Calm yourself down with a look of water. For many of us, seeing open water can give a sense of inner peace and connectivity.
Waves can be daunting for new crocheters, as how the wave grows can be confusing. In the peaks, we add more stitches and in the bottoms of the valleys, we subtract stitches. It's what keeps the edges straight.
Below is a quick tutorial on understanding waves in a pattern.
Crochet Surfer Waves Throw
The Crochet Surfer Waves Throw has a subtle lift using five double crochets in the same stitch. In person, you can see it well. Once you get started on this pattern, the row is exactly repeated throughout the entire banket. You can add a simple border to the edging if you want. I don't think it's absolutely necessary.
The repeating to make this bigger is 16 chains + 18. Abbreviated, it would be 16 chs + 18. This will allow you to change the sizing. I don't know the chain count to make it for different sizes.
This blanket is using Red Heart With Love yarn.
Tutorial
In production.
Crochet Ocean Waves Big Cakes Throw
The Crochet Ocean Waves Afghan is pretty straightforward once you get the pattern in your mind. It's repeating just two rows over and over once you get started and established.
The key thing to watch for is the extended rows. Both sides of the project are not equal to make this an easy level. In the tutorial, I show you that because, during my initial trials of this pattern, I kept screwing up until the designer set me straight. Her version was simpler but I was thinking in one direction when in fact, it's something different.
To change the size of this blanket, the multiple is 16 chains + 9. In abbreviated terms it would be 16 chs + 9.
If you can read patterns and skip my tutorial, you may want to review the synopsis of the tutorial to understand this even more.
This is using Caron Big Cakes Yarn. The striping you see is directly from the yarn ball, with no alterations of cutting strands to make it look great. So it's easy and let the yarn ball do the self-striping for you.
Carolyn Austin says
Even with the tutorial I am completely confused. I wish the wagon wheel instructions were a little clearer. Very frustrated right now!
Beth says
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I bought the cranberry crisp and loved the ocean waves blanket. The first time I started it I did something funky and pulled it out. Second time I realized the rows weren't even, pulled it all out. I admit I was on the verge of giving it up but decided to look for the tutorial. I finally got my half wagon wheels right and discovered the ends aren't even naturally! Score! Thank you again.
Lisa Joppa says
I followed the video for the first row using 154 chain to begin. I pulled it all out twice because the row would end up with only 8 shells and too many chains leftover. Then the 3rd time, I got 9 shells but no stitches left on the end. What am I doing wrong? I should end at the bottom of the hill, yes? Help! I am an experienced hooker....lol...but this foundation row is killing me.
Joy says
Any luck figuring that out? I have the same problem.
Jennifer Arani says
I am having the same problem!! I have done row 1 like 4 times now. Any luck on an answer here?
Laura Jean Bartholomew says
Lisa - that pattern has been updated on both the Michaels website in Canada as well as the US and international site. Sorry for the confusion.