Free Pattern: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

My Christmas gift crafting had yet to start and I had planned on going all in this weekend. The overwhelming sadness that took over on Friday changed that. Driving to pick up my 6 year old after work on Friday and listening to the latest updates on the Newtown shooting, I knew there were many parents who would not be picking up their 6 year olds from school ever again. It had not happened in Colorado. It happened just an hour away.

Saturday morning when I woke up I started looking through Ravelry to try to get going on those Christmas presents, but I couldn’t stop thinking about all of those who the day before were sent Somewhere Over the Rainbow. So in memory of them, I made a painted crochet version of the See My Stitches Color Party Throw called Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

My son curled up on top of it and fell asleep as I added the fringe. It was impossible not to cry.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow Throw

Materials:

19mm Crochet Hook

7 skeins of Red Heart Super Saver Solids (worsted weight yarn in 364 yd skeins). 1 skein in each of the following colors: Hot Red (Red), Pumpkin (Orange), Bright Yellow (Yellow), Paddy Green (Green), Blue (Blue), Royal (Dark Blue), Amethyst (Purple).

Yarn Needle

Abbreviations (US terms used):

Ch = Chain

HDC = Half Double Crochet

FHDC = Foundation Half Double Crochet

BLO = Back Loops Only

Somewhere Over the Rainbow Pattern:

Final size is 54″ x 62″ not including the fringe.

You will be working this blanket from side to side.

Hold 3 strands of yarn together throughout the pattern. The painted crochet technique creates an ombre effect by changing the color of one of the three strands at a time. You will be repeating each color combination for two rows, then dropping one strand and picking up a new color strand.

Before you start, make balls around 44 yards of each color make 1 ball of each color around 44 yards long. When you need two strands of a color, pick up from both ends of the skein. When you need the third strand of the same color, add the ball you just made.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Full Image

Row 1: Using 3 strands of Purple, Ch2, 65 FHDC
(super easy alternative for Row 1: if you are afraid of the Foundation Half Double Crochet, you can Ch 67, then starting in 3rd chain from hook, 65 HDC)

Row 2: Turn, Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), 65 HDC in BLO

Row 3: Drop one strand of Purple and pick up one strand of Dark Blue. Repeat Row 2.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Rows 5-6: Repeat Row 3 then Row 2. You now have 1 Purple and 2 Dark Blue strands.

Rows 7-8: Repeat Row 3 then Row 2. You now have 3 Dark Blue strands.

Row 9: Drop one strand of Dark Blue and pick up one strand of Blue. Repeat Row 2.

Row 10: Repeat Row 2

Rows 11-12: Repeat Row 9 then Row 2. You now have 1 Dark Blue and 2 Blue strands.

Rows 13-14: Repeat Row 9 then Row 2. You now have 3 Blue strands.

Row 15: Drop one strand of Blue and pick up one strand of Green. Repeat Row 2.

Row 16: Repeat Row 2

Rows 17-18: Repeat Row 15 then Row 2. You now have 1 Blue and 2 Green strands.

Rows 19-20: Repeat Row 15 then Row 2. You now have 3 Green strands.

Row 21: Drop one strand of Green and pick up one strand of Yellow. Repeat Row 2.

Row 22: Repeat Row 2

Rows 23-24: Repeat Row 21 then Row 2. You now have 1 Green and 2 Yellow strands.

Rows 25-26: Repeat Row 21 then Row 2. You now have 3 Yellow strands.

Row 27: Drop one strand of Yellow and pick up one strand of Orange. Repeat Row 2.

Row 28: Repeat Row 2

Rows 29-30: Repeat Row 27 then Row 2. You now have 1 Yellow and 2 Orange strands.

Rows 31-32: Repeat Row 27 then Row 2. You now have 3 Orange strands.

Row 33: Drop one strand of Orange and pick up one strand of Red. Repeat Row 2.

Row 34: Repeat Row 2

Rows 35-36: Repeat Row 33 then Row 2. You now have 1 Orange and 2 Red strands.

Rows 37-38: Repeat Row 33 then Row 2. You now have 3 Red strands.

Add fringe. I added 1 fringe for each color combination, 19 fringes each side. For each fringe I cut 8 strands and incorporated any ends into the fringe.

Weave in any ends in the body of the blanket.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow Closeup

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