new block.
Pattern Row: Row 4: Ch5, turn, sk2, (dc1, ch1, sk1, dc1) in each of next 3 sts to make a new block. Sc1 in last dc from prev row to anchor the block. (Ch2, dc1 in same dc as the last sc, ch1, dc1 in the sc on the other side of the ch2 space to anchor) across. End with ch2, dc1 in same dc as the last sc, ch1, dc1 in the sc on the other side of the ch2 space -- there is no place to anchor this, so this is the end of the row.
Repeat Row 4 until the piece is as big as you want. Makes a great triangle. Notice that the two short edges of the triangle are really straight.
Here is how to decrease:
Row 1: Turn. The sc that anchored the last block of the prev row serves the same purpose as a turning chain. Sl st across the next 3 sts to get to the corner of the little block. Ch2, dc1 in same dc as the last sl st, ch1, dc1 in the sc on the other side of the ch2 space to make a new block. Sc in next ch-2 space to anchor, (ch2, dc1 in same dc as the last sc, ch1, dc1 in the sc on the other side of the ch2) across. Repeat this row until only 1 block is left. Finish off, or edge as desired.
Open Crazy Stitch is slightly more closed than a granny square, but with a similar weight and drape. I'm using it right now to make a baby blanket, and I really like how it's turning out. I can imagine using it for a warm shawl or scarf or for a tunic-like, lightweight sweater.
Crazy Filet
Row 1: Ch5, sk 3, dc in next 2 sts, leaving a ch-3 space. The 2 dc make a little block.
Row 2: Ch5, turn, sk3, dc in 4th ch from hook, ch1, sc1 in ch-3 space from previous row -- this anchors the corner of the current block. Ch3, dc2 in same ch-3 space to make another block.
Row 3: Ch5, turn, sk3, dc in 4th ch from hook, ch1, sc1 in last ch-3 space from previous row to anchor the block. Ch3, dc in same ch-3 space, ch1, sc1 in next ch-3 space to anchor. Ch3, dc2 in same ch-3 space.
Pattern Row: Row 4: Ch5, turn, sk3, dc in 4th ch from hook, ch1, sc1 in last ch-3 space from previous row to anchor the block. (Ch3, dc in same ch-3 space, ch1, sc1 in next ch-3 space to anchor) across. End with ch3, dc2 in same ch-3 space--there is no place to anchor this, so this is the end of the row.
Repeat Row 4 until the piece is as big as you want. Makes a great triangle. Notice that the two short edges of the triangle are really straight.
Here is how to decrease:
Row 1: Turn. Ch1, sl st in the next 2 dc, sl st 1 in the ch-3 space, (ch3, dc1, ch1) in the ch-3 space. *(sc1, ch3, dc1, ch1) in the next ch-3 space, rep from * across. Sc1 in last ch-3 space.
Row 2: The sc that anchored the last block of the prev row serves the same purpose as a turning chain. Sl st across the next 3 sts to get to the corner of the little block. (Ch3, dc in same ch-3 space, ch1, sc in next ch-2 space to anchor) across until 1 ch3 space is left. Ch3, dc2 in final ch3 space, Repeat this row until only 1 block is left. End the final row with a sl st instead of a sc. Finish off, or edge as desired.
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