Grandma's Lacy Ripple Don't let the length of this pattern intimidate you.

I'm just trying to be as thorough as possible. It is a VERY easy pattern. It uses nothing but single crochet, double crochet and chains and is an EASY 2-row repeat once you catch on. COLOR AND OTHER SUGGESTIONS: This is a pattern that I think should be done in a single color. The pattern is "busy" enough that I think multiple colors would overwhelm it. I think a light to medium color shows off the pattern best, but it would look great in any color. It is certainly gorgeous in an off-white or cream. I've also made it for a baby in a bright yellow and it was wonderful. I've often had total strangers comment on how lovely it is. It is quite lacy and has scalloped edges on the side so perhaps not appropriate for a "macho" man. Even with all the lacy effect, it makes for a nice, warm cover-up. GAUGE Beginning chain is multiple of 19 + 13. Examples: 51 (19x2 + 13); 70; 89.....etc. In Jiffy yarn (Bulky) with a size K hook, my gauge (Kate) was roughly 7 1/2" for every 19 sts - measured from top of 1 hill (3dc shell) to top of the next. With this gauge, I chained 146 (19x7 + 13) - for an afghan approx. 52" wide. But I crochet very loosely. So you might want to check your gauge, or increase the # of chains (maybe 155 instead of 146) - or use a larger hook (or decide you don't care!). ABBREVIATIONS dc = double crochet sc = single crochet PATTERN STITCHES 3dc shell - dc in stitch indicated, then (ch1, dc) twice all in same chain or stitch 5dc shell - dc in stitch indicated, then (ch1, dc) 4 more times all in same chain or loop

AFGHAN Chain a multiple of 19 + 13 (see above re gauge)

Row 1 - dc in 3rd chain from hook; 1dc in each of the next 4 chains (this will make what amounts to 6 dc, if you include the 3 chains at the beginning); work a 3dc shell [see "Pattern Stitches," above] in the next chain ("hill"); work 1 dc in each of the next 5 chains; *skip next 4 chains; work 5dc shell [see "Pattern Stitches," above] in next chain; skip next 4 chains (completing the "valley"); work 1 dc in each of next 5 chains; work 3dc shell in next chain; work 1 dc in each of next 5 chains* Repeat from * to *. Chain 2 or 3 and turn. (Chain 2 or 3 counts as 1st dc of next row throughout - unless you crochet very loosely, you will probably want to chain 3 - in future rows, I'm going to say "chain 3") Row 2 - skip rst dc - Note: this does not include the stitch that the chain 3 comes out of. That is, skip the 1st "real" double crochet stitch. This will look as though the work won't come out even - i.e., that the turning chain is leaning too much, but it will all work out - honest!; work 1 dc in next 4 dc AND in rst ch1 space of 3dc shell from previous row [what this is - 5 dc on the upward part of the hill]; work 3dc shell in next dc (which is middle dc of 3dc shell from previous row); work 1dc in next ch1 space and in next 4 dc [what this is - a total of 5 dcs on the downward side of the hill]; *ch 1, skip next 4 dc (which would be the last 2 dc from the downward side of the hill and the 1st 2 dc of 5dc shell from previous row); in ch 1 space to the right of the center dc of the 5dc shell - make 1sc; chain 4, skip center dc of the 5dc shell, and in the ch1 space to the left of the center dc, make 1sc [what this is - the "loop" that will then "contain" the 5dc shell on Row 3]; ch1; skip next 4 dc (rest of 5dc shell and rst 2dc of the upward part of the hill); make 1dc in each of the next 4 dcs and in the ch1 space before the center dc of the 3dc shell; make 3dc shell in center dc of 3dc shell from previous row; make a dc in the ch1 space in and in next 4 dc* Repeat * to * - when you've nished the last repeat, you'll have 2 dc and the turning chain left undone - LEAVE THEM UNWORKED to create the scalloped effect. Chain 3 and turn - (Turning chain counts as 1st dc of next row throughout) Row 3 - skip rst dc (same as row 2; this does not include the stitch that the chain 3 comes out of. That is, skip the 1st "real" double crochet stitch.); work 1 dc in next 4 dc AND in rst ch1 space of 3dc shell from previous row; work 3dc shell in next dc (which is middle dc of 3dc shell from previous row); work 1dc in next ch1 space and in next 4 dc [what this is - THE SAME as in row 2 - the 5 dc on either side of the 3dc shell "hill" are worked the same in both rows of the pattern]; *skip the last 2 dc from the downward part of the "hill"; in the loop created by the sc, ch4 ,sc from Row 2 - make a 5dc shell; skip the 1st 2 dc of upward part of the "hill"; make a total of 5 dc in the next 4 dcs and in the ch1 space; make a 3dc shell in the next dc (which is the middle of the 3dc shell from the previous row); make a total of 5 dc in the next ch1 space and in the next 4 dcs* Repeat * to * As with row 2 - when you've nished the last repeat, you'll have 2 dc and the turning chain left undone - LEAVE THEM UNWORKED to create the scalloped effect. Chain 3 and turn - (Turning chain counts as 1st dc of next row throughout)

Repeat rows 2 and 3 for pattern, end with row 3.

TIPS 1) As indicated, the part "surrounding" the 3dc shell "hill" remains the same on ALL rows. At the beginning of each row, you skip the 1st dc, then make a total of 5 dcs "up the hill," including in the ch1 space of 3dc shell from the previous row. You then make a 3dc shell in the middle dc from the 3dc shell of the previous row. You then go "down the hill" with a total of 5dc, the rst dc is in the ch1 space and then one dc in each of the next 4 dcs. You'll always have 2 dcs to skip from the downward part of the hill - and for that matter, in the "upward" part of the hill after you're done with the valley part of the pattern. 2) The "valley" part of the pattern IS different in the two rows. In row 1(the foundation row), you'll have created a 5dc shell. When you come to this in Row 2, you chain 1 (to keep it from bunching) and then make a sc, chain4, sc "loop" on either side of the center dc of the 5dc shell, then ch 1 again, then skip over BOTH the rest of the 5dc shell AND the 1st 2 dcs from the the next upward "hill" Then in row 3, you make a 5dc shell in the loop created by the 4 chains. You DO NOT need to chain 1 on either side of the 5dc shell - but it's no biggie if you do. (Similarly, it's no biggie if you FORGET to ch1 BEFORE making the sc, ch5,sc "loop" in row 2 of the pattern.)