Simply Inspiring Rainbow Wave Scarf

or wave ANYTHING... :D I just happened to go for a scarf because I wanted to see this yarn in long stripes and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I became inspired before I was even done... so inspired that it became a whole other thing entirely... something new and awesomely fun.

There are two sets of information here. My Rainbow Scarf with Cloud Edge pattern and two sample progressions to show how this pattern can be customized.

What you will need:
Worsted Weight yarn in as few or as many colors as you like - this pattern presumes 7 colors
Crochet hook in recommended size for the yarn - I used 5.5mm
darning or yarn needle
scissors

I used Fair Isles Liberty Yarn in Pink Shock, Orange You Happy, Lemon Pucker, Limerick Pop, 

Atomic Turq, Hyacinth, Cloud (appliques made with Silver and Turmeric Liberty yarns)

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
hdc = half double crochet
sl = slip stitch

Rainbow Waves Scarf With Cloud Edge
COLOR 1     ch 225 + 2
COLOR 1     Row 1: working back along chain dc in 4th ch from hook, 3 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc repeat across ch1 and turn
COLOR 1     Row 2: sc in all across (CHANGE to COLOR 2) ch 1 and turn
COLOR 2     Row 3: 4 sc, 5 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc repeat across. ch 1 and turn
COLOR 2     Row 4: sc in all across (CHANGE to COLOR 3) ch 3 and turn
COLOR 3     Row 5: (repeats Row 1) 4 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc, 5 sc repeat across. ch 1 and turn
COLOR 3     Row 6: sc in all across (CHANGE to COLOR 4) ch 1 and turn
COLOR 4     Row 7: (repeats Row 3) 4 sc, 5 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc repeat across. ch 1 and turn
COLOR 4     Row 8: sc in all across (CHANGE to COLOR 5) ch 3 and turn
COLOR 5     Row 9: (repeats Row 1) 4 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc, 5 sc repeat across. ch 1 and turn
COLOR 5     Row 10: sc in all across (CHANGE to COLOR 6) ch 1 and turn
COLOR 6     Row 11: (repeats Row 3) 4 sc, 5 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc repeat across. ch 1 and turn
COLOR 6     Row 12: sc in all across (CHANGE to COLOR 7) ch 3 and turn
COLOR 7     Row 13: 4 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc, 5 sc repeat across. ch 3 and turn
COLOR 7     Row 14: 4 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc, 5 sc repeat across. ch 3 and turn
COLOR 7     Row 15: 5 dc, hdc, sl, hdc, 7 dc, hdc, sl, hdc, 7 dc repeat to end where you will actually end with 6 dc and finish off

NOTE: this last row just replaces the 5 sc segments with dc, hdc, sl, hdc, dc sections instead

Sew in your ends. This scarf really wants a dangly fringe. Or even more embellishment. Let your mind go wild. I certainly did. :D

To make my version I made a circle applique and a cloud applique and stuffed them when attaching them to the scarf. I added 15mm safety eyes and smiley faces.

and the samples of how this progresses
You will work in repeats of 5 stitches + 2 for this pattern... so depending on the width of your project you will need to be sure your chain is in multiples of 5 then add 2 more chains at the end.

Two notes before you start:
1. If you end on a 5 your pattern will begin and end on the same section of the wave, if you end on a 0 your pattern will complete one wave section and end with different ends.
2. By playing with your repeat in different "segments" of numbers divisible by your original number you can vary the waves and make a more organic wave shape... ex: 5, 15, 10, 5, 15, 20, 10 etc... as long as it is divisible by 5 your pattern will meet the end evenly.

and an obvious but not always quick to occur tip:
you can do this repeat on any starting number... I used 5 because I like the number of repeats I get from it. more stitches in the repeat = wider bumps and fewer = narrower bumps

Basic Wave Pattern  
leaves wavy edges at top and bottom like the scarf pattern above
Ch 75 + 2
Row 1: Work your way back along the chain as follows. DC in 4th chain from hook (first 3 chains are 1st dc in this sequence) dc in next 3 stitches, 5 sc, 5 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc all the way to the end. ch 1 and turn
Row 2: sc in all across. ch 1 and turn
Row 3: 4 sc (turning chain is 1st sc), 5 dc, 5 sc repeat to end. ch 1 and turn
Row 4: sc in all across. ch 3 and turn
Row 5: (repeats Row 1) 4 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc, 5 sc repeat to end. ch 1 and turn
Row 6: sc in all across. ch 1 and turn
Row 7: (repeats Row 3) 4 sc, 5 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc repeat to end. ch 1 and turn
and the pattern repeats rows 1-4 this way until you are done.

this is a lovely slow transition wave that makes beautiful fabrics whether you change colors or don't... and it looks pretty from both right and back sides. it's a lovely gracefully wavy throw blanket or baby blanket.

 back

front

Straight Top and Bottom Wave Pattern
Ch 75 + 1
Row 1: Work your way back along the chain as follows. sc in 2nd stitch from hook (first ch is 1st sc) and sc in all across.
Row 2: sc across. ch 3 and turn
Row 3: dc in 2nd stitch from end and 3 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc, 3 sc to end. ch 1 and turn
Row 4: sc in each across. ch 1 and turn
Row 5: 4 sc, 5 dc, 4 sc, 5 dc repeat to end. ch 1 and turn
Row 6: sc in all across. ch 3 and turn
Row 7: (repeats Row 3) 4 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc, 5 sc repeat to end. ch 1 and turn
Row 8: sc in each across. ch 1 and turn
Row 9: (repeats Row 5) 4 sc, 5 dc, 5 sc, 5 dc repeat to end. ch 1 and turn
Row 10: sc in each across. ch 3 and turn
this pattern repeats rows 3-6 this way until you are done. to finish with a flat edge sc along one last row after your final Row 6 repeat.

if you make 2 of these the same size you can crochet them together and make a pretty throw pillow or straight edge blanket.