6-Day Retro Rainbow Baby Blanket

A variation of the classic crochet pattern

The 6-Day Kid Blanket by Betty McKnit

This pattern is a variation of the 6-Day Kid Blanket (6DKB). It is comprised of the same six rows of single crochet, double crochet, and double crochet “granny” clusters, but it does not chevron. This drama-free 6DKB stripe version is called the Tranquility stripe. The texture is both easy to work up and visually appealing in dreamy retro rainbow colors.

The floating clouds border is a variation of #14 from Edie Eckman’s book “Around the Corner Crochet Borders.”

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Matching Lovey by Betty McKnit

Faerie Lovey by Courtney Shepherd aka Gothfaeries Creations

Bundle Available HERE.

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Details:
US Terminology
Finished Size:
Skill Level: Easy

Materials:
(contains affiliate links)
Yarn: DK Weight acrylic 323 yards of each of eight colors

Stylecraft Special DK: 323 yards each of Color A Fondant, Color B Saffron, Color C Toy, Color D Spring Green, Color E Cloud Blue, Color F Aster, Color G Wisteria, Color H White.

Here are some color substitutions (these have not been tested, use at your own risk).
Premiere Anti-Pilling Everyday DK: Carnation, Salmon, Canary, Clover, Sea Glass, Bright Blue, Thistle, and White.

Lion Brand Truboo: Light Pink, Tangerine, Pastel Yellow, Celery, Light Blue, Blue, Lilac, and White.

Paintbox Yarns Simply DK: Bubble Gum Pink, Vintage Pink, Banana Cream, Spearmint Green, Summer Sky, Kingfisher Blue, Dusty Lilac, and White.

Hook: Betty’s Favorite Furls Odyssey G+ (4.5 mm), G (4 mm), and F (3.75 mm) hooks
(make a swatch to determine the best hook for your yarn).Gauge: 22 stitches, 30 rows over 4” in sc

Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Scissors

Abbreviations:
ch: chain
dc: double crochet
hdc: half double crochet
rep: repeat
sc: single crochet
sl st: slip stitch
standing dc: standing double crochet
stsc: stacked single crochet
sk: skip
sp(s): space(s) 
yo: yarn over

Special Stitches:

stacked single crochet: only used at the beginning of the row. sc in first st of the row, insert the hook into the side the sc just made, and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops. stsc complete.

Some things to consider before you start:

Does it really only take 6 Days to make?

The original 6-Day Kid Blanket was toddler sized and made with chunky weight yarn, and took me six days to make by crocheting about two hours each day. Any 6-Day Kid Blanket can be made in 6 days provided it is not upsized beyond a starting chain of 132 sts. This blanket starts with a starting chain of 150 so expect it to take longer than six days. I suggest starting at least two weeks before the baby shower.

For more information please see my article, Why is it Called the 6-Day Kid Blanket?

How to Resize

This pattern does not give resize options. If you would like make this blanket in a different size, please make a swatch on 21 stitches and measure it in order to determine how many starting chains you will need to make the blanket in the size you want with your yarn, hook, and tension. The starting chain multiple is 3.

Side edges:

This pattern utilizes the stacked single crochet at the start of the rows in order to create straight side edges. Please see the abbreviations at the beginning of this pattern for an explanation of the stitch. 

Floating the yarn up the sides of the work

This pattern changes colors at the end of every row. You will either have millions of ends to weave in, or you can float the yarns up the sides of the work. 

If you choose to weave in the ends, I suggest changing colors as described below and working your border rounds first and weaving in the yarn ends last. I do not recommend knots. They can and do come undone.

Another option is to float the yarns up the sides of the work and work your first round of the border over the floats. You may have to work over the floats with a smaller hook in tight tension if you use seven colors like I did, as you will be working over three strands of yarn on each side. When carrying yarn up the sides of the work, take care that your tension is just right – not too tight, not too loose. The yarn should lay along the side edge.

I would only recommend floating color changes with 3 or fewer colors of DK weight yarn on each side (which would be seven total colors). It will not work with heavier yarn, or with more than three strands on each side. I also do not recommend working over cut yarn ends. I highly recommendpracticing this technique on your swatch first.

Most of you will ignore that last suggestion so I’ll say it again. Make a swatch and practice floating and working over the edge on your swatch.

Changing Colors

This pattern changes colors at the end of every row. To change colors, draw the new color through the last two loops of the last stitch of the row. 

Striping

The original 6-Day Kid Blanket stitches can take on many different looks depending on which rows the color changes fall on. If you would like to use this pattern variation with another 6-Day Kid Blanket stripe please see my article “No Two 6-Day Kid Blankets are Alike” for more information about the different 6DKB stripes and how to create them.

Begin

With G+ (4.5 mm) hook and Color A chain 150 (multiple of 3). Switch to G (4 mm) hook.

Row 1: Starting in the second chain from the hook, sc across.

Turn

Change to Color B

Row 2: stsc, dc, *(sk 2, 3 dc in next sp), repeat from * across, 2 dc in last sp. 

Turn

 Change to Color C

Row 3: ch 3, 3 dc in next and in each sp across, dc in last st.

Turn

Change to Color D

Row 4: ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each st across, ending with sc in last st.

Turn

Change to Color E

Row 5: stsc, dc in next and each st across.

Turn

Change to Color F

Row 6: stsc, dc in next and each st across. 

Turn

Change to Color G

Row 7: ch 1,sc in same st, sc in each st across, ending with sc in last st.

Turn

Change to Color A

Repeat rows 2-7, eighteen times (or to desired length) changing colors in established sequence. Your color sequence will not match your row sequence since there are seven colors and six rows. 

Repeat rows 2-4 once more in established color sequence. Fasten off.

Border Round 1: With the same (G, 4 mm) hook, attach Color G in any stitch along the top row and work a round of sc around the entire piece, working 3 sc in each corner. When working the sides, work into dc/sc stitches treating them like you would a foundation chains by working under 2 threads of each stitch. Use the smallest hook (F, 3.75 mm) for the sides if you floated the yarn up the sides when you changed colors, and care to work over the floats. Switch back to  the larger hook for the top and bottom of the border.

Check your work often to make sure it is lying flat. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.

Switch back to G (4 mm) hook for the remainder of the project.

Border Round 2: With Color A and G (4mm) hook, join with sc in any stitch. *(ch 1, sk 1, sc) to corner, (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner. Repeat from * around. Fasten off.

Border Round 3: Join Color B in any ch 1 space. sc in same sp, *(ch 1, sk 1, sc in next ch 1 sp) to corner, (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner. Repeat from * around. Fasten off. 

Border Round 4 – 7: Repeat Border Round 3 with Colors C, D, E, and F in that order. Join each new color in a different place each time.

Border Round 8: Join White with sc in any corner, *sk 1 ch 1 sp, dc in next ch 1 sp. ch 1, (sc, hdc, 4 dc, hdc) around dc into sp bet dc and Border Round 7, sc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * around, finish with sc in first corner sp.

Adjust your skips if needed so that sc falls in the corner sps. Do not dc over a corner.

Fasten off.

Weave in all ends.

Matching Lovey by Betty McKnit

Faerie Lovey by Courtney Shepherd aka Gothfaeries Creations

Bundle Available HERE.