Crochet Watercolor Ridges Afghan
This Crochet Watercolor Ridges Afghan was made with 3 of the newest colors of Caron Cakes yarn. When I was done, it reminded me of when I took a watercolour painting class because of the gentle ripples of color this afghan created.
It features a nice ribbed texture similar to the waffle stitch, but this goes much quicker, yet still produces a thick and comfy blanket.
For this project, I chose Caron Cakes in Strawberry Trifle, Strawberry Kiwi and Pistachio. The stripes on this blanket are achieved by alternating all 3 colors on each row. There is no cutting or weaving in ends and you only have to carry the color up one row. The border will completely cover everything nicely.
This concept works equally well with any 3 colors of worsted weight yarn and would still have a pretty striped effect.
Finished blanket – 50″ x 72″
Watercolor Ridges Afghan
~ by Jeanne Steinhilber
- 7 Caron Cakes
- Color A – 3 Strawberry Trifle
- Color B – 2 Strawberry Kiwi
- Color C – 2 Pistachio
- Crochet hook size H – 5.0mm
Special Stitches
FPdc – front post double crochet
BPdc – back post double crochet
Note – Ch 2 at the beginning of each row counts as a dc.
With Color A – Chain 153
Row 1 – Color A – dc in 4th chain from hook and each chain across. Drop color A on last dc and finish the stitch with color B. – 151 dc. Turn.
Row 2 – Ch 2, *FPdc around next st, dc in next st; repeat * across. Drop color B on last dc and finish the stitch with color C. Turn.
Row 3 – Ch 2, dc in each st across. Drop color C on last dc and finish the stitch with color A. Turn.
Row 4 – Ch 2, *dc in next st, FPdc around next st; repeat * across until 2 st remain; dc in the last 2 st. Drop color A on last dc and finish the stitch with color B. Turn.
Row 5 – Ch 2, dc in each st across. Drop color B on last dc and finish the stitch with color C. Turn.
Continue to repeat rows 2 thru 5, alternating colors each time. End with either row that contains FPdc.
At this point you can decide which side you like better before starting your edging. I preferred the dc row as my right side.
Use color A on the whole border. Turn to the right side of the blanket.
Round 1 – Attach yarn and sc around the whole blanket, placing 3 sc in each corner. Sl st to the beginning sc.
Round 2 – Ch 1, sc around the whole blanket, placing 3 sc in each corner. Sl st to the beginning sc.
Round 3 – Ch 3, dc around the whole blanket, placing 5 dc in each corner. Sl st to the beginning ch-3.
Round 4 – Ch 2, BPdc around each st around, with 3 BPdc around each corner st. Sl st to the beginning ch-2.
Round 5 – Repeat round 4.
Round 6 – Ch 1, hdc in between each st around. Sl st to beginning hdc.
Round 7 – Sl st in each st around. Finish off.
Photo Tutorials
Video Tutorials
To learn FPdc, you can start the video at the 3:50 mark.
To learn how to carry colors. Video automatically starts at the 11:15 Minute Mark to show you.
No blue button
updated
I just started this pattern using Caron Big Cakes, where I’ve just recently started buying that product. The pattern is working out wonderfully. I did not try using Caron Cakes as Jeanne did because recommended washing instructions are “hand wash, lay flat to dry”. Has anyone tried machine wash & dry and if so, how well did your project hold up to it? Hand washing a crochet blanket such as this one is too much, in my opinion.
Caron Cakes can technically be washed in a gentle cycle, it will not felt as the wool inside isn’t enough to cause that to happen. People have dried in a low setting of a dryer but I need to hold the line of Yarnspirations of it’s washing instructions just to be consistent. That’s a great community question. I may pose that to the group this morning to see the feedback.
To update from my question about washing instructions for Caron Cakes: I tried Caron Cakes and machine washed & dried the blanket. I was amazed with how well it washed & dried!! Actually, I prefer to Caron Cakes over their Big Cakes now.
I wish a gauge were listed for this pattern
Is there a gauge for Watercolor Ridges Afghan?
No, I didn’t do a swatch. With afghans, I just hook. Sorry.
I have just completed the blanket and am ready to move on to the border. This is my first big project and I have never done a border. I watched a couple videos and I’m thinking that to do the first row of sc around I will need to do 2 stitches in each dc when I’m going down the side. Is that right?
Yes, I usually do 2 in each dc. On a border, do whatever adjustments it takes to keep it laying flat.
What are the multiples on this blanket, want to make a kids or Baby size blanket .
Any odd number should work. I would try one with 13 chains or 19 or 21 and see if that works. – LJ
Thank you
Approximately how many rows is the blanket pictured?
I’m really not sure. I just kept going until I ran out of yarn.