Crochet Rainbow Blanket | Keep Calm and Crochet On U.K

As Coronavirus sweeps across the UK, many people have responded by putting rainbow pictures in their windows. The rainbows have come to represent “positivity, hope and togetherness” during the pandemic. Today’s free blanket pattern not only take inspiration from that but also in the simple joys that a rainbow brings any time you see one.

It’s been a while since I shared a free pattern for you here on the blog, and I wanted todays blanket to be something positive that came from the lockdown, something that you could enjoy making, and maybe look forward to gifting to others after lockdown is over.

SAVE BOXING RAINBOWS BLANKET ON RAVELRY

During the pandemic I found myself looking for nice mindful patterns, where I could keep my hands busy and just lose myself in the stitches. Sometimes you just find a stitch pattern that you just enjoy making and for me that’s definitely the box stitch.

I think it might be known as other names, but to me it looks like rows of little boxes when put together.

SAVE BOXING RAINBOWS BLANKET ON LOVECRAFTS

Worked in double knit this lightweight blanket is easy to memorise making it a perfect pattern for relaxing hooky time! I made my blanket from some Scheepjes Colour Crafter that I’d got in my stash.

The following pattern is free here on the blog but it’s also available in my Ravelry, Etsy or LoveCrafts stores where there is a nominal fee for a downloadable 3 page PDF pattern free of advertisements if you’d prefer. The PDF download is available in UK or US crochet terminology.

FAVOURITE BOXING RAINBOWS BLANKET ON ETSY

Oh and if you enjoy making this box stitch blanket then you may also enjoy the ‘Don’t Box Me In’ blanket I designed for Dear Ewe which features the same stitch. You can pick up that free pattern over on the Dear Ewe blog.

Boxing Rainbows Blanket

MATERIALS
Yarn: 8ply / yarn weight #3
 100g / 300m White
 25g / 75m Red
 25g / 75m Orange
 25g / 75m Yellow
 25g / 75m Green
 25g / 75m Blue
 25g / 75m Indigo
 25g / 75m Violet
 25g / 75m Pink
Scheepjes Colour Crafter in Weert (1001),
Amsterdam (1010), Gent (2002), Leuven (2008), Terneuzen (1821), Knokke (2012), Brugge (2003), Drachten (1827), Luik (2006) used in photos.
You will also need:
 Scissors
 A yarn needle

Hook: 4mm (US Size G/6)
Gauge: 2 clusters= 3.5cm / 1.37”
Obtaining the correct gauge is not critical to this project but if your gauge does not match then your finished item will be a different size. Pattern will work in other hooks and yarns though
finished size will be different.
Finished Size: 86cm (33.8”) long x 68cm (26.7”)

ABBREVIATIONS:
UK TERMS
st(s) stitch(es)
sl st slip stitch
ch(s) chain
dc double crochet
tr treble crochet
RS right side

STITCH GUIDANCE
Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert hook in st indicated, yarn over and draw through all loops.
Double Crochet (dc): Insert hook in st indi-cated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
Treble Crochet (tr): Yarn over, insert hook in indicated st and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops on hook.
Cluster (Cl): Three treble crochets worked in a ch3-sp

PATTERN NOTES
 Make the blanket bigger or smaller by making the beginning chain in a multiple of 3+5 (stitch counts in the pattern are for the blanket size specified on page 1)
 A ch3 at the start of a row counts as a st

PATTERN
Row 1: (RS) With Pink; ch43, 1tr in the 4th ch from hook, 1tr in each st along until end, turn. 41sts
Row 2: Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of previous row, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn. 14dc + 13 x ch3-sps
Row 3: Ch3, (miss the next dc, 1Cl in the next ch3-sp) repeat across until the last st, 1tr in the last st, turn. 41sts / 13 clusters + 1tr at either end of row.
Rows 4 – 5: Repeat rows 2 and 3. Fasten off Pink and weave in ends.
Row 6: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 7 – 9: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 10: Attach Violet, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 11 – 15: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Indigo and weave in ends.
Row 16: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 17 – 19: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 20: Attach Indigo, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn. Rows 21 – 25: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Indigo and weave in ends.
Row 26: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 27 – 29: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 30: Attach Blue, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 31 – 35: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Blue and weave in ends.
Row 36: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 37 – 39: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 40: Attach Green, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 41 – 45: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Green and weave in ends.
Row 46: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 47 – 49: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 50: Attach Yellow, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 51 – 55: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Yellow and weave in ends.
Row 56: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 57 – 59: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 60: Attach Orange, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 61 – 65: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Orange and weave in ends.
Row 66: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 67 – 69: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 70: Attach Red, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 71 – 75: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Red and weave in ends.
You will now need to rotate your work to the right so you can continue working on the long edge of the RS of your work.
Row 76: Attach White to the post of the 1tr of row 75, Ch3, 3tr in the first sp, then work a Cl in the tr post sp of each row along until the last tr last dc (of row 1), then work 4tr in the last sp, turn. 38 clusters + 2 x 1trs at the end of each row / 116sts
Rows 77 – 78: Repeat alternate rows of 2 and 3 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 79: Attach Blue, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 80 – 84: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Blue and weave in ends.
Row 85: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 86 – 88: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends. Row 89: Attach Indigo, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 90 – 94: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Indigo and weave in ends.
Row 95: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 96 – 98: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 99: Attach Violet, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 100 – 104: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Violet and weave in ends.
Row 105: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 106 – 108: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 109: Attach Pink, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 110 – 114: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Pink and weave in ends.
You will now need to rotate your work to the right again so you can continue working on the other long edge of the RS of your work.
Row 115: Attach White to the post of the 1tr of row 75, Ch3, 3tr in the first sp, then work a Cl in the tr post sp of each row along until the last tr last dc (of row 1), then work 4tr in the last sp, turn. 38 clusters + 2 x 1trs at the end of each row / 116sts
Rows 116 – 117: Repeat alternate rows of 2 and 3 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 118: Attach Green, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 119 – 123: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Green and weave in ends.
Row 124: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 125 – 127: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 128: Attach Yellow, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 129 – 133: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Yellow and weave in ends.
Row 134: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 135 – 137: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 138: Attach Orange, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 139 – 143: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Orange and weave in ends.
Row 144: Attach White, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 145 – 147: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off White and weave in ends.
Row 148: Attach Red, in-between the first 2trs of previous row with a sl st. Ch1, (1dc in-between the first 2trs of row 1, ch3, miss 3sts, 1dc in-between the next 2trs of row 1) repeat across until end, turn.
Rows 149 – 153: Repeat alternate rows of 3 and 2 for the pattern. Fasten off Red and weave in ends.