Free Rainbow Ripple Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern & Tutorial
You can find an Easy Ripple Stitch Pattern just about anywhere but this Crochet Ripple Baby Blanket Pattern is unique and different than the rest! This Free Crochet Ripple Afghan Baby Blanket Pattern uses basic crochet stitches like chains, skipped stitches, single crochet and double crochet to make a lacy shell ripple stitch and a classic chevron stitch pattern with lots of rainbow colors! See below for the written free pattern in this blog post and the step-by-step video tutorial links!
Best Bang for your Buck, get a Kit From Lion Brand includes printable PDF and Yarn! Or get an ad-free PDF Version on Etsy or Ravelry!
Tips and Tricks for This Easy Ripple Stitch Blanket
This free crochet baby blanket pattern is an Intermediate Skill Level Patten but would be a perfect project for a determined beginner to level up their crochet skills, especially if this is their first time mixing up stitches and creating some shaping.
Each repeat row for this fun crochet pattern is easy to do and consists of chains, single crochet and double crochet stitches. Stitch placement is very important since this is not just a basic double crochet ripple stitch and incorporates a lacy shell stitch.
If you do not like changing your yarn colors but still want different colors in your blanket, feel free to use a self-striping yarn to achieve a color changing effectOnce you get the hang of the ripple pattern it is super easy to memorize and you will finish this quick baby blanket pattern in no time!
Need more help? Watch the video Tutorial!
How to Use Different Yarn Weights
You may not want to use worsted weight yarn for this crochet ripple blanket and that’s ok!
If you want to use bulky yarn you will need to go up a hook size. I would recommend starting with the size noted on the label.
Make sure to do a swatch to check that you do not have pinching, puckering or waving.
If your swatch does not lay flat and seems to be pinching you will need to go up a hook size. However if your swatch is wavy and seems to have too much fabric you will need to go down a hook size.
Once you figure out your yarn weight and hood size preference use the “How to Make a Different Size” section below to adjust your sizing.
How to Make a Different Size
Is the size I wrote this pattern not the size you were looking for? Use these steps to make this blanket the right size for what you need!
Step 1: Make and measure your swatch using the basic stitches, in this case double crochets, to see if your yarn and hook combo works with your tension. If your swatch is wavy and seems to have too much fabric you will need to go down a hook size. If your swatch does not lay flat and seems to be pinching you will need to go up a hook size. For this pattern the gauge is “15 sts by 8 rows in dc is 4 by 4 inches”.
Step 2: Make a second swatch using the pattern repeat now that you have a comfortable yarn and hook combo. Do this with a starting chain of 32 stitches so you can get an accurate measurement.
Step 3: Complete 8 rows in the pattern repeat. Your swatch in the pattern repeat should measure approximately 8 inches by 4 inches IF you are using worsted weight yarn and your gauge met my gauge noted in Step 1. If you are using a bigger or smaller yarn and hook combo this measurement will be different.
Step 4: Figure out your stitch and row measurements. A swatch made over 32 stitches consists of 2 repeats of the pattern so each repeat created will give you 4 inches of width. The 8 rows completed to create 4 inches means that each repeat row is 1/2 inches tall.
Step 5: So you now know 1 repeat is 4 inches wide and 1 row is 1/2 tall. So if you wanted to make a smaller blanket such as a lovey that is 24 by 24 inches then you would take 24 inches / 4 inches per repeat to get 6 repeats then multiple 6 by 14 (stitch multiple) to get 84 + 4 for a starting chain of 88 stitches.
Step 6: To make the blanket 24 inches tall you will take 24 inches and divide by 1/2 inches per row to get a total of 48 rows.
You can use this method to figure out how to make this blanket in a larger size or smaller size. Get creative to make a range sizes of finished blankets!
Yarn Substitutes
If you don’t want to use the Cotton Hemp Yarn and maybe want an acrylic yarn or a different natural fiber, here are some suggestions. The yarns have wonderful color options if you want to make a solid color or do rainbow colors like mine!
- Vanna’s Choice
- Color Theory
- Pima Cotton
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Materials
- 5.00 mm Crochet Hook
- Sample Made Using: Lion Brand Cotton Hemp
Teal [#774-174AE] – Color A
Canary [#774-158AH] – Color B
Pink Rose [#774-102AT] – Color C
Aster [#774-146AN] – Color D
Peony [#774-101AD] – Color E
Mint [#774-168B] – Color F - Any Other Yarn: #4 Worsted Wt. Yarn – 164 yards of EACH color.
- Tapestry Needle
Gauge
- 15 sts by 8 rows in dc is 4 by 4 inches.
Sizing
- Baby: 40 by 28 inches.
Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations
- Chain Stitch – ch
- Stitch(es) – st(s)
- Skip – sk
- Space – sp
- Single Crochet – sc
- Double Crochet – dc
Pattern Notes
- * Designates a repeat.
- “sc 1” means to single crochet in the next stitch.
- “sc 2” means to single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches.
- “2 sc” means to single crochet twice in the next stitch to create an increase.
- You will cut your yarn for each color change and weave in your ends.
- Ch 3 at the beginning of each row counts as the first stitch in the rows.
Free Crochet Ripple Baby Blanket Pattern
Row 1 – Ch 144, dc in 4th ch from hook, *dc 3 in each next ch, sk 3 chs, (dc, ch 1) 4 times in next ch, dc again in last worked ch, sk 3 chs, dc 3 in each next ch, 3 dc in next ch, repeat from * across replacing final 3 dc with 2 dc in last ch.
Row 2 – Turn, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in first dc, *dc in each of next 3-dc, sk next 2-dc, (sc, ch 3) in each of next 3 ch-1 sps, sc in next ch-1 sp, sk next 2-dc, dc in each of next 3-dc, 3 dc in next dc, repeat from * across replacing final 3 dc with 2 dc in last st (t-ch).
Row 3 – Turn, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in first dc, *dc in each of next 3-dc, sk next dc (dc, ch 1) 4 times in center ch-3 loop, dc again in last worked ch-3 loop, sk next dc, dc in each next 3-dc, 3 dc in next dc, repeat from * across replacing final 3 dc with 2 dc in last st (t-ch).
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 – For a total of 48 Rows, finish off and weave in your ends.
Color Changes:
You will alternate colors every two rows in whichever order you choose. Sample is worked in alphabetical order with the yarns listed.
If you enjoyed making this beautiful blanket and want some more easy projects and crochet blankets check out the Blankets Category on the Life and Yarn Blog! Or go to the main page and see my newest patterns and pick your new project today!
