Neat Ripple Blanket
/Back when I first started crocheting, I could peruse Ravelry for hours looking at all the patterns for stuff I wanted to make. I came across the Neat Ripple pattern by Lucy of Attic 24 in 2014 and added it to my “things to make one day” list. In 2020 the pandemic arrived and turned the world upside down. Part of my way of coping was buying neat yarn (most of it mandala or cupcake) - the problem was that I bought the yarn without a plan for how to use it. After a ton of digging around on Ravelry (and referencing my “things to make one day” list), I realized the mandala/cupcake yarn was a perfect match for a blanket made of zigzags. This is where my first crochet blanket journey began.
Using Lion Brand Cupcake in Tutu Much and a 4mm G hook, I followed the instructions to create a sample piece which was about 5.5 inches wide. I wanted a good sized blanket (about 60 inches wide) so I used a starting chain of 311 for my actual blanket. This was a great pattern for me to start out with blanket making since the instructions were super clear and it included detailed pictures. I was able to work through about 46 inches of blanket length between mid December 2020 and March 2021 when I decided to put this project into hibernation in favor of other warmer weather projects. I picked it back up in January 2022 and worked on it off and on until completing it in June. The finished blanket contains 9 skeins of yarn and washed up really nicely - the yarn was a bit scratchy while I was crocheting, but turned soft after washing and drying on low. This project took a long time (because I just had to have a big blanket), but I’m so pleased with how it came out from a color/design perspective as well as a usefulness perspective. I would consider using this pattern again for future blanket or throw projects.
