I am so in love with this puff stitch wave crochet stitch pattern. I used it on my Bahama Waves Baby Blanket and I can’t get enough of the soft waves that it creates.
I mean, I love a good chevron, but this subtle wave gets me every time!
The stitch pattern is created with two basic stitches, which I will share in the video below and in the written instructions. Some people call it the puff stitch ripple pattern too.
I am already thinking of other projects that I can design with this same wavy stitch pattern!
Crochet Puff Stitch Wave Tutorial
Abbreviations
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- dc2tog – double crochet two together
- hdc3tog – half double crochet three together
Special Stitches
- dc2tog – yarn over, insert hook in st and yarn over and pull through, then yarn over and pull through two loops, leave one loop on hook and yarn over and insert yarn into next st, yarn over and pull through, then yarn over and pull through two loops, then yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook
- hdc3tog – yarn over and insert hook into st, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and insert hook into the same st, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and insert hook for the third time in the same st, yarn over and pull through, then yarn over and pull through all 7 loops on hook
Crochet Puff Stitch Wave Steps
To work this pattern, crochet a multiple of 17 sts, plus 2 for the foundation row
Step 1 – 1 dc in the 4th ch from hook, work 1 dc2tog over the next 2 chs, then repeat in the next two chs for a total of 2 dc2tog, then *[ch 1 and work 1 hdc3tog in next chain] five times, ch 1**, work 6 dc2tog in the next 12 chs, repeat from * and end the last rep at **, then in your last 6 chs, work 3 dc2tog, turn
Step 2 – ch 1, work 1 sc in first st and every st and ch 1 space to the end of the row, turn
Step 3 – ch 3, skip the first st, 1 dc in next st, work 1 dc2tog over the next 2 sts, then repeat in the next two sts for a total of 2 dc2tog, *[ch 1, hd3tog, in next st] five times, ch 1**, work 6 dc2tog in the next 12 sts, repeat from * and end the last rep at **, then in your last 6 sts, work 3 dc2tog, turn
Step 4 – repeat steps 2 and 3
Tips and Other Ideas
- The basic repeat for this stitch pattern is 5 puffs and 6 together – so 5 repeats of the hdc3tog/ch1 and then 6 repeats of the dc2tog. The puffs will be at the top of the wave and the dc2tog at the bottom.
- Always remember to do a ch1 at the beginning and end of the puff sections – ch1/puff section/ch1
- The beginning of your rows will have a dc and then two dc2tg and the ends of your rows will have 3 dc3tog. Every row with those stitches will start and end the same because you are always working those on the right side.
- Count your stitches! Especially after the row of sc. This will ensure that you are are always on the right count for that next row. If you get off the count, then your waves will start to crash!
- This pattern looks great with different colors of yarn.
Share your work!
Did you try this stitch? Let me know!
I love to see what everyone is making and learning!
I must be doing something wrong. I’ve done the foundation five times. It seems to come out fine ( I have six stitches left at the right time at the end) but then when I count the stitches, there are too many. Am I counting wrong? What stitches to you count? Do you count the ch1’s? I can’t figure out why this isn’t working.
Yes, you count the ch1 stitches. Each dc2tog counts as 1 st too. Can you take a look at the chart I just added and see if that helps? Don’t work into the turning chain and don’t work into the first stitch.
This pattern I have tried starting over 3 times and it never seems to end up correctly. I’ve watched other tutorials on this stitch and they recommend a ch1 after each puff stitch, which is not recommended here. And also, how, if you place a ch after each set does it not end up increasing your chain count each row? I’ve decreased but still end up with too many sc on the row 2.
Yes, there is a ch1 in the video and the pattern. The way the pattern works is that you are pulling the two stitches together on the dc2tog part, which decreases the stitches, then you add the ch 1 with the puffs. You do not work into the turning chains. Let me add the chart to this tutorial post and see if that helps.
The chain 1 after each puff stitch is the closing chain that closes the puff. It was confusing at first but if you watch the video you will see after she does the 3 hdc she then says chain 1 (which closes the puff). Hope this helps. Where I am having trouble is the puffs don’t line up exactly right (3rd one being directly over 3rd one on previous row), but I am still getting the wave look.
I have another question. Which row do you change colors? On the SC row or the Step 3 row?
On my example, I did 7 rows of the first two colors – the first color has four rows of the puff stitch and ends with that puff row and the second color starts with a row of sc and ends with a row of sc…..and then the rest of the colors will have three.
I just did that so I could use up most of my yarn! You can have it end in either spot though depending on how large of a skein of yarn you have.
How many chains for your foundation chain for a baby blanket. I’m new to crochet and pretty much need it laid out for me.
Jump over to the post for the Bahama Waves Baby Blanket and that has the whole pattern there for you. 🙂