Made of squares sewn together to form strips, this baby afghan is a good project to take with you when you travel. Each square can be made in less than an hour. Five rainbows, made separately, are appliquéd, one on each strip. A 3 ply sport yarn in 2 oz skeins is needed for this coverlet.

You need 2 oz each of:

• light pink (A)
• peach (B)
• yellow ( C )
• light green (D)
• pastel blue (E)
• Size I crochet hook and a tapestry needle to sew squares and strips together.

Gauge: Each square is approx. 7 x 7 inches
Finished afghan is approx.: 30 ½ x 37 ½ inches.
Note: Ch 3 on turn always counts as first dc of next row.
Square: Make 4 squares in each of the colours A-E.

Ch 27.
Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each ch - 25 dc counting turning ch. Ch 3, turn.

Row 2: Ch 3 counted as first st, *sk next dc, dc in next dc, ch 2, repeat from *, end with dc in last dc, ch 3, turn - 12 ch 2 spaces.

Row 3: *Dc in ch 2 sp, dc in dc, repeat from * across - 25 dc. Ch 3, turn.

Row 4: Dc in each dc, ch 3, turn.

Row 5: Ch 3 is first dc, dc in each of next 4 dc, ch 2, sk 1 dc, dc in each of next 13 dc, ch 2, sk 1 dc, dc in each of next 5 dc, ch 3, turn.

Row 6: Ch 3 is first dc, dc in each of next 4 dc, ch 2, sk ch 2 sp, dc in each of next 13 dc, ch 2, sk ch 2 sp, dc in each of next 5 dc, ch 3, turn.

Row 7: Ch 3 is first dc, dc in each of next 4 dc, dc in ch 2 sp, ch 2, sk 1 dc, dc in each of next 11 dc, ch 2, sk 1 dc, dc in ch 2 sp, dc in each of next 5 dc, ch 3, turn.

Row 8: Ch 3 is first dc, dc in each of next 5 dc, dc in ch 2 sp, ch 2, sk 1 dc, dc in each of next 9 dc, ch 2, sk 1 dc, dc in ch 2 sp, dc in each of next 6 sts, ch 3, turn.

Row 9: Ch 3 is first dc, dc in each of next 6 sts, dc in ch 2 sp, dc in next dc, (ch 2, sk 1 dc, dc in next dc) 4 times, dc in ch 2 sp, dc in each of next 7 dc, ch 3, turn.

Row 10: Dc in each dc and ch 2 sp, ch 3, turn.

Row 11: repeat Row 4.
Row 12: repeat Row 2.
Row 13: repeat Row 3, fasten off.

Rainbow Applique: Make 5 altogether in the following colour sequence:

• Make two: A,B,C,D,E
• make one: B,A,C,D,E
• make one: E,D,C,B,A
• make one: A,B,D,E,C

With first colour, ch 10. At the end of all following rows, fasten off colour. Do not turn. Next row begins at beginning of previous row.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch 9 sc.

Row 2: Join first colour to beginning of Row 1. Sc in each of 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each of 4 sc - 10 sc.

Row 3: Join 2nd colour to beginning of Row 2. Sc in each of 2 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * once more, end sc in each of 2 sc - 14 sc.

Row 4: Join 3rd colour to beginning of last row. *Sc in each of 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * 3 times more, end sc in each of 2 sc - 18 sc.

Row 5: Join 4th colour to beginning of last row. *Sc in each of 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each of 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from *, end sc in each of 2 sc - 22 sc.

Row 6: Join last colour to beginning of last row. *Sc in each of 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each of 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each of 2 sc, repeat from * once, end 2 sc in next sc, sc in each of 2 sc, 2 sc in last sc.

Row 7: Join last colour to beginning of last row. Sc in each sc. Fasten off.

Finishing:
Weave 4 squares of each colour tog. to form strips. Weave the 5 strips tog. in the following colour sequence: A,B,C,D,E, picking up back loop of stitch only. Steam seams lightly on wrong side, making sure piece is flat.

Border:
Border is worked in A,B,C,D,E colour sequence.

Row 1: Join A at upper right corner. With right side facing, sc in each dc across top, 3 sc in corner, work 2 sc in each dc down side of blanket, 3 sc in corner, sc across lower edge, 3 sc in corner, 2 sc in each dc along side edge (make sure corresponding sides have same number of sts and piece is flat), ending 2 sc in starting corner. Join with sl st. Fasten off A, join B.

Row 2: With B, sc in each sc, 3 sc in each corner, picking up back loop of stitch only, end 2 sc in starting corner, join with sl st. Fasten off B, join C. Repeat Row 2, completing colour sequence. Do not fasten off E at end of last row.

Trim: with right side facing, working backwards from left to right , ch 1, sc in first sc (go through both parts of st), *sk 1, sc in next sc, going through both parts of st and making sure sc is worked loose enough so work doesn’t draw in. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st. Fasten off.

Steam border lightly. Sew rainbow appliqués to blanket as desired or as follows: On 3rd A square from right; on first B square from right; on 4th C square from right; on 2nd D square from right; on 3rd E square from right. Steam blanket lightly to measurements.