purlJam

# The Ghost with the Most: Beetlejuice Ripple Afghan

**Difficulty**: Beginner / Intermediate (Requires manual stitch transfers)
**Machine**: Bulky (9mm) or Mid-Gauge (6.5mm)
**Yarn**: Worsted Weight (approx. 800g Black, 800g White)
**Finished Dimensions**: 51.7" x 60" (131 cm x 152 cm)

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### I. MACHINE SETUP & SPECIFICATIONS
*   **Bed**: Main Bed only.
*   **Needle Arrangement**: 90-L to 91-R (Total 181 needles).
*   **Tension Dial**: 
    *   Main Tension: 7 (adjust for smooth movement).
    *   Waste Yarn: 5.
*   **Tools Required**: 
    *   2-prong transfer tool.
    *   1-prong transfer tool.
    *   Cast-on comb and large weights.
    *   Ravel cord and waste yarn (contrast color).
    *   Latch tool for bind-off.

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### II. CAST-ON & PREPARATION
1.  **Waste Yarn**: Arrange needles 90-L to 91-R in Working Position (B).
2.  Thread carriage with waste yarn. Tension 5. 
3.  **RC 000**: Knit 6–8 rows. End **COR** (Carriage on Right).
4.  Attach cast-on comb and at least 3 large weights evenly distributed.
5.  **Ravel Cord**: Knit 1 row with ravel cord. End **COL**.
6.  Set RC to **000**. Change to Main Tension 7. Thread **White Yarn**.

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### III. THE RIPPLE PATTERN LOGIC
The ripple is created by a 20-stitch repeat. You will decrease at the "valleys" and increase at the "peaks."
*   **Valley (Decrease)**: Transfer the stitch from one needle onto its neighbor to create a double-stitch.
*   **Peak (Increase)**: Move a stitch to the neighboring empty needle and pick up the "heel" (the loop from the row below) to fill the empty needle, creating a new stitch without a hole.

**The Map (Repeat 9 times + 1 edge stitch):**
[1 Edge] + {9 sts, 1 Peak (Inc), 9 sts, 1 Valley (Dec)} repeated across.

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### IV. KNITTING INSTRUCTIONS

#### SECTION 1: WHITE STRIPE (RC 000 - 020)
1.  **COL**: Knit 2 rows plain in White yarn to establish the base. **RC 002**.
2.  **Manual Transfer Row (RC 002)**: 
    *   Starting from the Left (90-L):
    *   **Needle 81-L (Peak)**: Use 1-prong tool to move stitch from 81-L to 82-L. Pick up the bar from the row below (the "heel") and place it back on 81-L. (1 stitch increased).
    *   **Needle 71-L (Valley)**: Use 1-prong tool to move stitch from 71-L onto 72-L. Leave 71-L in Non-Working Position (A). 
    *   *Technical Editor Note: Ensure all empty needles from decreases are pushed back to Position A so they do not pick up yarn.*
    *   Repeat this Peak/Valley sequence across the bed every 10 needles.
3.  **RC 003-004**: Knit 2 rows.
4.  Repeat the Manual Transfer Row every 2nd row until **RC 020**. End **COR**.

#### SECTION 2: BLACK STRIPE (RC 021 - 040)
1.  **COR**: Cut White yarn, leave a 6" tail. Thread **Black Yarn**.
2.  **RC 021**: Knit 1 row. **COL**.
3.  **RC 022**: Perform Manual Transfer Row as established in Section 1.
4.  Continue Ripple Pattern until **RC 040**. End **COR**.

#### SECTION 3: STRIPE ROTATION (RC 041 - 300)
1.  Continue alternating colors every 20 rows (White, Black, White, Black).
2.  **Stripe Schedule Reference**:
    *   RC 001-020: White (COL to COR)
    *   RC 021-040: Black
    *   RC 041-060: White
    *   RC 061-080: Black
    *   *(Continue until 15 total stripes are completed)*
3.  **Safety Check**: Every 20 rows, move weights up. The zig-zag shape can cause uneven tension; use claw weights on the "peaks" of the ripple to prevent stitches from jumping off the gate pegs.

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### V. FINISHING
1.  **RC 300**: End **COR** after a Black stripe. 
2.  Knit 1 row at Maximum Tension (Tension 10) to loosen the stitches for binding off. **COL**.
3.  **Latch Tool Bind-Off**:
    *   Starting at the side opposite the carriage (Right side), insert the latch tool into the first stitch. 
    *   Pull the second stitch through the first. 
    *   Continue across the bed. This creates a chain edge that mimics the flexibility of the ripple.
4.  Remove the blanket from the machine. 
5.  Pull out the ravel cord to release the waste yarn from the bottom edge.
6.  **Binding off the Cast-on Edge**: Use a latch tool to bind off the live stitches at the bottom (where the ravel cord was) to match the top edge.

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### VI. POST-KNIT CARE
1.  **Weave Ends**: Secure all yarn tails at the color changes. 
2.  **Blocking**: 
    *   Lay the blanket flat on a blocking mat or carpet. 
    *   Steam heavily with a garment steamer or steam iron (do NOT touch the iron to the fabric if using synthetic/acrylic yarn, as it will "kill" or melt the fibers). 
    *   Pin the peaks and valleys of the ripple to emphasize the chevron shape while drying.
    *   Width Check: Verify final width is approx. 51" (130 cm).

**Technical Math Validation**:
*   181 stitches / 20 stitch repeat = 9 full chevrons.
*   300 rows / 20 rows per stripe = 15 total stripes.
*   Final Row Count: 300. Final Carriage Position: COL (ready for bind-off).