Rainbow Granny Square Free Pattern: 8 Colorful Steps
This rainbow granny square works a rainbow arch in six colors as concentric half-circles. The first five rounds build the rainbow center, then a squaring round and two border rounds finish it. It comes out about 5.5 inches, big enough to use as a single bag panel.
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Tip: work rounds 2 through 6 in the third loop only to give the rainbow a raised, pop-up look.
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It brings a colorful rainbow arch into your crochet. Built as concentric rings for a layered effect, it uses just basic stitches, single, half double, and double crochet, so it’s manageable if you’re comfortable with color changes.
The center forms an arch like a little rainbow portal, framed by a classic granny border. At about 5.5 inches it’s bigger than most granny squares, so a single one can become a small bag, a pillow panel, or a feature in a larger project.
Materials for Your Rainbow Granny Square Free Pattern
Gather your supplies first, you’ll need six yarn colors for the full rainbow.
- Yarn: 6 colors of DK sport weight yarn (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple or pastel equivalents)
- Crochet hook: 3.00mm
- Darning needle: for weaving in ends
- Scissors: for cutting between colors
It finishes about 5.5 inches square in DK sport yarn on a 3.00 mm hook, one of the larger granny motifs, great for standalone projects like the backpack bag mentioned below.
Color Combination Ideas for Your Rainbow Granny Square
It works two ways for color. Option one: bright multicolor yarn for the arches against one solid background, so the rainbow stands out. Option two: different colors for both the rainbow and the background, for an all-over cheerful look.
Pick whichever suits your project, a solid background keeps a blanket consistent, while the fully colorful version is fun for bags and accessories.
Rainbow Granny Square Abbreviations
It uses standard US terms. Need help reading patterns? See our pattern-reading guide.
- ch: chain stitch
- ch-sp: chain space
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- sc: single crochet
- inc: increase (2 stitches in same stitch)
- slst: slip stitch
- TLO: third loop only
Rainbow Granny Square Free Pattern Step-by-Step
The first five rounds make the rainbow center, working stitches on both sides of a foundation chain into an oval, then adding concentric color rings in the third loop for dimension. Round 6 squares it off, and rounds 7 to 8 add a classic double crochet border.
Round 1: Rainbow Center (Oval)
Chain 6, then work stitches into both sides of the foundation chain to form a small oval. This is the heart of your rainbow arch.
Ch6. Sk 2 ch. In BL of next 3 ch: (hdc, dc) in 3rd, hdc inc in 4th, hdc inc in 5th. In 6th ch: (hdc, 2dc, hdc). In FL of previous 3 ch: hdc inc in 5th, hdc inc in 4th, dc in 3rd. Slst to first skipped ch, fasten off.
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Rounds 2-5: Color Rings
For each color ring, join new yarn and work around the oval center (not the bottom edge) to build the rainbow arch. Work in the third loop only to make stitches stand out.
Round 2: New yarn in first dc, ch2+hdc, 4hdc, dc inc, 4dc in next st, dc inc, 4hdc, hdc+ch2, slst to same st, fasten off.
Round 3 (TLO): New yarn in top of first ch2, ch2, 6hdc, hdc inc, 3hdc in each of next 4 sts, hdc inc, 6hdc, ch2, slst to top of next ch2, fasten off.
Round 4 (TLO): New yarn in top of first ch2, ch2, 8hdc, 4 hdc inc, 4hdc, 4 hdc inc, 8hdc, ch2, slst to top of next ch2, fasten off.
Round 5 (TLO): New yarn in top of first ch2, ch2, 10hdc, 5 hdc inc, 6hdc, 5 hdc inc, 10hdc, ch2, slst to top of next ch2, fasten off.
Round 6: First Border (Square Off)
This round turns the rainbow arch into a square by adding stitches all around, including corners. Along the bottom edge, work 2hdc in each chain space.
TLO. New yarn in top of first ch2, ch2 (count as hdc)+hdc, 14hdc, dc+tr, ch2, tr+dc, dc, 12hdc, dc, dc+tr, ch2, tr+dc, 14hdc, hdc inc, ch2. Bottom: 2hdc in each ch-sp, ch2, slst to top of first ch2.
Rounds 7-8: Classic Border
The final two rounds add a classic granny border with double crochet stitches and chain-2 corners. Work dc in each stitch, and (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in each corner space.
ch3 (count as dc), dc in each st, 2dc+ch2+2dc in each corner sp. Slst to top of first ch3, fasten off. Repeat for Round 8.
Rainbow Granny Square Project Ideas
Because it’s such a large square, one piece is enough to make a little backpack bag, the bright colors and size suit a kid’s bag or a small project pouch.
You can also join several into a rainbow blanket, or use single squares as cushion covers. It pairs nicely with the solid granny square for contrast in join-as-you-go projects.
For beginners looking to build skills before tackling this pattern, our easiest crochet stitch for beginners guide is a great starting point. For authoritative yarn weight references, visit the Craft Yarn Council standards page, and browse more free patterns at Yarnspirations.
Turn your colorful squares into wearables with our pastel granny square sweater pattern. Our modern granny square pattern guide shows more ways to play with color.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make a rainbow granny square?
You change yarn color each round, following the rainbow spectrum from red to violet. Start with a magic ring in red, work round one, then join orange for round two, yellow for three, and on through green, blue, and purple, each round a new band radiating outward.
What colors do you need for a rainbow granny square?
A classic rainbow uses seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. You can use anywhere from four to seven depending on how many rounds you work. For a softer look, try pastels; for a modern one, neon or self-striping ombre yarn.
What is the best yarn for rainbow granny squares?
Worsted (size 4) acrylic or cotton, or a DK-to-medium weight, is ideal. Acrylic is cheap and comes in every color; cotton gives crisper stitches. Use the same brand and weight for all colors so your tension and square size stay consistent.
How many rainbow granny squares do you need for a blanket?
It depends on the blanket size and your squares. A standard throw (about 50 by 60 inches) in 4-inch squares takes roughly 150 to 180, in a 13×12 or 15×12 grid; a 36-inch baby blanket needs around 81.
Can you use variegated rainbow yarn instead of separate colors?
Yes, variegated rainbow yarn is a handy shortcut with less color-changing, though the transitions won’t follow a strict rainbow order and each square comes out a little different. A common compromise is variegated for the center and solids for the outer rounds.
