Stitch of the Week: Ocean Swells

River City Yarn and Fiber • September 28, 2025

As we just get started with this blog and our social media, River City Yarn & Fiber has created a schedule of weekly posts to create order out of chaos. Mondays will explore different stitches in knit, crochet, macrame and other fiber arts.

Today I am highlighting “Ocean Swells” which uses a kind of fan stitch. I found it in Crochet: The Complete Guide by Jane Davis. To honor her publication rights, I am going to give broad strokes on how the stitch is crocheted instead of revealing the actual pattern. The book is out of print, but I found many used options with a google search. I like ThriftBooks (a Rakuten store currently offering 2% cash back) which had it for $7.99 plus shipping and tax.

The stitch is perfect for afghans. The foundation chain is multiples of 28 plus 1. I am using it to make a small afghan which I will reveal on Thursday in a “Look What I Made” post.

The stitch begins with three rows to set the initial wave or fan pattern. That third row will be the start of every new repeat of the pattern. Rows four through ten make what I’ll call three “swells” or fans that snuggle into each other. The rows use undulations of chains, single, double and treble stitches. As an intermediate level crocheter, it took me a bit of time to get the hang of the total pattern, but once I did a full round of row three through ten, I got the hang of it. I keep the pattern close but find I am only checking it to see at the start of the row how many chains I need to set up the row.

I decided to use a 100% Peruvian wool from my stash, but I think a fiber blend with some flexibility would be best for this stitch. I am alternating the colors with each new pattern repeat, again because I have a large quantity of this yarn. The swells not only make waves horizontally, but I am finding that they also create what I’d call bubbles in the fabric. Blocking may require some trial and error. I’ll let you know when I finish it and post again. Comment if you’ve tried this stitch or want to!

Kids and Creativity

By River City Yarn and Fiber • September 12, 2025
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once (they) grow up.”― Pablo Picasso I walk my two dogs every morning and let my mind wander along little pathways of contemplation. This morning, I was thinking about the creative and artistic lives of children in modern America. I was probably thinking […]

Coming Soon!

By River City Yarn and Fiber • September 7, 2025
The buzz you may have heard around Jacksonville is true! There’s a new yarn store coming to town and we can’t wait to open our doors and delight you with a colorful sensory experience! Yes, there will be yarns from your favorite vendors (plus a few smaller producers whose fibers we absolutely love!) Yes, we’ll […]