Monica's Simple Ripple Crochet Baby Blanket

I've just read your "Monica's Simple Ripple Crochet Baby Blanket". I am impressed. But I was never able to understand my high school Calculus either!

My late father was a prolific crocheter. He started late in life after his doctor told him he needed to do something to take his mind off of his stressful work for the Postal Service.

Okay. Say your jokes now about stress and the Postal Service and we can move on ;)

He was a mathematician for the Postal Service. In the early 1970's, during the gas shortages, the national Interstate System speed limits were reduced from 70 to 55 MPH. He was called to Washington as the mathematician to figure out how to move the mail in the same amount of time going 15MPH slower.

Thus the stress.

Thus the crocheting.

He was away from home here in Texas for a very long time. And afterward, he was all over the country for the next ten years inspecting the new bulk mail centers that were a part of the solution.

I'm not sure the mail moved any faster, but it sure provided everyone in his family great afghans!

And then there was the Smurf blanket. It was beautiful. He made it for my first son spending endless hours getting it just right. Being a mathematician it had to be just right. It was so beautiful and precisely done that during my first divorce it ended up as an item in the divorce settlement to be fought over. The irony of it all, was that the blanket, crocheted to relieve stress from a horrific job ended up being the stressful part of a horrific divorce.

I asked my son a few days ago whatever happened to that blanket crocheted for him by the grandfather he never met.

He didn't know. He doesn't remember it.

Of course I told him the story. And now you know.

Happy Crocheting!

Mike

Hi Mike - I just saw your comment again and I wanted to let you know that I have started onlince crocheting classes, complete with videos.  They start here: Crochet 101 - so if you are ready to learn I am ready to help you.

Mike - great story and thanks for sharing. You know, many people think of crocheting as a woman's hobby, but did you know it was actually started by shepherds - who were men of course! I have seen some ofthe most well done and beautiful crocheted items from men. I hope you have some of your father's afghans still, even if the smurf did not survive. Maybe it will show up on the Antiques Roadshow in 30 years! Wouldn't that be weird. If I see it I will let you know lol! After all, how many smurf crocheted afghans do you think there are?

I did not mention hook size -- but I always go by the size recommended on the yarn Iam using. On this one though, I think I used a slightly larger than recommended one for a more lacey look. I'm not afraid to rip out, so I experiment a lot.

What a lovely pattern!!!

Thanks Nicole!

After the last baby blanket, I swore I'd stick to small stuff, but I dunno. I've got an amazing soft, fuzzy yarn that's just screaming at me to turn into one,and if I use a larger hook, maybe the pattern won't get lost in the fluff...Ah, there you go feeding my addiction!

This works great with a large hook, and really is pretty easy. The hardest part is the back loop only rows, and if they are too hard, you can do it all regular. I have made the whole blanket back loop only and it is really beautiful. I will post a picture next time I make one - I sent one on the last donation.

I realize here I did not tell which hook size I used for this, how much yarn it took, and what the final size was. I play around with this pattern so much ( and so do the people I have taught it too) I really don't pay much attention to which hook I use and how many chains I start with.

What I normally do (as a cheaters way of doing this blanket lol) is chain until it looks about as long as I want the width to be, then if I end up with extra chains I simply untie the knot and undo the extra chains and make the beginning knot again. It is a trick taught to me by my dear friend in Ca - Josie Estrada. She is also the one that taught the ripple technique to me. Once you learn how to do a ripple, you can create so many different and easy patterns. I have made this from micro-preemie size to adult size. So just play with it.

Also, if you want to make a really easy baby blanket, try an enlarged Granny Square. They are quick and easy - perhaps I will post the patterns and pictures soon! If you do make something please post a picture - I would love to see it!

Also - the hat was a regular baby hat pattern, but I crocheted a rosette and sewed it on - here is a link to the pattern - http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/chs-rosettes.html

It was pretty easy to do, but I bought some cute little flowers that I want to try to add instead next time. I will show a finished product in a future article.

Thanks, Monica, for sharing the pattern and the advice. This is beautiful!

Very pretty Monica. I really like the lacy effect of it.

Hi Monica, am I missing something here? What size is the finished blanket, and how many skeins of each colour is needed? It has been many many years since I've crocheted, and I really need specific instructions, although your pattern does look easy enough.

Hi Jane - I use the size hook recomended for the yarn I am using. Using a slightly larger hook (one size up from recommended) will give a lacier look. I generally buy one skein of the alternate colors and two of the main color. I do not have this blanket anymore so I am not sure the finished size. Try to take this more as a technique than a pattern - I often just chain to the length I want the width to be and then crochet the first row (removing stiches on the end if I did not chain enough to complete the stitches rquired for the pattern to complete. This one is the width of a medium size ottoman (it is my sister's not sure how wide) and a bit longer than that. It is just right for a newborn, but if you want it to be able to grow with the baby to toddlerhood, you may want to make it bigger - a bigger needle and thicker yarn will make it naturally larger.

This is a very beautiful pattern.

Very beautiful blanket, I just might try it. I only crochet in the winter though, it's just too hot in Las Vegas to think about yarn in the summer, lol.

Absolutely beautiful! Thanx for sharing

Hi! I love this pattern and I wanna make my own using two different shades of purple and white. In your pattern, which one is color A, color B and Color C?
Thanx

Color A is the Dark Pink, Color B is the Light Pink, and Color C is the White. I'd love to see pictures of it when you are done. I hope you enjoy this!

Thank you so much! One other thing...the hills and the valleys should line up correct? Because I wasn't getting that. I'm making my blanket a little larger...would that alter the way I'm supposed to do the first stitches of each row? As you can tell...I'm a beginner =).

Yes, they should align and if not, you likely skipped a stitch. And no, making it larger will not change how you start each row. Good lucK!

love the colors in this

How much time does this normally take to complete?

Sally - I usually do these in my spare time and don't pay attention to time, but about 5=6 hours maybe?

You crochet much faster than I. A baby afghan takes me about 20 hours (of course, they're usually large enough to be used until the kid is almost five! LOL)...

Lovely work, thanks for sharing!

precious!!! I love the ripple pattern

I'm sorry to say that, but this one is even better than your Sunshine Round Ripple Baby Afghan Pattern! Thanks for your wonderful explanations.

Janna,
Webmaster of Comprehensive Background Check.

this a beautiful pattern and i have a great neice on the way and this will be perfect for her. will post picture when I complete

Frances - I would love to see pics!

Very pretty baby afghan.

Your work is beautiful!

That is gorgeous!

Hi Monica! What a beautiful blanket. Love the colors. I have a question, if you could please help me with your pattern. I am so new to crocheting. I'm still trying to learn patterns. And just to let you know, I read your About Me section, and wanted to let you know, my 14 year old daughter and myself, are making a granny square blanket each, and are donating them. Here is my question:  In this pattern, it's telling me to turn and change color and to DC into the first 4 DCs....Question is, when I turn, do I count the 4 chains I skipped in row 1 as a DC and DC into that one? This is what it says for row 1 "1 DC in 4th CH from hook. 1 DC in each of next 3 CH"

My Next question.... I'm a little confused as it's saying to repeat from *. But, I see two *s. Which one should I repeat?

Row Two: TURN. Change to Color B. 1 DC in each of first 4 DC, skip 1 DC. *1 DC each of next 3 DC, skip 1, *Work in back loop only 1 DC in each of next 3 DC. 3 DC in next DC. 1 DC in each of next 3 DC, skip 2 DC. Repeat from * until 5 DC from end, skip 1 DC. (In both loops) 1 DC in next 4 DC. (NOTE: Working in back loop only will make the dark pink row "pop" with a ridge on the front sides. This can be omitted if desired. The blanket is very pretty done all in the back loop –except the first and last 4 stitches of each row. This can become rather tedious but makes a nice effect.)

Hi Melanie - so glad you will be donating blankets!

Your firstr question:

In this pattern, it's telling me to turn and change color and to DC into the first 4 DCs....Question is, when I turn, do I count the 4 chains I skipped in row 1 as a DC and DC into that one? This is what it says for row 1 "1 DC in 4th CH from hook. 1 DC in each of next 3 CH"  Okay, I think you are asking about turning to make the second row of DC's.  If so, you CH 3 which = 1 DC, then DC in each of the next three DC so you end up with 4 DC (one being a ch-3 eauivalent of a DC)  Does this make sense?

Second: = should read as follows (corrections added soon)

Row Two: TURN. Change to Color B. 1 DC in each of first 4 DC, skip 1 DC. *Work in back loop only 1 DC in each of next 3 DC. 3 DC in next DC. 1 DC in each of next 3 DC, skip 2 DC. Repeat from * until 5 DC from end, skip 1 DC. (In both loops) 1 DC in next 4 DC. (NOTE: Working in back loop only will make the dark pink row "pop" with a ridge on the front sides. This can be omitted if desired. The blanket is very pretty done all in the back loop -except the first and last 4 stitches of each row. This can become rather tedious but makes a nice effect.)

 Hope this helps.

Instead of tieing off to change colors, can I attach my new color in the last DC and go on from there? 

Some people do that, Barbara, I just prefer to join with the dc in the new color.  I think it looks nicer and is easier, but there is nothing wrong with either technique.  I would love to see your finished product! 

Since you say you are new to crochet, I thought I would let you know I am offering free online crochet classes - Crochet 101. 

Hello Monica,

Nice to meet you..I just LOVE your ripple baby blanket! I am taking a class at the local library, and would like to make this for my daughter's 2nd baby on the way. :) I'm not very experienced, and my question is, would this still be as pretty if I made it in one solid color? And what size needle? I want it to look like yours. :) Someday I'll try the colors. Thanks in advance!

Sincerely,

Kathy

Hi Kathy,

Nice to meet you too.  Yes, this wouldl look nice as a solid as well.  If you want the more lacy look, use a hook that is one to two sizes bigger than what your yarn label recommends.  You may also like my Quick Stripes Baby Afghan done as a solid - it is VERY easy and I love the pattern stitch.  It works up fast.  If you have questions let me know.