Knitting Pattern for Classic Ripple Baby Afghan
Knitting has been a favorite hobby of mine for many years and I first used this classic ripple baby blanket knitting pattern almost 40 years ago when my children were babies. I’ve now been blessed to be able to knit this same baby blanket for two grandbabies as well! This classic ripple knitting design really doesn’t go out of style and looks pretty in many different color combinations too.
This ripple afghan is knit with a main color and two contrasting colors for the stripes. For the baby afghan pictured above, I used Red Heart yarn in the 4 weight, and the colors available at the time were Iced Aqua (my main color), and contrasting colors of Daffodil and Pewter. These came in 7 oz skeins and I bought two skeins of my main color and one skein for each of the contrasting colors.
I made this ripple baby afghan a second time for my granddaughter but this time used pink for my main color with gray and turquoise as my contrasting colors. Once again I used Red Heart yarn and the colors available at that time were Bubble Gum (my main color) and Light Grey Heather and Aruba Sea for my contrasting stripes.
This pattern uses a 12 row pattern repeat where the main color stripes are knit rows, and the contrasting color rows are stockinette and use increases and decreases to create the ripples. You’ll probably find that it won’t be long before you have the pattern sequence committed to memory and you’ll be able to knit along quite quickly!
The abbreviation of “SSK” used in this pattern is a “Slip, Slip, Knit” and is worked by slipping the next two stitches knitwise, one at a time, then inserting the tip of the left-hand needle into the fronts of these two stitches, from the left, and knitting them together from this position.
This ripple baby afghan is knit back and forth on US size 9 circular needles. The circular needles are used simply to hold the amount of stitches needed for this pattern. My finished blanket size was approximately 34″ x 41″.
The free printable pattern for this classic ripple baby blanket is below. And here’s one more little knitting idea for you. With some of my remaining leftover yarn, I made a matching newborn baby hat! You can find that pattern here: Newborn baby hat knitting pattern
Knit Ripple Baby Afghan
Materials:
- US Size 9 Circular knitting needles (29" length)
- Approx. 12 oz of main color yarn (size 4 weight)
- Approx. 4 oz of 1st contrasting color yarn (size 4 weight)
- Approx. 4 oz of 2nd contrasting color yarn (size 4 weight)
- Stitch markers (optional but helpful)
- Size H crochet hook (optional for finishing)
Instructions:
Pattern Stitch: These are the 12 rows that will be repeated to create the ripple design.
- Rows 1 – 5: KnitRow 6: *K2 tog, K2, Increase in the next 2 sts, K3, SSK, repeat from * acrossRows 7, 9, and 11: PurlRows 8, 10, and 12: Repeat Row 6.Note: This pattern stitch is a multiple of 11. I found it helpful to place stitch markers every 22 stitches so I could keep track of the pattern a little better.
How to make the blanket:
- With main color, cast on 154 stitches.*Work pattern rows 1 – 5.
- Drop main color but do not break off (carry loosely up the side). Attach the first contrasting color and work Rows 6 – 11.
- Break off first contrasting color and with main color work Row 12 and Rows 1 – 5.
- Drop main color and attach second contrasting color. With second contrasting color work Rows 6 – 11.
- Break off second contrasting color and with main color work Row 12.
- Repeat from * until piece measures approximately 40" ending with a first contrasting color stripe. Then with main color, work patterns Rows 1 – 4.
- Bind off using main color.
- Weave in any loose ends.
- If you would like a more finished edge to your blanket, use the crochet hook and main color yarn to do a single crochet around the entire edge of the blanket.
Notes:
Is this blanket pattern reversible ?
No, this pattern is not reversible (looks the same on both sides). The main colors stripes are in garter stitch (knit every row), however the contrasting color stripes are alternated with purl rows and will look different on the back side of the blanket.
Hi there!
You mentioned adding a crochet boarder, but I was hoping to match the knit blue boarder around the entire blanket (the five rows of knitting I’d like to go all around the blanket). Is there as way to do this with video tutorial? Thanks so much
It looks like it would roll on the sides. Would a border work with this pattern?
The sides are finished with a row of single crochet which works as a border and helps to keep the edges from rolling.
Am I knitting every row 1-5,?
Yes, rows 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are all knit rows.
I new to knitting but I thought circular knitting needles made a circular item.. is this true?? Sorry am daft at times lol. I love this pattern thank you for sharing x
Circular needles can be used for both! If you get to the end of the first row you can either “join” the work and knit around and around to make a circular item, OR, you can turn the work and just knit back and forth like you would on any knitting needles. Circular needles are often used for large items that aren’t circular (like afghans) because it’s an easier way to handle that many stitches on your needles.
By “increase in the next two stitches”, does that mean after k2, knit next stitch with increase knit next stitch with increase?
Yes, in each of those next two stitches you will do an increase by knitting into the front and the back of the stitch.
Can you explain how you get to 11 stitches? I only count 9 and am guessing I don’t understand the increase part fully. Thank you for any guidance!
It’s probably Row 6 of the repeating pattern that you are wondering about. The 11 stitches comes out like this: The K2 tog ends up being 1 stitch, then K2 (up to 3), then increase in the next 2, knitting into the front back, which gives you four stitches (now up to 7), then K3 (now up to 10), and then the SSK, which results in 1 stitch (for a total of 11). I hope that helps!
What do you mean–break off Pewter or break off Daffodil? Do you mean to cut?
You’re right, I did not have that worded correctly as I do not cut (or break off) any of the colors as I make the afghan and instead carry them up the side. I have made the correction to the pattern. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!
Hello!
I’d like to make this with alternating 3 colours, (grey, mint, and white) instead of repeating the aqua.
I was wondering what I should do for row 12, where it says to use aqua again… should I use whatever colour will be part of the next 1-5 knit rows section again as the colour for row 12?
Thank you!
Yes, that is exactly it. You need to work Row 12 in the repeating pattern in the same color as whatever you are using for Rows 1-5.
Thank you very much! My first time trying to use more than one colour – I’m used to doing big chunky blankets with super bulky yarn, so this has been quite the challenge!
Do you have any good tips for changing colours? I found a few ways on youtube, but I’m open to suggestions!
When you use more than one color you have to “carry” them up the side of your work until you are ready to use the color again. Here’s a YouTube video that shows it well, in fact this is exactly how I do it too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeJfbIFWZlI
Interesting, so even with using 3 colours, and there being 12 rows between each use of the colour – do you think it’s best to carry the two colours not being used up the side with every row? Or would it be better to cut and weave them in, since there are two colours resting? (I’m only on row 8, so I’ve just done two rows of my second colour and can change how I do things now while I’ve only just started!)
Thank you!
I would just carry the two colors not being used up the side. I would not break the yarn. That is how I have done it every time I have made this afghan. When the afghan is all knit, and you are to the step of making the finishing crochet edge, that crochet edge will cover up those yarns on the side that were being carried.
I would like to make the blanket bigger than you have done
How do you think it would look if it was twice as long? My 8 year old grandson has requested it
Yes, I think you could definitely adjust this blanket to make it larger. If you are making it twice as long, I would make it a little wider too. The pattern is a repeat of 11 stitches, so if you cast on more stitches to make it wider, add stitches in multiples of 11. (I think maybe casting on an additional 22 stitches would do the trick).
Hw big is this blanket?
It is 41″ wide by 42″ long.
How would this blanket/ pattern look with just using one color of wool?
I never considered doing one color before, but now that you mention it I think it would turn out quite nicely. I think there’s enough texture in this pattern for one color because the stripes alternate between stockinette stitch and garter stitch. I might have to try this on the next one I knit!
Can I use the same pattern with a regular straight needle? I am a relative newbie to knitting and want to make this for my on the way baby boy!
Congrats on the baby boy that’s on the way Jess! You probably could use straight needles, but because you are casting on 154 stitches they will be packed pretty tightly together on your needle. Using circular needles doesn’t really feel any different than knitting on straight needles, and you have much more room for all those stitches. I’d encourage you to give the circular needles a try.
I was wondering what type of increase you used for the afgahn.
I used the increase that is knitting in the front and back of a stitch. Here is a link to a YouTube video showing that type of increase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCUh1LPcrvw I don’t think I know how to do any other type of increase!
I had the same issue! I was using a different way of increasing – thank you so much for posting the link to the way you intended it to be done, that saved me from giving up (and is way easier than the other way I’d learned!)