Answer: When it’s a straight line. Something wrong with this pattern, I think. The crochet gods of the internet have never let me down before, but I really don’t think it was me. I tried a couple of times with the same result, so then I started counting the steps in the pattern, and I couldn’t make the maths come out right. There always seemed to be a couple of stitches left over, so the parts of the pattern never lined up properly.
This is what it was supposed to look like:
I tried a different set of instructions, from a magazine, and hey presto! new blanket for Little Brown Bear. All pretty and ripply, like it was supposed to be. Little Brown Bear is also sporting a new scarf in this photo – I was in the mood for crochet.
Santa brought me this lovely book for Christmas, so next I tried some of the easier flowers.
My newfound rippling skills came in handy here, as I can now increase and decrease. Crochet is gradually becoming less mysterious. Although I have to say: what the beep is with the whole UK/US divide? Whose brilliant idea was it to use the same stitch names on both sides of the Atlantic, but have them refer to different stitches?? They can go stick their crochet hook where the sun don’t shine, as far as I’m concerned. As if learning crochet isn’t challenging enough without having to begin every crochet endeavour with a sleuthing exercise. Where does this blogger live? Where was this pattern/magazine published? Because your single crochets, double crochets and every other flipping stitch are going to mean something completely different, depending on whether they’re using UK or US terminology. And then you’ve got to keep it all straight in your head. Single crochet = double crochet. Double crochet = treble crochet. And double trebles are … Aaargh!
+Deep breath+
I’m gradually building up a collection of flowers. When I have enough I’ll sew them all to a cushion. [Yay, says the Carnivore. More cushions.]
Anyway, back to ripples. I’ve been watching Lucy over at 
“Whose brilliant idea was it to use the same stitch names on both sides of the Atlantic, but have them refer to different stitches??”
Probably the same person who decided that three thousand would be 3.000 in Europe but 3,000 in the US. I can only imagine how that drives accountants crazy.
… and then there’s the driving on different sides of the road in different countries thing. At least you can’t kill anyone if you make a mistake with the crochet names!
Thank you so much for writing to me and telling me the tale of your blanket beginnings, I’m now feeling all glowy and happy down to my toes!
Your yarn is absolutely beeeeeeutiful, the colours are lush! And I can tell from looking that this is going to be a dream to work, oooooooo bet you can’t wait?
Now you need to go back to the wool shop and ask if they hold “knit and natter” sessions so that you can get together each week with other woolly minded people, I can highly recommend it. And if she says no, then tell her Lucy in the Attic says she should start one up right away!!
Have fun!
Lots of love
Lucexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Don’t worry, Lucy, the lady in the wool shop is on to it! She’s trying to start a crochet group and took my name.
Thanks so much for dropping in!