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Arched Rainbow Afghan Crochet Pattern

Make a 32 × 32 inch five-color afghan with a rounded arch, textured bobble rows, two shaped top triangles and a simple double-crochet border.

Intermediate 5 mm / US H hook Medium yarn US terms

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Finished arched rainbow afghan laid flat — Original finished afghan after gentle clarity enhancement.

Materials and Size

Medium-weight yarn in five colors: two skeins for the border color and one skein of each remaining color
5 mm / US H crochet hook
Yarn needle, scissors and two optional stitch markers
Approximate finished size: 32 × 32 inches

The source does not provide a gauge. Measure as you work and keep the two long sides equal. The conventional metric equivalent of a US H hook is 5 mm; adjust only if your fabric is too stiff or loose.

Abbreviations

CH chain · SC single crochet · HDC half double crochet · DC double crochet · SL ST slip stitch · SC2TOG/HDC2TOG/DC2TOG work two stitches together · DC3TOG work three double crochets together

Bobble Stitch

YO, insert the hook, pull up a loop, YO and pull through two loops. Repeat this sequence three times in the same stitch. Four loops remain.
YO and pull through all four loops. Keep the closing yarn-over slightly firm so the bobble stands out.

Original arched afghan shown beneath a wooden baby play gym — The raised bobble rows emphasize the curved color bands.

Main Arched Panel

Color 1

Row 1: CH 56. DC in second chain, DC in next 53, 6 DC in last chain. Rotate to work along the opposite side of the foundation and DC 54. CH 2, turn. 114 stitches.
Row 2: DC 54, 2 DC in each of next 6, DC 54. Place markers before and after the increase section if helpful. CH 1, turn. 120.
Row 3: SC 2, then repeat bobble, SC 3 across while preserving both edge stitches. CH 2, turn.
Row 4: DC 54, 2 DC in next 3, DC 6, 2 DC in next 3, DC 54. CH 2, turn. 126.
Row 5: DC 54, (2 DC in next stitch, DC 1) three times, DC 6, (DC 1, 2 DC in next stitch) three times, DC 54. CH 2, turn. 132.
Row 6: DC 54, (2 DC in next stitch, DC 2) three times, DC 6, (DC 2, 2 DC in next stitch) three times, DC 54. CH 1, turn. 138.

Rows 7–32 sequence

Bobble rows are Rows 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27 and 31: SC 2, then repeat bobble, SC 3 across, keeping the established edge placement. On each shaped DC row, keep 54 DC before the marked arch and 54 DC after it. Around the center 6 DC, work three increases on each side using the spacing below.

Rows	Stitches between increases	Color
8–10	3, 4, 5	Color 2
12–13	6, 7	Color 2
14, 16–18	8, 9, 10, 11	Color 3
20–22, 24–26	12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17	Color 4 begins Row 21
28–30, 32	18, 19, 20, 21	Color 5

For each spacing number N: DC 54, repeat 2 DC in next stitch, DC N three times, DC 6, repeat DC N, 2 DC in next stitch three times, DC 54. Every shaped row adds six stitches.

Row 33: DC 77, repeat (2 DC in next stitch, DC 22) twice, DC 6, repeat (DC 22, 2 DC in next stitch) twice, DC 77. Fasten off. 256 stitches.

Colorful arched afghan panel showing bobble stripes — Count at the marked increase section after every shaped row.

Top Triangles — Make Two

Skip 77 stitches, join in the next stitch, then work:

Row 1: SL ST, SC 3, HDC 4, DC 11, HDC 4, SC 3, SL ST. CH 1, turn. 25 working stitches.
Row 2: Skip SL ST; SC2TOG, SC 1, HDC 4, DC 11, HDC 4, SC 1, SC2TOG. CH 1, turn. 23.
Row 3: SC2TOG twice, HDC 2, DC 11, HDC 2, SC2TOG twice. CH 2, turn. 19.
Row 4: DC2TOG twice, DC 11, DC2TOG twice. CH 2, turn. 15.
Row 5: DC2TOG twice, DC 7, DC2TOG twice. CH 2, turn. 11.
Row 6: DC2TOG twice, DC 3, DC2TOG twice. CH 2, turn. 7.
Row 7: DC2TOG, DC 3, DC2TOG. CH 2, turn. 5.
Row 8: DC2TOG, DC 1, DC2TOG. CH 2, turn. 3.
Row 9: DC3TOG. Fasten off.

Repeat at the opposite top corner, counting 77 stitches upward from the other side.

Straighten and Border

HDC an even number of stitches across the top and bottom. Aim for about 80, but make both edges exactly equal.
Join border color on a side, CH 2 and DC in every stitch around. Work 5 DC in each corner stitch.
Repeat the border round for two or three rows. Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Neutral arched afghan draped over a wooden crib — Neutral five-color version.

Colorful arched afghan under a wooden activity frame — Alternative color arrangement.

Finished neutral arched afghan displayed over crib rail — Finished border and drape.

Count and Shape Checks

Row 1: 114; Row 2: 120; each later shaped row through Row 32 adds six; Row 32: 252.
Row 33 adds four stitches and finishes at 256.
Each triangle follows 25 → 23 → 19 → 15 → 11 → 7 → 5 → 3 → 1.
If the arch leans, recheck the three increases on both sides of the center six.
If the border waves, reduce edge stitches; if it pulls inward, add evenly spaced edge stitches.

Step 1 of 8

Prepare materials

Choose five colors and reserve two skeins of the border color.

Finished arched rainbow afghan

Questions

Can I make it larger?

The verified instructions produce approximately 32 inches square. Adding repeats changes the arch and triangle placement, so enlarge by adding border rounds rather than altering the shaped panel.

Can I use fewer colors?

Yes. Keep the same row sequence and change colors wherever you prefer.

Why are stitch markers helpful?

They identify the shaped center section so you can work the long 54-stitch sides without repeatedly recounting them.

Arched Rainbow Afghan Crochet Pattern: 32 in Guide