Easy Ripple Blanket – Free Crochet Pattern

Crochet Ripple Blanket

If you’re searching for an easy crochet blanket pattern, this vibrant and cozy crochet ripple afghan is a perfect choice. The classic ripple stitch (also called wave stitch or chevron stitch) creates beautiful texture and movement without being complicated. With a simple, beginner-friendly repeat, this easy crochet ripple blanket works up quickly – I made mine in just one weekend!

This ripple crochet blanket pattern is completely customizable, so you can make it in any size or color combination you like. Whether you’re looking for a crochet baby blanket pattern, a cozy throw blanket for your couch, or a snuggly lapghan, this versatile design can be adjusted to suit your needs. The ripple stitch looks stunning in stripes, solid colors, or even using up leftover yarn, giving you endless creative possibilities for your blanket.

The pattern includes detailed written instructions plus a full step-by-step video tutorial, making it easy for beginners and enjoyable for experienced crocheters alike. You’ll learn exactly how to crochet a ripple blanket from start to finish. Once complete, you’ll have a gorgeous handmade afghan that’s soft, cozy, and perfect for gifting or keeping for yourself.

Use the Table of Contents below to jump to any section of the pattern or keep scrolling down to view all the details, the video tutorial and the written instructions.

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Pattern Details

Skill Level

Easy

Size

The pattern creates a blanket that is approximately 30” wide and 34” high (perfect as a small baby blanket). You can easily adjust the size – instructions are included in the pattern.

Materials

Yarn: Any size 4 (medium) yarn. 

I used Impeccable yarn by Loops & Threads. This yarn is size 4 (medium) and 100% acrylic. A skein is 285 yds / 260 m and 4.5 oz / 127.5 g.

Amount of yarn required and colors I used: 

• Color A: 320 yds (2 skeins) – I used “Misty Blue” (blue).
• Color B: 240 yds (1 skein) – I used “Fern” (green).
• Color C: 240 yds (1 skein) – I used “Butterscotch” (yellow).

Crochet Hook Size: J/10 (6.00 mm)

Other Materials: Yarn needle, scissors and a measuring tape.

Terminology

This pattern is written for right-handed crochet using standard US terminology. If you’re more familiar with UK terms, here’s my US to UK Conversion Chart. 

Abbreviations

• ch/chs = chain/chains
• dc = double crochet
• dc3tog = double crochet three together
• sc = single crochet 
• sc3tog = single crochet three together
• st/sts = stitch/stitches
• YO = yarn over

Gauge

Exact sizing is not important. For reference, 4” x 4” = 12 sts and 6 rows following the pattern.

Pattern Notes

• The blanket is completely reversible and looks the same on the front and the back. 
• Chains never count as stitches.
• Always work into the first stitch (the stitch attached to the chain/chains). 
• The first row may curl. You can fix this at the end.
• It may take several rows before the width is what it will be for the rest of the pattern. If after several rows you are not happy with the width, you can start again with a different number of starting chains (refer to the “How to Adjust the Size” section).

Stitch Explanations

This pattern includes dc3tog and sc3tog sts. If these sts are new to you, here’s how to make them:

Double Crochet Three Together (dc3tog)

• Yarn over (YO) and insert your hook into the next st. YO and pull up a loop (3 loops on your hook). YO and pull the yarn through the first 2 loops on your hook (2 loops remain).
• YO and insert your hook into the next st. YO and pull up a loop (4 loops on your hook). YO and pull the yarn through the first 2 loops on your hook (3 loops remain).
• YO and insert your hook into the next st. YO and pull up a loop (5 loops on your hook). YO and pull the yarn through the first 2 loops on your hook (4 loops remain).
• YO and pull the yarn through all 4 loops.

This completed dc3tog counts as 1 st.

Single Crochet Three Together (sc3tog)

• Insert your hook into the next st. YO and pull up a loop (2 loops on your hook). 
• Insert your hook into the next st. YO and pull up a loop (3 loops on your hook). 
• Insert your hook into the next st. YO and pull up a loop (4 loops on your hook). 
• YO and pull the yarn through all 4 loops.

This completed sc3tog counts as 1 st.

Color Legend

• Color A = I used blue (“Misty Blue”)
• Color B = I used green (“Fern”)
• Color C = I used yellow (“Butterscotch”) 

How to Adjust the Size

The pattern creates a blanket that is approximately 30” wide x 34” high. Height is measured from the peak to the valley (or vice versa).

The number of starting chains determines the width and the number of rows determines the height. To adjust the width, make more or less starting chains in multiples of 10 + 3 (meaning to take any number that you can divide by 10 and add 3 to that number i.e. 100 + 3 = 103 starting chains required). To adjust the height, make more or less rows. You can end after any row.

As a guideline: 91 sts = 30“ wide, which means there are approximately 3 stitches in an inch. You can take the width you want your blanket to be (in inches) and multiply it by 3. For example, if you want your blanket to be approximately 60” wide, 60 x 3 = 180. If that number is not a multiple of 10, round up to the nearest multiple of 10. Then add 3 to that number (180 + 3 = 183). In this example, you would need 183 starting chains to make the blanket approximately 60” wide. This is a rough estimate and has not been tested but should give you a width that is close to what you want it to be.

How to Customize the Blanket

The instructions are written for the blanket exactly as I made it, but you can easily customize it. 

After the start and Row 1, the blanket is made by repeating Row 2 until you reach your desired height. 

Colors:

I used three colors and changed colors every 4 rows. 

You can use any number of colors and change colors as often (or as little) as you’d like. 

For the blanket size I made, each color section (4 repeats of Row 2) used approximately 60 yards of yarn.

Color Pattern

Here’s the order I followed: 

A (blue), B (green), C (yellow), A, B, C, A, B, C, A, B, C, A

I ended the blanket with 4 rows of Color A to match the beginning, then I added the final top and bottom rows.  My blanket had 52 rows before adding the final rows. 

Final Rows

After reaching my desired height, I made a final row at the top of the blanket, which matches the final row for the bottom. The final row for the bottom helps correct any curling from Row 1. 

If you prefer, you can skip these rows and stop after reaching your desired height (ending after any row), then fasten off and weave in your loose ends. 

Yarn Weights

You’re welcome to try using a different yarn weight, but the overall look, feel and size as well as the amount of yarn required may be different.

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Video Tutorial

Watch the step-by-step video tutorial below or keep scrolling down for the written instructions.

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Just a Reminder!

This pattern is also available as a PDF, which includes everything listed here but as a printer-friendly, ad-free PDF that you can instantly download, save, print, make notes on and keep forever.

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How to Crochet the Easy Ripple Blanket

Blanket Body Instructions

Start: With Color A, ch 93. Continue using Color A until instructed to change colors. 

For Row 1 (only), work into the back ridge loops. 

Row 1: In the third ch from the hook, make 2 dc.

Dc in the next 3 chs. 

Over the next 3 chs, dc3tog. 

Dc in the next 3 chs.

*In the next ch, make 3 dc.

Dc in the next 3 chs.

Over the next 3 chs, dc3tog.

Dc in the next 3 chs.*

Repeat from * to * across until there is 1 ch left.

In the last ch, make 2 dc. 

(82 dc sts + 9 dc3tog = 91 sts)

Reminder: the first row may curl. You can fix that at the end.

Row 2: Ch 2 and turn. 

In the first st, make 2 dc.

Dc in the next 3 sts. 

Over the next 3 sts, dc3tog. 

Dc in the next 3 sts.

*In the next st, make 3 dc.

Dc in the next 3 sts.

Over the next 3 sts, dc3tog.

Dc in the next 3 sts.*

Repeat from * to * across until there is 1 st left.

In the last st, make 2 dc. 

(82 dc sts + 9 dc3tog = 91 sts. Reminder: chs never count as sts.) 

Row 3 & 4: Still with Color A, repeat Row 2.

After completing Row 4, change colors. 

To change colors, place the new color on your hook. Pull the new color through the loop of the old color currently on your hook. Fasten off the old color. With the new color, begin the next row.

Rows 5 – 8: With Color B, repeat Row 2. 

Rows 9 – 12: With Color C, repeat Row 2. 

Rows 13 – 16: With Color A, repeat Row 2.

Rows 17 – 52: Repeat Rows 5 – 16 consecutively.

Finishing Instructions

Final Row – Top: Still with Color A, ch 1 and turn. 

In the first st, make 2 sc.

Sc in the next 3 sts. 

Over the next 3 sts, sc3tog. 

Sc in the next 3 sts.

*In the next st, make 3 sc.

Sc in the next 3 sts.

Over the next 3 sts, sc3tog.

Sc in the next 3 sts.*

Repeat from * to * across until there is 1 st left.

In the last st, make 2 sc. 

(82 sc sts + 9 sc3tog = 91 sts) 

Fasten off.

Final Row – Bottom: Do not turn (the side that was facing you for the Final Row – Top should still be facing you). Rotate your blanket so the starting chs are at the top – you’ll be working into these chs, always inserting your hook under both loops. Insert your hook into the first (right-most) ch, place Color A on your hook, and pull it through the ch. 

Ch 1. (Reminder: do not turn).

In the first ch, make 2 sc.

Sc in the next 4 chs.

In the next ch, make 3 sc.

*Sc in the next 3 chs.

Over the next 3 chs, sc3tog.

Sc in the next 3 chs.

In the next ch, make 3 sc.*

Repeat from * to * across until there are 5 chs left.

Sc in the next 4 chs. 

In the last ch, make 2 sc. 

(87 sc sts + 8 sc3tog = 95 sts) 

Fasten off and weave in all loose ends. 

And now you have a new blanket! 

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