The Rainbow Baby Blanket is such a fun project. If you can work the puff stitch, single crochets and double crochets, you can easily complete this project in no time at all.

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My husband’s friend called one day and asked if I would make he and his wife a blanket that would match a sweater and bonnet set that his wife’s mother had made for her when she was a baby. Not only was she a rainbow baby, but the baby she was currently having was also a rainbow baby.

Unfortunately, her mother had also passed away and wouldn’t be able to make the blanket. Obviously, I was more than happy to help out!

As I stated before, the center portion of the blanket consists of puff stitches, which makes this blanket thick and warm. The simple rainbow border is made up of double crochets and works up very quickly.

You can easily customize the size of this blanket by using a multiple of 2 chains plus one for the puff stitch center. Just don’t forget that the border will add about 3 1/2 inches on all four sides.

This example blanket has not been blocked.

I know that some people don’t care for the puff stitch, but I noticed while working on the Rainbow Baby Blanket, that the stitches were easier to do once I got past the first row that works into the foundation chain. So please don’t get frustrated! It will get easier.

Add this project to your Ravelry queue here…

Rainbow Baby Blanket

Materials Used:

• 4½ skeins of Studio Classic by Nicole in Gentle White – 372 yds/340 m – 200 g/7 oz
• ½ skein of Stitch Studio by Nicole Studio Classic in Rose Shadow – 170 yds/155 m – 100 g/3.5 oz
• ½ skein of Stitch Studio by Nicole Studio Classic in Peach Nectar – 170 yds/155 m – 100 g/3.5 oz
• ½ skein of Stitch Studio by Nicole Studio Classic in Alabaster – 170 yds/155 m – 100 g/3.5 oz
• ½ skein of Stitch Studio by Nicole Studio Classic in Yucca – 170 yds/155 m – 100 g/3.5 oz
• ½ skein of Stitch Studio by Nicole Studio Classic in Sky Blue – 170 yds/155 m – 100 g/3.5 oz
• ½ skein of Stitch Studio by Nicole Studio Classic in Wisteria – 170 yds/155 m – 100 g/3.5 oz
• Or any size 4 medium weight yarn
• J/10 (5.75 mm) crochet hook — My favorite hooks that I use daily!
• I/9 (5.50 mm) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Finished Size Approximately:

42” Height x 45” Width

Gauge:

13 of dc stitches and 6½ rows in a 4” (10cm) square.

Special Stitches:

Puff Stitch

YO, insert hook into indicated st, YO and draw back through, *YO, insert hook into same st, YO and draw back through st* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. There will be 9 loops on hook. YO and draw through all 9 loops, ch 1.

Abbreviations:

YO – yarn over

FC – foundation chain (starting chain)

ch(s) – chain(s)

st(s) – stitch(es)

sc – single crochet

dc – double crochet

sl st – slip stitch

Notes:

• You can adjust the size of this blanket by using a multiple of 2 chains plus 1 for the puff stitch center. The rainbow border will add 3.5” on all sides.
• Using a larger hook size for only the foundation chain will keep your chain loose so that that one side of your blanket is not too tight and will be the same length and have the same flex as the rest of the sides. This is just a recommendation.
• You will turn your work when creating the center puff st portion of the blanket. When creating the rainbow border, you will not turn your work. Instead, you will continue to work in the same direction around the perimeter as you worked your previous round.

*** American crochet terms used throughout.

Instructions:

Using the J/10 (5.75 mm) crochet hook and Gentle White

FC: Ch 115

Switch to I/9 (5.50 mm) crochet hook for the remainder of the pattern

Row 1: In 4^th ch from hook, puff st. *Skip next ch, puff st in next ch*. Repeat from * to * across until 1 ch remains. Dc in last ch. Turn. {56 puff sts}

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), puff st between the dc and 1^st puff st of previous row. *Puff st between the next 2 puff sts* Repeat from * to * across until 1 puff st and dc remain. Puff st between the last puff st and dc of previous row, dc in 2^nd ch of ch-3 turning ch. Turn. {57 puff sts}

Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), skip the space between the dc and 1^st puff st. *Puff st between the next 2 puff sts from previous row* Repeat from * to * across until 1 puff st and ch-3 turning ch remains. Dc in top of the turning ch. Turn. {56 puff sts}

Continue to alternate Row 2 and Row 3 for pattern for a total of 76 rows.

Round 1: Ch 1, *sc evenly along the edge of the blanket. In the corner st, 3 sc* Repeat from * to * 3 more times. Sl st in 1^st sc made of round.

Finish off.

Rainbow Border

Use I/9 (5.50 mm) crochet hook for entire border

With Rose Shadow, attach yarn in any corner st (the center sc of the 3 made in a corner from previous round).

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same st to create a corner. Dc in every st across until you reach the next corner. *Work 3 dc in center sc of previous 3-sc corner. Dc in every st across until you reach the next corner.* Repeat from * to * around 2 more times. Sl st in 1^st dc made of round. Finish off. Don’t turn your work.

With Peach Nectar, attach yarn in any corner st (the center dc of the 3 made in a corner from previous round).

Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same st to create a corner. Dc in every st across until you reach the next corner. *Work 3 dc in center dc of previous 3-dc corner. Dc in every st across until you reach the next corner.* Repeat from * to * around 2 more times. Sl st in 1^st dc made of round. Finish off. Don’t turn your work.

With Alabaster, attach yarn in any corner st (the center dc of the 3 made in a corner from previous round).

Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same st to create a corner. Dc in every st across until you reach the next corner. *Work 3 dc in center dc of previous 3-dc corner. Dc in every st across until you reach the next corner.* Repeat from * to * around 2 more times. Sl st in 1^st dc made of round. Finish off. Don’t turn your work.

With Yucca, attach yarn in any corner st (the center dc of the 3 made in a corner from previous round).

Round 5: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same st to create a corner. Dc in every st across until you reach the next corner. *Work 3 dc in center dc of previous 3-dc corner. Dc in every st across until you reach the next corner.* Repeat from * to * around 2 more times. Sl st in 1^st dc made of round. Finish off. Don’t turn your work.

With Sky Blue, attach yarn in any corner st (the center dc of the 3 made in a corner from previous round).

Round 6: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same st to create a corner. Dc in every st across until you reach the next corner. *Work 3 dc in center dc of previous 3-dc corner. Dc in every st across until you reach the next corner.* Repeat from * to * around 2 more times. Sl st in 1^st dc made of round. Finish off. Don’t turn your work.

With Wisteria, attach yarn in any corner st (the center dc of the 3 made in a corner from previous round).

Round 7: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same st to create a corner. Dc in every st across until you reach the next corner. *Work 3 dc in center dc of previous 3-dc corner. Dc in every st across until you reach the next corner.* Repeat from * to * around 2 more times. Sl st in 1^st dc made of round. Finish off.

Weave in any loose ends.

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