Ripple Valleys

[gemlovesjasper]

When I do the Valleys in a Ripple pattern sometimes there is a double strand over the valley. What causes this?

 

[Lousbabci]

The decreasing stitch you use to make the "V" is probably the cause.  Watch when you do the stitch.  It will probably show you.  

 

[magiccrochetfan]

Can you post a photo of the double strand?  And tell us what pattern you are using.  

[Granny Square]

I wonder if the 'double strand' is really just a big stitch-top?  The valley decrease combines 3 stitches together as a minimum, and combining multiple stitches usually results in a larger than usual stitch-top.

One way to avoid this, if you really don't like it, is to just skip a stitch (or more, depending on the pattern) to decrease.  The hills always add x stitches, the valleys always subtract x stitches, and x is always the same number.  So for example, if the valley combines 3 stitches down to 1 stitch, you are subtracting 2, and the hill is put 3 stitches into 1, you are adding 2. 

Instead of the above, for the hill you could stitch, chain 1, stitch instead (which is still 3 stitches into 1, adding 2), and in the valley you could decrease 2 together, but skip the middle stitch, so you create 1 stitch out of the 2 outer stitches, and eliminating the middle stitch, so still decreasing by 2.  Some patterns are actually written this way, it makes a nice filet-sort of lines at the peaks and valleys, and makes a little sharper turn.