How to Crochet a Wave

The wave stitch, also known as a chevron or ripple stitch, is a popular crochet technique used in baby blankets and afghans. It is usually done in alternating colors to highlight the stitch effect. The secret to creating a wave in crochet is placing equidistant stitch increases and decreases along the row so that the fabric expands and contracts at regular intervals, creating curves. On each subsequent row, the increases and decreases line up with the previous row's increases and decreases, which makes it easy to memorize the pattern for quicker crocheting.

Things You'll Need

• Size H crochet hook
• Worsted weight yarn
• Stitch markers (optional)

Instructions

Start With a Base Row

1. Create a slipknot as follows. Lay the yarn across the index and middle fingers on your left hand. Cross the ends beneath your fingers. Reach down into the loop of yarn with your thumb and index finger to pull the lower strand up through the center of the loop. Place this loop on the crochet hook and pull tight.

2. Wrap the yarn going to the ball around the hook once and pull it through the loop on the hook to create a chain stitch. Make 38 more chain stitches for a total of 39 in the row.

3. Double crochet into the fourth chain from the hook as follows. Wrap the yarn around the hook, insert the hook into the fourth chain from the hook, wrap the yarn around the hook again and pull it through the stitch so you have three loops on your hook. Then wrap the yarn around the hook and pull it through two loops on the hook, then repeat once more so you have one loop left on the hook.

4. Double crochet in the next three stitches.

5. Work a double crochet decrease as follows. Wrap the yarn around the hook and insert it into the next stitch. Pull up a loop and pull it through two stitches on the hook, leaving two stitches on the hook. Wrap the yarn around the hook and insert it into the next stitch on the row. Pull up a loop and pull it through two stitches on the hook. Wrap the yarn around again and pull it through the three stitches on the hook.

6. Work a double crochet decrease over the next two stitches on the row.

7. Double crochet in the next three stitches.

8. Make two double crochets in each of the next two stitches. This creates two double crochet increases.

9. Repeat Steps 4 to 8 for the rest of the row. End with one double crochet increase in the last stitch. Turn your work.

The Crochet Wave Pattern

1. Make three chains, which count as the first double crochet in the row.

2. Double crochet into the base of the chain-three, which creates an increase at the start of the row.

3. Double crochet in the next three stitches.

4. Work two double crochet decreases over the next four stitches, as you did for the first row.

5. Double crochet in the next threes stitches.

6. Work two double crochet increases over the next two stitches, as you did for the first row.

7. Repeat Steps 3 to 6 for the rest of the row, ending with a double crochet increase in the top of the chain-three from the previous row. Turn your work.

8. Repeat Steps 1 to 7 for the crochet wave pattern.

Tips & Warnings

• To give your wave pattern more texture, stitch only in the back loops of every stitch across the row. This creates a ridge that delineates each row and shows off the wave even more.

• When working a wave pattern on a large project, such as an afghan, place stitch markers in the center of each increase and decrease group to help you keep track of the repeating sections across the row.

• Designers have created many variations to the simple wave pattern and you can, too. Substitute in different stitches for double crochet such as single crochet, half-double crochet or treble crochet, or change the number of stitches between each stitch increase and decrease to adjust the width of the wave. You could even change how you make the increases and decreases. Some wave patterns skip stitches for decreases or use shell clusters for increases. The wave technique, like much of crochet, is quite customizable.

• Note that in a basic wave pattern the decreases always occur above a previous row's decrease and the increases always occur above a previous row's increase. Learning to read your crochet stitches as you work will help prevent mistakes.

References

• Berroco: Wave Stitch Crochet Instructions
• Crochet Cabana; The Ripple; Sandra Petit; 2004
• Annie's Attic: Crochet Stitching Guide
• "154 Crochet Wave Patterns"; Darla Sims; 2007

Resources

• Stitch Diva Studios: The Crochet Slip Knot
• Stitch Diva Studios: Crochet Tutorial - The Chain Stitch
• Annie's Attic: Crochet Stitching Guide -- Double Crochet Stitch
• Annie's Attic: Crochet Stitching Guide -- Double Crochet Decrease
• Red Heart Yarn; Free Pattern -- Crochet Crested Wave Afghan; Michele Thompson
• Lion Brand Yarn: Free Pattern -- Crochet Wave-Pattern Baby Blanket