The Crochet Stitch That Works for Thick Yarn
Ripple Texture stitch from New Ways with Crochet book
One of my main interests when creating new stitches is finding ways to help the thinnest and the thickest yarns behave well.
It is easy to get a nice fabric from something in the middle, but lace and bulky yarns can be tricky. The fabric may feel uncomfortable, or the crocheting itself may not be pleasant…
I want thick yarns to stay soft, relaxed, and drapey, and thin yarns to stay well-shaped and clear — all while keeping the stitching process easy and comfortable.
For very thin yarns, I still haven’t found a stitch I love more than the one used in the Awakener cowl.
It is incredibly simple to crochet, especially with a much larger hook size than I would normally choose for such fine yarn. The result is quick, airy, and beautiful. I’ve made it three times already, and I always keep this idea in mind for all those lace skeins I may pick up in the future!
Later, this stitch appeared in the New Ways with Crochet book (Chapter 1, Twin Leaf stitch) for working flat in rows, and in the Daydream shawl.
Now it’s time to share my favorite stitch for bulky yarns. It’s the Ripple Texture stitch from the book, and so far I haven’t found anything that works better for thick yarn.
The fabric stays soft, it stretches in both directions, and doesn’t form a firm, basket-like shape because of the way the stitch is built.
I made myself the cowl in the round, working in a spiral with the same side always facing me. I used just one row of the Ripple Texture stitch - the WS row - simply because it is easier and quicker for me.
This row features unusual yarn-overs and an unusual way to insert the hook, which appear often in the book and may look confusing at first - they are unfamiliar, but not complex.
Check this reel to see how I do it:
I’m using Caracol by Malabrigo in the Arapey colorway (super bulky) and Rios (worsted, held double) in Fog and Sand Bank.
My hook size is 8 mm / L-11 — a bit small for Caracol and a bit large for Rios — but I didn’t want to switch hooks, so I simply watched my tension.
By the way, Caracol means “snail” in Spanish — just like ravliki, my nickname in Ukrainian. This was one of the reasons I couldn’t help buying this yarn! ◍•ᴗ•◍ I am very happy with it, with my new cowl, and with this stitch. I hope you enjoy it too.
~ Lena
