BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Crochet Afgan help

Hi, I am a basically self taught crocheter, I have recently began taking on intermediate projects with success. I am having trouble with a afghan project that I thought would be no trouble. It is a Aran Afgan, using dc, bobble and cross stitches, I am about 8 rows in and suddenly I am getting a "ripple" affect - the last row of bobble stitches has made the afgan look like it is wavey - something like gathered lace at the bottom of a gown. (sorry can't quite figure out how to explain) I have tried loosing up the stitches that made it worse. Anyone have a suggestion what I am doing here? Thanks in advance for any suggestions. gramywheels

Can you put in some of the pattern steps?

Sure, here's the pattern, it is basically to repeat row 4-8 until you get to the last row 98 Here's the the first 8 row instructions Row 1 - Ch 250 loosely, dc in fourth ch from hook and in each ch across, turn (238 dc made) Row 2 - Ch e, dc in next st, work cross st. across to last 2 sts, dc in last 2 sts, turn Row 3 - Ch 3, dc in each st across, turn. Row 4 - Ch 1, sc in first st. *skip next st, (sc, bobble) in next st, repeat from * across to last sts dc in last st, turn. Row 5 - Ch 1, sc in first st, *skip next bobble, (sc,bobble) in next sc; repeat from * across to last st, dc in last st, turn. Row 6 - Ch 3, dc in each bobble and in each sc across, turn. Row 7 - Ch 3, dc in next st, work cross st across to last 2 sts, dc in last 2 sts, turn. Row 8 - Ch 3, dc in each st across, turn. Where I seem to run into trouble is the bobble stitch row - it looks beautiful, I counted the the stitches and that is ok, but I am getting a "ripple" effect, starting at that row. I went on thinking it might straighten out but it doesn't. I am getting tired of tear out, but the strip doesn't lay flat. I refuse to be defeated by this simple afgan. thanks again, gramywheels

Hi Gramywheels: I am new to this forum and saw your post. I am also working on a crochet afghan using the bobble stitch.I hope this helps and please let me know your results. After you make yoru bobble stitch are you chaining one and then continuing the pattern. Try this technique and your afghan should lay flat. BonBon05

Are you sure you are doing the bobble stitch correctly? What directions do you have for making it? I found the following online, which refers to the bobble stitch as Advanced.

Bobble Stitch / Bobble st / Bobble
Bobble stitches are worked almost like a cluster except they are worked with a chain between the stitches to help define the bobble and usually with a row of sc between each bobble row.
5 dc bobble stitch:

Yo, insert hook in next st as specified by pattern instructions, pull up a loop, yo, draw through 2 loops on hook, (Yarn over, insert hook in same stitch, draw up a loop, yarn over, draw through 2 loops) 4 times, yarn over, draw through last 6 loops on hook, ch 1, to complete the stitch.