Inspired by a rainbow-painted cloudy sky, this crocheted afghan is streaked with ribbons of pastel rainbow colors.
Table of Contents
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Watercolor Skies Corner to Corner Rainbow Blanket Crochet Pattern
by Yay for Yarn
Skill Level: Intermediate
Yarn:
Red Heart Super Saver, #4 Worsted Weight, 364 yards / 333 m per skein, 7 oz / 198 g per skein
7 skeins Dusty Grey (Or 2,510 yards #4 Worsted Weight yarn)
1 skein White (Or 335 yards #4 Worsted Weight yarn)
1 skein Flamingo (Or 270 yards #4 Worsted Weight yarn)
1 skein Lemon (Or 270 yards #4 Worsted Weight yarn)
1 skein Minty (Or 270 yards #4 Worsted Weight yarn)
1 skein Aruba Sea (Or 270 yards #4 Worsted Weight yarn)
1 skein Orchid (Or 270 yards #4 Worsted Weight yarn)
Supplies:
US Size I (5.5 mm) crochet hook (I use a Furls Odyssey)
Scissors
Ruler (for measuring gauge)
Yarn Needle or Blunt Tapestry Needle
Locking Stitch Marker or Safety Pin
Gauge: 9 sts = 2” (5 cm) and 9 rows = 2” (5 cm) in Moss Stitch
Finished Size: 72” by 72” (not including tassels)
Abbreviations:
st: stitch
sts: stitches
sk: skip
nxt: next
ea: each
beg: beginning
sp: space
sps: spaces
ch: chain stitch
chs: chain stitches
sc: single crochet
hdc: half-double crochet
sc-cluster: single crochet cluster* (see instructions below)
CC: contrast color
*sc-cluster: Insert hook into specified stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over, insert into the same stitch again, yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops on hook.
NOTE: Each stripe sequence will use Dusty Grey, White, and one of the 5 contrast colors (abbreviated as CC). The first sequence uses Flamingo as the CC. The following sequence will use Lemon as the CC, the next will use Minty, etc.
NOTE: Whenever you are working a row that involves crocheting over the unused color yarn to carry it across to the other side, always be sure to give the row you’re working a good stretch before changing to the next color. The carried strand can be stretched too tight across the row, limiting the stretch and drape of the fabric. Stretching it will give the carried strand some slack and make sure the fabric is consistent throughout.
Watercolor Skies Corner to Corner Rainbow Blanket Instructions
With Dusty Grey, ch 3.
Row 1: Sk 1st 2 chs (2 skipped chs count as 1 st), (sc, ch 1, sc, hdc) in 3rd ch from hook. You should have 5 sts, including beg ch sp and ch-1 sp.
Row 2: Ch 2, turn, sc in same st. Ch 1, sk 1, sc in nxt ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk 1, (sc, hdc) in top of beg ch sp from row below. You should have 7 sts, including beg ch sp and ch-1 sps.
Row 3-6: Ch 2, turn, sc in same st. *ch 1, sk 1, sc in nxt ch-1 sp*. Repeat between *and* across to last 2 sts. Ch 1, sk 1, (sc, hdc) in top of beg ch sp from row below. By the end of Row 6, you should have 15 sts, including beg ch sp and ch-1 sps. Join CC. You will crochet over the Grey yarn on the nxt row to carry it across to the other edge.
Row 7 (cluster row): Ch 2, turn, sc-cluster in same st. *ch 1, sk 1, sc-cluster in nxt ch-1 sp*. Repeat between *and* across to last 2 sts. Ch 1, sk 1, (sc-cluster, hdc) in top of beg ch sp from row below. Change back to Dusty Grey. As you work the next stripe, you will “carry” the unused CC yarn up the edge of the work by twisting the working yarn with the unused CC yarn at the beg / end of every row that begins or ends on that edge.
Row 8-11: Repeat Row 3. As you work Row 8, each time you insert the hook into a ch-1 sp, you should also insert the hook into the carried strand of yarn that runs under the previous row, crocheting over it. At the end of Row 11, change to CC. As you work the next stripes, you will “carry” the unused Grey yarn up the edge of the work by twisting the working yarn with the unused Grey yarn at the beg / end of every row that begins or ends on that edge.
Row 12-13: Repeat Row 3. At the end of Row 13, join White.
Row 14: Repeat Row 7, Crocheting over the CC yarn to carry it across to the other edge. Tie off White yarn, leaving a tail, and change back to CC.
Row 15-16: Repeat Row 3. As you work Row 15, each time you insert the hook into a ch-1 sp, you should also insert the hook into the carried strand of yarn that runs under the previous row, crocheting over it. During Row 16, you will need to crochet over the Grey yarn to carry it across to the other side. Change back to Dusty Grey. As you work the next stripe, you will “carry” the unused CC yarn up the edge of the work by twisting the working yarn with the unused CC yarn at the beg / end of every row that begins or ends on that edge.
Row 17-20: Repeat Row 3. As you work Row 17, each time you insert the hook into a ch-1 sp, you should also insert the hook into the carried strand of yarn that runs under the previous row, crocheting over it. At the end of Row 20, change to CC.
Row 21: Repeat Row 7, crocheting over the Grey yarn to carry it across to the other edge. Change back to Dusty Grey. As you work the next stripe, you will “carry” the unused CC yarn up the edge of the work by twisting the working yarn with the unused CC yarn at the beg / end of every row that begins or ends on that edge.
Rows 22-27: Repeat Row 3. As you work Row 22, each time you insert the hook into a ch-1 sp, you should also insert the hook into the carried strand of yarn that runs under the previous row, crocheting over it.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Lemon) and repeat Rows 7-27.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Minty) and repeat Rows 7-27.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Aruba Sea) and repeat Rows 7-27.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Orchid) and repeat Rows 7-27.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Flamingo) and repeat Rows 7-27.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Lemon) and repeat Rows 7-27.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Minty) and repeat Rows 7-27.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Aruba Sea) and repeat Rows 7-27.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Orchid) and repeat Rows 7-24.
We will now begin the second half of our afghan, decreasing down to the opposite corner from where we started. Flamingo will be the CC for the first stripe sequence.
Row 28-30: Ch 2, turn. Sk 1, sc in nxt ch-1 sp. *ch 1, sk 1, sc in nxt ch-1 sp*. Repeat between *and* across to last 2 sts. Sk 1, hdc in top of beg ch sp from row below. Join CC. You will crochet over the Grey yarn on the nxt row to carry it across to the other edge.
Row 31 (cluster row): Ch 2, turn, sk 1, sc-cluster in nxt ch-1 sp. *ch 1, sk 1, sc-cluster in nxt ch-1 sp*. Repeat between *and* across to last 2 sts. Sk 1, hdc in top of beg ch sp from row below. Change back to Dusty Grey. As you work the next stripe, you will “carry” the unused CC yarn up the edge of the work by twisting the working yarn with the unused CC yarn at the beg / end of every row that begins or ends on that edge.
Row 32-35: Repeat Row 28. As you work Row 32, each time you insert the hook into a ch-1 sp, you should also insert the hook into the carried strand of yarn that runs under the previous row, crocheting over it. At the end of Row 35, change to CC. As you work the next stripes, you will “carry” the unused Grey yarn up the edge of the work by twisting the working yarn with the unused Grey yarn at the beg / end of every row that begins or ends on that edge.
Row 36-37: Repeat Row 28. At the end of Row 37, join White.
Row 38: Repeat Row 31, Crocheting over the CC yarn to carry it across to the other edge. Tie off White yarn, leaving a tail, and change back to CC.
Row 39-40: Repeat Row 28. As you work Row 39, each time you insert the hook into a ch-1 sp, you should also insert the hook into the carried strand of yarn that runs under the previous row, crocheting over it. During Row 40, you will need to crochet over the Grey yarn to carry it across to the other side. Change back to Dusty Grey. As you work the next stripe, you will “carry” the unused CC yarn up the edge of the work by twisting the working yarn with the unused CC yarn at the beg / end of every row that begins or ends on that edge.
Row 41–44: Repeat Row 28. As you work Row 41, each time you insert the hook into a ch-1 sp, you should also insert the hook into the carried strand of yarn that runs under the previous row, crocheting over it. At the end of Row 44, change to CC.
Row 45: Repeat Row 31, crocheting over the Grey yarn to carry it across to the other edge. Change back to Dusty Grey. As you work the next stripe, you will “carry” the unused CC yarn up the edge of the work by twisting the working yarn with the unused CC yarn at the beg / end of every row that begins or ends on that edge.
Rows 46-51: Repeat Row 28. As you work Row 46, each time you insert the hook into a ch-1 sp, you should also insert the hook into the carried strand of yarn that runs under the previous row, crocheting over it.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Lemon) and repeat Rows 31-51.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Minty) and repeat Rows 31-51.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Aruba Sea) and repeat Rows 31-51.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Orchid) and repeat Rows 31-51.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Flamingo) and repeat Rows 31-51.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Lemon) and repeat Rows 31-51.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Minty) and repeat Rows 31-51.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Aruba Sea) and repeat Rows 31-51.
Tie off current CC yarn, change to next CC (Orchid) and repeat Rows 31-49.
Row 52: Ch 2, turn, sk 1, sc in nxt ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk 1, sc in nxt ch-1 sp, sk 1, hdc in top of beg ch sp from row below. You should have 5 sts, including beg ch sp and ch-1 sp.
Row 53: Ch 1, turn. Sk 1, insert hook in ch-1 sp, yarn over and pull up a loop, sk 1, insert hook in top of beg ch sp from row below, yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook. You should have 2 sts, including beg ch sp. Do not tie off.
Remove the current loop from the crochet hook and insert a locking stitch marker or safety pin into the loop to keep it from unraveling while you weave in ends. Because there are quite a few ends, if we crochet over them as we work the border, they may show through. I recommend weaving in all ends before proceeding to work the border.
Border:
Remove stitch marker from loop and re-insert the crochet hook.
Round 1: Stretch loop a little, 3 sc in corner of blanket. Working into the ends of the rows, *sc evenly across nxt side of blanket. 3 sc in corner of blanket.* Repeat between *and* 2 more times. Sc evenly across nxt side of blanket. Join with invisible slip stitch by stretching the loop on the hook, removing the hook, and inserting hook into 1st sc of round from back to front. Place loop around hook and pull it through from front to back.
Round 2: Stretch loop a little, sc in same st. 3 sc in corner (nxt st). *Sc in ea st across to center st of 3-sc corner from previous round, 3 sc in center st of corner.* Repeat between *and* 2 more times. Sc in ea st across to beg of round. Join with invisible slip stitch by stretching the loop on the hook, removing the hook, and inserting hook into 1st sc of round from back to front. Place loop around hook and pull it through from front to back. Tie off, weave in ends.
Make 4 tassels, each about 4 ½” long. (Video Tutorial on How to Make Tassels) Using the 2 long strands of yarn coming from the top of the tassel, sew each tassel to a corner of the blanket, and make a knot to secure. Weave in ends.
I recommend blocking your finished afghan for best results. I chose to steam block my afghan, but as long as your yarn is machine washable and dryable, you can machine wash and dry your afghan for similar results.
This pattern is intended for your personal use only. You may not share it, copy it, sell it, give it away, or mass-produce the finished product. However, you may sell the finished items on a small scale, as long as you convey in your item description that you used a Yay For Yarn pattern.
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