Crafters frequently want to try a new pattern to add variety to their creative endeavors, but it isn’t always easy. My dear friend Terry confided that her sister had shown her the Ripple Stitch many times, but she couldn’t get it. Her sibling labeled her the ‘Ripple Stitch Dropout.’ I gave her some tips, and she finally succeeded and created many beautiful afghans using that pattern.

One Tuesday, as we were working in the office, she confided her frustration with the Ripple Stitch. I had seen a pattern for this stitch in our collection just the previous day that utilized two strands of yarn held together. There are two specific benefits of this technique. First, you have more yarn to hold as you begin the design. The second is that you use a larger crochet hook, which creates larger stitches that can easily be seen and accurately counted.

At the end of her shift, we sat together so that I could help her get started. The larger stitches proved a significant benefit for Terry; she could easily track the number of stitches. She was excited the following week when she brought her work in and proudly displayed her progress. Even now, I’m not sure if she were happier about finally eliminating a source of constant frustration or by the fact that her sister wouldn’t be able to call her a “Ripple Stitch Dropout” anymore. Don’t we love our siblings’ teasing?

Soon Terry was thrilled to be able to complete entire afghans. One day, while visiting patients, a gentleman selected one of Terry’s blankets in the beautiful autumn colors of forest green, rust, brown, and gold. As I spread it over him, he commented, “My wife crochets and tries to make this pattern, but she can’t get the stitches right. They zig and zag all over the place.” We invited her to come in for a lesson on how to master the Ripple Stitch.