This rainbow throw uses rows of half double crochet. Seven yarn colors make the stripes. A plain border gives it a neat edge.
Work the blanket flat in one piece. Each stripe has six rows. This means fewer yarn changes to manage. Choose soft shades or deep tones to suit your room.
The steps use US crochet terms. The size and yarn amounts are rough guides. Make a gauge swatch before you start.
Pattern Details
Skill Level
Beginner
You will need to chain, work half double crochet and single crochet, change colors, and join with a slip stitch.
Size
- Before the border: About 40 × 56 inches.
- With the border: About 42 × 58 inches.
- Stitch count: 140 hdc per row.
- Main blanket: 168 rows.
- Color bands: 28 bands, each six rows deep.
Materials
- Worsted-weight yarn in seven rainbow colors: about 300–350 yards per color.
- Cream or another border color: about 250–300 yards.
- Total yarn: About 2,350–2,750 yards.
- 5.5 mm crochet hook, or the size needed to meet gauge.
- Yarn needle.
- Scissors.
- Measuring tape.
- Stitch markers.
Use yarns with the same weight and similar fiber content. Check that all colors have the same care needs.
Color key:
- A: Red.
- B: Orange.
- C: Yellow.
- D: Green.
- E: Blue.
- F: Indigo.
- G: Purple.
- H: Cream for the border.
Abbreviations
- ch: Chain
- hdc: Half double crochet
- sc: Single crochet
- sl st: Slip stitch
- st / sts: Stitch / stitches
- sp: Space
- rep: Repeat
- rnd: Round
- RS: Right side
- WS: Wrong side
Gauge
14 hdc and 12 rows = 4 inches, measured after washing and drying the swatch as directed on the yarn label.
To make a swatch:
- Ch 23.
- Hdc in the 2nd ch from the hook.
- Hdc in each ch across. 22 hdc.
- Ch 1 and turn.
- Hdc in each st across.
- Rep Steps 4–5 until you have worked 18 rows.
- Wash and dry the swatch. Measure the center 4 inches.
If you have too many sts in 4 inches, try a larger hook. If you have too few, try a smaller hook.
Changing Colors
Change colors at the end of each sixth row.
- Work the last hdc. Stop with three loops on the hook.
- Drop the old color.
- Yarn over with the new color.
- Pull it through all three loops.
- Ch 1 with the new color. Turn.
- Use the new color for the next row.
Cut the old yarn. Leave a tail of about 6–8 inches. Leave a tail of the same length on the new yarn.
Do not carry unused colors up the side. Weave in all tails before you add the border.
Stitch Explanations
Half Double Crochet — hdc
- Yarn over.
- Insert the hook into the next st.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop. You now have three loops on the hook.
- Yarn over and pull through all three loops.
Single Crochet — sc
- Insert the hook into the next st.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop.
- Yarn over and pull through both loops.
Slip Stitch — sl st
Insert the hook into the stated st. Yarn over and pull through the st and the loop on the hook.
Border Corner
Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the stated corner st or corner sp.
The ch-2 sp forms the corner. On later rnds, work the next corner group into that sp.
Pattern Notes
- Work the blanket in rows. Turn at the end of each row.
- The ch 1 used to turn does not count as a st.
- Work the first hdc in the first st.
- Work through both top loops of each st.
- Keep 140 hdc in every row.
- Work six rows in each color band.
- Use the same seven-color order four times.
- Mark the first and last st if hard to see.
- Either face can be the front. Choose one as the RS before you add the border.
- Join each border rnd. Do not turn between border rnds.
- Do not count joining sl sts as sts.
Rainbow Blanket (Pattern Instructions)
Foundation Chain
With Color A, loosely ch 141.
If your chains tend to be tight, use a hook one size larger for the chain. Switch back to your main hook for Row 1.
Row 1
- Hdc in the 2nd ch from the hook. Hdc in each remaining ch across.
- Count: 140 hdc.
- Ch 1 and turn.
Rows 2–5
- Hdc in the first st and in each st across.
- Count: 140 hdc per row.
- Ch 1 and turn.
Row 6
- Hdc in each st across. Change to Color B on the final pull-through of the last hdc.
- Count: 140 hdc.
- Ch 1 with Color B and turn.
- The first six-row band is complete.
Rows 7–168
Continue working one hdc in each st across.
Ch 1 and turn after each row, except Row 168. Change colors on the last hdc of each six-row band.
Follow this chart. Read down each repeat column before moving to the next column.
| Color | Repeat 1 | Repeat 2 | Repeat 3 | Repeat 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A — Red | Rows 1–6 | Rows 43–48 | Rows 85–90 | Rows 127–132 |
| B — Orange | Rows 7–12 | Rows 49–54 | Rows 91–96 | Rows 133–138 |
| C — Yellow | Rows 13–18 | Rows 55–60 | Rows 97–102 | Rows 139–144 |
| D — Green | Rows 19–24 | Rows 61–66 | Rows 103–108 | Rows 145–150 |
| E — Blue | Rows 25–30 | Rows 67–72 | Rows 109–114 | Rows 151–156 |
| F — Indigo | Rows 31–36 | Rows 73–78 | Rows 115–120 | Rows 157–162 |
| G — Purple | Rows 37–42 | Rows 79–84 | Rows 121–126 | Rows 163–168 |
After Row 168, fasten off.
Check before adding the border:
- Each row has 140 hdc.
- There are 168 rows.
- There are 28 color bands.
- Each color appears in four bands.
- The blanket measures about 40 × 56 inches at the stated gauge.
Prepare the Edges
Weave in the yarn tails on the WS. Pass each tail through several sts, then change direction to help hold it in place.
Lay the blanket flat. Choose the RS and keep it facing you as you work the border.
Border Round 1
Keep the RS facing you. Join Color H in the first st at the top-right corner.
- Ch 1. Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the same st.
- Sc in each of the next 138 sts across the top.
- Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the last st.
- Work 196 sc evenly down the first long side.
- Find the foundation ch beneath the bottom edge hdc. Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in its unused loop.
- Sc in each of the next 138 unused foundation-chain loops.
- Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the last foundation-chain loop.
- Work 196 sc evenly up the second long side.
- Join with a sl st in the first sc.
Suggested count: 676 sc and four ch-2 corner sps.
Work 7 sc across every six row ends. This gives 196 sc on each long side. Place one sc in each row end. Add one extra sc in one of those six row ends.
Use these side counts as a guide. Lay the blanket flat as you work. If the edge waves, use fewer side sts. If it pulls inward, use more side sts. Keep the st count the same on both long sides.
Border Round 2
- Ch 1. Sc in each sc around.
- At each corner ch-2 sp, work (sc, ch 2, sc).
- Join with a sl st in the first sc. Do not turn.
Border Rounds 3–4
- Rep Round 2.
- Each rnd adds 8 sc and keeps four ch-2 corner sps.
- After Round 4, fasten off. The border should be about 1 inch wide. Work fewer or more rnds if needed to reach that width.
Finishing
- Weave in all remaining ends.
- Wash the blanket as directed on the yarn label.
- Gently shape it into a rectangle.
- Keep the corners square and the sides straight.
- Let it dry fully before folding or use.
Adjusting the Size
To change the width: Chain any number of sts plus one. Your hdc count is one less than your chain count.
Use this rule at the stated gauge:
Width in inches before the border × 3.5 = about how many hdc you need.
For a body about 32 inches wide, ch 113. Work 112 hdc in each row.
To change the length: Add or remove rows. Keep the same row count in each band. This keeps all seven colors equal.
With four full rainbow repeats:
- Four rows per band gives 112 rows. This is about 37⅓ inches before the border.
- Five rows per band gives 140 rows. This is about 46⅔ inches before the border.
- Six rows per band gives 168 rows. This is about 56 inches before the border.
Change the border stitch counts to fit the new size. Change the yarn amounts to suit it, too.
