STELLA CROCHET · HOME & BLANKETS

Rainbow Baby Blanket Crochet Pattern

Crochet a soft 36 × 40 inch baby blanket with four easy textures, gentle rainbow color changes, and a neat two-round border. This guide keeps the full 20-row sequence visible and breaks the work into eight manageable steps.

Easy 5 mm hook Medium yarn US terms

Start step reader Read full pattern

Finished rainbow baby blanket showing textured pastel stripes — Finished blanket made from the original pattern.

Before You Start

The blanket alternates moss stitch, puff stitch, alternating single crochet and double crochet, and paired half double crochet. Colors change every row.

Materials, Gauge and Size

Medium weight yarn: off-white 454 g / 742 m; white 454 g / 742 m; rainbow 340 g / 544 m; pink 198 g / 333 m
5 mm (US H/8) hook; adjust by up to 0.5 mm if needed
Yarn needle, scissors, and row counter
Finished size: approximately 36 × 40 inches

Gauge over 4 inches: 10 rows; 15 moss stitches; 7 puff stitches; 14 alternating SC/DC stitches; or 14 paired-HDC groups. Swatch before beginning.

Abbreviations

CH chain · SC single crochet · HDC half double crochet · DC double crochet · SL ST slip stitch · YO yarn over · ST(S) stitch(es) · SP space

Original rainbow baby blanket showing alternating textured rows — The stitch blocks create alternating flat and raised stripes.

Four Stitch Methods

Moss stitch

Work SC, CH 1, skip 1 across. On later moss rows, place each SC into the previous row’s CH-1 space. Keep the edge turning space so the row retains 61 anchors.

Puff stitch

Insert the hook in the indicated space, YO and pull up a loop three times, then YO and pull through all loops. Secure the puff with CH 1. Keep every puff the same height.

Alternating SC/DC

Alternate SC and DC across. On a later repeat, place the short stitch over the tall stitch and the tall stitch over the short stitch.

Paired HDC

Work two HDC in each indicated space. When this row repeats, place the next stitches between the previous HDC pairs rather than splitting a pair.

Crochet hook forming the foundation edge — Foundation placement.

Close view of moss stitch placement — Moss-stitch spacing.

Hook pulling loops for a puff stitch — Building a puff.

Closing a puff stitch — Closing the puff.

Complete 20-Row Sequence

Foundation: CH 124, or any even number.

Row	Stitch	Color
1	Moss	Off-white
2	Moss	Pink
3	Puff	White
4	Alternating SC/DC	Rainbow
5	Paired HDC	Off-white
6	Moss	Pink
7	Moss	White
8	Puff	Rainbow
9	Alternating SC/DC	Off-white
10	Paired HDC	Pink
11	Moss	White
12	Moss	Rainbow
13	Puff	Off-white
14	Alternating SC/DC	Pink
15	Paired HDC	White
16	Moss	Rainbow
17	Moss	Off-white
18	Puff	Pink
19	Alternating SC/DC	White
20	Paired HDC	Rainbow

Repeat the 20-row cycle five times for 100 rows. You may add one final off-white moss row so the first and last rows match.

Original blanket swatch showing the full sequence — One complete texture section.

Clean Color Changes

Complete the final yarn-over of the last stitch with the next color. Keep carried yarn relaxed along the edge so it does not shorten the side. The border can enclose neatly carried strands; fasten off and weave in any strand that would travel too far.

Two-Round Border

Round 1: join white. SC evenly around: one SC in each stitch at top and bottom, and one or two SC per row at the sides as needed. Work 3 SC in each corner. Join with SL ST and CH 2.
Round 2: one DC in each SC, with 3 DC in each corner stitch. Join, fasten off, and weave in ends.

Hook entering blanket edge for the border — Even side placement.

Working the white border around a blanket corner — Turning a corner.

Count and Shape Checks

CH 124 creates 61 SC anchors and 60 interior CH-1 spaces in Row 1.
Count row ends after every five-row block; a missing edge stitch causes narrowing.
Lay the blanket flat after each 20-row cycle. Waves indicate loose tension or too many stitches; curling inward indicates tight tension or too few.
Measure after two cycles. Change hook size rather than altering the verified repeat.

Full original rainbow baby blanket laid flat — Check straight sides and even width.

Step 1 of 8

Swatch and prepare

Confirm gauge, organize four colors, and choose a hook that gives relaxed fabric.

Finished rainbow baby blanket showing textured pastel stripes

Original Pattern Photos

Folded original rainbow baby blanket — Finished drape.

Original baby blanket folded to show texture — Texture and softness.

Original puff row detail — Puff placement.

Original alternating stitch detail — Alternating texture.

Finished original border corner — Finished corner.

Questions

Can I change the width?

Yes. Start with any even chain count and keep the edge structure consistent. Yarn quantities will change.

Why is my blanket narrowing?

You may be missing the final edge stitch. Count the 61 anchors and mark the first and last stitch.

Can I use different colors?

Yes. Keep four distinguishable colors and follow the same rotation.

How should I wash it?

Follow your yarn label and test laundering on the gauge swatch first.