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Rainbow Ripple Baby Blanket Pattern (Written Instructions)

ByLauren Brown
30 Comments

Looking for a beautiful rainbow baby blanket crochet pattern? Use this quick and easy rainbow ripple baby blanket pattern to make an adorable blanket in no time!

Chevron crochet patterns are some of my absolute favorite baby blankets. They’re easy to memorize and can be customized in any colors imaginable. Matching a baby’s room or throwing together a funky pattern is just what I love to do when I’m making a gift for a friend. 

Recently, I made this rainbow ripple baby blanket. I love the way it turned out and wanted to share just how I made it with you!  

Rainbow ripples are the perfect gift for a new baby, regardless of the gender. A variety of colors is perfect for any baby! 

While ripple blankets may seem a little bit daunting at first glance, they’re actually easier than they look and perfect for beginners. 

Materials:

  • I/9 Crochet Hook (though you can adjust hook size based on your tension)
  • Hobby Lobby “I Love This Yarn!” in Pink and White
  • Vanna’s Choice in Bluebell (this is Vanna’s Choice Baby) and Lime
  • Note: I did mix yarn brands to come up with the perfect color combination. If you’re not comfortable doing that, find similar colors in any worsted weight yarn. Yardage is approximately 800-1000 yards.
  • Impeccable Loops and Threads in Butterscotch and Cherry.
  • Scissors
  • Tapestry Needle for weaving ends

Pattern Notes:

  • Finished size is approximately 27″ wide and 30″ long. 
  • This pattern is worked through both loops
  • You will be working into the chain at the end of each row
  • Gauge is not important for this project
  • dc2tog is the same thing as a double crochet decrease
  • NOTE: If your rows aren’t lining up OR if you’re running out of room at the end of Row 2, please check out this brief video tutorial to answer your questions. 

Fantastic Rainbow Ripple Baby Blanket Pattern Instructions:

ch 100.

Row 1: dc in the third chain from the hook. Dc in the next 4 stitches. Dc2tog, dc 2 tog. Dc in the next 4 stitches. *Work 2 dc into the next 2 stitches. Dc in the next 4 stitches. Dc2tog, dc2tog. Dc in the next 4 stitches.* End with 2 dc in the last chain. Ch 2, turn.

Row 2: dc in the first st (your ch 2 and your first dc are worked in the same stitch) and in the next 4 stitches. dc2tog, dc2tog. Dc in the next 4 stitches. *Work 2 dc into the next 2 stitches. dc in the next 4 stitches. dc2tog, dc2tog. dc in the next 4 stitches.* End with 2 dc in the last stitch. Ch 2, turn.

NOTE: you will have 2 dc in the first and last stitch of each row (ch 2 counts as dc).

At the end of every two rows, you will cut your yarn and join a new color yarn. For the rest of the blanket, you will continue repeating row two until you have 56 rows (or really, you could keep going as long as you wanted).

Learn how to change colors and weave ends if you’re not comfortable with this yet. It’s easier than you think! 

I did a repeating stripe pattern for this blanket. It’s two rows of each color in the following order: 

  • Bluebell
  • White
  • Lime
  • Cherry
  • Pink
  • White
  • Butterscotch

I hope you enjoy the repetitive nature of the pattern. To me, a ripple is the perfect pattern to make while you relax – watching a show, listening to an audiobook, or chatting with your family. It’s not mindless in the sense that every single stitch is the same, but it’s easy to learn and quick to memorize. 

Yarn Substitutions: 

Any worsted weight yarn will work perfectly for this pattern. If you want great stitch definition and a cooler blanket for warmer climates, I recommend using 100% cotton yarn. Feel free to use as many different colours as you’d like.

How Many Chains for a Ripple Crochet Blanket?

This particular pattern has a starting chain of 100. 

The multiple for this pattern is 14+2. Chain any multiple of 14 (28, 140, etc) to reach the length you want and then add 2 additional chains.  

Other Free Patterns Using Ripple Stitches:

  • Classic Ripple – one of the most popular patterns on the Daisy Cottage Designs blog
  • Zig Zag Crochet Pattern – a fun twist on the ripple stitch… it uses the herringbone double crochet for added texture. 
  • Chevron Baby Blanket – a little more sharp version of the ripple stitch. Still easy and beautiful! 

Share Your Work!

If you make this rippling rainbow blanket, I’d love it if you’d share your results with me. Snap a picture and share it on Instagram or Facebook, but be sure to tag me (@DaisyCottageDesigns). 

It always puts a smile on my face to see how people are using the Daisy Cottage Designs crochet patterns “in real life.”

30 Comments

  1. cheerfulhomemaker says:

    I love this! The colors are fantastic and the pattern is simple.

  2. It turned out great! The colors are so cheerful.

  4. This is such a beautiful pattern! I'm working on it right now and I'm a tiny bit confused though. I am wondering if the first * should go back a sentence or if there needs to be something that says to DC in the next four stitches before you repeat. I'm fairly new to crocheting, so I could be completely up in the night. But it seems like there needs to be 4 DCs between the peak and

  5. crochetnature says:

    Again, a beautiful work of art. I always love your color choices and the cheerfulness that shines through your designs. 🙂

  6. Denise - Jewelry By Denise says:

    Help! I'm making this blanket but with every row I make, my dc2tog and 2 stitches with 2 doubles keeps moving over a stitch with each row I make. I've started over 3 times and have counted my stitches over and over. I'm wanting to make this for this Saturday.

  7. pollypiglets says:

    Denise, are you putting your first stitch on row 2 into the same stitch as the chain you just made? If you're going into the next one instead that will have the effect that you're getting x

  8. Learning to patterns too, and I have a question on Row 1 you have in parenthesis (so across the next 4 stitches). does that mean Dc2tog twice only or do I dc2tog in the next four stitches, thank you, I am really confused, reading patterns are hard for me.

  9. Cher Seck says:

    I am totally confused with the 1st row … you have Dc in the third chain from the hook, Dc in the next 4 st. Dc 2tog twice (so across the next 4 stitches) Dc in the next four sts. ….<br /><br />Plz help me …<br />

  10. Danielle Rooney says:

    When i start the 2nd color do I do DC in third chain from hook or start w DC in first stitch then 4 DC?

  11. merrill williams says:

    I am so disappointed…when I print this beautiful pattern the right hand side is covered with advertising so I cannot read the complete pattern.

  12. I&#39;m working this pattern and I&#39;m about four rows in and it seems like the blanket wants to go into a circle

  13. I love the rainbow baby blanket and I&#39;ve begun to crochet it. But I&#39;m stuck on the following direction. You say… (so across the next 4 stitches) …I&#39;m not sure what you mean by that. Can you explain a little further? Thanks so much. Kate

  14. Annie Cox says:

    These are very easy, the colors are beautiful, and best of all , can be crocheted in one day.

  15. Vickie Hensley says:

    I like a few of you was confused with the instructions on Row 1: but I think I have it now. I searched her site and found her “Ripple Baby Blanket” which as far as I can tell is the same as the one here, just different colors are used. I think there may have been a typo on Row 1: of the Chevron pattern, but here’s the instruction for Row 1: of the Ripple…it makes a lot more sense. I am working on it now and it’s coming out fine…hope this helps! 🙂

    1. Vickie Hensley says:

      Opps! forgot to post the instructions for Row 1: Here it is…Row 1: dc in the third chain from the hook. Dc in the next 4 stitches. Dc2tog, dc 2 tog. Dc in the next 4 stitches. *Work 2 dc into the next 2 stitches. Dc in the next 4 stitches. Dc2tog, dc2tog. Dc in the next 4 stitches.* End with 2 dc in the last chain. Ch 2, turn.

    2. I’ll update it to read the same way as the other pattern. Thanks, Vickie.

      1. Vickie Hensley says:

        Thanks Lauren, and thank you for sharing this pattern I am working on a baby boy blanket in baby blue with rows of lite grey and yellow to look like little zig zaggy roads, then I will be crocheting little car appliques to place on the roads. This pattern works up so quickly I should be done in no time! 🙂

  16. I have started and restarted a few chevron patterns in the last few days. None of them were working for me which is why I quit making ripples years ago and I have been crocheting for 20 years. The only reason I am trying now is because my niece is doing her nursery in chevron patterns. I stumbled across this pattern…finally, one that is working. The only thing is, I would like to make it wider. Do you know what multiples would do that for me? I could never figure out how to do that.

    1. The multiples are 14+2 🙂

      1. Thank you!

  17. Thank you for such a great pattern. I want to make this blanket but I want it to be bigger. How many chains would you suggest starting with, any even number?

    1. As long as your chain is a multiple of 14 +2, you can make this blanket any size you’d like 🙂

  18. WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for search

  19. Thank You! I have tried several ripple afghan patterns lately. This one is easy to read, no problems!! Can’t wait to see the finished project!

  20. Where did you find the Impeccable loops and threads yarn and what ply? thanks

    1. Michaels, and it’s worsted (Is that 8 or 9 ply??) 🙂

  21. made this with some turquoise I had from hobby lobby in place of the blue. Looks great. Such a happy fun blanket! Thank you so much for sharing!

  22. Just wondering, beginning of each row is chain 2(counts as first dc) dc in that same space, then 4dc in next 4 spaces, for a total of 6 dc and is there 6 dc at the end of each row? (2 in last space) thanks!

    1. Yes… the ch 2 does count as the first stitch.

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