After the granny square, the ripple or zig zag afghan is probably the most widely recognizable crochet pattern and has been a favorite for many generations of crocheters. Are there any among us who have never curled up on the couch beneath a ripple afghan lovingly made by grandma or a great aunt?
Also called the chevron, the basic ripple pattern is simple to complete for even those just learning to crochet. If you can complete a single crochet (SC) or double crochet (DC) stitch, you can crochet a blanket.
An afghan made with SC stitches will take longer to complete, but will also be warmer than one made with DC stitches, as it will be more tightly woven. Kay shares an Easy Chevron made with SC stitches that has more pointed ridges, more of a zig zag pattern than a wavy ripple. Kay’s pattern is worked up in just two colors, but of course you can vary the number of colors to suit your fancy.
My personal favorite is Susan B’s Easy Ripple Afghan that is worked in DC stitches. Susan offers a variation that is worked in the back loop only (BLO), which is the one I use most as I like the slightly raised effect it gives. This is the pattern shown in the photo above.
If you like the classic look of the ripple but want to try something a bit more challenging, take a look at the Popcorn Ripple pattern. The popcorn stitch gives a raised texture and completely different look to the timeless ripple that we’re all familiar with. If you’re tired of stripes, the popcorn ripple also looks nice in a single color.
Don’t forget granny! The Granny Ripple is a marriage of two classic crochet motifs – the granny square and the ripple. While not fashioned into a square, the combination of stitches used for the granny ripple is much the same as that used for the granny square, but worked in a back and forth fashion instead of the round with squared corners. The granny ripple works up quicker than most but results in a more open stitch, so not quite as warm.
Tired of going back and forth? Give this Beginner’s Round Ripple a try. The zig zag portion is much the same as a regular ripple afghan, but it’s worked in the round so results in more of a star-like shape rather than square or rectangle. A round ripple makes a nice baby blanket that works up quickly.
As with most crochet patterns, you can achieve a completely different look with a ripple by changing colors and varying the number of rows for each. Once you have the basic pattern down, there is no right or wrong. Choose colors that match your favorite comfy chair, coordinate with the new baby’s room, or get funky and use up the yarn in your stash.
