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I like to crochet and I like cats. I like both a lot. I even like to crochet with my cats even though some might find it a bit irritating. They swipe at your yarn and pull your work toward themselves and sometimes they make biscuits on it until you’ve got a frazzled mess of yarn in those spots. But I don’t mind. I can always get my piece back from them and redo any stitching I might need to. It’s worth it to have them around in the end, for me.
Sometimes when I’m working on a stitch tutorial things go kind of wonky. Take this wave crochet stitch. You might noticed that the tutorial pics and the finished pics are two different colors. Like totally! It just so happens that I found this swatch in super gorgeous colors that I had done some time ago. When I went to work up a DIY those particular colors were not to be found. And since the weather said “20° feels like 10°” I was all about just using what I could dig out of my yarn stash rather than making the 2 hour trip to the craft store and back home.
Because I’d far rather spend that time crocheting or working with a cat on my lap than wasting gas because I don’t have the right colors on hand!
- Yarn in 2 complementary colors (a light and dark of the same shade always looks good in the wave)
- Your favorite hook (I’m packing an H hook these days)
Chain in multiples of 14 and add 2. So, for example, you could have 14×2=28+2=30 or 14×9=126+2-128.
You’ll start working in the 3 chain from your hook. The first two will act as your first single crochet.
The wave stitch is formed out of groups. Every chain down the length will have a stitch and none will have more than one. For the first group, work 1 single crochet, 2 half double crochets, 2 double crochets, 3 treble crochets, 2 double crochets, 2 half double crochets, 2 single crochets. That is your 14 total stitches for group 1. Notice how the stitches increase in height and then go back down? This is what forms the wave shape.
So you single crochet in the third stitch from the hook…
Then you’ll work your 2 half double crochets in the next two stitches and keep on going with the group.
Here are your two double crochets and the first treble.
Again, the pattern goes: single crochet, half double x 2, double x2, treble x3, double x2, half double x2, single x2. You’ll repeat this group over and over until you reach the end of your chain.
If you end on anything but a second single crochet, you’ve messed up somewhere down the line (don’t worry it happens on the foundation row all of the time).
At the end, chain twice and single crochet down the entire length.
When you reach the end, it is time to change colors and apparently cats (need help with changing your yarn, check out the tutorial on how to change colors here). Chain 4 and get ready to start your second group.
The second group is made of 1 treble crochet, 2 double crochets, 2 half double crochets, 3 single crochets, 2 half double crochets, 2 double crochets, 2 treble crochets. You’re basically starting in the middle of the tallest point of the wave.
While working you working you’ll notice that the tree single crochets from this row will meet up with the three trebles from the previous group. This is an easy visual cue to make sure you’re still on point.
Again this pattern goes, treble x1, double x2, half double x2, single x3, half double x2, double x2, treble x2. Your groups will ALWAYS add up to 14.
Continue down the line, ending with two treble crochets. If you end on anything but 2 double crochets you’ve got a mistake somewhere. At the end, chain 2 and single crochet twice to act as the first single. Continue to single crochet down to the end.
As you work the fabric wants to kind of bow up on you (which is why my hand is holding it down). As you work further along the more flat it will start to lay out.
And now we start doing the same thing all over again! You gotta love a pattern that repeats so easily. After the first couple of rows you can totally auto-pilot this business while binge watching Bored to Death (my current show of choice).
Change colors, chain two and start group 1 all over again.
When you reach the end, you’ll chain two, turn the piece and single crochet down the line, change colors and start up group 2 again.
And just so it’s easier to find than digging around in the text above, here are your two groups.
Group 1: 1 single crochet, 2 half double crochets, 2 double crochets, 3 treble crochets, 2 double crochets, 2 half double crochets, 2 single crochets
Group 2: 1 treble crochet, 2 double crochets, 2 half double crochets, 3 single crochets, 2 half double crochets, 2 double crochets, 2 treble crochets
So grab your cats and your hooks and get out of this very lovely and easy wave stitch. And remember, the first 4 rows or so can be tricky because it is easy to lose count or get an extra stitch in there so be patient. Soon you’ll be auto-piloting it like nobody’s business.
And if you don’t have cats, this is what you’re missing :)
