Over the Rainbobble Blanket pattern by Melu Crochet

Over the Rainbobble Blanket by Melu Crochet

Project Overview

The Over the Rainbobble Blanket is a beginner-friendly crochet blanket pattern designed by Melu Crochet. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a finished blanket measuring 66 x 81cm (26 x 32 inches), making it an ideal size for a cozy throw or lap blanket. The design features a vibrant rainbow color palette combined with textured bobble stitches, creating visual interest and dimension throughout the piece.

Materials Required

This project uses aran weight yarn, a medium-weight option that works up quickly and creates a substantial fabric. The total yarn requirement is 365g of aran yarn, distributed across seven coordinated colors:

• Colour A (Cream): 80g
• Colour B (Azalea): 35g
• Colour C (Aster): 40g
• Colour D (Cyan): 45g
• Colour E (Fern): 50g
• Colour F (Pineapple): 55g
• Colour G (Cinnamon): 60g

The pattern specifies Deramores anti-pilling aran yarn as the tested material, though any aran weight yarn of similar characteristics will work. Additional supplies include a 5.5mm crochet hook, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, and 2 stitch markers to help track pattern repeats.

Crochet Techniques and Stitches

This beginner-level pattern employs fundamental crochet stitches and techniques, making it accessible to newer crocheters while still creating an impressive finished piece. The primary stitches used include:

• Chain (ch): The foundation stitch used to create the base of the blanket and transition between rows
• Treble crochet (tr): A tall stitch that creates the main fabric structure and contributes to the blanket's drape
• Double crochet (dc): A shorter stitch used for shaping and detail work
• Extended double crochet (exdc): A variation that adds height and texture to specific areas
• Slip stitch (sl st): Used to join rounds or move yarn across stitches without adding height

Bobble Stitch Feature

The signature element of this blanket is the bobble stitch, which creates three-dimensional texture and visual pop throughout the design. The bobble stitch is constructed by repeating a yarn over and pull through sequence multiple times within a single stitch, building up loops on the hook before drawing them all together in one final yarn over. This technique creates a rounded, dimensional knot that stands out from the flat background stitches, adding tactile interest and depth to the blanket's surface.

Pattern Specifications

The pattern is written using UK crochet terminology, which uses different names for stitches compared to US terminology. Tension is specified at 12 stitches and 7 rows of treble crochet measuring 10cm (4 inches) using the 5.5mm hook. While the pattern will still work if tension varies slightly, achieving the specified tension will result in the intended finished dimensions. The pattern includes comprehensive abbreviations and references Melu Crochet Guides for detailed stitch instruction, making it suitable for crocheters who may need visual reinforcement of techniques.

Design and Color Work

The rainbow color progression from cream through pink, purple, blue, green, yellow, and brown creates a gradient effect characteristic of rainbow-themed designs. The variety of yarn quantities for each color allows the designer to create balanced color distribution throughout the blanket, with some colors used more prominently than others to achieve the desired visual effect.