Rainbow Aran Blanket in Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran - Downloadable PDF

Rainbow Aran Blanket in Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran – Crochet Pattern Summary

This cheerful and colourful crochet pattern creates a Rainbow Aran Blanket worked in bold, eye-catching stripes using Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran weight yarn. Available as a free downloadable PDF, the pattern is rated easy and is perfectly suited to beginner crocheters looking for a satisfying, achievable project with a striking finished result. The design comes in two sizes — a cosy Baby Blanket and a generous Adult Blanket — making it a versatile pattern for gifting or home use.

Sizes and Finished Measurements

The pattern offers two distinct size options to suit different needs:

• Baby Blanket: 50 cm (19½ in) wide and 78 cm (30¾ in) long — an ideal size for a pram, cot, or newborn gift.
• Adult Blanket: 122 cm (48 in) wide and 182 cm (72 in) long — a full-sized throw suitable for a sofa or bed.

Instructions are written for the smallest size first, with changes for the larger size given in square brackets throughout the pattern.

Design and Aesthetic

As the name suggests, the Rainbow Aran Blanket features a vibrant rainbow colour palette worked in clean horizontal stripes. The five colours used in the pattern as shown on the cover are:

• A – Lipstick Pink
• B – Seville Orange
• C – Daffodil Yellow
• D – Lime Green
• E – Marine Blue

These are all shades from the Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran range, a reliable and widely available yarn that delivers consistent stitch definition and a broad spectrum of bold, clear colours — ideal for a rainbow-themed project like this one. The stripe construction means colour changes are straightforward to manage, making this an excellent pattern for beginners who want to practise working with multiple colours without the complexity of colourwork techniques such as intarsia or Fair Isle.

Techniques Used

The Rainbow Aran Blanket is worked using a combination of beginner-friendly crochet techniques:

• Worked flat: The blanket is crocheted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, producing a flat, even fabric that is easy to manage and ideal for rectangular projects like blankets and throws.
• Seamless construction: The design is worked seamlessly, meaning there is no need to sew separate panels together at the end — the finished blanket comes off the hook ready to use with minimal finishing required.
• Stripe technique: Colour changes are made at regular intervals to create the bold horizontal rainbow stripes. Working stripes in crochet is a simple and effective way to introduce colour into a project, and the clean row structure of this blanket makes stripe transitions neat and tidy.

Stitches Used

As a beginner-level pattern, the Rainbow Aran Blanket relies on fundamental crochet stitches that are easy to learn and quick to work up at an aran weight. The pattern is written using UK crochet terminology, with the equivalent US terminology given in italics in round brackets throughout, making it accessible to crocheters on both sides of the Atlantic.

Materials

• Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran — an aran weight yarn, used in five colours for the Baby Blanket (one 100g ball of each colour: Lipstick Pink, Seville Orange, Daffodil Yellow, Lime Green, and Marine Blue).
• Yarn Weight: Aran — a medium-to-heavy weight that works up quickly and produces a cosy, substantial fabric with excellent drape and warmth, ideal for blankets and throws.
• Hook: A crochet hook appropriate for aran weight yarn is required (refer to the PDF for the specific recommended hook size).