It's over a year since I gathered this yarn together and began to contemplate a new ripple blanket journey. Do you remember it? I wrote a post in September 2011 about choosing/buying the yarn, and I wrote another in October 2011 about the beginning of the blanket (which includes specific colour info and pattern details).
It is such enormous fun embarking on a new blanket. I always get really incredibly excited once I finally get going, especially as it usually comes after weeks of anticipating, planning and pontificating.
Working up these interlocking ripples of colour was pure pleasure. The Neat Ripple is a super-relaxing pattern - there is a mesmerising, soothing, repetitive rhythm to it which is wonderfully therapeutic.
The rise and fall of the rows does something quite wonderful to the colour play, but adding in this "interlocking" colour sequence made it even more fun. The rows are worked as either single or double width. Some rows look narrower simply because of the way they are worked back and forth. So looking at the above image which shows the start of the blanket, you can see single (red), single (turquoise), double (red), single (green), single (red), double (green). So each colour is made up of four rows (two singles and a double)
I worked my colours randomly, which in actual fact was a lot harder than I had anticipated. It was necessary to carry out some sort of yarn play as I went along though, and I generally planned out about six rows at a time. I did have a few basic rules for working "planned random" ::
1. I tried to use each of the 18 colours evenly throughout the blanket. I ended up with 44 colour changes, so each colour appeared at least twice, with 8 of the colours appearing three times.
2. I tried to balance the way I put colours together. Sometimes I would put harmonious colours together (ie blue with greens, or purples with pinks), and sometimes I would shake it all up a bit and throw some contrasting colours together (ie red next to green, or pale aqua next to the deep burgundy)
3. I tried to keep it from becoming too rainbowy. There are sections of it which do run like a rainbow, and this does add in some necessary visual harmony I think.
Working on a blanket over many months is a lovely experience, and you do really feel as if you are on a very special journey. This particular blanket took me through all four seasons of a year, and has so many memories woven into it as a result.
As it grew, I kept it sitting in my basket so that I could pick it up and work on it at any opportunity. Sometimes I would only be able to hook a small part of a row before having to put it back in the basket, but sometimes the basket would be next to me for hours and many rows would grow.
I loved working on it through the late Autumn and into Winter as it became a dream fireside project.
But through Spring and Summer it was also a joy to work on, and I have many beautiful memories of rippling al fresco....
....this is mid June, and a picnic lunch with some sunny riverside rippling.
I finally landed on the last colour change in high Summer, and the last row was made on 16th July 2012.
Even though it wasn't actually finished, the blanket was in use throughout the Spring and Summer. By then it was big enough for snuggling and the above scene really made me laugh when I came across it. Little Lady and Little B were playing some sort of peek-a-boo game together, you can just about make out their legs underneath each blanket. Big smiles all round.
Summer turned into Autumn and my beloved blanket became well and truly a part of our family life. The Little People use my handmade blankets every single day, for snuggling under and for playing with. They are comforters, body warmers, dens and ships. They are wrapped, draped, dragged (although I do get cross with the dragging), and pegged. They are hard working blankets for sure.
Now don't ask me why I didn't get around to edging this blanket straight away, why I left it unfinished for so long. I just don't know why I procrastinated over it, especially as I really enjoy working edgings. But anyhow....five months later, the day after Christmas, I finally decided it was time to get stuck in and Work the Edge.
Now before you ask.....I have to let you know that I am NOT intending to make a tutorial for making the edging. I will do my best to explain it to you, and hope that will be enough.
1. I make sure I begin and end my blanket rows in the same colour (in this case red). The first stage of the edging then, is to make a row of trebles (in red) down each side of the blanket. I like to work out of the actual stitches/chains of each end stitch, as opposed to working round "the post" of each each end stitch if that makes sense. It's harder to do, but I personally think it gives a neater finish. I work 2 trebles into the end stitch of every row.
2. The next row is the row that will "fill in" and make the rippled edge straight (in this case turquoise). I begin at the bottom right corner of the blanket and work up the right hand side (I did Half Trebles for this row). When I get to the top right corner, I work 2 htr's, chain 2, 2 htr's to turn the corner.
Now working across the top of the blanket edge (in the picture above, from right to left), the following sequence of stitches ::
dc (twice) *htr (twice) tr (four times) htr (twice) dc (six times)* repeat between **.
At the end of the row, you turn the corner in the same way as you did before by working 2 htr's, chain-2, 2 htr's. Then carry on down the left side of the blanket with htr's. The bottom filling in of the ripple is slightly harder as it's worked into the foundation chain. But it's the same principle as the top :: basically you work 6 dc's to take you over the mountain, then 2 htr's to go down the sides of the valley, 4 tr's to fill in the bottom of the valley, 2 htr's to go up the sides, then back to 6 dc's to go over the mountain again.
So after all that, you should have your blanket with straight edges, and two rows of edging.
For the final bit of my edge, I wanted to try something new. I worked on this design idea ages ago and really liked the visual effect of it, so it was just a case of deciding on which two colours to go with. I decided on the pink/blue combo in the end.....
.....it's a very easy but effective pattern. Start out by chaining 2 (counts as 1 dc + chain 1).
Skip 1 stitch, then work 1 dc into next stitch. *Chain 1, skip 1 stitch, dc into next stitch*. repeat between **.
You turn the corners by working 2dc, chain 2, 2dc into the corner space of previous row.
The second part involves exactly the same pattern, excepting that when you make your 1 dc, you make it into the skipped stitch of the (turquoise) row below. See where I've put my hook? You are pulling up a "long dc" from the row below. So this is the pattern :: Chain 1, work a long dc into skipped stitch of previous row, chain 1 etc....do you get how it works?
See how fab it looks?! Isn't it clever?
I'm so pleased with this border, it's great when a new idea for something works out so well. I really LOVE this idea actually, and have plans for a striped cushion cover using this two-colour technique. I'm mega excited about that prospect.
Well.........you know that it's pretty much time now don't you?
Yes, I think it's high time I cleared some space to lay the blanket out for you.
Need to push back the furniture.
Need to balance on the edge of the sofa on my tippy-toes.
Need to try not wobble.
Ok.
Think I'm almost there with it.......
Here
it
comes...........................................
Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One bright, colourful, happy, glorious, beautifully edged Ripple Blanket.
Size wise, as you can see this blanket is pretty much single bed size. I think this is the perfect size for decent snuggling. Any shorter and there is always the risk of toes poking out. I measured the finished blanket just now and it measures 112cm x 180cm, so very slightly bigger than the first ripple blanket I made. It looks awesome laid out on Little B's new bed, but this blanket is well and truly a sofa blanket and will live downstairs to provide daily warmth and comfort.
I am really, really, really pleased with how it turned out. The colours worked out great. It's a lovely, warm, colourful and cosy creation that has happiness running right through it.
Now then, you may remember when I began this blanket that I was not on this journey alone. No no no, I had company on my Ripple Ride. I had my lovely friend Heather join me with her own Cashmerino blanket journey, and there was real pleasure for both of us in doing it together.
We had some really ace ripple times. I was much slower than Heather mind you, and she had to wait for me to catch up with her at the end. But eventually I did, and in July when my stripes were finished, I took both of our blankets to the park to photograph them.......
Don't they look amazing? Heather went on to add some more rows to her blanket when she realised hers was quite a bit shorter, and of course they both had edgings added too. You can read more about Heather's blanket beginnings here, and see her finished blanket here.
Many of you also Rippled Along with us throughout 2012. It has been fabulous to see so many gorgeous and beautiful blankets being made, sooooo inspiring. There is a wonderful group over on Flickr with some incredible photos, please do go take a look if you have chance.
Now before I go, I shall leave you with the Riveting Ripplesome Facts ::
Yarn :: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, in 18 colours (shade info in this post)
Hook :: 3.5mm dotty spotty hook
Pattern :: Neat Ripple Pattern
Starting chain :: 227 stitches
Rows :: 176
Measures :: 112cm x 180cm
Weight :: 1430 g
Balls :: 29
Cost :: Ssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh, don't ask bad questions.
Mileage :: 29 balls @ 125m each ball = 3625 metres = 2.25247057 miles of yarn (!)
Photo :: Little B snuggled up in the Big Chair
Blanket :: gorgeous
Me :: happy-smiley
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This is absolutely breathtaking.
Posted by: SML | December 20, 2017 at 05:51 AM
Wonderful neat ripple blanket so relaxing to do this pattern and the rhythm you get when doing it I have just finished 28 rows in 14 colours now I am going to go random planned if you know what I mean. Also have the style craft chunky yarn to start a weekend bag I found the wool shop in Redditch had style craft chunky hadn't got the list if colours so I just went with my choice for 8 yarns so I will see how that comes out. Thank you for your interesting site I enjoy reading it. You have given me such inspiration.
Posted by: Margaret | November 12, 2016 at 02:47 PM
I am almost done with my first ripple blanket and (because I'm too excited to wait) I'm starting a new blanket this week! The pattern is slightly different than the one you posted, but I'm going to try this interlocking method with my colors. I finally decided to try out the stylecraft special DK yarn that you rave about and I'm really loving how it feels and works up. The colors are also very vibrant and lovely! I only wish there were more stores around me that sold this line of yarn because waiting for it to be shipped is almost too much to bare! :)
BTW, thank you for all of your tutorials...I've only been crocheting a few years and I owe a lot of what I've learned and mastered to you and your blog (my crochet eye candy!).
much love, all the way from Virginia, USA -K
Posted by: crochet30something | April 29, 2016 at 02:28 PM
Hi, I love your blanket it's beautiful
I was wondering how many balls of wool would I need to complete it as i'm using a large (400g) ball of Aaran in blue that changes shades as it goes along hope that makes sense.
Many thanks
Sharon x
Posted by: Sharon Hill | April 20, 2016 at 12:25 PM
Do you happpen to have a tutorial, or any kind of pattern for the Firestarter Afghan that was originally posted on Ravelry? I have seen your name mentioned on several blog post, and they thought you were the person to ask.
Also, I love your Website, it always is so inspiring, and I also tried your Kale recipe, and everyone loved it. I live in So. California bewtween San Diego and Los Angeles, so you touch lives far and wide. Thank you sharing your designs and imagination with color, it is greatly appreciated. Barbara Leftwich...
Also thanks in advance for an answer, when you have time.
Posted by: Barbara Leftwich | March 20, 2016 at 10:53 PM
Lucy I totally enjoy your blog, I found my love for crocheting all over again! I too am all about colors, the brighter the better. I was wondering if you have a pattern of the colors used for this blanket. I have the yarn now just need a color chart
Posted by: Joanna Grimstad | January 20, 2016 at 06:19 PM
Dear Lucy! How are you washing your merino blanket? I just put mine in a water and it became awful and stretched :(
Posted by: Kate Korochkina | November 24, 2015 at 10:46 AM
Dear Lucy,
first I´like to say sorry for my Engslisch... A frind of mine, told me about your blog. I love your ripple-blanket-2 so much!!! And I like to start. I found the special wool in a shop but the question is, which colour (of the 18) I need twice? Can you help me? Thank you very much for your effort!
LG Simone from Germany
Posted by: Simone Seiter | September 14, 2015 at 09:53 PM
Hi there Lucy, I have a question for you but appreciate you are a busy lady with a family so won't be offended if I don't hear back. Anyhoo, I managed finally (it's caused much frustration and tears) to crochet a ripple for my little bean due in December. I really wanted to finish it like yours, ie with the border with the long Dc's but can't for the life of me work out how to do the very final round (the one you did in blue, except mine will be purple. If there is any chance you could help I would be so grateful, love and light Kat xx
Posted by: Kat | August 28, 2015 at 09:51 AM
Lucy, I love your site soooo much. What a wonderful designer you are! I have made your Granny Stripe Blanket using your Stylecraft Special DK yarn and love, love, love it. I plan on making your Cosy Stripe Blanket and Cottage Blanket with the Stylecraft yarn packs also because I really like this yarn. But first I simply must make the Ripple #2 Blanket ahead of them all because it just simply can't wait! I am going to use the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn from Wool Warehouse. But the color numbers do not match, so I am having a problem matching colors. Why is that? Also, is it possible to get your color scheme? I am not a designer and want to make it exactly like yours. Please, please help me!
Posted by: Ellen | April 05, 2015 at 05:26 PM
On my fourth ripple blanket and am doing the interlocking ripple one. Already falling in love with the colours I've chosen. Thanks for keeping me out of mischief Lucy.
Posted by: Hil | March 18, 2015 at 10:09 PM
I wanted to thank you for your inspiration. I just finished a blanked similar to yours, after 1,5 year of work. This was a real journey and I'm so proud of me. I layed it on the floor and sat just to watch it for about 15 minutes ahaha !! All I have to do now is to make the edge...
Your blog is awesome, thank you.
Posted by: Caroline | February 02, 2015 at 03:37 AM
OMG! Beautiful! So many ripply rows!! There must have been hundreds of tail ends to weave in! That's the only reason I avoid making a blanket... How did you tackle all those tails?
Posted by: Zarnaz | December 07, 2014 at 01:07 PM
Lucy, I am trying your colorful wavy ripple for my granddaughter. I have had a few problems and have started over four times . I had six rows done. My v's and a's were not lining up. I am not going to give up. I am going to take a break . My desire to do it and learn what I am doing wrong is taking over to obsession. Ha ha . Just do not want to let go and let it beat me. It seems easy when I follow your great instructions. My granddaughter picked your blanket out over all we looked at. I have made baby sweaters for her
When she was under a year old and they were beautiful. I know I will get the ripple. I love it. Thank you for sharing the love.
Posted by: Linda Ballard | November 01, 2014 at 08:08 AM
I love bright colors. Kaffe Fassett has always been my inspiration but.your colors in this blanket are just a amazingly beautiful. Thanks eversomuch much for sharing
Posted by: Donnis Bauman | October 25, 2014 at 03:01 AM
Made this!!! Came out wonderful!! Thanks !!!
Posted by: Roshni Joseph | October 17, 2014 at 02:41 PM
Please just finishing the granny ripple blanket, I purchased the 17 colours attic 24 yarn, soon I'll be crocheting the edge ,,can anyone tell me how much yarn I will need for Working Lucy's edging, any idea ?
It's looking fantatastiic, hopefully a silver wedding anniversary present for son& daughter in-law.
Posted by: Betty Smith | August 08, 2014 at 07:19 PM
Well i finished my ripple blanket for my daughter. This has been daubed the University blanket, stitched with love by mum to keep her warm and cosy while away. Started as a single and ended up as a double... :)
Thank you i love the pattern. xx
Posted by: Nicola Dickenson | July 05, 2014 at 07:27 PM
Thank you so much for sharing your ideas. I just used your edging idea to finish my first ever blanket and have had the pleasure of watching my little girl having her breakfast 'picnic' with her toys on it - hopefully the first of many!!! Going to start on a mandala now! x
Posted by: Claire Robins | May 11, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Very, very pretty.
Posted by: Corine van Wijk | May 10, 2014 at 10:04 AM
This is absolutely stunning work! Bravo!
Posted by: Mamie Hockenberry | March 02, 2014 at 09:41 AM
Can someone please email me back the patten to this "interlocking color ripple:Tah:dah" I've been over and over this column, wondering if the pattern is here and I'm just not seeing it!?
Im familiar with the "Neat Ripple" pattern, however I'm unsure on how she is interlocking the colors? I know she states 1double & 2singles. I'm just very confused with how she interlocks the colors. And is she only going through 1 stich when she double crochets, (to bring out that pop up look) can someone please email me back with any useful tips please! I desperately want to start this blanket! This is my second email, & I haven't heard from anyone, I know and understand it's a busy life, so for anyone to address this, thank you so kindly:) I love this blanket and can't wait to start it. Thanks again, Mindy
Posted by: Mindy | February 21, 2014 at 11:34 PM
I am so glad I found your site. You are so talented, I love the way you use color. Thank you so much for sharing. I always found ripples take me forever (am not a fast crocheter) but you have inspired me to try again.
Posted by: Claire | February 08, 2014 at 01:52 AM
I'm absolutely in love with this patten (Interlocking color ripple) its stunning!your color choices are beautiful. I wish I was able to get such a variety of colors! I'm wondering where can I find this patten? I'm working on crocheting a blanket from your pattern (Neat ripple) right now, which i love & thoroughly enjoy:) However I'm intrigued with the interlocking of the different colors, so I would love to get the pattern!!! Im new to your page, and have enjoyed learning your patterns. Your talent is amazing! So it could be right under my nose, Lol;) & I'm just not seeing it. If you haven't posted he pattern can you please direct me where to go to get this patten?
Posted by: Mindy | February 06, 2014 at 03:10 PM
I love the way you work with colours!! I made a baby blanket for little someone lately and I also loved working on it!! :) Little people can use blankets for all sorts of things, they have such rich fantasy! :)
Posted by: Silly Little Sheep | November 29, 2013 at 04:38 AM