Rainbow Sunshine Blanket

This bright and fun baby blanket is made by making rainbow and sunshine granny squares, then crocheting together with a slst. Finishing with a moss stitch border. I made it in bright rainbow colours but it would look lovely in pastel shades too!

The ad free PDF including progress pictures can be purchased here

Materials 

dk, weight 3 yarn in shades:

650 metres white

100 metres red

90 metres orange

280 metres yellow

80 metres green

70 metres blue

60 metres purple

Small amounts of black / pink for the sunshine eyes and cheek

4mm crochet hook. Or you can use any yarn and hook you choose but the size may change.

Written in US terms with abbreviations for UK

sc = single crochet (double crochet UK)

hdc = half double crochet (half treble crochet UK)

dc = double crochet (treble crochet UK)

blo = back loop only 

ch = chain

slst = slip stitch

[ ] = these stitches should be completed into one stitch or the ch1

* * = in between should be repeated

Each square measures approx 7.5” x 7.5” inches and the finished blanket measures approx 26” x 33” this could be made larger if you made more squares.

The pattern texture for the squares is worked in lemon peel stitch so it is turned each row / round. 

It could also work out just using a hdc and working in rounds and not turning if you prefer. I have included the instructions to make the squares in a hdc stitch so you could make either way.

Rainbow square using lemon peel stitch

Make 6

Ch12 stating with purple

Row 1: sc in second ch from hook, dc, *sc, dc* x 4, [sc, dc] x 3 in the last, turn to work along the other side, *sc, dc* x 5. (26) Turn

Fasten off and join blue.

Row 2: *sc, dc* x 5, [sc, dc] in each of the next 6, *sc, dc* x 5. (32) Turn

Fasten off and join green.

Row 3: *sc, dc* x 5, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, [dc, sc] in the next, dc, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, [dc, sc] in the next, dc, [sc, dc], sc, [dc, sc], dc, *sc, dc* x 5. (38) Turn

Fasten off and join yellow.

Row 4: *sc, dc* x 5, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, dc, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, dc, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, dc, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, dc, [sc, dc], sc, dc, [sc, dc], *sc, dc* x 6. (44) Turn

Fasten off and join orange.

Row 5: *sc, dc* x 5, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, dc, sc, [dc, sc] in the next, dc, sc, dc, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, dc, sc, [dc, sc] in the next, dc, sc, dc, [sc, dc], sc, dc, sc, [dc, sc], dc, sc, dc, *sc, dc* x 5. (50) Turn

Fasten off and join red.

Row 6: *sc, dc* x 5, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, dc, sc, dc, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, dc, sc, dc, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, dc, sc, dc, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, dc, sc, dc, [sc, dc], sc, dc, sc, dc, [sc, dc], *sc, dc* x 7. (56) Turn

Fasten off.

Squaring off

Join white to bottom right corner (first stitch)

Round 1: (sc 1, ch2, sc 1) in the same, sc 12, hdc 3, dc 2, [dc 2, tr] in the next, ch2, 

[dc 2]in the next, [dc, hdc] in the next, sc 13, [hdc, dc] in the next, [dc 2] in the next, ch2, [tr, dc 2) in the next, dc 2, hdc 3, sc 12, [sc, ch2, sc] in the next, sc 19 across the bottom, slst to the first, slst to ch2 corner space. (84) Turn

Round 2: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, sc, *dc, sc* x 10, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, sc, *dc, sc* x 10, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (100) Turn

Round 3: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, dc, *sc, dc* x 12, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, dc, *sc, dc* x 12, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst ch2 corner. (116) Turn

Round 4: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, sc, *dc, sc* x 14, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, sc, *dc, sc* x 14, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (132) Turn

Round 5: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, dc, *sc, dc* x 16, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, dc, *sc, dc* x 16, repeat twice more, slst to first. (148)

Fasten off.

Rainbow square plain

Make 6

Ch13 stating with purple

Row 1: hdc in third ch from hook, hdc 9, [6 hdc] in the last, turn to work along the other side, hdc 10. (26) Turn

Fasten off and join blue.

Row 2: ch1, hdc in the same, hdc 9, [2 hdc] in each of the next 6, hdc 10. (32) Turn

Fasten off and join green.

Row 3: ch1, hdc in the same, hdc 9, *[2 hdc] in the next, hdc 1* x 6, hdc 10. (38) Turn

Fasten off and join yellow.

Row 4: ch1, hdc in the same, hdc 9, *[2 hdc] in the next, hdc 2* x 6, hdc 10.(44) Turn

Fasten off and join orange.

Row 5: ch1, hdc in the same, hdc 9, *[2 hdc] in the next, hdc 3* x 6, hdc 10. (50) Turn

Fasten off and join red.

Row 6: ch1, hdc in the same, hdc 9, *[2 hdc] in the next, hdc 4* x 6, hdc 10. (56) Turn

Fasten off.

Squaring off

Join white to bottom right corner (first stitch)

Round 1: [sc, ch2, sc] in the same, sc 12, hdc 3, dc 2, [2 tr] in the next, ch1, [2 tr] in the next, [2 dc] in the next, hdc 2, sc 9, hdc 2, [2 dc] in the next, [2 tr] in the next, ch2, [2 tr] in the next, dc 2, hdc 3, sc 12, [sc, ch2, sc] in the next, sc 19 across the bottom, slst to the first, slst to ch2 corner space. (84) 

Round 2: [ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the ch2 space, hdc 21, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, hdc 21* repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (100)

Round 3: [ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, hdc 25, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, hdc 25*, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst ch2 corner. (116) 

Round 4: [ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, hdc 29, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, hdc 29*, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (132)

Round 5: [ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, hdc 33, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, hdc 33*, repeat twice more, slst to first. (148)

Fasten off.

Sun square using lemon peel stitch

Make 6

Starting with yellow

Round 1: in a magic circle make, ch1, *sc, dc* x 5, slst to first. (10) Turn

Round 2: ch1 *sc, dc* in each, slst to first. (20) Turn

Round 3: ch1, sc, [dc, sc] in the next, dc, *[sc, dc] in the next, sc, [dc, sc] in the next, dc* repeat to end. (30) Turn

Round 4: ch1, *sc, dc, [sc, dc] in the next* repeat to end. (40) Turn

Round 5: ch1, *sc, dc, sc, [dc, sc] in the next, dc, sc, dc, [sc, dc] in the next* repeat to end. (50) Turn

Round 6: ch1, *sc, dc, sc, dc, [sc, dc] in the next, sc, dc, sc, dc, [sc, dc] in the next* repeat to end. (60) Turn

Leave yellow attached

Join white

Round 7: (in blo) ch3, dc, in the same, ch2, [2 dc] in the next, dc 1, hdc 1, sc 9, hdc 1, dc 1, *[2 dc], ch2, [2 dc] in the next, dc 1, hdc 1, sc 9, hdc 1, dc 1* repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (68) Turn       

Round 8: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, sc, *dc, sc* x 8, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, sc, *dc, sc* x 8, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (84) Turn

Round 9: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, dc, *sc, dc* x 10, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, dc, *sc, dc* x 10, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (100) Turn

Round 10: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, sc, *dc, sc* x 12, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, sc, *dc, sc* x 12, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (116) Turn

Round 11: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, dc, *sc, dc* x 14, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, dc, *sc, dc* x 14, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (132) Turn

Round 12: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, sc, *dc, sc* x 16, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, sc, *dc, sc* x 16, repeat twice more, slst to first. (148)

Fasten off.

Flames 

Continuing with yellow working in the front loops from round 6

*Ch3, dc in the same, ch3, slst to the third chain from hook, dc 1 in the next, ch3, slst to same as dc, slst to next, slst to the next again* repeat to end. (20 flames)

Fasten off with a long end for sewing and sew down the flames.    

Eyes / cheeks

Using black / pink

Make 6 sc in a magic circle.

Fasten off with a long end for sewing. Sew two white lines on the eyes.

Sun square plain

Make 6

Starting with yellow

Round 1: in a magic circle make, ch1, hdc 10, slst to first. (10)

Round 2: ch1 [2 hdc] in each, slst to first. (20)

Round 3: ch1, *hdc 1, [2 hdc] in the next,* repeat to end. (30) 

Round 4: ch1, *hdc 2, [2 hdc] in the next* repeat to end. (40) 

Round 5: ch1, *hdc 3, [2 hdc] in the next* repeat to end. (50)

Round 6: ch1, *hdc 4, [2 hdc] in the next* repeat to end. (60)

Leave yellow attached

Join white

Round 7: (in blo) ch3, dc, in the same, ch2, [2 dc] in the next, dc 1, hdc 1, sc 9, hdc 1, dc 1, *[2 dc] in the next, ch2, [2 dc] in the next, dc 1, hdc 1, sc 9, hdc 1, dc 1* repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (68)

Round 8: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, hdc 17, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, hdc 17*, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (84) 

Round 9: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, hdc 21, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, hdc 21*, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (100) 

Round 10: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, hdc 25, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, hdc 25*, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (116) 

Round 11: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, hdc 29, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, hdc 29*, repeat twice more, slst to first, slst to ch2 corner. (132) 

Round 12: [Ch2, hdc, ch2, 2 hdc) in the same, hdc 33, *[2 hdc, ch2, 2 hdc] in the ch2 space, hdc 33*, repeat twice more, slst to first. (148)

Fasten off.

Make flames, eyes and cheeks the same as lemon peel sun square.

Joining the squares

I joined the squares with a simple slip stitch, 4 squares long and 3 squares wide. (it might be better to go up a hook size)