Rainbow Bright Stripe Throw

What better way to express yourself than through the Rainbow Bright Stripe Throw? This free crochet pattern features seven gorgeous colors stitched into interlocking swirls. Better yet, this crochet tutorial is beginner friendly, so don't worry about your level of expertise! With its classic striped pattern, this throw is a great start to your afghan collection. Freshen up an entire room with this single crochet pattern!

Easy

Crochet Hook4.5 mm hook

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

Materials:

RED HEART® With Love®: 1 skein each 1704 Bubble Gum A, 1252 Mango B, 1701 Hot Pink C, 1542 Aubergine D, 1814 True Blue E, 1601 Lettuce F, and 1502 Iced Aqua G
Crochet hook: 4.5mm [G-6 US]
Yarn needle

Size: Throw measures 56” long x 45” wide (142 x 114.5 cm)

Gauge: 1 pattern repeat = 3½” (9 cm); 4 rows = 2½” (6.5 cm) in pattern. Note: One pattern repeat consists of one shell and one single crochet. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Abbreviations: A , B , C = Color A, Color B, Color C, etc.; ch = chain; dc = double crochet; sc = single crochet; sp(s) = space(s); st(s) = stitch(es); ( ) = work directions in parentheses into same st; [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified; * = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated.

Special Stitches: Open shell = (dc, [ch 1, dc] 4 times) in indicated stitch. Large shell = (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in indicated stitch.

Note: To change color, work last stitch of old color to last yarn over. Yarn over with new color and draw through all loops on hook to complete stitch. Proceed with new color.

THROW:

With A , ch 146.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *ch 3, skip next 5 ch, open shell in next ch, ch 3, skip next 5 ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * across, turn—12 open shells and 13 sc.

Row 2 (right side): Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 2 dc in first sc, *ch 1, sc in first ch-1 space of next open shell, [ch 3, sc in next ch-1 space] 3 times, ch 1, large shell in next sc; repeat from * to last open shell, ch 1, sc in first ch-1 space of last open shell, [ch 3, sc in next ch-1 space] 3 times, ch 1, 3 dc in last sc, turn—11 large shells, 36 ch-3 spaces, and 3 dc at each end.

Row 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st as beginning ch 3, skip next 2 dc, *ch 2, sc in next ch-3 space, [ch 3, sc in next ch-3 space] twice, ch 2, large shell in ch-1 space of next large shell; repeat from * across to last 3 ch-3 spaces, ch 2, sc in next ch-3 space, [ch 3, sc in next ch-3 space] twice, ch 2, skip next 2 dc, 3 dc in top of beginning ch-3, turn—11 large shells, 24 ch-3 spaces, and 3 dc at each end.

Row 4: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st as beginning ch 3, skip next 2 dc, *[ch 3, sc in next ch-3 space] twice, ch 3, large shell in ch-1 space of next large shell; repeat from * to last 2 ch-3 spaces, [ch 3, sc in next ch-3 space] twice, ch 3, skip next 2 dc, 3 dc in top of beginning ch- 3, change to next color, turn—11 large shells, 36 ch-3 spaces, and 3 dc at each end.

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first dc, skip next 2 dc, *ch 3, skip next ch-3 space, open shell in next ch-3 space, ch 3, sc in ch-1 space of large shell; repeat from * to last 3 ch-3 space, ch 3, skip next ch-3 space, open shell in next ch-3 space, ch 3, skip last ch-3 space, skip next 2 dc, sc in top of beginning ch-3, turn—12 open shells and 13 sc.

Rows 6–85: Repeat Rows 2–5 twenty times, changing color at the end of every Row 4 and working rows in order of the following color sequence: *4 rows with B , 4 rows with C , 4 rows with D , 4 rows with E , 4 rows with F , 4 rows with G , 4 rows with A; repeat from * as needed, ending with A .

Rows 86–88: Repeat Rows 2–4 once; change to D at end of Row 88. Do not fasten off.

EDGING:

Last round: Ch 1, (sc, ch 3, 2 dc) in first sc, ch 2, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next ch-3 space, ch 2, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-3 space, ch 3, (sc, ch 3, sc) in ch-1 space of next large shell, *ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-3 space, ch 3, (sc, ch 3, sc) in ch-1 space of next large shell; repeat from * to last ch-3 space, ch 2, (sc, ch 3, sc) in last ch-3 space, ch 2, (sc, ch 3, 2 dc) in last sc; (sc, ch 2, dc) in end of each row down side edge; working across opposite side of foundation ch, (sc, ch 3, 2 dc) in first ch, ch 1, (sc, ch 3, sc) in first ch-5 space, ch 1, **(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch (below open shell), ch 3, skip next ch-5 space, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next ch (below large shell), ch 3, skip next ch-5 space; repeat from ** 11 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch (below open shell), ch 1, (sc, ch 3, sc) in last ch-5 space, ch 1, (sc, ch 3, 2 dc) in last ch; (sc, ch 2, dc) in end of each row up other side edge; join with slip st in first sc. Fasten off.