Crochet Wave Stitch (Easy Wavy Pattern)

The crochet wave stitch pattern is a popular technique for creating beautiful rippling designs that resemble gentle waves. It is also known as rolling wave stitch and can be made using simple combinations of basic crochet stitches. In this tutorial, you will learn how to crochet the wave stitch step by step, including different variations such as basic wave and textured wave stitch patterns. This stitch is perfect for blankets, scarves, shawls, hats, and bags.

What is Crochet Wave Stitch?

The crochet wave stitch is a ripple-style stitch pattern that creates flowing wave shapes across the fabric. Unlike sharp chevron patterns, wave stitch usually forms softer rolling curves using stitches of different heights or carefully placed increases and decreases. Wavy stitch can be made with as many colors as you please, but looks best with at least two colors to show the wave shapes clearly. If you are not a fan of stripes and want a more textural wave in a single color, I will give instructions for that as well. But first, let’s look at the multicolored versions!

There are several types of crochet wave stitch patterns, including:

• rolling wave stitch
• double crochet wave stitch
• textured wave stitch

Wave stitch is especially popular for blankets, scarves, shawls, and colorful crochet projects because the repeating peaks and valleys create beautiful movement and texture.

Here is how to crochet the most popular wave stitch. It uses stitches of different heights to achieve the look of waves. When creating this crochet wave stitch, your ‘waves’ will appear to overlap each other. The peak of the first row of waves will intersect with the lowest part of the next row of waves, and vice versa.

Row 1: Wavy Row

1. Chain a multiple of 10 +3.
2. Work 1 sc into 2nd chain.
3.  *1 sc, 1 hdc, 2 dc, 2 tr, 2 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc.
4. Repeat from * until the last chain.
5. 1 sc, turn and change colors for the crochet waves.

Row 2: Interlocking Waves

1. Ch 3 (counts as first tr).
2. *1 tr, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1 tr.
3. Repeat from * until last chain, 1 tr, turn.

Row 3: Straightening

1. Ch1, work 1 sc into each st.
2. Change colors.

Row 4: More Wave Stitches

1. Ch 1, 1 sc.
2. *1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 tr, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc,
3. Repeat from * until last chain, 1 sc, turn.                      

Row 5 and Beyond: Repeat Wave Stitch Pattern

1. Repeat row 3.
2. Change colors.
3. Repeat rows 2-5 until you have reached the required length for your item.
4. Complete the sequence by working just one row with the same color as you started with.

Crochet Wave Stitch Variations

Here are 2 variations of the crochet wave stitch, including the double crochet wave stitch and the textured wave stitch.

Double Crochet Crochet Wave Stitch

This basic wave stitch pattern is also known as the double crochet wave pattern. It will use the double crochet 2 together (dc 2 tog), which is a method of decreasing as well as the crochet increase.

ROW 1 :

1. Chain a multiple of 12 to the required length of crochet wave stitch, plus 2 for the turning chain. (My small swatch is 24+2.)
2. Dc into the third chain from the hook.
3. *Work 1 dc into each of the next 3 chains. [dc 2 together in the next two chains], do this twice. (Decrease)
4. Work 1 dc into each of next 3 chains. [work 2 dc into next chain] twice. (Increase)
5. Repeat from * across. (Your last stitch will be a crochet increase.)

ROW 2:

1. Color change, if desired: Fasten off the first color, tie the new color to the last stitch of the previous color, insert the hook into the stitch and, draw up a loop with the new color, proceed with the next row. Turn.
2. Ch 2,  dc into first stitch. *1 dc into each of next 3 stitches.
3.  [dc 2tog over next 2 sts] twice. (Decrease)
4. Work 1 dc into each of next 3 stitches. [work 2 dc into next stitch] twice. (Increase)
5. Repeat from * across. (Your final stitch must be an increase into the turning chain of the previous row.)
6. These last stitches of each row should only be one increase, not two as in the middle of the rows.

Every increase must be into an increase stitch below it, and every decrease into a decrease stitch.

REPEAT FOR ROWS 3+:

1. Repeat Row 2 to the desired length of fabric.

This stitch can be worked just as easily using treble (tr) stitches. Just substitute tr for dc in each instruction and have a turning chain of ch 3. The extra height of the stitches will result in looser fabric and faster workup.

Textured Wave Stitch

This is the wave stitch pattern that can be made using only a single color because it has textural ridges that separate the waves. Also, please note that this stitch is not reversible, so is not ideal for items that will show both sides. It will work well for a cushion cover or a bag, but not as well for a scarf or a blanket! The waves just don’t show up properly on the wrong side.

Here is how to do the textured crochet wave stitch:

Foundation chain: Multiple of 10 + 6                  

Row 1: Loosely slip stitch in the 2nd chain from hook and in next 4 chains. *1 hdc in next 5 chains. 1  slip stitch in the next 5 chains. Repeat from * to end of the row. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 2 (WS): Working in the BLO, sl st in first 5 sts. (Insert hook where I have placed the needle. Keep those sl sts loose all the time!) *1 hdc in BLO of next 5 stitches. 1 sl st in the BLO of next 5 stitches. Repeat from * to end of row. Turn.

Row 3 (RS): Chain 1. 1 hdc in BLO of first 5 sts. *1 slst in BLO of next 5 sts. 1 hdc in BLO of next 5 sts. Repeat from * to end of row. Turn.

Row 4 (WS): Chain 1. 1 hdc in BLO of first 5 sts. *1 slst in BLO of next 5 sts. 1 hdc in BLO of next 5 sts. Repeat from * to end of row. Turn.

Row 5 (RS): Working in the BLO, slst in first 5 sts. *1 hdc in BLO of next 5 sts. 1 slst in the BLO of next 5 sts. Repeat from * to end of row. Turn. Repeat rows 2-5 until your project measures the length you want, ending on a 5th row. Fasten off as usual.

You really only get the wave effect when you have done quite a number of rows!

Troubleshooting

Here is a table showing some common problems with the wave stitch and how to fix them.

Problem	Cause	Solution
Waves uneven	Missed stitches	Count repeats carefully
Fabric curling	Tight tension	Use larger hook
Pattern drifting	Repeat misalignment	Mark repeats
Ripples flattening	Wrong stitch heights	Check stitch sequence

Crochet Wave Stitch Projects

Use this stitch to make blankets, beanies, and scarves. These patterns are free on the Treasurie blog:

• Wavy Beanie Free Pattern
• Wavy Scarf Free Pattern

Wave Stitch vs Chevron Stitch

Although wave stitch and chevron stitch are often confused, they create slightly different effects in crochet fabric. Chevron stitch usually forms sharp zigzag peaks using increases and decreases, while wave stitch creates softer rolling curves using mixed stitch heights or more gradual shaping.

Wave Stitch	Chevron Stitch
Soft flowing curves	Sharp zigzag peaks
Ripple-style appearance	Angular geometric appearance
Often uses mixed stitch heights	Usually uses increases and decreases
Gentler wave effect	Stronger peak-and-valley effect
Great for soft textured projects	Great for bold graphic patterns

Crochet Wave Stitch FAQs

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Crochet Wave Stitch – In Conclusion

The crochet wave stitch pattern is a versatile and relaxing stitch that creates beautiful wave effects using simple combinations of basic crochet stitches. Once you understand the pattern repeat, it becomes easy to adapt for blankets, scarves, and other handmade projects. Whether you choose a multicolor or a textured single-color version, this stitch is both fun to learn and visually striking in finished projects.

Whichever type of wave crochet stitch you decide on, I am sure you will find it a lot of fun to watch the shapes emerge. I actually find wave stitches quite addictive! (Just one or two more rows until I stop! I want to see the waves forming!) If you are making one of the multi-color versions, they are a great way to use up scraps, as long as you are certain that your scraps will reach all the way across your item! Try a small sample of each type, then decide which ‘look’ you like the best.