Look what I've been working on for a commissioned project! Ooh, doesn't that sounds so fancy? Actually, a parent from Rebecca's school asked if she could pay me to make three baby blankets for her sister. But "commissioned" sounds so much more important, doesn't it? This is the first, I finished it a couple of weeks ago and am now working on the second, which is knitted, and Dodger blue. But first I wanted to write up the pattern - I think it's my first (aside from the flowers I did way back when)!
Aside from the colors, I was given complete artistic license. Which, sometimes, is harder than just being asked to make a certain pattern. So, after fussing about for way too long looking online for different baby blanket patterns, and then messing around with different stitch patterns, I finally came up with this crocheted ripple pattern that gives a nice, soft wave. After I wrote this up, I did a little searching online and I found that the Neat Ripple Pattern by Attic 24 is the same stitch I came up with. And there are probably at least a dozen or so others already posted, but since this did develop from my own hands and brain, I think it's okay for me to post this for anyone who wants to make their own Neopolitan Ripple blanket. You can also find the details here on Ravelry.
My blanket measures 36" x 36". No blocking, because I used Caron Simply Soft, a worsted weight 100% acrylic yarn, so it would be easy care for the new mommy. The chosen colors were Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla. Oh, I mean Chocolate, Pink and Off White. I used 2 skeins of each color, but didn't use very much of the second skien of each.
G (4mm) hook
Gauge: approximately 20 sts and 8 rows = 4” x 4”.
Start by chaining 171 stitches across. The pattern repeat is 14, plus 3 extra for the turning chain, which counts as a double crochet. I wish I could have used a foundation chain, but I don't know how to do that when there are decreases and increases in the first row... (Alice, is that even possible?)
Row 1: Dc in 4th chain from hook. *Dc in next 4 sts, decrease 2x, dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in each of next 2 sts,* repeat from * to * across the row, ending with 2 dc in last st.
Row 2: Chain 3, turn. This counts as the first dc of the row. Dc in same st (you now have 2 dc). *Dc in each of next 4 sts, decrease 2x, dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in each of next 2 sts,* repeat from * to * across row, ending with 2 dc in last st.
Repeat Row 2 until blanket measures 36” or desired length, fasten off.
Edited on July 17, 2010 to add: When I say to decrease 2x, I mean to decrease twice in a row, thereby turning 4 stitches into 2. I've also rewritten a little bit of the pattern to make it clearer, hopefully. Oh, and it might help you to know that dc stands for double crochet in American terminology.
For my blanket, I worked 2 rows of each color, starting with Off White, then Pink, then Chocolate, then going back to Off White. I will definitely do this again in random colors and maybe experiment with different stripe widths.
If you find any mistakes, please let me know and I'll try to fix it right away. Hope you like it, if you make one be sure and leave a comment with a link - I'd love to see.
Yea for writing your own pattern! It's a great blanket!
Posted by: Beth | Tuesday, May 04, 2010 at 02:24 PM
Is it just me, or is everyone breaking for the freezer to see what ice cream's left????
Posted by: lizandrsn | Tuesday, May 04, 2010 at 07:34 PM
Beautiful! The colors are perfect, too. I've been wanting to try one of the ripple stitches but never make it through. Maybe with your instructions I will.
Posted by: Michele C | Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 04:17 AM
Love your choice of colours!
Posted by: Petit Filoux | Thursday, May 06, 2010 at 02:42 AM
Michelle! You are a very talented designer. I saw this blanket in person and the colors and stitch combination is really beautiful.
Posted by: Judy | Thursday, May 06, 2010 at 10:31 AM
I lost you after chocolate, strawberry and vanilla ~ jk :)
So pretty Michelle. I started one of those blankets over a year ago and you are on your second after a few weeks! I am slacking! Well, at least you wrote this nifty pattern. I'll never be able to remember what I was doing before.
Posted by: regina | Thursday, May 06, 2010 at 01:48 PM
Such a pretty afghan Michelle. You do such perfect stitches. Mine would've been all wonky. Congrats on some extra income.
Posted by: Liz | Thursday, May 06, 2010 at 05:01 PM
This is fantastic! So gorgeous. And I'm with Liz--how do you get your stitches so perfect?
Posted by: Tangcar | Saturday, May 08, 2010 at 02:13 PM
This pattern is BLOODY BRILLIANT! I am only on row 4, but it is wonderful and easy to follow. It is awesome! You did a great job! If you like, I can post a pic of mine when it is finished. Just let me know. Someone else posted your name as Michelle. Well, Michelle, thank you very much!
Crocheting Nana
Posted by: Crocheting Nana | Monday, May 10, 2010 at 04:10 PM
Beautiful blanket. I've wondered the same thing about using fsc for increase and decrease rows ... I'm SURE you can. I'll just have to figure it out (making note in notebook).
Posted by: futuregirl | Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 12:29 PM
I love this blanket. I was looking for a pattern to do a camo style and this is perfect!!! I do have to make a blanket for a girl and I think I'm going to make the Pink, white, and brown one!
Posted by: Karen | Friday, May 28, 2010 at 09:13 PM
Oh, this is beautiful! It's going on the list of projects to make for my soon-to-arrive niece! :) Just one question (I'm still a little new to crochet)...could you tell me how to do the 'decrease 2x'? Thank you!
Posted by: Jennifer | Saturday, June 05, 2010 at 11:25 AM
I have the same question as posted earlier - What do you mean by "decrease 2x"?
Posted by: Jewell | Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 02:56 PM
You'll be doing two decreases in a row. So, four stitches will become two. If you're unsure as to how to work a double crochet decrease, there are videos on You Tube or you can Google "dc decrease" and lots of illustrated links will come up. I tried to explain in words here, but it's too confusing and is actually much easier than it sounds. Hope that helps a bit.
Posted by: greetingarts | Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 09:03 PM
This pattern would look wonderful if you did the same stripe widths, but instead of going CA, CB, CC, CA, CB, CC try going CA,CB,CC,CB, CA, CB, CC, CB, CA...you use a lot more of color c and a, but it looks fabulous...
Posted by: Echo M | Monday, August 02, 2010 at 03:29 AM
absolutely beautiful!!!
Posted by: sarah london | Friday, August 06, 2010 at 11:58 PM
I am finally getting this one started. Doing it in 4 rows each of Lemon and Blackberry then one row of Sage, then back to Blackberry and Lemon. Repeating that pattern to the end. All of my yarns are Caron Simply Soft Collections, I will be chronically this on my ravlery (here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/shadedfears/neopolitan-ripple) and on my blog (here: http://in-skein.blogspot.com/)
Posted by: Echo M | Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 01:39 PM
The blanket is so pretty. The matching ribbon is a Great display.
Posted by: Jacqueline | Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 07:04 PM
Hi there,
I was just wondering what make of wool you used for this blanket and how much you needed for the 36"x36" blanket?
Kind regards,
Mary
Posted by: Mary Scott | Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 06:44 AM
This is exactly what I have been looking for as I have been browsing online for ideas. I am going to make this in chocolate, light blue, and cream for my new nephew on the way!
Posted by: Courtney | Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 07:14 AM
What a cute pattern! Do you repeat from * to * and then do another 2 dc in the next stitch?
Posted by: Riya B | Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 09:59 AM
Love the ice cream blanket!.....need to make a blankie for my great niece's expected baby girl.....think this might be the one.....been meaning to try one of these new versions of a ripple........
Posted by: Suzanne | Saturday, March 05, 2011 at 07:45 AM
A wonderfully pretty afghan for a baby. Never been a big fan of the ripple but yours just looks so great I might give it a go.
Posted by: crissi | Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 07:21 PM
first project** i started out with a ripple and by the 5th row i now have a wave*** any susgestions??how many stitches should i have in each row across?
Posted by: LKK | Monday, March 21, 2011 at 01:48 PM
I love this!! Your instructions are so easy to follow! I am making a baby blanket for my friend and wanted to do a wavy style, but the book I had was very confusing. You did a wonderful job of explaining what to do!! I will send you a link when I am finished!! Also wanted to add that I just taught myself to crochet about a week and a half ago, and already have made a purse, cell phone cover, and started one one blanket plus this one!! I love it so much!! Who would've thought?!
Posted by: Funky Monkey Girl 04 | Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 04:56 PM