The crochet Puff Wave Stitch combines classic ripple shaping with plump puff stitches to create a beautifully textured wave pattern. The puffs sit along the rising sections of each wave, giving the fabric a much more pronounced texture than a traditional crochet ripple.
Valleys are shaped with double crochet decreases while alternating rows of single crochet provide a quieter background between the textured rows. Together these techniques produce clearly defined waves with a lovely balance of raised texture and simple stitches.
About the Crochet Puff Wave Stitch
The crochet Puff Wave Stitch uses increases and decreases to make the fabric rise and fall but instead of relying entirely on ordinary crochet stitches for the increases, puff stitches are used along the rising portions of the wave.
Each puff stitch is separated by a chain one space, giving the raised stitches enough room to stand out.
The decrease sections use double crochets worked together. These pull the fabric inward to form the valley between the waves.
A row of single crochet is worked between each textured wave row, creating a simple two row repeat.
Crochet Puff Wave Stitch at a Glance
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Stitch multiple: 17 + 3
- Row repeat: 2 rows
- Main stitches: Single crochet, double crochet, double crochet decreases and puff stitches
- Texture: Raised and dimensional
Abbreviations
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- dc2tog – double crochet 2 together
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- yo – yarn over
- rep – repeat
Special stitch:
Puff Stitch (PST): (yo, insert hook into designated st, yo and draw up a loop) 4 times, yo and pull through 9 loops on hook
How to Crochet the Puff Wave Stitch
Make a foundation chain of 17 + 3
Row 1:
Work a dc2tog in the 4th and 5th ch from the hook, then dc2tog twice more, *(ch 1, PST in the next chain) 5 times, ch 1**, (dc2tog) 6 times, rep from * across ending the last rep at **, then dc2tog three times. Turn.
Row 2:
Ch 1, sc in each st and ch-1 sp across. Turn.
Row 3:
Ch 2, dc in next sc, (dc2tog) twice, *(ch 1, PST in the next st) 5 times, ch 1**, (dc2tog) 6 times, rep from * across ending last rep at **, (dc2tog) 3 times. Turn.
Repeat:
Rep rows 2 and 3 for the pattern.
Tips for Crocheting the Puff Wave Stitch
Try to keep each puff approximately the same height. Drawing your loops up evenly will give the waves a much neater appearance. It’s also important not to work the double crochet decreases too tightly. The repeated decreases already draw the fabric inward, so excessively tight tension can make the valleys bunch.
When working the single crochet rows, remember to crochet into both the stitches and the chain one spaces. Missing one of those spaces can throw off the stitch count for the following wave row.
Crochet Puff Wave Stitch FAQs
What is the stitch multiple for the Crochet Puff Wave Stitch?
The stitch multiple is 17 + 3
How many rows are in the pattern repeat?
It has a simple two row repeat after the first row has been established.
What creates the peaks in this crochet wave stitch?
The puff stitches are used along the increasing portions of the ripple, creating both height and raised texture.
What creates the valleys?
Repeated dc2tog decreases draw the fabric inward and create the downward sections of each wave.
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