Chasing Rainbows Crochet Baby Blanket with Video Tutorial

Welcome, crocheters! If you’re looking for the perfect crochet rainbow blanket to make for that special little one in your life (or just an adorable addition to your stash of handmade crochet items!), then we’ve got something truly special to share with you today: The Chasing Rainbows Crochet Baby Blanket.

This beautiful rainbow crochet design is energetic and fun – with bright stitches popping off against a white background of subtle texture, it’s sure to add some enthusiasm wherever it goes! And not only do we have the free pattern, but this project also includes an accompanying video tutorial made by Marly Bird that guides through each step of construction.

So grab that hook and join us on this journey as we take a closer look at how you can create this gorgeous bubbly baby blanket in no time at all!

Over on Red Heart’s website you will find the Chasing Rainbows crochet baby blanket as a FREE pattern to download. I created this pattern to be the perfect bright and cheery gift for the next baby show you go to. With 15 colors to choose from you can customize this blanket for the child that will love it forever.

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Many of you have been requesting that I put together a video tutorial about the Chasing Rainbows crochet blanket that I designed for Red Heart. You have been asking me to show you how to work the stitch pattern so that you can make this crochet baby blanket for someone special in your life. Designed using Red Heart Gumdrop, which comes in 15 colors, you will be able to pick the perfect color combination.

In the video tutorial you will find a few important teaching points. Be on the lookout for the following tips. The following are great ways to expand your crochet skill set.

Chasing Rainbows Crochet Baby Blanket Video Tutorial Learning Points:

• Standing single crochet and double crochet join — Updated to say, if you use a long color changing yarn and you don’t need to start the row with a standing stitch, you could work a Stacked double crochet! Learn more about a Stacked dc (sometimes called a stacked sc — but I honestly believe it should only be called a stacked dc) on this post.
• Secure method of weaving in ends
• Camel stitch — Updated to say this is sometimes called the 3rd loop.

Although this pattern is written as a baby blanket size, it can be customized into any size. Using a stitch multiple of 6 + 4 to create the pattern allows you to easily change the size. Change up the size to make this blanket for a child or adult simply by increasing the number of chains you make, as long as they follow the stitch multiple.

If you hadn’t guessed by looking at the finished blanket let me warn you that there are a LOT of ends to weave in at the end of this project. Each row is fastened off before starting the next. This translates into two ends to weave in for every row. Because there are so many ends to weave in, and because I want you to feel confident when giving this as a gift, I added a section to the tutorial on how to weave your ends in.

Edited to add: BUT, if you choose a long color changing yarn, you can make this without cutting the color every row. Below the video I mention using Red Heart Ombre yarn. 

Those with children will know that baby items are washed often. They are loved hard and washed often. Acrylic yarn is a great choice when making crochet baby items, and Gumdrop is 100% acrylic. Although acrylic may not be as luxurious as some of the natural fibers out there, it is machine washable and dryer friendly. Two things that every new mom wants to hear! If you don’t take the time to weave in your ends well, making sure that they are very secure, the first time the blanket is washed the ends may start to pop out. If you are taking the time to make this beautiful blanket, please take the time to weave in your ends securely.

Let’s talk briefly about the colors. I designed this to be a beautiful crochet rainbow blanket pattern that will delight the mom and the kiddo. The bright colors are exciting to see and to wrap up in; plus, you know I love a good rainbow! However, remember, if you make this blanket in more than one color you will need to cut the yarn after EVERY ROW!

Is this like Inset Mosaic Crochet?

If you watch the lunch and learn I did for this baby blanket you will hear me say that it isn’t, but then I went and treated it like one…DOH! I quickly got correct by others who were watching…and I realized that I made this blanket so it looked the same on both sides by encasing the skipped row of stitches when I worked the X stitch two rows below.

Make a note that if you watch the lunch and learn…it isn’t until I get to the row 6 when I finally figure this out. Sheesh. LOL.

Chasing Rainbows Crochet Baby Blanket Materials:

• RED HEART® With Love®: 2 skeins 1001 White B
• RED HEART® Gumdrop®: 1 ball each 750 Grape A, 625 Apple C, 530 Blueberry D, 620 Cherry E, 501 Smoothie F, and 202 Lemon G
• Susan Bates® Crochet Hook: 5mm [US H-8]
• Yarn needle

Edited to add: because the gumdrop yarn has been discontinued, I recommend either choosing solid colors of Red Heart With Love to replace the multi colors. Or make is super easy and choose the Red Heart Super Saver Stripes or Red Heart Ombre for the long color changing yarn and not having to change yarn each time you make this crochet baby blanket.