Soft Clusters Ripple Afghan
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This afghan is soft and cuddly and so easy to make. The borders and edges are included as you go. Make it in a solid color or with as many color changes as you like.
The example is made in Caron Simply Soft, a soft worsted weight yarn.
Size:
This blanket can be made any size. Five widths are given in the directions.
| Size | Width (Inches) | Length (Inches) | Ounces of yarn | Yards of yarn |
| Extra Small | 32.73 | 43.64 | 29.34 | 1540.59 |
| Small | 36.36 | 48.48 | 36.23 | 1901.96 |
| Medium | 40 | 53.33 | 43.84 | 2301.37 |
| Large | 43.64 | 58.18 | 52.17 | 2738.82 |
| Extra Large | 47.27 | 63.03 | 61.22 | 3214.31 |
Materials:
Worsted weight yarn
Size H (5mm) crochet hook
Abbreviations:
ch = chain
ch sp = chain space
dc = double crochet
sc = single crochet
yo = yarn over
Special stitches:
Dec5 – Decrease 5 stitches – (yo, insert hook in next stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) five times, yo and draw through all 6 loops on hook.
Cluster – in ch sp indicated (yo, insert hook in ch sp, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) three times, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook.
DecCluster – in ch sp indicated (yo, insert hook in ch sp, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) three times, skip next ch sp, in next ch sp (yo, insert hook in ch sp, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) three times, yo and draw through all 7 loops on hook.
The beginning chain should be a multiple of 16.
For these widths, start with this number of chains:
32.75″ = 144
36.25″ = 160
40″ = 176
43.75″ = 192
47.25″ = 208
Row 1: Skip first 4 ch (counts as first dc), dc in 5th ch from hook, dc in each of next four ch, 3dc in next ch, dc in each of next five ch, dec5 using the next five ch, dc in each of the next five ch, ** 5dc in next ch, dc in each of next five ch, dec5 using the next five ch, dc in each of the next five ch. Repeat from ** across to last 7 ch, 3dc in next ch, dc in each of next 6 ch. Turn.
Row 2: Ch1, sc in first dc, sc in each dc and dec5 across row. Sc in top turning chain. Turn.
Row 3: Ch3 (counts as first dc), dc in 2nd sc, dc in each of next four sc, 3dc in next sc, dc in each of next five sc, dec5 using the next five sc, dc in each of the next five sc, ** 5dc in next sc, dc in each of next five sc, dec5 using the next five sc, dc in each of the next five sc. Repeat from ** across to last 7 sc, 3dc in next sc, dc in each of next 6 sc. Turn.
Row 4: Ch1, sc in first dc, sc in each of the next 5 dc, (chain one, skip one dc, sc in next dc) across row to last 4 dc and turning chain. Sc in each remaining dc and top of turning chain. Turn.
Row 5: Ch3 (counts as first dc), dc in 2nd sc, dc in each of next three sc, ch1, (cluster, ch1, cluster) in ch sp, (ch1, cluster in next ch sp) twice, ch1, DecCluster (uses next three ch sp), (ch1, cluster in next ch sp) twice, ch1. ** (Cluster, ch1, cluster, ch1, cluster) in next ch sp, (ch1, cluster in next ch sp) twice, ch1, DecCluster (uses next three ch sp), (ch1, cluster in next ch sp) twice, ch1. Repeat from ** across to last ch sp and six sc. (Cluster, ch1, cluster) in ch sp, ch 1. Skip one sc. Dc in each of the next five sc. Turn.
Row 6: Ch1, sc in first dc, sc in each of the next 4 dc, sc in ch sp, (chain one, sc in next ch sp) across row to last 4 dc and turning chain. Sc in each remaining dc and top of turning chain. Turn.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until afghan is desired length. Finish with these three rows:
Third to last row: Ch3 (counts as first dc), dc in 2nd sc, dc in each of next four sc, 3dc in next ch, dc in each of next five sc and ch, dec5 using the next five sc and ch, dc in each of the next five sc and ch, ** 5dc in next ch, dc in each of next five sc and ch, dec5 using the next five sc and ch, dc in each of the next five sc and ch. Repeat from ** across to last ch and 6 sc, 3dc in next ch, dc in each of next 6 sc. Turn.
Second to last row: Repeat row 2.
Last row: Repeat row 3. Finish off and weave in end.
The blanket can be made in a solid color or can be made with any number of color changes. The best way to make a color change is to finish all but the very last pull through of the two loops of the last stitch of a row. Cut yarn with a few inches of tail and join with new color next to stitch. Pull new color through last two loops. Weave in ends.
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your great work.
Bless you for giving different sizes and the repeat, that’s wonderful! I wish more patterns had the repeat as I like to make generously sized blankets. Beautiful work!
When I have made things using other patterns, I very often resize them. On all my pattern books, I write in pencil the repeat so that I only have to figure it out once. I really want anyone using my patterns to be able to adjust them however needed to meet their needs, so I do try to provide as much helpful information as possible.
I love the pattern and am excited to start my own afghan. I looked through the directions and I have a question about ROW 5. I don’t see the end of the repeat. ROW 5 ends with (ch1, cluster in next ch sp) twice, ch1. I don’t see the instructions for the end of the row and to turn. Do I dc to the end? Thanks for you help, your work is beautiful!
Thank you for catching that. I had left off the end of the row, plus found an error at the beginning with one too many dc. I have now corrected it in the pattern.
I think there should be a ch1 near the end of row 5, after the last cluster? “(Cluster, ch1, cluster) in ch sp. Skip one sc. Dc in each of the next five sc. Turn.”
Love all your patterns! This is the first one I have tried but have your page bookmarked and hope to do them all eventually! Thank you!
You are right! Thanks for catching that. I have corrected it in the pattern now.
As you can tell I am very new to this… In Row 2 when do I dec5? Hope you can help. I am very excited to start this project. It is a beautiful pattern. Thanks for your help.
Sorry for the confusion. In row 2 you are just making sc. The dec5 is in reference to stitches from row 1 that you will make sc in.
I am just getting back into knitting/crocheting and came upon your site. Your patterns are just beautiful and as a beginner feel they are something I can actually make. Thank you so much!! (also love the fact you provide info to enlarge the patterns!!)
BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for sharing! I look forward to working on this. Now to decide what color.
Love all your patterns!
Hey, this is a lovely pattern, and I’m really enjoying it. I do have a question, however. I’m just about halfway through row 5 for the first time, and it’s coming out very ripply, as if there are too many stitches to keep it straight. Is it supposed to be this way, or could I be doing something wrong? Also, are the (cluster, ch1, cluster, ch1, cluster) sets and cluster decreases supposed to match up with the rises and falls in the previously established rows?
Thank you
It shouldn’t be very ripply. If it was just a bit looser than the prior row I think that would resolve with the next row of sc and chains. Yes the increases and decreases should line up with prior rows. If they aren’t, that would definitely cause weird ripples. On row 4, do you have a skipped dc for each chain?
Hi, I tok up crochet Monday, made a baby bonnet Tuesday and half way through a plain pram blanket now. I am looking through different patterns and in some cases it states’start your chain in multiples of 16′ ect Could you please explain? Thank you from a G.B follower!
I always give the multiple of the repeat and additional stitches for the beginning chain so that anyone can make any size blanket they want. I also give several widths and beginning chain counts so that you can just make one of those sizes and not have to calculate the beginning chain.
I think you are wonderful for providing different sizes of your afghans with the amount of yarn for each size and the repeat info. That is my complaint with most crochet pattern books, they don’t give you enough info to change sizes. I make lapghans for nursing homes and your patterns are wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing!!
I’m sorry to bother you; I’m fairly new at crocheting and had a question on row 5.
When the instructions say (ch1, cluster in next ch sp) twice, does that mean twice in the same ch sp? Or once ea in the next two ch sps?
I must be doing it wrong because my inc and dec aren’t lining up, but I don’t want to start over til I find out for sure. Thanks for posting your lovely patterns!
No bother at all. (ch1, cluster in next ch sp) twice is once each in the next two ch spaces.
My first time seeing your patterns and OMG, they are gorgeous! I have done simple projects earlier in life but now have the luxury (time) to take up crocheting.I have browsed through many sites searching for the perfect project for my level and improve. Your patterns are exceptional! New to reading patterns and am so glad you have diagrams too. Finally! patterns with information on how to change sizes!
You have put so much effort in providing all the infomation for which I am very grateful. I am so excited to start this pattern.Hope it is as easy as everyone makes it sound! can’t wait to get to the purple vintage one for my mother after a little more experience. Thank You, Thank You.
I’m confused about Row 2. I know that it’s just a single crochet all the way across; but when it comes across the dec5, do you single crochet in all sections of the dec5? Maybe you have a close up of that section so I can see what it’s supposed to look like?
Here is a bit of a closer shot of that border –
http://blogs.thetucker.com/knit/files/DSC00046.jpg
The top of the dec5 from row one is a single stitch, so only one sc will go in it on row two.
Could it be that my dec5 stitch is too loose? How do I attach a pic of that section of my project.
I have been crocheting for many years, but for some reason I am struggling with the beginning of this pattern. I chained out 208 for the Extra Large version of the pattern, and made it all the way to the end of the row, and can’t make it match in any way whatsoever, to the end of row directions. I rechecked my row to see if I missed any stitches along the way, but everything is correct. Any ideas what could have happened?
Breaking down the count on the first row:
4 + 1 + 4 +
Skip first 4 ch (counts as first dc), dc in 5th ch from hook, dc in each of next four ch,
1 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 25
3dc in next ch, dc in each of next five ch, dec5 using the next five ch, dc in each of the next five ch,
1 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 16
** 5dc in next ch, dc in each of next five ch, dec5 using the next five ch, dc in each of the next five ch. Repeat from **
7 = 1 + 6
across to last 7 ch, 3dc in next ch, dc in each of next 6 ch. Turn.
So 25 chains before the repeat. For the extra large, the repeat of 16 chains is done 11 times, so 176 chains. Then the 7 chains at the end. 25 + 176 + 7 = 208
This is a beautiful pattern, I fell in love with it as soon as I found it. I was taught to crochet by my Grandmother when I was a child but I did not keep it up. I recently decided to “teach myself” how to crochet. I crocheted a pair of simple slippers and a dishcloth and thought I could also master this pattern but it has been a challenge. Although it is a challenge, I am not ready to give up. I experienced some of the same things as mentioned in other messages. I finally determined the ch sp for row five was the area where I skipped over one dc. Once I had that resolved it was less ripply and the increases and decreases lined up. I am now on row six and I am not sure what the ch sp is – do I just single crochet in each space created in row 5? This probably sounds crazy to experienced crocheters but for me the ch sp is a bit confusing.
I’m sorry this one has been challenging. You are right that you will sc in each ch sp from the prior row and chain between each one (except for the few stitches on the edges).
The pattern does not specify whether the rows are to be worked in the back loops, front loops, or both…I tried using both loops, but it does not seem to be looking quite like the photo above. Thanks in advance for your help!
I worked in the front loops. I didn’t specify because it’s really personal preference on this particular blanket since it only affects the borders. The body of the blanket is all worked in chain spaces.
Thanks for answering!!! I always want my finished product to look exactly what it looks like in the picture, LOL. Love this pattern and several of the others – can’t wait to try them! I’m especially excited about trying some of the patterns for homespun/boucle yarn!
I really like this pattern. I’ve read all the comments from above and I know I’m missing something. Row 6 in the “hill” is it supposed to be a sc, ch1, sc in the ch sp?
All the “hill” and “valley” creation is done in the cluster row. For the sc row, just make sc’s in each of the ch-1 spaces and a chain between.
Thanks, I found my mistake 2 rows back, thank goodness its a baby blanket
Please explain the decluster. Imjust dont get row 5.
Any tutorial?
Here is a video tutorial I found of a cluster. In this tutorial the stitches are being made into a chain. For this afghan the stitches are made into a chain space.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMOi0_sDtPc
I have been crocheting for several years and have never found a ripple I have been able to do. This one I haven’t had any issues with. I do have a question about Row 4. After the initial 6 SC is it just (Ch1, skip next dc, sc) across to last 4. There was no * showing a repeat and I got a bit confused. Looking at the next row it seems it is but I want to make sure.
Thank you
Yes. The repeat was so simple I just put it in parentheses.
This is the same as the old fashioned Chevron pattern, of which I’ve made dozens of times, except for two changes, you call the stitches worked together as “clusters” and the border is configured right in-BONUS! Thank you for sharing!
Ohhhhhh, soooo nice!!!
I love the color you used what color?
Caron Simply Soft Sunshine 9755
Thank you cant wait to start
Thank you so much for this lovely pattern. I just have a question about row 6. It says single crochet, chain, then sc again in the next stitch, instead of skip a stitch after the chain 1, as in row 4. Is there supposed to be a skip in between? It just seems there are going to be too many stitches if a stitch is not skipped, but I could be wrong. Thanks!
It says to sc in the chain spaces. The chain spaces have clusters between, so you are skipping a stitch.
Yes, I see that now…silly oversight! Thank you!