The ripple afghan is one of those patterns that never really goes out of style. It just gets a new look every decade. If you grew up around handmade blankets, there's a good chance you remember the wave-striped afghans your grandmother made in warm 1970s tones of orange, brown, and cream. Today, the same zig-zag construction gets a refresh with modern color palettes and more intricate stitch work, but the appeal is the same: a simple repeating pattern that turns into a stunning, textured blanket.
At Mary Maxim, ripple patterns have remained a customer favorite for generations, and we carry a wide range of them from cozy baby sized versions to full adult afghans, and even a few fashion accessories that borrow the same wave motif. Below is a roundup of some of our go-to ripple patterns and kits to help you find the right one for your next project.
Ripple and Lace Crochet Pattern
This design leans into the retro roots of the ripple stitch with a color combination straight out of the 1970s. It's a crochet-only pattern, and you can pair it with your choice of yarn colors to make it feel more current if you'd rather skip the vintage palette.
Knitted Ripple Afghan
For knitters who love the ripple look, this pattern offers another take on the classic wave design. It works well with a soft, mid-weight yarn and can be customized in colors that match your home's decor rather than sticking to the traditional retro shades.
Soft & Easy Ripple Throw
One of our newer knit ripple designs, this pattern is built for comfort. It's made with a cotton-acrylic blend yarn, which gives you the breathable feel of cotton with the easy-care benefits of acrylic — a nice combination for a blanket that will get a lot of everyday use.
Ripples Galore Afghan
This is consistently one of our most popular ripple patterns, and for good reason. The kit includes both knit and crochet instructions, so you can make it whichever way you prefer, along with several color combinations to choose from (or you can pick your own three-color palette). It's an especially good pick if you're new to ripple patterns. The instructions are beginner-friendly and hard to go wrong with.
Crowned Ripple Baby Blanket
Ripple patterns work beautifully at baby blanket scale too. This crochet kit comes with everything you need, and with over a dozen color options, it's easy to put together something personal for a new arrival.
Broken Ripple Blanket
If you like the ripple look but want something a little different from the traditional zig-zag, the Broken Ripple offers a nice variation on the classic construction. This knit kit is available in a couple of colorways, so you can pick whichever fits the nursery or room it's headed for.
Ripple blankets are a great project whether you're a longtime crocheter revisiting a classic or a beginner looking for a forgiving, repeat-friendly pattern. If you've made a ripple project you love, we'd love to hear about it and don't forget to check back for more pattern roundups and new releases.
