Easy Ripple Crochet Pattern - Beginner Blanket

One of the best things about an easy ripple crochet afghan is watching the colorful waves unfold. Before you know it, your blanket is done.

This easy ripple crochet pattern is that kind of relaxing blanket project! Get the free afghan pattern below or purchase the ad-free, printable PDF here.

This easy ripple pattern is part of a collaboration with Lion Brand Yarns. This post contains affiliate links.

An Easy Ripple Crochet Pattern

If you're looking for your next mental vacation crochet project, I've gotcha covered.

This is an extremely easy ripple crochet pattern that you'll have mastered in a couple of rows. Yet with two self striping yarns, the Mesa Ripple blanket offers endless color combinations that will hold your interest from the foundation chain through the last stitch.

Once you memorize the simple two row stitch repeat, you'll find yourself eager to push through color changes to see how your unique palette unfolds. Even the same colorways turn out different looking results—no two Mesa Ripple blankets are exactly the same!

Keep reading for more yarn and inspiration details or jump down to the free pattern.

The Classic Crochet Ripple Stitch

The ripple stitch is a crochet motif that has definitely stood the test of time. Gracing sofas across the country, you’ll see these chevron waves in many blankets, home decor patterns and even scarves.

We wanted to put a modern spin on crochet ripples, while keeping this afghan pattern easy enough for beginners. If you love a good easy crochet ripple pattern, check out these blankets as well:

• Sedona Crochet Throw Blanket
• Modern Gender Neutral Baby Blanket
• Granny Chevron Quick Crochet Baby Blanket
• Rippled Chunky Crochet Blanket

Ripple Stitch Varieties

In the Mesa Ripple blanket we’re creating undulating waves with nothing but chains and double crochet (DC) stitches (called treble crochet in the UK). But that’s not the only way to make crochet ripple stitches.

There are many ways to add the eye-pleasing motion and visual interest of crochet ripples to your patterns:

• Some crochet ripple afghans use exclusively single crochet stitches.
• Others form crochet ripples or waves with granny stripes, like this quick crochet baby blanket
• Other ripple throw crochet patterns might use half double crochet (hdc), treble crochet stitch (tr), or a similar basic stitch and alternate placing it through the front or back loop only like this throw blanket

How to Crochet an Easy Ripple Afghan

To crochet this easy ripple blanket, you can really choose any two self striping yarns you love. You’ll hold both yarns together and watch the magical color changes happen organically.

Each yarn cake is unique, so they change colors at different rates. The effect is a blended, painterly look that will surprise you with each ripple-y row!

Beginner-Friendly But Not Boring

This is quite a simple beginner-friendly pattern. Once you’ve gotten your first two rows down, you'll just repeat them for the rest of the afghan.

But does that get kinda boring?

Actually, no, because endless variations of color changes are always unfolding before your eyes!

In fact, I have a hard time setting patterns like this down because it’s so motivating to see what the next combination of colors will look like together. (I’m sure I’m not the only one with the “one-more-row” syndrome with self-striping yarn patterns like this!) 

Pattern Overview Video

Let me talk you through this ins and outs of this easy ripple afghan pattern in this quick video. See how the blanket comes together as you prepare to crochet your own!

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Yarn For This Easy Ripple Pattern

I knew this easy ripple blanket needed to be a celebration of color. To achieve this, I wanted to hold two strands of color-change yarn together. Yet to avoid ending up with a super heavy blanket, each yarn needed to be both light and soft.

I spotted these amazing colorways and I immediately started to imagine the ways they would mingle together.

That’s how this easy ripple crochet pattern was born!

Lion Brand Mandala + Ferris Wheel

I chose one strand each of Lion Brand Mandala and Lion Brand Ferris Wheel. To me, both yarns are perfect for a colorful, modern take on a ripple afghan.

Mandala and Ferris Wheel colorways feature all kinds of color options from soft and muted to absolutely vibrant. Many of the colorways of these two yarns share similar tones as well. And by combining the two self-striping yarn cakes, you get endless options and outcomes.

Better still? Both yarns are machine washable. And when held together, they’re about a category 5 bulky weight. That means you'll have fast progress as you crochet this easy ripple pattern!

RELATED: 42 Free Crochet Patterns That Use Lion Brand Mandala Yarn

Colors: Customizing Your Rainbow

You really can use any two colors cakes of Mandala and Ferris Wheel to personalize this easy crochet ripple pattern. Think about where you might use the blanket as you consider different colors:

Avoiding Color Combo Paralysis

Between Mandala and Ferris Wheel yarns, there are a lot of possible color combos to consider. Don't let analysis paralysis get the best of you!

If you’re not sure about choosing colors, first browse through a shop or website with many different yarn cakes. Take note of the ones that catch your eye.

Now go back and look again. Are there any colors or themes that keep appearing on them? (For example, I would never have thought I was looking for “olive” until I noticed it was in most of the colorways I liked.)

Trust your taste. If you think the colors work well together, even if they're a bit loud in cake form, chances are you'll love the way your ripple blanket turns out.

Substituting and Using Scrap Yarn

You can absolutely use up scrap yarn in this pattern to create a similar ombre vibe with random color changes. Sometimes it’s even more striking! Just remember these tips:

• Be sure to choose scrap yarn that's all similar in weight
• You'll likely have more ends to weave in than if you use yarn cakes
• You'll also have more control of how the colors flow together than you would with self striping yarn

RELATED: How to Shop Your Stash: The Best Patterns for Using the Yarn You Have

Download + Print this Pattern

Prefer to crochet your ripples on the couch? Need a portable, printable pattern to take notes on?

You'll love the Mesa Ripple Blanket premium PDF. This instantly downloadable, ad-free file is formatted for easy printing and includes the complete pattern and a stitch chart that can be helpful for visual learners.

Offering paid PDF patterns helps us continue to keep designing and we hope they give you comfortable way to crochet!

Explanation:
If you’re looking for an extremely easy afghan pattern that will hold your interest through the last stitch, you’ve found it! The Mesa Ripple blanket combines two self striping yarns for color combinations that are effortless and surprising.

You’ll have the two row repeat memorized in a flash and be able to sit back and enjoy watching your unique palette unfold. No two blankets will turn out exactly the same!

Supplies + Materials

Order an all-in-one kit from Lion Brand here.
 • Color A:  Lion Brand Ferris Wheel (Weight: 4/medium -  270 yds, 3 oz, 85 g) 

• Buttercup (217-605h) –  5 skeins [(approx. 400 g)]

• Color B:  Lion Brand Mandala (Weight: 3/light - 590 yds, 5.3 oz, 150g)

• Warlock (525-215S) – 3 skeins [(approx. 375 g)

• Size L (8.0 mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge

Permissions + Copyright:
Please do not publish or share this pattern as your own. You may make items to sell with this pattern. In exchange, please link back this post. Do NOT use our photos as your own sales photos.

Overall Pattern Notes

• Pattern is worked with 1 strand of Color A and 1 strand of Color B held together for the entire afghan.

• Chain 3 at beginning of row counts as 1 double crochet throughout. 

• Stitch multiple: 10 + 3. To modify blanket width, you can increase or decrease the number of foundation chains. Use the stitch multiple of 10, then add 3 to that number. For example 8 x 10 = 80, plus 3. The foundation chain of this blanket would be 83 chains.

• See stitch chart at end of premium pattern PDF for visual explanation of the ripple stitch repeat.

!! Gauge Check !!

Checking your gauge is less essential with blankets than with crochet sweater patterns. Although it can be helpful to make sure your ripple afghan turns out the size you expect and uses the amount of yarn listed in the pattern.

To check gauge, with color A and color B held together:

Foundation Row: Ch 33.

Row 1 (RS): Dc in fourth ch from hook, dc in next 3 ch, sk 2 ch, *dc in next 4 ch, ch 2, dc in next 4 ch, sk 2 ch, rep from * across row until four ch remain, dc in next 3 ch, 2 dc in last ch; turn. (30 sts)

Row 2 (WS): Ch 3, dc in first dc, dc in next 3 dc, sk 2 dc, *dc in next 3 dc, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next ch 2 sp, dc in next 3 dc, sk 2 dc, rep from * until 4 st remain, dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in tch; turn. (30 sts) 

Rep Row 2 eight more times for a total of 10 rows.

Measure center four inches of swatch vertically and horizontally. Compare to pattern gauge listed above. If there are too many stitches in 4” horizontally, increase your hook size and re-swatch. If there aren’t enough stitches in 4” horizontally, decrease your hook size and re-swatch.

PRO TIP: It's always okay to change your hook size to meet the pattern gauge!

Want some company while you crochet?
Get support (and camaraderie!) in the Make & Do Crochet Crew Facebook Group.

Main Ripple Afghan Pattern 

With Color A and Color B held together:

Foundation Row:  Ch 133.

Row 1 (RS): Dc in fourth ch from hook, dc in next 3 ch, sk 2 ch, *dc in next 4 ch, ch 2, dc in next 4 ch, sk 2 ch, rep from * across row until four ch remain, dc in next 3 ch, 2 dc in last ch; turn. (130 sts) 

Row 2 (WS): Ch 3, dc in first dc, dc in next 3 dc, sk 2 dc, *dc in next 3 dc, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next ch 2 sp, dc in next 3 dc, sk 2 dc, rep from * until 4 st remain, dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in tch; turn. (130 sts)

More Free Unique Crochet Blanket Patterns

See more free unique crochet blanket patterns →

Repeat Row 2 sixty-six times for a total of 68 rows. For a longer or shorter blanket, modify the number of total rows. Fasten off.

Start planning your next Mesa Ripple Blanket with a new set of colors!

More Free Throw Blanket Crochet Patterns

See more free crochet throw blanket patterns →

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Learn More Crochet Stitch Tutorials for Blankets

If you're in the mood to design your own simple afghan, you'll love this collection of crochet stitches for blankets and afghans. Each of these stitches includes a tutorial to walk you through the instructions step by step.

That was so fun! Now what?

Invitation to our Facebook group

Come discuss crocheting easy afghans and lots of other crochet projects and techniques in our Make & Do Crew Facebook group. Here thousands of helpful crocheters answer each others questions and share their stitches. Come join us here.