Friday, May 15, 2009

Ripple: the Ultimate Scrap Project

What better first post for my scrappy blog, than to introduce you to the Queen Mother of all scrap projects: the ripple afghan. This is the simplest thing in the world to crochet, but extremely time-consuming. I've made a whole bunch of these now, and I've found that the more colors you use, the more fun the project is. My favorite Ripple afghan is still the first one I made, of every color of Rowan Cotton Glace. This was one expensive mother of a blanket. It's got gorgeous, heavy drape, and it is Sarge's fave:



Here's the Ripple I made for a friend's baby, out of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, all leftover balls from various projects, including an Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket:



Baby Ripples are satisfying because of their size: they just don't take all that long. Especially a newborn "receiving" blanket. I also recently made my little girl a Little-Girl-Sized Ripple (also quick to make) out of Lion Brand Wool Ease in a rainbow, with a red border. The colors weren't as saturated as I would have liked, a little subdued, but perhaps that added an elegance to an inelegant color concept (the rainbow...)...or so I like to think:



Currently I'm working on a new Ripple, of Rowan Cashsoft DK--it's fantastically luxe, and I got it in a nice variety of soft pastels. It feels wonderful to the hand:





PATTERNS:

For me, the classic Ripple pattern is "Soft Waves" by Jan Eaton in the book "200 Ripple Stitch Patterns." There is another pattern, with an inspirational photo, in the book "Vintage Crochet". Or, if you don't want to purchase these, Lion Brand has a perfectly serviceable set of ripple patterns here.

LINKS:

Be sure to visit the No End in Sight Ripple-Along for more inspiration!
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5 comments:

  1. atelierlemlemMay 19, 2009 at 9:57 AM

    Hello, I found your lovely and inspiring blog via the ripple site! What a beautiful ripples you've made...realy lovely collors!!! And the 'hippi'hat is great too (so is the model!), I am going to read further on your blog now, thanks for sharing this!
    Greetings from the Netherlands, Mama Lieveheersbeestje.

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  2. LeahMay 20, 2009 at 10:52 AM

    Thank you so very much!

    I have another blog, but felt I needed a blog for my crafting too! Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. MonikaJune 7, 2009 at 1:40 PM

    Your blanket is beautiful! This is on my to-do list as well.

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  4. PattieJJune 18, 2009 at 7:15 PM

    GORGEOUS ripples!!!!

    Pattie

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  5. PéitseogaAugust 30, 2009 at 6:27 AM

    wow, you have some patience for the ripples! i love the jan eaton pattern, it makes such soft waves, unlike many other ripple patterns that turn into more of a zig zag.

    i only managed a scarf, that's maybe another idea for stash busting? i used a very soft light grey, and did the first and last row in fuchsia. i don't seem to be able to paste a link but it's in my blog 2007/03 and 2007/11 (i made it longer with opposite colours)

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