Loom Knit Ripple and Ridge Afghan | How to Loom Knit Chevrons
There is something deeply satisfying about a project that looks far more complicated than it actually is. The ripple and ridge afghan — with its sweeping chevron waves and textured ridges — is exactly that kind of project. When people see this blanket draped over a couch or folded at the end of a bed, they assume it took expert-level skill and years of practice. The truth? With a knitting loom, a little patience, and this guide to walk you through every step, you can create a show-stopping chevron afghan that will have everyone asking where you bought it.
Whether you are brand new to loom knitting or you have already made a few scarves and hats and you are ready to level up, this project is a wonderful next step. You will learn how to create the classic ripple stitch, work ridge textures into your fabric, and understand the rhythm of chevron loom knitting well enough to customize the pattern to your own style. By the end of this post, you will have everything you need to cast on with confidence.
What Is a Ripple and Ridge Afghan?
A ripple and ridge afghan is a type of blanket that features a repeating chevron or zigzag pattern created through a series of increases and decreases. The “ripple” refers to the wave-like shape that forms across the width of the blanket, while the “ridge” refers to the raised horizontal lines created by alternating knit and purl rows or by using the ewrap and flat stitch in a strategic sequence.
This style of blanket has been popular for decades in needle knitting and crochet, and it translates beautifully onto a loom. The loom version is especially appealing because it eliminates much of the hand tension work that needle knitters sometimes struggle with, making it easier to maintain consistent stitch size throughout a long project.
The finished result is a blanket with a flowing, almost hypnotic pattern that works in any yarn weight, from bulky to worsted, and looks stunning in a single color, a gradient, or a multicolored stripe sequence.
Tools and Materials You Will Need
Before you begin, let us talk about what you will need to gather. Having everything ready before you start your first row makes the process much smoother and helps you stay in the creative zone once you get going.
The Loom
For an afghan-size project, you will want a long loom or a large rectangle loom with enough pegs to accommodate your desired blanket width. An Afghan loom or a Knifty Knitter long loom works well. You can also use an adjustable peg loom, which gives you the flexibility to change the width of your project. For a standard lap or throw afghan, you will generally want somewhere between 60 and 120 pegs, depending on your yarn weight and peg spacing.
The peg spacing matters here. Larger-spaced pegs are designed for bulky yarn, and smaller-spaced pegs are better for worsted weight. The key is that your yarn should wrap comfortably around each peg without being so loose it falls off or so tight you cannot work the stitch.
Yarn
Worsted weight yarn is the most versatile choice for a ripple and ridge afghan and tends to give you the clearest stitch definition to see those chevron lines. You can absolutely use bulky yarn if you want a cozy, thick blanket that works up quickly, and you can use a lighter weight yarn if you want something with more drape. Acrylic yarn is a great choice for afghans because it is durable, washable, easy to find in a wide range of colors, and budget-friendly.
To estimate yardage, a standard lap blanket measuring roughly 36 by 48 inches in worsted weight yarn will use approximately 1,200 to 1,800 yards depending on stitch density and yarn thickness. It is always smart to buy a bit more than you think you need so you do not run out mid-project and have trouble finding the same dye lot.
Other Supplies
You will need a loom hook, which most loom kits come with. You will also want a yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and stitch markers if your loom does not already have markers built in. Some knitters like to keep a row counter nearby, especially since the ripple pattern requires you to track your increase and decrease placement carefully.
Understanding the Chevron Pattern on a Loom
The chevron stitch gets its shape from a deliberate sequence of increases and decreases. On a needle, this is done with yarn overs and two-together stitches. On a loom, the technique is different but achieves the same visual result.
To create a “valley” in the chevron, you will move two pegs’ stitches onto one peg (this is the decrease). To create a “peak,” you will place a new stitch on a peg where none existed before, or work a double wrap to create the visual effect of an increase. Some loom knitters achieve the peak simply by working two stitches off the same peg in a specific sequence.
The key to understanding the rhythm is to recognize that for every decrease you make, there must be a corresponding increase somewhere else in the same row to keep your total peg count consistent. If you decrease in two places across a pattern repeat, you must increase in two places within the same repeat. This balance is what keeps your work flat and even rather than narrowing or widening as you go.
A basic chevron repeat on a loom looks something like this: knit several pegs, work a decrease, knit several more pegs, work an increase at the center peak, knit several more pegs, work another decrease, and continue across. The exact number of pegs between each decrease and increase determines how wide or narrow your chevron waves will be.
Setting Up Your Pattern Repeat
One of the most important steps before you even cast on is calculating your pattern repeat to fit your loom. This is easier than it sounds.
A basic ripple pattern typically uses a repeat of 12 to 18 pegs. Let’s say you are working with a 14-peg repeat. That means you need your total peg count to be a multiple of 14. If your loom has 84 pegs, you get exactly 6 full repeats of the 14-peg pattern across. That will give you 6 complete chevron waves across the width of your blanket.
If your loom has a number that does not divide evenly into your repeat, you have a few options: adjust your repeat size slightly, add or remove pegs if your loom is adjustable, or add a small border on each edge that sits outside the pattern repeat. A 2-peg or 3-peg edge on each side can actually enhance the look of the blanket and makes the chevron pattern “pop” against a clean edge.
How to Cast On for a Chevron Afghan
Use a basic ewrap cast on or a chain cast on to start your blanket. A chain cast on gives a slightly firmer edge, which many knitters prefer for blankets since it will not stretch out of shape as easily.
Work your cast on row across all the pegs you plan to use. When you come back and begin knitting, you will work a plain setup row or two before beginning the chevron pattern. These plain rows help your cast on settle and gives you a flat base to work from. Two or three rows of flat stitch or ewrap knit before beginning the pattern is a common approach.
The Ripple and Ridge Stitch Pattern
Here is where the magic happens. The ripple and ridge pattern alternates between “ripple rows” — where you work the increases and decreases to create the chevron shape — and “ridge rows” — where you work a different stitch across all pegs to create the raised horizontal lines that give the pattern its texture.
The Ripple Row
On a ripple row, you will work across all pegs following your chevron repeat. Let us walk through a simple version of a 14-peg repeat:
Start at the edge of your loom. Knit 2 pegs normally. Move the stitch from the next peg onto the peg next to it, creating a decrease. Knit 4 pegs normally. Work an increase at the center peak by placing an extra wrap around the peg (the peak peg will have two wraps and you will work both off to create the lifted peak effect, or you can transfer and re-wrap depending on your loom’s technique). Knit 4 pegs normally. Work another decrease by moving one stitch onto the adjacent peg. Knit 2 pegs normally. That completes one repeat. Continue across, working the same sequence in each repeat.
The exact method for working increases and decreases will depend slightly on your loom type and your preferred technique. The most common approaches used in loom knitting chevrons are the “move and knit” decrease and the “double wrap” or “yarn over” increase. You will find your preferred approach after a few rows.
The Ridge Row
After every ripple row (or after every 2 to 4 ripple rows, depending on how prominent you want the ridges), you work a ridge row. A ridge row is simply a row worked in purl stitch across all pegs — or in ewrap if you have been working flat stitch, as the contrast between the two stitches creates the raised ridge appearance.
The beauty of ridge rows is that they are completely simple and require no increase or decrease work. They are a chance to relax into a straightforward rhythm before picking back up with the chevron shaping. Many knitters find these rows become almost meditative — just working across all pegs in the same stitch over and over while watching the blanket grow.
A common sequence for the ripple and ridge pattern is: work 2 ripple rows, work 2 ridge rows, repeat from the beginning. This gives you a balanced texture of both elements without one overwhelming the other.
Working in Color
One of the most exciting things about a chevron afghan is how powerfully color changes transform the look of the blanket. With a loom, changing colors is simple and creates a much more dramatic effect than you might expect from such a simple technique.
You can work in a single color for a classic, elegant look where the texture itself is the star. Or you can change colors every 2 to 4 rows for a striped chevron, which is one of the most popular looks for this type of blanket. The stripe sequence interacts with the chevron shape in a visually stunning way — the color lines curve and ripple along with the wave pattern, creating a look that feels almost three-dimensional.
When changing colors, simply join your new yarn at the edge of your loom at the beginning of a row, leaving a tail to weave in later. Carry the previous color up the side if you plan to return to it within a few rows, or cut it and weave in the end if you are done with that color.
Gradient yarns and self-striping yarns are also spectacular choices for this project because they do the color work for you automatically as you knit.
Finishing Your Afghan
Once your blanket has reached the desired length, it is time to bind off. A stretchy bind off is the best choice for an afghan so the edge has some give and does not pull in tighter than the rest of the blanket. A basic ewrap bind off, where you move each stitch over to the next peg and knit it off, works beautifully and maintains a clean, consistent edge.
After binding off, weave in all your yarn ends using your yarn needle. Take your time with this step — secure ends woven in well will stay put through many washes and years of use. Weave each tail in at least three to four inches, going through the back of the stitches in different directions to lock it in place.
Finally, block your afghan. Even if you used acrylic yarn, a light wet block or a steaming can help relax the stitches, even out any slight irregularities, and really set the chevron waves into their final shape. For acrylic, use a light steam from a distance rather than pressing the iron directly onto the fabric. For natural fibers like wool or cotton, a wet block will give the most beautiful finished result.
Lay your finished blanket flat on a clean surface or a blocking mat, pin the edges gently if needed to help it lie flat, and allow it to dry completely before moving it.
Tips for Success
A few things will make a significant difference in how much you enjoy this project and how polished your finished blanket looks.
Stay consistent with your stitch tension. Loom knitting naturally tends to produce very even tension, which is one of its great advantages, but some knitters wrap too loosely or too tightly when working the increases and decreases. Try to wrap your yarn the same way every time, and if you notice some rows looking noticeably looser or tighter than others, slow down and focus on consistency.
Mark your peak and valley pegs with stitch markers. Especially when you are learning the pattern, having a visual marker on each decrease and increase peg helps enormously. Once the pattern is memorized and your eyes can follow the chevron waves as they develop, you may not need the markers anymore, but they are invaluable in the beginning.
Count your pegs often in the first few inches of the blanket. If you miscounted a repeat, it is much easier to catch it early and fix it than to discover it ten rows later. A quick check after every complete set of repeats across a row takes only a few seconds and can save a great deal of frustration.
Do not rush the bind off. A bind off that is worked too quickly or too tightly can ruin the look of an otherwise beautiful blanket. Take your time, work each stitch with the same care you gave the rest of the project, and your finished edge will look just as polished as the rest.
Why the Loom Makes This Pattern Accessible
It is worth taking a moment to appreciate why the loom version of this pattern is so approachable. On needles, the chevron pattern requires careful attention to needle-specific increases and decreases — yarn overs, k2tog, ssk — that can feel intimidating to beginners and tedious to anyone who struggles with hand tension. The loom removes those barriers. The increases and decreases on a loom are physical, tactile movements: moving a stitch from one peg to another, adding a wrap. You can see exactly what you are doing at every step, and mistakes are usually easy to catch and fix.
The loom also makes it easier to take breaks and set the project down, because there are no live stitches on a needle that can accidentally slide off. Your work stays put on the pegs, ready to pick up again exactly where you left off.
For knitters with arthritis, limited hand mobility, or other conditions that make traditional needle knitting difficult, the loom is often a genuine game-changer. The chevron afghan on a loom is a project that opens up to a wider range of hands and experiences, and there is something wonderful about that.
Final Thoughts
The loom knit ripple and ridge afghan is one of those perfect projects that sits at the intersection of approachable and impressive. It teaches you something real about loom knitting — how to shape fabric, how to create texture through stitch variation, how to plan a repeat pattern — while producing a finished object that is genuinely beautiful and useful. Whether you make it for yourself, as a gift, or as a challenge to push your loom knitting skills a little further, you will finish this blanket proud of what you made.
Start with colors you love, settle into the rhythm of the ripple rows and the ease of the ridge rows, and enjoy the process of watching a chevron wave bloom across your loom one row at a time. That is what loom knitting is all about.
Happy knitting from all of us at GoodKnit Kisses — we cannot wait to see your finished ripple and ridge afghans!
