This free Rainbow Granny Square Blanket crochet pattern is the perfect starting point for beginners. If you can work a double crochet and a chain stitch, you have everything you need to make this stunning, colourful blanket. With 135 granny squares in 19 vibrant colours, the finished blanket measures 100 x 175cm (40 x 69in). And thanks to the join-as-you-go method, there's no tedious sewing up at the end!
Materials and preparation
Yarn
| Label | Colour name | Code | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour A | Maastricht | 1246 | 1 ball |
| Colour B | Leek | 1132 | 1 ball |
| Colour C | Gouda | 1081 | 1 ball |
| Colour D | Leerdam | 1263 | 1 ball |
| Colour E | Assen | 1065 | 1 ball |
| Colour F | Almelo | 1316 | 1 ball |
| Colour G | Eelde | 1422 | 1 ball |
| Colour H | Den Helder | 1068 | 1 ball |
| Colour I | Urk | 1034 | 1 ball |
| Colour J | Texel | 1019 | 1 ball |
| Colour K | Middelburg | 1003 | 1 ball |
| Colour L | Zwolle | 1082 | 1 ball |
| Colour M | Rhenen | 1188 | 1 ball |
| Colour N | Heerlen | 1432 | 1 ball |
| Colour O | Meppel | 1061 | 1 ball |
| Colour P | Hengelo | 1084 | 1 ball |
| Colour Q | Amersfoort | 1390 | 1 ball |
| Colour R | Den Bosch | 1241 | 1 ball |
| Colour S | Tilburg | 1083 | 1 ball |
| Joining Colour | Barneveld | 1005 | 6 balls |
Shop the yarn
You can find Scheepjes Colour Crafter at Scheepjes retailers, or webshops such as:
Crochet hook
5.0mm
US size H
Measurements
100 x 175 cm
40 x 69 in
Gauge/tension
Square measures 9 x 9cm
3½ x 3½in.
Abbreviations (US terms)
- ch
- chain
- ch-sp
- chain space
- dc
- double crochet
- dc2tog
- double crochet 2 stitches together: yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through first 2 loops on hook. Next, yarn over again, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through first 2 loops on hook. Finally, yarn over, pull through all remaining loops on hook
- RS
- Right side
- ss
- slip stitch
Repeat formats
- *….; rep from * once/twice/3x — Crochet the instructions after * and then repeat that section a further number of times as indicated.
- (…) once/twice/3x — Crochet the instructions between brackets the total number of times indicated.
- […] — Indicates the amount of stitches at the end of a row or round.
- (…) in same st/sp — Indicates that all instructions between brackets are worked in the same stitch or space.
Notes
- A granny cluster is a set of 3 dc (or ch3 + 2dc if you’re starting with your round). Granny clusters are worked in the chain spaces in between clusters or in corners of the previous round.
- Do you want to swap yarns to Catona? Then follow my Colour Crafter to Catona conversion table.
- Gauge isn’t critical for this project. You'll have enough leftovers to compensate for any more yarn that you use in squares.
Colour layout
In order to create your rainbow squares, arrange the balls in alphabetical order in a circle with Colour S next to Colour A as displayed below (leave the Joining Colour out of this circle). Pick any colour for your first round. The three colours next to it on either side are used in order to create Round 2, 3 and 4.
For example: If you choose Colour K to create Round 1, pick Colour L, M and N for Round 2, 3 and 4. Or pick Colour J, I and H for Round 2, 3 and 4.
Another example: If you choose Colour R to create Round 1, pick Colour S, A and B for Round 2, 3 and 4. Or pick Colour Q, P and O.
Looking back on the original blanket, I see a few 'mistakes' where I didn’t follow my own instructions. I’ve corrected these in the final colour chart below. However, if you’re charmed by them, feel free to sneak one of these squares in every once in a while. These squares look ‘soft’, and are really quite beautiful! I’ve selected a few colour combinations which are in the original blanket but are not quite as per my own rules above:
Crochet pattern
Basic Granny square
You'll make 135 Granny squares.
Weave in all ends.
Square arrangement
The Granny Square blanket contains 135 squares if you join the motifs in 15 rows of 9 motifs each. While you can make them all in advance and lay them down to determine your final arrangement, I made this blanket on-the-go.
My way of doing this was by crocheting 15-20 squares. Then I chose the arrangement for 1 row from the squares I made and joined those together. I repeated this for the next rows. This way, you won’t have to think about the whole blanket in advance and still have plenty of motifs to choose each time.
If you follow this method, keep an eye on ‘dark’ and ‘light’ squares. Dark squares are squares that have, for example, colour O and P in them. Light squares are squares which have colour D and E in them. Try to keep these squares evenly spread out and never place two right above or next to each other, in rows as well as in columns. It’s visually more appealing, I find.
If you like a full overview of the blanket as I’ve made it, check out the colour placement image below.
Joining motifs
First motif
Join Joining Colour with a ss in any corner ch-sp, (ch3, 2dc, ch3, 3dc) in same corner ch-sp, ch1, *(3dc in next ch-sp, ch1) until you reach the next corner ch-sp, (3dc, ch3, 3dc) in corner ch-sp, ch1; repeat from * another 2 times, (3dc in next ch-sp, ch1) until you reach the next corner ch-sp join with ss in first dc. Fasten off.
Subsequent motifs
Repeat the instructions for the first motif. However, when you reach a side that should be joined to another square replace the ch1 between granny clusters with a ss in the adjacent square. Replace the ch3 in corners with ‘ss in adjacent square, ch1, ss in next adjacent square’.
Border
Weave in all remaining ends and block the blanket to size. If you’re not familiar with blocking, visit my blocking tutorial.
Diagrams
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Comments
Marty
August 05, 2020 23:48
Joy L Knight
August 17, 2021 02:07
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