The Rainbow Ruffle blanket is super warm, soft, cuddly, and so easy to make! The pattern is unbelievably simple, the entire blanket is crocheted in double crochet. The ruffle is added at the end, in front loops between two different colors.
Skill level: Beginner – I made this tutorial to be super easy, even for beginners. All you have to do is to grab your crochet hook, make some coffee or tea, and follow the pictures. I like to call my tutorials brain friendly, because you don’t have to think at all and figure things out. Which is a good thing, I think. You can relax and enjoy yourself, and at the same time make something useful and beautiful.
The tutorial is written in standard US crochet terms, but if you’re from the United Kingdom, you can easily follow the tutorial, just make treble crochet instead of double crochet, and that’s it! The other 2 stitches are the same (chain stitch, and slip stitch). Yes! It’s that simple!
Stitches: chain stitch, double crochet, slip stitch
Special stitches: standing dc – Make a slip knot on the hook, yarn over, insert your hook into desired stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through 2 remaining loops.
Crochet hook: 3.5 mm (USA – size 4/E, UK – 9)
Gauge: 20 dc and 5 rows = 4” (10cm)
Size: 25.6” (65cm) wide x 27.5” (70cm) long. The blanket weights 507g
Yarn: “Golf” (St. George) 100% cotton 125m/50g, “Cotton classic” (St. George) 120m/50g
• Yellow (Cotton Classic – No. 0023) 1 skein of 50g
• Pink (Cotton Classic – No. 0005) 2 skeins of 50g
• Lavender (Cotton Classic – No. 0028) 2 skeins of 50g
• Orange (Golf – No. 0950) 2 skeins of 50g
• Turquoise (Golf – No. 0911) 2 skeins of 50 g
• Green (Golf – No. 0981) 1 skein of 50 g
• White (Tango – No. 0006) 3 skeins of 50g
Notes:
I recommend weaving in yarn ends as you go.
This blanket is worked back and forth in rows, and can be made in any size. You can adjust the size simply by adding or decreasing the number of stitches of foundation chain, and adding or decreasing the number of rows.
So, let’s get started!
Before you start, decide on how big you’d like your blanket to be. For example, my blanket is 63 cm wide, so I made the foundation chain of 130. To start, make a slip knot on your hook, (picture 1) and continue making foundation chain. (picture 2)
Measure your chain as you go, and stop when you reach the desired length. For the purpose of this tutorial, I made the foundation chain of only 30 stitches, 14 cm long.
When you’re satisfied with the length of your foundation chain, make 3 more stitches, which will count as the first dc. I marked the stitch where you should make the first dc. (picture 4) It’s the fourth stitch from the hook. So, make the first dc in that stitch. (picture 5)
Continue making 1 dc into each stitch, until you reach the end of the row. (picture 6) It’s important that you have the same number of stitches in each row. I made the foundation chain of 30, and added ch-3 (counts as the first dc) which means that I should have 31 stitches. (30+1)
Now, we’re going to make the second row of the same color. Make ch 3 – counts as dc, (picture 7) then turn your work over, (picture 8) and see where you should make your first dc. It’s the next dc. (picture 8)
Make dc in the next dc, (picture 9) and continue working 1 dc into each dc, until you reach the last stitch, which is ch-3, marked by the arrow in picture 10. Be careful not to skip that last stitch because it’s very easy to overlook it. When you have made dc in the last dc of the row, it seems that you’ve completed the row, but you haven’t. If you count your stitches, you will see that you have 1 stitch less than in your previous row. So, pay attention to that! It would be a big mistake to miss that last stitch. It would make your blanket narrower after each row. So, make the last dc of the row in the third chain of ch-3. Now, you’ve completed the row. (picture 11)
Cut the yarn and pull it through the stitch (picture 12). I recommend you count your stitches to see if you have the same number in both rows. It’s important to keep the same number of stitches, to have straight, even edges. Now, take the second color of your choice, we’re going to work 2 rows of dc with the next color. If you’d like to make the same blanket as mine, look at the color chart at the end of this tutorial. We will use only the back loops, because we’ll need the front loops for the ruffle later.
Turn your work over so that the first stitch on the right is the last dc we’ve just made. I started the row with standing dc, (make a slip knot on your hook, yarn over, insert your hook into indicated stitch and make regular dc) but you can also start with ch-3. Be sure to make standing dc or ch-3 into back loop of the first dc of the row. (picture 13) So, let’s take a closer look at the front and back loops. (picture 14) You can see in picture 15 that I inserted my hook only through the back loop out of the two loops, and it’s the loop farther away from me.
Make dc into the back loop of the next dc. (picture 16) Continue working 1 dc into each dc, (in back loop) until you reach the last stitch of the row, which is ch-3. (picture 17) Remember? Don’t skip it, but make the last dc of the row in the third chain of ch-3. (picture 18)
Make ch-3, turn your work over, (picture 19) and make dc into the next dc – in both loops. (picture 20) Work 1 dc into both loops of each dc, along the row, until you reach the last stitch, which is standing dc. (picture 21)
Make dc into standing dc. (picture 22) Cut the yarn and pull it through the stitch. Turn your work over, the last dc you’ve just made should be the stitch where you’ll start your next row. Change the color. Again, we will work only in back loops. Start the first row of the next color with standing sc. (or ch-3) Make standing dc into the back loop of the first dc. (picture 23) Make dc in the back loop of the next dc. (picture 24)
Continue working 1 dc into back loop of each dc to the end of the row. Remember not to skip the last stitch – ch-3! (picture 25) Make ch-3, turn your work over, and make dc into both loops of the next dc. (picture 26) Continue along the row, in the same way, making 1 dc into both loops of each dc until you reach the end of the row. (picture 27) Cut the yarn and pull it through the stitch.
Once you’ve finished the first 6 rows of the blanket, (two rows of three different colors) it should look like this. (picture 28) This is the “right” side of the blanket, where you can see the front loops. Insert the next color of your choice and make the next 2 rows in the same way we’ve made our previous rows. (picture 29) It’s important to always make the first row of the new color on the “right” side of the blanket. Work the first row of each color only in the back loops, turn your blanket over, and work the second row in both loops. Fasten off. Continue adding two rows of different color to your blanket until you reach the desired length. (picture 30)
If you’re like me, and didn’t listen to my advice to weave in yarn ends as you went along, now you’re left with a whole bunch of yarn ends to weave in. So, make yourself a cup of coffee or a favorite tea, turn on some pleasant, calming music and try to enjoy the work… It’s important that you weave in ends on the “wrong” side of the blanket, the side without visible front loops. (picture 31)
Now, we just have to add a ruffle. Don’t worry, it’s very easy to do. We will use the front loops. (picture 32) Attach white yarn to the front loop of the first stitch and make ch-5. (picture 33) Make slip stitch into the next dc. (picture 34)
You may find making the ruffle a little tricky at first, but once you’ve figured it out, it will be pretty easy, especially if you bend the blanket along the row you’re working on. (picture 35) Continue making ch-5, then slip stitch into the next dc along the blanket. (picture 36)
And eventually, after many ch-5 and slip stitches we’ve finally finished our first ruffle row! Congratulations! (picture 37)
Continue making ruffle in front loops between two different colors. (picture 38)
And finally, when you’re totally exhausted from making so many chains and slip stitches, and ruffles, you realized that your blanket is finally done! I only hope that at the end you will think that it was totally worth the time and effort you invested in this blanket!
This is the color scheme that I used for my Rainbow Ruffle Blanket.
***************
Feel free to sell the finished products made from this pattern, but please link back to my site: dadasplace.com for credit. And, please don’t use my pictures to sell your work.
Although this pattern is free, it is copyright protected, so please don’t sell or publish this pattern anywhere, don’t translate it, or make YouTube videos without my permission. Thank you for respecting my work!
I hope you will like this tutorial, and if you make your own Rainbow Ruffle Blanket I would love to see it! You can share the pictures of your Rainbow Ruffle Blanket to my Facebook page, or tag me on Instagram.
Happy crocheting! Let me know in the comments how you like the tutorial!
Oh thank you soooo much! What a lovely Friday afternoon treat to receive your e mail in my inbox to let me know this beauty is ready to go. Do you have a link to the company you buy this yarn from. We cannot seem to buy it in the UK but I am happy to pay for some to be shopped over. It is absolutely stunning. Thank you for your amazing patterns (they really are some of the best out there) and your support xxx
Dear Jacqui,
Thank you for your kind words! You’ve made my day! I’m sorry to disappoint you, but the company which manufactures that yarn doesn’t sell on-line, and it’s impossible to buy their yarn outside of Serbia.
Hugs,
Dragana
Lion Brand does a very close substitue called 24/7 cotton. Most of the yarn companies make a couple 100% cotton yarns that I believe will work well.
They have discontinued the Golf yarn here in the USA.
Love ? ???
Thank you so much for sharing this pattern. Your work is an inspiration to others and the photos are so beautiful. Best wishes always xx
Thank you so much, Louise! ?
Have a nice weekend! xo
I do better watching video tutorials. Is there any chance that would be possible?
I too prefer video tutorials to get me going.
Attractive and your tutorial was heaven to follow! Tho so much
Thanks Virginia! I’m so glad to hear that! 🙂
Beautiful blanket. What is the weight of the yarn you used?
Thank you,
Erin
Hi Erin,
Thank you! ? I’m glad you like it! I used “Golf” yarn (St. George) 100% cotton 125m/50g, and “Cotton classic” yarn (St. George) 120m/50g
xo Dragana
Can I use any 100 o/o cotton yarn? I just love this blanket.
Thanks Dottie! Yes, of course, you can use any 100% cotton yarn. Just play with colors and enjoy! ?
xo
Thank you for the pattern im going to make one as soon as i find the yarn
Carmo
You’re welcome Carmo! ? I’m so glad to hear that you decided to make one for yourself! ❤️
xo Dragana
Oh my God! I really fell in love with this blanket!!! you are a genius!!!you have gold in your hands !!!
Thank you so much Mirta for your kind words! I’m happy to offer my gifts and talents (and hard work) to the world! ?
Have a nice weekend! xo
Does it have to be cotton? Just curious 🙂
No, it doesn’t have to be cotton at all. I like to work with cotton because here in Serbia we have high-quality and nonexpensive cotton yarn, but you can use whatever yarn you like. It’s only important that you enjoy the process… Happy crocheting! xo
do u know of any yarn they make in usa that would ber suitable.
Sorry, I don’t, but I’m sure that you can find beautiful and good quality yarn in the USA which would be suitable for this project.
Fun! Thank you.
You’re welcome! ?
Thanks for the pattern. It is so lovely..
Thank you, Vera! ? I’m glad you like it!
This is fantastically gorgeous. And is going into my MUST MAKE pile. Now, to dream about the yarn. 🙂
Thank you, Lisa! ? I’m glad to hear that! Dreaming about the yarn is awesome! I love that! ❤️ ? ?
Absolutely love this blanket! Would make a beautiful baby blanket! Thank you so much for sharing! I can’t wait to find the yarns and make one!
You’re welcome, Carolyn! ? I’m so glad that you decided to make one! Please share it when you finish it! ?
xo Dragana
Fantastic blanket! Love the ruffles so much… Thank you for your generosity in sharing the pattern ?
Thank you, Marie! ? xo
Love this pattern!
Do you think it could be done in worsted weight yarn?
Thank you, Julie!I’m glad you love the pattern! ? I’m not sure what weight the worsted yarn is, we have a different terminology here, but I suppose it could.
I love this pattern and will make it soon for a baby shower… Thank you for posting an easy pattern to follow and pictures..
Thank you, Betty! ? I love easy patterns and easy things in general… so I wanted to make a pattern easy to follow… ? And I love pictures…
Hello,
I’m uncertain how to attach the yarn to begin the ruffle. Did you knot it?
Hi Sharon,
In the same way you attach a new color to your work, for example. Insert your hook through the stitch, in this case through front loop, grab the yarn, pull up a loop, and then make a chain. In this case ch-5. I’m sure there are several Youtube tutorials on that subject, which you can watch.
Hi! I just came upon this pattern today! It looked so hard, then turned out to be a very basic pattern. After I had a stroke, was in a 5 week long coma, after having been rescusitated 27 times, in 2 days, I was put on life support and a feeding tube. Then, I hit my head, really hard on our cast iron bathtub, May 23rd, last year, was rushed by ambulance, twice to the city we live close to, and given emergency MRI’s because the Dr was sure I had blood from my brain. Turned out, I had a really, really bad concussion, that they’re not sure I’m over yet. Then, I fell yet again on July 8th, and broke my ankle. But, I finally got over that, and in April I contracted pneumonia. My body rejected the antibiotics for the entire month. On May 4th, he gave me the strongest antibiotics he could, and my body reacted favourably. On May 11, I started to show improvement. But, for most of April, my brain wasn’t getting enough oxygen. Each time my brain doesn’t get enough oxygen, I have to start crocheting at easy levels. Before all the stuff that happened when I had the stroke, I could do the most challenging crochet patterns, you could throw at me. I was making patterns on my own, and they challenged the most seasoned crocheters. But, at 62 years of age, I’m happy to be able to remember how to crochet, and not hunt for anything too challenging for me to achieve. Thank you for the ruffle blanket pattern! It will be a delight to crochet up a blanket for our bed! Oh, and, in Canada, we can adapt your pattern to other than cotton yarn. Personally, I don’t care for cotton yarn. I use what I have on hand, which is about 10 times what I’ll ever be able to use!!!
Hi Lois, I’m so sorry to hear about your health issues. Hope you’re bettern now! I’m glad to hear that you like my Rainbow Ruffle blanket pattern, and that you can do it! And of course you can use whatever yarn you like!
Best wishes,
? Dragana
Beautiful. Is the yarn you used ‘worsted’ weight? Was the white yarn you used for the ruffles the same weight as the colors? I noticed it’s different than the colors.
Thank you, Peggy! I’m glad you like it! ? For the “body” of the blanket, I used 2 kinds of yarns, which are almost the same weight. One is 120m/50g, and the other is 125m/50g. And the ruffle is made with “Tango” yarn which is also 125m/50g. You can always make the ruffle with slightly thinner yarn. If you aren’t familiar with this yarn weight terminology, look at Wikipedia (google “yarn weight Wikipedia”) to see which yarn is that. It differs from country to country.
This makes me wish I could crochet
Thanks Kathy! ? ? ? ?
Thank you for the pattern brand new great niece so I can’t wait to make it!
You’re welcome! Congratulations on your new great niece! 🙂
This is absolutely gorgeous and I can’t wait to try this! I am thrilled to have found your website/work! You have combine such gorgeous colors and do beautiful work 🙂
Thank you so much Holly! ? I’m so glad you like my work! ?
Beautiful! Do you think it could be made leaving front loops on both sides and then adding ruffles to both sides?
Thank you! Yes, you could do the ruffles on both sides, if you work every row in back loops, but I’m afraid that the blanket would be too thick, and it would require too much work. But if you try, please send me a picture!
ن Thankyou very much
You’re welcome! ?
Omg love this pattern cant wait to make . THANK YOU
You’re welcome! ?
HI there! I love this pattern… Do you have a printable version? I would love to be able to take it with me as I work on the project.
Thank you, Kate! No, I don’t have pdf file for this pattern.
Thanks for sharing your pattern with us for free. It’s a lively look. I’m going to make me one in Christmas colors!
I might have just missed the directions, but I’m wondering, do you carry the white yarn for the ruffle or do you fasten off and restart each time? Love the pattern and look of this blanket! Can’t wait to get started!
Hi Traci,
Thank you! ? I fastened off every row, but you can surely try to carry the white yarn to the next row. Though I’m not sure if it would be visible through the stitches.
x Dragana
This is a wonderfully, colorful, cheery blanket! I appreciate the clear instructions and great closeup pictures. So easy to follow!
Thank you so much, Pennie! ? I’m so glad you like it! ?
Where can I get this yarn?
Amanda, I’m so sorry to disappoint you but you can’t buy this yarn outside of Serbia because St. George (the manufacturer) don’t sell online.
can this be done in worsted weight yarn ?
Yes, it can be done in worsted weight yarn.
I am doing it in worsted weight yarn right now.
Thank you so much for sharing this pattern. I especially appreciate the detailed instructions and pictures. It helps me so much as I am just re-learning to crochet. (My grandmother taught me when I was younger, but I never learned to read a pattern; I just did what she told me :))
I can’t wait to try this.
Dear Beverly,
I’m so happy if my work has helped you re-learning to crochet! So, so happy! ? ? Thanks for letting me know that!
I am going to start this great looking pattern soon. I want to make it into a bath towel perhaps with the ruffles a little more apart and on both sides if possible. Will take a picture when done.
Me han gustado mucho todos tus proyectos y a pesar que soy principiante he logrado hacerlo ya que consideró que la manera que lo explicas es muy fácil, gracias por tu colaboracion
Beautiful tutorial, thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent. I’m going to put ruffles on the bottom of a little cardigan for my 2 yr old grandaughter. It’s the first garment I’ve ever made and you have been my inspiration. I spend time just looking at your work, more relaxing than a gin and tonic ? ? ? x
Oh, thank you so much, Hilary, for your awesome comment! ?
Thank you for sharing this amazing pattern! So beautiful! Your designs inspire me so much!???
I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks! ?
I would imagine you could use any 100% cotton yarn with this pattern?
Yes, of course, you can use any 100% cotton yarn.
I love this blanket! Would love to save it to my computer for future use. But can’t seem to…any suggestions? Would make a lovely gift for a friend’s baby.
I don’t know how you can save it, but you can always come back to the blog and see the pattern. I’m not going to remove it from my blog.
This is so gorgeous and doable! I cannot wait to make one! Thank you for sharing your pattern!
Thank you soooo much for this pattern. Your directions and photos make it easy to follow! To answer how to save this pattern: Just add it to your Favorites and open it again and press print preview to see what pages you’d like to print. Hope this helps 🙂
I am SO in love with your work!! the cotton, the colours, the patterns .. Absolutely gorgeous!! Thank you SO very much xox
I have started this pattern a few times but, always end up with a slight curve. Instead of a nice square. I’m very careful to count my stitches and have started over a few time with no success. Any ideas what I am doing wrong?
THANKS!
I think that you probably miss the last stitch of the row. Look carefully at the pictures, to see where you should start and where you should finish every row. I recommend you to make a small chain of just several stitches (up to 10) and to practice on that, you will easily spot which stitch you miss.
I just finished this as a blanket for my new baby. I am starting to do the ruffle. Am I to weave in the ends of the ruffle each time? Also I was considering using a softer yard for the ruffle. Thanks for sharing this awesome pattern.
I’m glad to hear that you decided to make this blanket to your baby! Yes, you should weave in the ends of the ruffle each time. I know, it’s boring. But at the end you’ll have a beautiful blanket. Yes, you can use a softer yarn for the ruffle.
Love this little blanket and happy to learn a new technique. Thank you so much for that visual tutorial. Your pictures and accompanying explanations are terrific. I’ll be sure to follow you from now on! Thanks again.
Appreciate the instructions for this blanket. Been crocheting for 50 ++ years and still learning new patterns and stitches. I especially like your bright colors. Not fond of working with cotton, so I will experiment with sport or worsted weight yarn and hook size for yarn weight. Mostly do crochet for charity and have lots of partial skeins left over. This pattern should be perfect for using up some of that yarn (instead of a traditional granny – love the pattern, hate attaching all the squares). So, thank you for sharing!
Hi Lynn,
Yes, for this blanket you can absolutely use whatever yarn you like, and the pattern is very suitable for using leftovers.
Hi Dada, thank you for sharing your wonderful pattern with the world.
I am currently crocheting it in reverse – my background is a single colour and the ruffles in multiple colours. I am doing it in worsted weight yarn adult size.
Hi Colette,
I think that’s a great idea! I love it! Please feel free to send me the picture of the blanket when you finish it, or you can share it to my Facebook page, I would really like to see it!
xo Dragana
I love this blanket can you use any other type of yarn besides cotton?
Thank you Penny! Yes, you can use whatever yarn you like. I used cotton yarn because I love working with cotton, but any yarn would work!
Thank you so much for the pattern, it’s perfect for the left over rainbow colors, I have from my traditional ripple afghan.
Yes, it is! You can use the leftoves from your previous blankets!
What a great pattern! Sometimes simple is best and you have knocked it out of the park! I must also say that you are a great pattern writer. This can be challenging for lots of people but you are clear and concise with pictures to help every step of the way. Thanks again for sharing this. I look forward to making it! ❤️
Thank you Adelle for your kind comment! I’m so glad you find my tutorial easy to follow! Happy crocheting!
xo D
Any advice for weaving in the white ends?
The usual way. I know it’s quite boring, but in the end you’ll have a beautiful blanket, so it will be worth the effort.
Is there a written set of instructions that I can print and carry with me?
No, only the pattern I published on my blog.