Wednesday 12 June 2013

{Crochet Tutorial} Ripple Blanket

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I recently posted this photo on my Zoey Makes facebook page. (in case you didn’t know, Zoey Makes is my little handmade business, where I sell some of the handmade goodies that I make.) Anyway, I had a lot of positive feedback about this lovely textured blanket, and a lot of interest in a tutorial. So here I am, about to embark on my first attempt at a crochet tutorial. Including a video. Eek!! Wish me luck!

The ripple blanket is not a new thing, and it’s not an original thing. Your grandma probably has a pattern for one floating around, and there are a bazillion of them online, too. I had done a lot of reading of various freebies, tried out a few… they all work with basically the same idea, just different lengths and numbers of stitches. After experimenting I came up with this particular variation, which I think creates a good length ripple and a nice texture.

For this project you’re going to need a 5mm crochet hook. I’m using the Carnival Soft Acrylic 8ply from Big W. It’s lovely and soft, and a good price. I live in a town with very few options for yarn, but if you can access a nicer yarn than this, go for it! I’m using five colours, and with one ball of each colour, I’m probably about a third of a way through my blanket. I would guestimate that 3 balls of yarn for each colour is about what you’ll need.

If you are crocheter who knows what they’re doing, I’m gonna give you the pattern straight. I know that I sometimes get frustrated when I find a website with a great pattern and have to sift through pages of explanations and photos to find the actual guts of it. If you just want to see the pattern, without the step-by-step how-to, scroll to the bottom now!

This pattern requires for you to really only know one stitch: the double crochet. The internet is a wonderful place to learn how to crochet; in it’s mainly how I learned! Once you find a pattern you like, jump on to youtube and look up the stitches you need.. there are loads of fantastic tutorials. I am going to recommend that you watch this video if you don’t know how to do a double crochet. Have a practice while you watch until you get the hang of it. That video is exactly how we’re going to start off this project.

In the above video, she chained 15 stitches to begin with. For our ripple blanket, you’re going to need to chain 146. This will make your blanket around 90cm wide. Then you need to miss two of your chains, and double crochet (dc) into the third chain, just like she did in the video. You need to do this six more times, so all up you’ll have 7dc, and the 2 chains you skipped will form an 8th. Into the next chain, you need to work 3dc, all into the same stitch. This is how you increase, and it will create the peak of your ripple. Then, you double crochet into each of the next 6 chains.

The next step is a little tricky, which is why I’m making a video. So if this doesn’t make sense in written form, hopefully the video will help you! You are going to double crochet three stitches together (of which the fabulous abbreviation is dc3tog), which means that you will have 3 dc but with only one top! Confused? Sorry! What you need to do is the first part of a double crochet: put your yarn over the hook, hook through the next chain, and pull up a new loop. Pull your new loop through the first two loops on your hook (just like usual). Then, instead of pulling it through your remaining two loops, leave them there. You’re going to repeat this first step of a double crochet again. Put your yarn over the hook, hook through the next chain, and pull up a new loop. Pull your new loop through the first two loops on your hook. Now you should have 3 loops remaining on your hook. Do this one more time, into the next chain, and you will have 4 loops left on your hook. Now, pull your yarn through all four of the loops on your hook to finish the stitch off. Phew!  You’ve just made your first valley! 

Now you need to double crochet into the next six chains, then work 3dc into the next chain. Keep repeating this pattern (6dc, dc3 in next chain, 6dc, dc3tog). Do this all the way to the end. You’ll have two stitches left over after your last 6dc. You need to double crochet those two stitches together. This is worked in exactly the same way as a dc3tog, except you only need to do it two times: put your yarn over the hook, hook through the next chain, and pull up a new loop. Pull your new loop through the first two loops on your hook (just like usual). Then, instead of pulling it through your remaining two loops, leave them there. You’re going to repeat this first step of a double crochet again. Put your yarn over the hook, hook through the next chain, and pull up a new loop. Pull your new loop through the first two loops on your hook. Now you should have 3 loops remaining on your hook. Pull your yarn through all three of those loops to finish the stitch off. Finally, chain 2 to finish the row off, and turn, ready to start your new row!

It might look a bit wonky at the moment, but doing your next row will help to neaten things up. To start the new row, skip the stitch that your ch2 is coming out of, and work a double crochet into the next stitch. **Now work dc into the next 6 stitches, then work your 3dc peak into the next. If you look at your previous row, you will notice that you are working these 3dc into the middle stitch of your previous 3dc peak. Work a dc into each of the next 6 stitches, and then work your dc3tog over the next three stitches. Repeat this sequence from the **. Again, you will have two stitches left at the end for you to work a dc2tog. Chain two to finish the row off, and turn ready to start your next row.

That’s it! You just keep repeating that second row over and over until your blanket is at your desired length.

I like to do two rows in each colour, then change. When I change colours, I work my stitches into the back loops of the previous row (I explain this in the video). This gives it a really cool layered texture, and makes the ripple look really effective. I also explain how I change colours in the video.

And…. here it is: my first ever video tutorial (eeek!!). Near the end we had a massive roll of thunder, and Mayana comes out a bit scared… I don’t have the skills/time to edit, so sorry about that!

My video tutorial!

I really hope that you find that helpful, please comment if you need clarification on anything! When I’m finished my blanket and decide if/how I’m going to edge this thing I will post an update with a tutorial for that too.

Now for people who were just after the pattern: here it is!

The Pattern!

5.00mm crochet hook, 5 colours, three balls of each. I am using US crochet terms.

This pattern yields a blanket of just under 90cm in width, and you can repeat the pattern until it is your required length. Basically your initial chain needs to be a multiple of 16, plus two stitches extra. If you want your blanket smaller or longer, adjust your initial chain accordingly.

Special Stitches:
Double crochet three together dc3tog: Yarn over, hook through stitch, pull up a loop, pull through two loops (2 remain on hook). Yarn over, hook through next stitch, pull up a loop, pull through two loops (3 remain on hook). Yarn over, hook through third stitch, pull up a loop, pull through two loops, then through 4 remaining loops.

Double crochet two together dc2tog: yarn over, hook through stitch, pull up a loop, pull through two loops (2 remain on hook). Yarn over, hook through next stitch, pull up a loop, pull through two loops, then through 3 remaining loops.

Row One:
ch 146. Skip first 2 chains, dc into 3rd chain. *Dc into next 6 chains. Work 3dc in next ch. Dc in next 6 chains. Dc3tog over next 3 chains. Repeat from * to end, working dc2tog in final two chains. Ch2, turn.

Row Two:
Skip first stitch (where the 2ch comes from), dc in next 7 stitches. Work 3dc in next stitch (this will be the middle of your dc cluster from the previous row, and will form the peak of your ripple). *Dc in next 6 stitches. Dc3tog over the next three stitches (the second of these three stitches will be the top of your dc3tog from the previous row, and forms the concave of your ripple). Dc in next 6 stitches, work 3dc in next stitch. Repeat from * to end, working dc2tog in final two stitches. Ch 2, turn.

Repeat row two until your blanket is at desired length! I do two rows in each colour, then change. In the rows where I introduce a new colour, I work into the back loops only. This gives a layered texture, and is definitely my preferred ripple style. The second row of each colour I work into both loops.

Now, I’m not finished my blanket yet so I haven’t gotten to the part where I edge it.. in fact I haven’t even decided how I want to do it yet! I have found this great tutorial on pinterest through, and it is probably something I’d like to try.. I will be back to update this post once my blanket is done!

I would really appreciate any feedback on this pattern/tutorial. It’s my first attempt at anything like it, and if I’ve made any mistakes or caused any confusion, please let me know! And if it’s brilliant and you learn something from it I’d like to hear that too… ha!

Thank you!

35 comments:

  1. Love it, your tutorial is clear and easy to understand, I have only been crocheting for a couple of months and like you said YOUTUBE is my teacher so many amazing things that I have learnt so thanks for sharing your knowledge with us, it looks fantastic and I'm off to big w to find some wool :)

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  2. I'll be happy to give it a go, just have to learn to crochet :-) thankyou

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  3. Thanks for very clear instructions and the neat video blog. Very helpful! I wanted to start it today but the shops were closed!

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  4. Could you tell me how to make it wider? I'm not sure how many multiples to add to the chain. I'm excited to attempt to actually complete a project! :)
    Thanks

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    1. I think I would add multiples of 16 to the original chain correct?

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    2. Yep! That's exactly right :) Multiples of 16.

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  5. I have hit a wall. I have about 20 rows and on the last one im coming up one stitch short. I've counted back about 9 rows (until I went insane) and I cant find the problem. Is there a quick fix for this, or am I going to be off for the rest of the pattern?

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    1. Sorry I missed this! We've been away on holidays...
      Do you know which ripple you're a stitch short on? See if you can figure that out, and just add an extra stitch somewhere in the middle of that ripple when you make your next row. I don't *think* that one stitch is going to make too much difference in the long run!
      I hope that helps :)

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  6. For some reason I had to add an extra stitch on Row two to make it to the turning chain. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have made a stitch in the turning chain. I can't find a mistake in my row either. It doesn't make a huge difference, but does this sound normal? It's driving me crazy!

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    1. I just found my problem. Accidentally did two double crochets into one stitch when there should have been one on my last row. Glad I figured that out!

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    2. I'm glad you figured it out! How is it going now?

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  7. Hello Zoey! I have nearly driven myself crazy looking for an easy-to-follow ripple pattern. Tried one which infuriated me so! It must be me .... But then, I stumbled upon your AMAZING tutorial, with video!!!!! I am new to crochet so little things throw me. But, Oh My Lord, I have just created a sample ripple. With your simple guidance. I am on top of the world !!!!! God bless you and yours. I plan to make a baby ripple blanket for my brother's baby due in May. I need a headstart being a newbie ..... Thank you SO SO SO much.

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    1. Yay I'm so glad you found it easy to follow! That was definitely what I was hoping to achieve! Congratulations on the impending arrival of your niece/nephew. I hope your blanket is ready in time :)

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  8. Hello Zoey. I want to congratulate you on your awesome video. It helped me a lot. I was looking for something to make my granddaughter and I haven't touched a hook in a couple of years. This is a good one to restart with. Keep up the good work.

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    1. Thank you so much! I'm really glad you liked it :) Enjoy rediscovering crochet.... be prepared to become addicted!

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  9. I love this! I really like your tutorial it is very well put together! I am having some difficulties with mine that I started and was wondering if you could email me to help me please.

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  10. I am just starting this pattern and would love to see the video however I cannot get it to show up when I'm on the page. Is it possible for you to post it again or for me to find it on YouTube

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    1. You can find it on YouTube, my channel is called Zoeyjoyful :)

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  11. Hey this pattern is one that i can understand thanks for putting it up ive always wanted to do a ripple blanket and now thanks to you i can now

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  12. The video you suggested to watch to start off the blanket is no longer available. Is there another you could suggest that I watch to start the blanket off??

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  13. Thanks for share this awesome tutorial
    For more about blanket

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  14. How did you end up finishing the blanket? Whats the final picture?! Loved this whole post. It was easy and so cute.

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  15. I'm on my 7th row, and all of my start/end declines are becoming longer and longer, to 8, 9, 10 stitches. The rest of the valleys and mountains all have the right number of stitches, and my edges are ruler straight, But I wanted to know if it is normal for the stitches to increase at the ends?

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    1. Hello! No, your stitches should not increase, you should continue to have the same number of stitches in each row. I'm not sure why that is happening??!

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    2. Oh just had a thought! Perhaps you are not double crocheting your two together at the end of each of your rows?

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  16. Have shared a Final photo I'd love to see it

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  17. Fabulous simple easy to follow video! I am so going to make this. Thank you.

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  18. I am an experienced crocheter, and familiar with English and American patterns. Just wondering if you do English or American double crochet stitches. Thank you

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  19. I think your directions are perfect. I like how you create the valleys - no holes there.

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  20. Thanks for this brilliant pattern! I'm loving my first ripple blanket experience. x

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  21. Hi Zoey! I was wondering what you did with your edging in the end. Do you have a finished foto for us? Thanks!

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  22. I'm doing a ripple--this one as it works out--but larger in three colors. I thought your written instructions were extra clear!

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  23. Andrea Hutchens26 June 2018 at 05:16

    Do you think that 1000 yards of yarn is enough? Thank you for making a ripple pattern I can finally understand!

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  24. At the beginning, do you still do 6 dc or does the dc in 2nd ch count as one of the 6?

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Thank you!!

 

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