Rainbow Ridge Blanket

Rainbow Ridge Blanket by MissNeriss

Project Overview

The Rainbow Ridge Blanket is a beginner-friendly crochet blanket designed by Nerissa Muijs. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a finished blocked blanket measuring 100 x 70cm, making it an ideal size for a cozy throw or lap blanket. The design features colorwork worked in rows using the yarn under technique, creating a visually striking striped or ridge effect across the surface.

What You'll Create

This project produces a rectangular blanket with a structured border finish. The blanket is worked primarily in a main color (Scheepjes Softfun 2622 Latte) combined with contrasting pastel tones from a color pack, creating the distinctive ridge pattern that gives the blanket its name. The finished piece is blocked to achieve the specified measurements, though slight contraction may occur due to the natural stretch properties of the yarn used.

Crochet Techniques Used

• Yarn Under Colorwork: The primary technique employed throughout the blanket body, allowing you to carry contrast colors while working with the main color yarn under the stitches for seamless color transitions
• Back and Forth Row Construction: The blanket is worked in rows rather than in the round, making it straightforward for beginners to follow and manage
• Bordered Finish: A structured border is added after the main blanket body is complete, worked with a larger hook size for definition
• Blocking: The finished blanket is blocked to achieve precise measurements and even out the colorwork pattern

Crochet Stitches and Abbreviations

• Chain (Ch): Used to create foundation chains and chain spaces throughout the pattern
• Double Crochet (Dc): The primary stitch used in the blanket body construction
• Yarn Under Double Crochet (YUdc): A specialized double crochet variation that incorporates the yarn under colorwork technique
• Slip Stitch (Ss): Used to join rounds when beginning the border section
• Chain (2) Space (Ch(2)-sp): Refers to spaces created by chain stitches in the pattern

Materials and Tools Required

Yarn: The pattern calls for DK weight yarn, specifically 6 balls of Scheepjes Softfun in color 2622 Latte for the main color, combined with 1 Scheepjes Softfun minis color pack in pastel shades for contrast colors. The mini balls provide the limited yardage needed for the colorwork sections. Tension is critical with this project—maintaining 18 stitches and 19 rows over 10cm in pattern ensures you have sufficient yarn to complete the blanket without running short.

Hooks: Three different crochet hook sizes are used throughout the project. A 5mm hook is used for the body of the blanket where the main colorwork takes place. A 4mm hook is used for the border work, creating a slightly tighter, more defined edge. A 6mm hook is used specifically for the slip stitch round that begins the border construction, allowing for smooth transitions between sections.

Difficulty Level and Suitability

Rated as a beginner project, the Rainbow Ridge Blanket is accessible to those new to crochet while still offering the satisfaction of creating a substantial finished piece. The yarn under colorwork technique is introduced in a manageable way through row-by-row construction, and the use of basic stitches (chain and double crochet) keeps the learning curve gentle. Beginners should pay particular attention to maintaining consistent tension to ensure accurate yardage usage and final measurements.

Pattern Notes

The pattern uses UK crochet terminology throughout. The design emphasizes the importance of adhering closely to the specified tension, as the limited yardage in the mini color pack means looser tension could result in running out of contrast yarn before completing the blanket. The yarn's natural stretch properties mean the blocked measurements of 100 x 70cm may contract slightly after blocking, which is normal and expected with this yarn choice.