How to crochet ripple stitch really comes down to one repeating row of double crochet. You add stitches to build the peaks, take stitches away to build the valleys, and then repeat that same row until the piece is as long as you want. Chain a multiple of 12 plus 3, and the waves appear row after row without any extra tricks. This guide gives you exact stitch counts, a small swatch, fixes for counting mistakes, and ways to reshape the wave. Everything is written in US terms.
Here is how to crochet ripple stitch in numbers.
At a Glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Stitch name | Ripple stitch, also called wave stitch |
| Skill level | Advanced beginner (you can chain and double crochet) |
| Stitches used | ch, dc, dc2tog |
| Foundation chain | A multiple of 12, plus 3 |
| Yarn | Smooth, light-colored worsted weight shows the shaping best |
Table of Contents
What Is Crochet Ripple Stitch?
A crochet stitch is really just one finished unit of fabric, made by pulling yarn through one or more loops on your hook. Every stitch uses the same basic movement: insert the hook, catch the yarn, pull it through. What changes is how many times you wrap the yarn over the hook first. A single crochet has no wrap, a double crochet has one, and a treble crochet has two. More wraps make a taller stitch.
The word also describes whole patterns. Ripple stitch isn’t some new kind of loop—it’s just a repeating arrangement of ordinary stitches, which is good news if you’re still learning how to do crochet stitches. Wikipedia keeps a long list of crochet stitches, and you can browse more stitch tutorials on Maple Hook Crochet.
Which Stitches Do You Need Before You Start?
Before you learn how to crochet ripple stitch, you need three moves.
The chain (ch) makes your foundation and your turning chains. The double crochet (dc) does most of the work: yarn over, insert your hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through two loops, twice. If dc still feels clumsy, a few rounds of this classic granny square tutorial will drill it quickly. The half double crochet guide shows how stitch heights step up from there.
The third move is the double crochet two together (dc2tog), which is a decrease. Yarn over, insert the hook in the next stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops. Two loops stay on the hook. Yarn over again, insert the hook in the next stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops. Now three loops sit on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all three. Two stitches have become one. The Craft Yarn Council abbreviation list uses the same dc2tog shorthand.
An increase is simpler: work two double crochets into the same stitch.
One warning about terms. In UK patterns, “double crochet” means US single crochet, and a UK treble matches a US double. If another pattern gives different counts, check which system it uses.
Materials and Tools
Gather these before you try how to crochet ripple stitch for the first time:
- Smooth worsted-weight yarn in a light color. Dark or fuzzy yarn hides the shaping.
- A crochet hook in the size your yarn label recommends.
- Four to six stitch markers, or short scraps of contrasting yarn.
- A yarn needle, scissors, and a measuring tape.
Gauge isn’t critical for a blanket, but a swatch tells you how wide one repeat comes out in your yarn.
How to Crochet Ripple Stitch: Setup and Stitch Count?
The pattern below uses a 12-stitch repeat. A two-repeat swatch gives you two valleys, one full peak, and a half peak at each edge. Chain 27 for the swatch (12 x 2 + 3). Every row, including the first, ends with 24 stitches when you count the turning chain as one.
How to Crochet Ripple Stitch: Row 1
- Chain 27.
- Skip the first 3 chains. They count as your first dc.
- Dc in the next chain, which is the 4th from the hook.
- Dc in each of the next 3 chains.
- Dc2tog over the next 2 chains, then dc2tog over the following 2 chains. That’s the first valley.
- Dc in each of the next 3 chains.
- Work 2 dc in each of the next 2 chains. That’s the peak.
- Dc in each of the next 3 chains.
- Dc2tog over the next 2 chains, twice more. That’s the second valley.
- Dc in each of the next 3 chains.
- Work 2 dc in the last chain, then turn. You should have 24 stitches.
How to Crochet Ripple Stitch: Row 2 and Every Row After
- Chain 3 (counts as a dc) and turn.
- Dc in the same stitch at the base of the chain.
- Dc in each of the next 3 stitches.
- Dc2tog twice, using the next 4 stitches.
- Dc in each of the next 3 stitches.
- Work 2 dc in each of the next 2 stitches.
- Dc in each of the next 3 stitches.
- Dc2tog twice, using the next 4 stitches.
- Dc in each of the next 3 stitches.
- Work 2 dc in the top of the turning chain from the row below, then turn.
Repeat Row 2 until the swatch is as long as you like, and count 24 stitches at the end of every row. That’s really the whole rhythm—once it clicks, you’ll feel it.
How Do You Make a Wider Piece?
Need a wider piece? Repeat steps 3 to 6 once more for each extra repeat, then finish with steps 7 to 10. The foundation chain grows by 12 each time.
| Repeats | Foundation chain | Stitches per row |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 27 | 24 |
| 3 | 39 | 36 |
| 4 | 51 | 48 |
| 6 | 75 | 72 |
| 8 | 99 | 96 |
Why Does This Make a Wave?
Think of it this way: increases add stitches, so the fabric rises into a peak. Decreases remove stitches, so it dips into a valley. Each peak adds as many stitches as each valley removes, so the row keeps its total and the edges stay straight. Stack the same shaping row after row and the peaks and valleys line up into columns. Seeing that makes how to crochet ripple stitch easier to remember.
How to Crochet Ripple Stitch Without Losing Count?
The best habit while you’re learning how to crochet ripple stitch is counting at the end of each row. If the total is off, find the mistake now rather than ten rows later—future you will thank you.
Markers help too. On Row 1, clip one into each valley, between the two dc2tog stitches, and move it up every row. If your decreases don’t land under the marker, you’ve drifted. Watch the edges too, since the last stitch of each row is the top of the turning chain.
Common Problems When You Crochet Ripple Stitch
Most trouble while you learn how to crochet ripple stitch traces back to counting.
Why Are My Edges Slanting In or Flaring Out?
Your stitch count has changed. Usually you missed the turning-chain top at the end of a row or skipped the stitch at the base of the ch-3. Rip back to the last correct row and mark both edge stitches.
Why Are There Gaps in the Valleys?
Loose dc2tog stitches leave holes. Pull the final yarn-over snugly, and work the second leg into the next stitch.
Why Do the Waves Drift Sideways?
One valley has shifted by a stitch. Work the new decreases directly over the dip in the row below.
How to Crochet Ripple Stitch With Softer or Sharper Waves?
You can reshape the wave without changing the basic idea. Add more dc between the increases and decreases and the waves get longer and softer. Pack the shaping into single stitches, such as three dc in one stitch for the peak and a dc3tog for the valley, and you get sharp points more like a chevron. Either way, rework the stitch counts first so that added and removed stitches still balance.
Stripes show off how to crochet ripple stitch best, in my opinion. Change color at the end of a row, every two or three rows, and carry the yarn up the side. Some designers also write this stitch starting with a ch 2 instead of a ch 3, as shown on Stitching Together, so you may see a foundation of 12 plus 2 in other patterns.
How Do You Finish a Ripple Piece?
The top and bottom edges will be zigzags. Many designers leave them that way, and others add a border or fill the dips with shorter stitches. Once you know how to crochet ripple stitch, the edge is the last decision. Weave in the ends and wash according to the yarn label.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Learn How to Crochet Ripple Stitch?
It isn’t hard, but it asks for attention. The stitches are easy, so the real challenge is counting, and a marker plus a quick count per row solves most of it.
How Do You Do a Stitch in Crochet?
Insert the hook into the stitch or space, yarn over, and pull a loop through. Then yarn over and pull through the loops on your hook, however many your stitch needs. A single crochet finishes with one pull, a double crochet with two.
How Many Chains Do I Need for a Ripple Blanket?
For how to crochet ripple stitch at blanket size, chain a multiple of 12 plus 3. Swatch two repeats, measure one repeat, then divide your target width by it and round to whole repeats. Use the table above for the chain.
What Is the Difference Between Ripple and Chevron?
Both use increases and decreases to make a zigzag. Ripple usually spreads the shaping over more stitches, so the waves look curved and soft. Chevron packs it into fewer stitches, so the points are sharper.
What Projects Suit Ripple Stitch?
Once you know how to crochet ripple stitch, you can use it for flat projects such as blankets, scarves, and pillow panels. A crochet lap blanket or newborn blanket suits color stripes, and a ripple panel can front a crochet pillow cover.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to crochet ripple stitch: chain a multiple of 12 plus 3, work the same row of increases and decreases, and count as you go. Swatch first, measure one repeat, then scale up to a blanket.
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