Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Ripple Afghan Tutorial....Finally!!


Thank you for your patience on me getting this tutorial posted! I want to start by saying that I am in no way a crocheting expert...but I do LOVE it ALOT and I do it almost everyday.
The pattern I am using for this particular afghan was found online and written by Susan B. in KC. I hope that with this pattern and some visual guidance you will be on your way to crocheting your first Ripple Afghan.

Instructions:
Chain a multiple of 16 stiches, plus 2 stitches.
For a 40 inch wide afghan , chain 130
For a 55 inch wide afghan, chain 178. (This is the size I am making)

Crochet Hook:

If using a worsted weight yarn: I hook (this is what I am using)
The type of yarn I am using in this particular afghan is : Lion Brand Yarn Jiffy in Fisherman, Caffe, Apple Green, and Country Green.
If you are using a sport weight/3 ply yarn: G hook

Special Stitches
3 st decrease: *Yarn over, inert hook through next stitch,yarn over andpull loop through stitch, yarn over and pull through first 2 looops on hook. Repeat from * twice. Yarn over and pull through remaining 4 loops on hook.
2 st decrease: *Yarn over, insert hook through next stitch, yarn over and pull loop through stitch, yarn over and pull through first 2 loops on hook, repeat from* once. Yarn over and pull through remaining 3 loops on hook.

Row 1: Double crochet(DC) in the 3rd chain from the hook. DC in the next 6 chains. 3 DC in the next chain.

This is how your row should look so far.
By putting the double crochet in the same stitch three times gives you an increase in the ripple of the afghan.

Double crochet in the next 6 chains.
Now here we are going to use the first special stitch which will give you the decrease effect in your ripple of the afghan.
Work 3 st dec in the next 3 chains.

The best way for me to describe this is to start like you are doing a double crochet. Pull your yarn through the first two loops. Yarn over like you would a double crochet in the next chain and pull your yarn through the first two loops leaving you with three loops on your hook. Yarn over again in the next chain pull your yarn through the first two loops. This will leave you with four loops on your hook. Grab the yarn with your hook and pull it through all four loops. Yay!! You just did a decrease!!
Here are some visuals of the decrease stitch:



After the 3 st decrease you will DC in the next 6 chains. Repeat this pattern until you are near the end of the chain and are getting ready to do the last decrease stitch. This last stitch is a 2 st decrease. It is exactly the same as the 3 st decrease except you will only be working in 2 chains instead of 3. This means that instead of pulling your hook through 4 loops you will pull it through 3.You should be at the end of the chain now. Chain 2 and turn. Does this make sense? I hope I am not confusing you!

Row 2: Skip first dc.Dc in next 7 dc, 3 dc in the next dc, dc in the next 6 dc. Work 3 st dec in the next 3 stitches (this is the decrease stitch I described above),dc in the next 6 dc. 3 dc in next dc, dc in the next 6 dc. Repeat this pattern until you are on your last decrease and it will be the 2 st dec in the last 2 dc. Chain 2 and turn.
Repeat row 2 until afghan is desired length changing colors as desired.I did each row of colors a little different. Some rows of color are 4 some 3,etc. You can make up your own pattern.

When changing colors there are several ways to do it. This pattern suggests that at the end of the row, when working 2 st dec, drop the current color of yarn when you have the last 3 loops left on your hook to finish the stitch. Yarn over with the new color of yarn and pull through 3 loops on hook. Chain 2 and turn.

This honestly seems too complicated for me. The way I change colors is probably not right but it seems to be working for me. I finish my row and when I am at the end I knot it. I then just take my next color and slip stitch it in the first dc stitch,chain 2 and continue on with the pattern. I weave in the ends as I go.

You can always search for different ways on you tube!!
If you have any questions please let me know. This is the first time I have tried to do anything like this so I apologize if I confuseyou more than help. I will try my best to help you with any issues you might encounter. Also I would love to see your afghans that you create. Leave a link to your blog,etc so that I can share them here! Good luck and have fun!
XOXO
Amber

22 comments:

Dottie and June said...

YAY!!!! I super excited!!!

Belen said...

I need to do this! I have tons of left over yarn and it'd be nice to just make a gigantic zig zag blanket, lol.

Anonymous said...

You are my crochet hero :) xo

Anonymous said...

I have always wanted to do an afghan and this one looks so fun!! I may have to try!! Eeeeee excited! -Katie

Becky Farley said...

:) Print! Thank you! lol I'll be taking this tutorial home and giving it a try tonight!

Julia @ AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns said...

I added this project and thumbnail to our site and linked to you. We are looking for more afghan projects as well as other projects, so if you have any similar projects please feel free to let me know.
Julia
jlitz@primecp.com
Editor, www.AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns.com

Anonymous said...

I have a question. At the end of the last double crochet 6 do i double crochet 7 also? Also im only on my 5th row and its not laying flat yet, is this normal? or will it slowly start laying flat the more rows i add

Anonymous said...

How many skiens of yarn do I need to make this? :D

Susan said...

I tried this pattern, but somehow mine came out looking more wavy than pointed. I used to do a Ripple stitch years ago that was pointed & for the life of me I can't seem to find a pattern for that anymore.

Susan

Anonymous said...

You don't suggest how long these 40 or 55 inch afghan should be. We beginning crocheter's need all the help we can get.

Thanks

Jaine

dianne said...

why won't this print out??

Anonymous said...

Try using only the back loop of the stiches. It gives the afgan a nice dimension.

Dee said...

Well, it looks like something I'd like to make for our den but I'm not so sure about those directions of doing the decreases. I will give it a try, but would rathr see a video as opposed to still pictures. Wish me luck!
Dee

Socially Awkward Wife said...

I was excited to try a pattern that was very detailed. I completed my 2nd row but when I look at it, some of it looks fine while other parts look just wavy. I am wondering when you said on Row 2: "Repeat this pattern until you are on your last decrease and it will be the 2 st dec in the last 2 dc. Chain 2 and turn."
Did you mean the entire row sequence from Skip first dc.Dc in next 7 dc???

Teej said...

This is so easy to understand and it looks awesome!!! Thanks so much!

Tea said...

Thank you for your beautiful pattern.

Anonymous said...

A pattern I find easier to use is the 3-some stitch pattern, as follows:
Chain 240. TURN AND
START ROW:
CH 3.
DC in 3rd ch from hook (on chained row).
DC in next 3 stitches.
3 DC in next stitch.
Dc in next 3 stitches.
DCtogDec (DC together Decrease) (yarn over hook, then hook into next 2 chains, 1 at a time (4 loops on hook), pull up, yarn over ALL LOOPS ON HOOK)
DC in next 3 stitches.
3 DC in next stitch.

When you get to within the last 4-6 stitches of the chain row or any DC row:
DC in next 3 stitches
2 DC in last stitch; TURN
Ch 3.

REPEAT FROM "START ROW".

That's my 3-stitch ZigZag Ripple row for afghans, throws, etc.

You may have to manipulate the stitches at the end of each row, being sure that after you turn that you have 4 DC (includes the chain 3) before the 3DC in 1 stitch.

You can find me at tomsinclairjr@yahoo.com

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