The Love Bear Rainbow Baby Blanket is a free crochet pattern at Nana’s Crafty Home!

I have been wanting to design a “Rainbow Baby” Blanket for a while now. A “Rainbow Baby” is the term used for a healthy baby born following a miscarriage or still birth. The pain of losing a baby can never forgotten. But the birth of a rainbow baby is a time of joy and healing.

I am a Nana (grandmother) to 9 beautiful little ones. Of the 9 healthy grandchildren we have been blessed with, 4 of them are rainbow babies. So, we have experienced the heartbreak of loss and the tremendous joy of the gift of life following these losses.

If you know someone expecting a rainbow baby here is the perfect gift. The bright and beautiful rainbow above a shower of hearts by a bear not able to contain all the love in his heart. So, he is sharing it with everyone!

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The blanket is made in a standard circle with the addition of the textured puffy clouds on either side. And the popcorn clouds of the rainbow rounds create a lovely texture on the blanket as well.

Complete video tutorial is now available!

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The blanket is made with Caron Simply Soft*. You could use any yarn for this project but I really love it with Simply Soft. The vibrant and bright colors as well as the beautiful soft sheen in this yarn makes it the perfect choice for this project! I so enjoyed working with this yarn — the colors just made me happy, happy, happy! ?

*This post contains affiliate links.  You can click on any yarn or material highlighted to purchase.  I will receive a small commission if you purchase but it won’t cost you any extra!  

The Love Bear and hearts are sewn to the blanket as appliqués once the main body of the blanket is complete. Most pieces of the bear are standard circles which are then sewn together before sewing the complete bear to the blanket. If you have never sewn appliqués on a crochet piece before I will show you how in the video tutorial!

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You may also like the following free crochet patterns at Nana’s Crafty Home:

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1. Cross My Heart Baby Blanket
2. Wrap Me in Sunshine Blanket
3. Pineapple of My Eye Blanket

Love Bear Rainbow Baby Blanket

Pattern written in US crochet terminology

Supplies:

(2) Caron Simply Soft—Soft Blue 12 oz/630 yds (Color A) 
Caron Simply Soft White 2.7 oz / 142 yds (Color B)
Caron Simply Soft Purple .6 oz / 32 yds (Color C)
Caron Simply Soft Royal Blue .6 oz / 32 yds (Color D)
Caron Simply Soft Limelight .9 oz / 48 yds / (Color E)
Caron Simply Soft Gold .9 oz / 48 yds (Color F)
Caron Simply Soft Harvest Red 1.1 oz/58 yds (Color G)
Caron Simply Soft Black scrap amount (Color H)

Size H/8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook

Scissors
Tapestry Needle

Approximate finished size:  39” wide circle

Gauge:  8 rows = 4” / 14 dc st = 4”

Abbreviations:

RS = right side
ch = chain
st = stitch
dc = double crochet
sl st = slip stitch
pc = popcorn st (see special stitches section below)
sc = single crochet
sc2tog = single crochet 2 together (see special stitches section below)
tr = treble crochet

Notes about pattern:

• Ch 3 at beginning of each round counts as a stitch throughout pattern
• Stitch count will increase by 13 stitches for each round.
• Rainbow rounds (15 – 29) continue to work as a standard circle.  However, I wanted the cloud sections to be the same size so I moved the increase to the outside of this section in order to achieve this.  I still wanted to maintain the same stitch increase each round in order to maintain the shape of the blanket.  

Special stitches:

Popcorn stitch (pc):  4 dc in same st, remove hook from loop, insert hook into 1st dc made, pull loop from 4th dc through loop.

Single crochet 2 together (sc2tog):  insert hook in next st, yarn over and pull up loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook in next st, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.

With Color A, make a magic circle

Round 1:  (RS) ch 3 (counts as 1st st), place 12 dc in magic circle, sl st top of ch 3.  (13)

Round 2:  ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st top of ch 3.  (26)

Round 3:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last st, dc in last st, sl st to top of ch 3. (39)

Round 4:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 2 st, dc in last 2 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (52)

Round 5: ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 3 st, dc in last 3 st, sl st to top of ch 3. (65)

Round 6:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 4 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 4 st, dc in last 4 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (78)

Round 7:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 5 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 5 st, dc in last 5 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (91)

Round 8:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 6 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 6 st, dc in last 6 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (104)

Round 9:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 7 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 7 st, dc in last 7 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (117)

Round 10:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 8 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 8 st, dc in last 8 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (130)

Round 11:  ch 3, dc same st, *dc in next 9 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 9 st, dc in last 9 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (143)

Round 12:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 10 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 10 st, dc in last 10 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (156)

Round 13:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 11 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 11 st, dc in last 11 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (169)

Round 14:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 12 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 12 st, dc in last 12 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (182) switch to color B.

Round 15: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color C, dc in next 6 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 13 st* repeat between * * 4 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 6 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, 2 dc in next st, switch to color A, *dc in next 13 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 13 st, dc in last 13 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (195) switch to color B

Round 16: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color C, dc in next 7 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 14 st* repeat between * * 4 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 8 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next* repeat between * * 2 more times, 2 dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 13 st, *2 dc in the next st, dc in next 14 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (208) switch to color B

Round 17: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color C, dc in next 8 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 15 st* repeat between * * 4 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 10 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, 2 dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 13 st, *2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 15 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (221) switch to color B

Round 18: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color D, dc in next 9 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 16 st* repeat between * * 4 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 12 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, 2 dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 13 st, *2 dc in the next, dc in next 16 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (234) switch to color B

Round 19:  (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color D, dc in next 10 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 17 st* repeat between * * 4 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 14 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, 2 dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 13 st, *2 dc in the next, dc in next 17 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (247) switch to color B

Round 20: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color D, dc in next 11 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 18 st* repeat between * * 4 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 16 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, 2 dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 13 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 18 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (260) switch to color B

Round 21: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color E, dc in next 12 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 19 st* repeat between * * 4 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 18 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, 2 dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 13 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 19 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (273) switch to color B

Round 22: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color E, dc in next 13 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 20 st* repeat between * * 5 more times, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, 2 dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 13 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 20 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (286) switch to color B

Round 23: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color E, dc in next 14 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 21 st* repeat between * * 5 more times, 2 dc in next st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 13 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 21 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (299) switch to color B

Round 24: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color F, dc in next 15 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 22 st* repeat between * * 5 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 12 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 22 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (312) switch to color B

Round 25: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color F, dc in next 16 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 23 st* repeat between * * 5 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 4 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 11 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 23 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (325) switch to color B

Round 26: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color F, dc in next 17 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 24 st* repeat between * * 5 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 6 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 10 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 24 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (338) switch to color B

Round 27: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color G, dc in next 18 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 25 st* repeat between * * 5 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 8 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 9 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 25 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (351) switch to color B

Round 28: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color G, dc in next 19 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 26 st* repeat between * * 5 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 10 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 8 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 26 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (364) switch to color B

Round 29: (With Color B) ch 3, dc in same st, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, switch to color G, dc in next 20 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 27 st* repeat between * * 5 more times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 12 st, switch to color B, pc in next st, *dc in next st, pc in next st* repeat between * * 2 more times, dc in next st, switch to color A, dc in next 7 st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 27 st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to top of ch 3.  (377) 

Round 30:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 28 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 28 st, dc in last 28 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (390)

Round 31:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 29 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 29 st, dc in last 29 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (403)

Round 32:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 30 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 30 st, dc in last 30 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (416)

Round 33:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 31 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 31 st, dc in last 31 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (429)

Round 34:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 32 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 32 st, dc in last 32 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (442)

Round 35:  ch 1, 2 sc in same st, *sc in next 33 st, 2 sc in next st* repeat between * * to last 33 st, sc in last 33 st, sl st to 1st st.  (455)

Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Bear

Main Body

With Color B, make a magic circle

Round 1:  ch 3 (counts as 1st st), place 12 dc in magic circle, sl st top of ch 3.  (13)

Round 2:  ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st top of ch 3.  (26)

Round 3:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last st, dc in last st, sl st to top of ch 3. (39)

Round 4:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 2 st, dc in last 2 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (52)

Round 5: ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 3 st, dc in last 3 st, sl st to top of ch 3. (65). Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Head

With Color B, make a magic circle

Round 1:  ch 3 (counts as 1st st), place 12 dc in magic circle, sl st top of ch 3.  (13)

Round 2:  ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st top of ch 3.  (26)

Round 3:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last st, dc in last st, sl st to top of ch 3. (39)

Round 4:  ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat between * * to last 2 st, dc in last 2 st, sl st to top of ch 3.  (52) Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Feet (Make 2)

With Color B, make a magic circle

Round 1:  ch 3 (counts as 1st st), place 12 dc in magic circle, sl st top of ch 3.  (13)

Round 2:  ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st top of ch 3.  (26)

Muzzle

With Color B, make a magic circle

Round 1:  ch 3 (counts as 1st st), place 12 dc in magic circle, sl st top of ch 3.  (13)

Round 2:  ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st top of ch 3.  (26) Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Ears (Make 2)

With Color B

Row 1: ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch to end.  Turn

Row 2:  ch 1, sc in same st and in each st to end.  Turn

Row 3:  repeat row 2

At the end of row 3, ch 1 and sc evenly around outside edge of the ear, sl st to first st.  Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Arms (Make 2)

With Color B

Row 1:  ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch to end.  Turn (5)

Row 2:  ch 1, sc in each st to end.  Turn (5)

Row 3 – 10:  Repeat row 2

Row 11:  ch 1, sc2tog twice, sc in last st.  (3)

Eyes (Make 2)

With Color H, ch 2, 5 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st to 1st st.  Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

Nose

With Color H

Row 1: ch 4, sc in ch 2 and in each ch to end.  Turn (3)

Row 2:  ch 1, sc2tog, sc in last st.  Turn (2)

Row 3:  ch 1, sc2tog.  (1)

Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

Sew Bear together as shown below in diagram: 

With Color H, embroider eyelashes and mouth on bear.

Heart Balloons

Make 1 in each of the following colors:  C, D, E, F, G

Make a magic circle, ch 3, working in the loop, make 3 tr, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, 3 tr, ch 3, sl st into the loop.  Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Sew heart to center of Bear Body.

Sew Bear and hearts to blanket where desired.