Grandma Spiked My Ripple Blanket

Granny squares are regaining popularity but I really didn’t want to do more squares. A ripple seemed like it would be fun but still wasn’t tickling my fancy. After some thought, I suddenly realized that a spike stitch would make a good alternative … so here we are.My brother-in-law said that the colors I used made him want a Guinness so I believe I’ve named this pattern appropriately.Use whatever size yarn and hook you want, make it as wide or as long as you want … just have fun with it! Just remember that because of the spike stitch, the blanket will be dense and get very heavy as it gets larger – but it is so very warm!

Errata: 8/6/14 – Row 1 correction; removed all standing dc instructions.
2/10/15 – Updated row 3.

Sizes and Materials List …
Size: Sample measures 40″x36″ – perfect for a baby blanket
Hook(s): Use recommended hk for selected yarn. Use larger size hk for a lacier version. Sample uses US H/8 (5.00 mm)
Yarn: Yarn Bee Soft Secret [100% Acrylic, 370 yds/6 oz skein]
Colors &
Approx. Yardage
Sample uses:
(A) Cocoa/26, 385 yds
(B) Cognac/24, 355 yds
(C) Honey/22, 355 yds
(D) Butter/20, 355 yds
(E) Haystack/18, 355 yds
(F) Biscuit/16, 355 yds
(G) Ivory/14, 355 ydsAh heck … Just buy lots of yarn and no one will get hurt …
Notions Yarn Needle
Gauge: Gauge is not important for this pattern, just be consistent with your tension
Skill Level - Easy Download PDF pattern
Notes …
Yarn Choice
  • This pattern is not suitable for eyelash or similar yarns that would obscure the spike stitch definition. The spike stitch needs a yarn with little or no halo in order to look its best.
  • The greater the contrast between yarn colors, the more dramatic the spike stitch effect will be.
  • The sample used up almost the entire skein of six of the seven colors I’d chosen, plus more for the one I used for the border, It is sized for an infant or child so for an adult sized afghan, you’ll need to at least double the amount of yarn used if the yarn is worsted weight.
  • Although I used the Yarn Bee Soft Secret yarn for the sample project, I would not recommend its use. It had knots every few feet/yards in several skeins, it splits and frays easily, and knots are inconsistent (some are made over all strands, some over half the strands). It is also slippery so slip knots tend to, well, slip apart. Other Yarn Bee yarns I’ve used have not had this problem so don’t hesitate to use them.
Variations
  • Instead of making two rows of ea color, try making one or three or four.
  • Make the width one or two reps and 50-60″ long or 50-60″ wide and 6″ long for a scarf.
  • Make the width 50-60″ wide and 15″ long for a wrap (or 15″ wide and 50-60″ long).
Determine Starting ch/fsc
  • Because this is a ripple pattern, the finished width will be shorter than the original base ch/fsc. To determine how many reps you’ll need, do one rep of rows 1 and 2 (ch 24 or fsc 22) and measure the finished width. Divide that measurement into the final width to get the number of reps. For example, if your finished swatch is 3″ wide and your blanket needs to be 36″ wide, 36″ / 3″ = 12 reps.
  • Next, determine the length of your base ch or fsc row. Each rep is 18 sts, so multiply the number of reps by the stitch reps, for example, 12 reps * 18 sts = 216 sts.
  • Finally, add 7 sts if you will be using a starting chain, i.e., 216 + 7 = 223.
  • Or, add 4 sts if you will be using an fsc base row, i.e., 216 + 4 = 220.
  • Calculations:
    • Final width of blanket / width of 1 rep = number of reps to be made
    • Number of reps * 18 sts = subtotal number of sts
    • Base ch: Subtotal number of sts + 7 sts = total number of chs needed
    • Fsc: Subtotal number of sts + 4 sts = total number of fsc needed
Stitches Used Chain (ch)
Slip Stitch (sl st)
Single Crochet (sc)
Double Crochet (dc)
Foundation Single Crochet (fsc)
Reverse Single Crochet (rsc)
Spike Stitch (spst) – YouTube Video
Abbreviations Each (ea)
Hook (hk)
Place Marker (pm)
Repeat(s) (rep / reps)
Skip (sk)
Stitch(es) (st / sts)
Special Stitches Spike Stitch (spst) – YouTube Video The spike stitch is worked into the row that is 2 rows below the row you are adding. I found that if I worked into the top of the center/second dc, the st got pulled up too much and working into the sp between the second and third dc looked and worked better. See symbol chart for placement of spike.Dc into indicated sp, dc loosely between second and third dc on second row below one being made, dc into same sp as first dc.

If your second dc isn’t loose enough for your liking, feel free to replace it with a treble crochet.

Reverse Single Crochet (rsc) aka Crab Stitch

1. Ch 1, with the right side of the work facing you, work left to right and insert hk into the front of the next st to the right, yo, pull through, yo, pull through both lps on hk.

2. Insert hk into the front of the next st to the right, yo, pull through, yo, pull through both lps on hk.

3. Rep step 2 until you reach the first rsc, join with sl st.

Here’s a video from the Crochet Geek to help you if needed: Crab Stitch Reverse Single Crochet Edging Border.

Instructions …
Choose how to start your blanket, with either a base chain or an fsc row and follow the appropriate section below.
Base Chain, Rows 1 & 2
Base Chain With color A, ch the number of chs needed for the size blanket you are making.  See the Notes section above to determine how many you’ll need.
Row 1 3 dc in seventh ch from hk (beg dc, ch 2 here and throughout), *[sk 2 ch, 3 dc in next ch] twice, sk 5 ch, [3 dc in next ch, sk 2 ch] 2 times, [3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc] in next ch,* rep from * to * across.
Row 2 Ch 5 (beg dc, ch 2 here and throughout), turn, 3 dc in first ch 3 sp, *[3 dc in next sp] twice, sk next sp, [3 dc in next sp] twice, [3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc] in next ch 3 sp,* rep from * to * across, ending with (3 dc, ch 3, 3dc) in last ch-2 sp. Do not turn. Join color B with  as sl st in top of last dc.
Foundation Row, Rows 1 & 2
Foundation Row With color A, make the number of fsc needed for the size blanket you are making. See the Notes section above to determine how many you’ll need.
Row 1 Ch 5, turn, sk next 2 fsc, 3 dc in next fsc, *[sk 2 ch, 3 dc in next fsc] twice, sk 5 fsc, [3 dc in next ch, sk 2 ch] twice, (3 dc ch 3, 3 dc) in next fsc, rep from * to * across.
Note: You will be working the 3 dc groups into the sps between each two 3 dc groups on the previous row unless the instructions specifically say to work into a different sp. See symbol chart for placement of spike.
Row 2 Ch 5, turn, 3 dc in first ch 3 sp, *[3 dc in next sp] twice, sk next sp, [3 dc in next sp] twice, [3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc] in next ch 3 sp,* rep from * to * across, ending with (3 dc, ch 3, 3dc) in last ch-2 sp. Fasten off but do not turn. Join color B with sl st in top of last dc.
Spiked Rows
Row 3 With B, ch 5, turn, 3 dc in first ch-3 sp, *spst in next 2 sps, sk next sp (at bottom point), spst in next 2 spcs, [3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc] in next ch-3 sp, rep from * across, ending with [3 dc, ch 3, 3dc] in last ch-2 sp.
Row 4 Rep row 3. Fasten off but do not turn. Join next color with sl st in top of last dc.
Rows 5+ Rep rows 3 and 4 with each color in sequence until piece is as long as you need it to be, ending with last color. Weave in all ends before starting border.
Border
Round 1 Join color to be used as the border with a sc in the side of last dc made, make another sc in same dc, 2 sc in the side of ea dc down the entire side of the blanket, sc in next 12 sc, *[sc, ch 2, sc] in next sc (crest of wave), sc in next 8 sc, sk next sc (sc at lowest point between two waves), sc in next 8 sc,* rep from * to * to tip of last wave, [sc, ch 2, sc] in next sc (crest of wave), sc in last 12 sc of last wave, 2 sc in the side of ea dc down the entire second side of the blanket, sc in top of next 2 dc, [dc, ch 2, dc] in first ch-3 sp, *sc in next 8 dc, [dc, ch 2, dc] in next ch-2 sp, sc in next 8 dc, sk next 2 dc,* rep from * to * across top of blanket to last ch-3 sp, [sc, ch 2, 3 sc] in last ch-3 sp (it might be helpful to pm in last sc made), join with sl st in first sc.
Round 2 Ch 1, turn (don’t just continue as turning helps to flatten the points some), sc in first sc (the one you marked and move marker up into st just made) and in next 3 sc, *[sc, ch 2, sc] in ch-2 sp, sc in next 8 sc, sk next 2 sc, sc in next 8 sc,* rep from * to * across top of blanket, sc in ea sc down side to other end, rep from * to * across bottom of blanket, sc in ea sc down second side, join with sl st in marked sc. Fasten off if not continuing to round 3.
Round 3 (Optional) Ch 1, make sure the side you’ve decided is the front is facing you – turn the piece if needed, rsc in ea sc around, join with sl st in first rsc. Fasten off.

Download PDF version of chart. Print on 11″x17″ paper.Chart made using the Crochet Charts software made by Stitch Works Software.
Finishing …
Weave in any remaining ends. Wash and block as needed, especially the tips of each wave.
Pattern and photos © Darlisa Riggs, CatBird Studios