Somewhere Over the Rainbow: A Complete Guide to Michelle Burger’s Beloved Crochet Pattern

There is something quietly magical about a rainbow. Whether it appears after a summer storm or arches across a child’s drawing, the rainbow carries a kind of joy that is hard to put into words. That same feeling is woven into every stitch of the Somewhere Over the Rainbow crochet pattern by Michelle Burger — a design that has captured the hearts of crocheters around the world with its vibrant colors, satisfying construction, and timeless appeal.

If you have been searching for a project that is both achievable and breathtaking, one that will challenge you just enough to keep things interesting while still delivering a finished piece you are genuinely proud of, this is the pattern you have been looking for. In this guide, we will walk through everything you need to know about the Somewhere Over the Rainbow pattern — from the designer behind it, to the materials you will need, the techniques involved, and tips for making your version truly shine.

Who Is Michelle Burger?

Before diving into the pattern itself, it is worth taking a moment to appreciate the person who created it. Michelle Burger is a South African crochet designer with a distinctive aesthetic that blends color confidence with clever construction. Her work tends to reflect a deep understanding of how stitches behave, how colors interact, and how a finished piece should feel in the hand as much as it looks beautiful on the wall or bed.

What sets Michelle Burger apart from many designers is her ability to make complex-looking projects feel approachable. Her patterns are written with clarity and care, often accompanied by detailed instructions that account for the questions a crocheter might have mid-project. The Somewhere Over the Rainbow pattern is a perfect example of her design philosophy: a project that looks intricate and colorful but is built on a logical, well-explained foundation that makers of various skill levels can follow and enjoy.

Her work has inspired thousands of makers across social media, and the Somewhere Over the Rainbow project in particular has generated a vibrant community of people sharing their finished pieces, their color choices, and their progress photos. It is not just a pattern — it has become a shared experience.

What Is the Somewhere Over the Rainbow Pattern?

The Somewhere Over the Rainbow pattern by Michelle Burger is a crochet blanket (also sometimes made as a throw or lap blanket) that features the classic arc of rainbow colors rendered in crochet. The design uses a combination of colorwork and thoughtful stitch selection to create bands of color that flow beautifully from one to the next, evoking the smooth gradation of a real rainbow while remaining distinctly handmade and textural.

The blanket is typically worked using a combination of solid and semi-solid yarns in the traditional rainbow spectrum — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet — often bookended by neutral shades like white or cream to give the colors room to breathe and pop. The result is a piece that feels joyful without being overwhelming, and polished without feeling sterile.

One of the most appealing aspects of this pattern is its versatility. While the rainbow colorway is the most iconic version, many makers have used this pattern as a canvas for their own color stories — soft pastels for a baby shower gift, earthy tones for a more muted aesthetic, or bold neons for a maximalist statement piece. The structure of the pattern accommodates color customization beautifully, which is part of why it has remained so popular.

Skill Level and Who This Pattern Is For

The Somewhere Over the Rainbow pattern is generally considered suitable for confident beginners to intermediate crocheters. If you have mastered the basic stitches — chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet — and you are comfortable changing colors and weaving in ends, you should find this pattern very manageable.

That said, there are moments in the pattern where attention to detail matters, particularly around color changes and maintaining consistent tension across rows. If you are someone who tends to crochet tightly, you may want to go up a hook size to ensure your fabric has the right drape. If you tend to crochet loosely, checking your gauge early on will save you from ending up with a blanket that is significantly larger or smaller than intended.

The pattern is also a wonderful project for crocheters who are looking to practice their color management skills. Working with multiple colors — even if it is just one color per row or section — teaches you a great deal about weaving in ends neatly, carrying yarn, and planning ahead so that your finished piece looks tidy on the back as well as the front.

For those who are newer to crochet, this pattern can absolutely be a learning project. Take it slowly, refer back to the instructions often, and do not be afraid to frog (unravel) a section if something does not look right. The satisfaction of completing this blanket far outweighs any frustration along the way.

Materials You Will Need

To make the Somewhere Over the Rainbow blanket by Michelle Burger, you will need a few key supplies. While the exact requirements will depend on the size you choose to make and the yarn weight you select, here is a general overview of what to gather before you begin.

Yarn: The pattern traditionally calls for a DK or worsted weight yarn, depending on the version of the pattern you are working from. You will need yarn in each of the rainbow colors — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet — plus a neutral shade for the background or border sections. The exact yardage for each color will be specified in the pattern. Many makers choose to use a single yarn brand throughout for consistency in weight, texture, and finished appearance. Popular choices include Paintbox Simply DK, Stylecraft Special DK, and Lion Brand yarn in various weights, though any yarn that meets the gauge requirements will work beautifully.

Crochet Hook: The recommended hook size will be listed in the pattern and corresponds to the yarn weight being used. For DK weight yarn, a 4mm or 4.5mm hook is common. For worsted weight, a 5mm hook is a typical starting point. Always check your gauge before beginning to ensure your finished dimensions will match the pattern.

Tapestry Needle: You will need a blunt tapestry needle for weaving in your ends. Given the number of color changes in this blanket, plan for a fair amount of end-weaving — it helps to do this as you go rather than saving it all for the end.

Scissors: A small, sharp pair of scissors for cutting yarn between color changes.

Stitch Markers: Optional but helpful for keeping track of your stitch count, particularly at the beginning of rows.

Measuring Tape: For checking your gauge swatch and finished dimensions.

Understanding the Construction

One of the things that makes the Somewhere Over the Rainbow pattern so satisfying to work is the logical way it is constructed. Rather than working in complicated motifs or requiring advanced colorwork techniques like tapestry crochet, the pattern is built in a more straightforward way that makes the color progression feel natural and achievable.

The blanket is typically worked in rows, with each section or band of color representing a different stage of the rainbow arc. The way the colors are sequenced and the way the stitch pattern interacts with each color creates the visual effect of a layered, glowing rainbow. Some versions of the pattern use a simple stitch throughout, allowing the colors to be the star of the show, while other versions incorporate textural stitches that add dimension and interest to each color band.

Understanding how the blanket is put together before you begin is genuinely helpful. Read through the entire pattern once before picking up your hook. This gives you a mental map of where you are going and allows you to spot any sections that might need extra attention or preparation. It also helps you plan your yarn quantities more accurately so you are not running out of a color partway through.

Tips for a Beautiful Finished Blanket

Making a large colorwork project like this one involves a few best practices that will make a noticeable difference in your finished piece. Here are some tried-and-true tips from experienced makers who have completed the Somewhere Over the Rainbow pattern.

Swatch first. It feels like extra work, but making a gauge swatch before you begin will save you time and yarn in the long run. A small swatch worked in your chosen yarn and hook size will tell you whether your tension matches the pattern’s requirements and allow you to adjust before you are ten rows into a blanket that is going to be the wrong size.

Weave in ends as you go. Every time you change colors, you create two ends that need to be woven in. On a colorful blanket with many color changes, this can amount to dozens of ends. Weaving them in as you complete each color section keeps the work manageable and means you are not facing a mountain of finishing tasks at the end.

Keep your tension consistent. Tension can shift subtly when you change colors, especially if you are stopping and starting. Try to be mindful of your first few stitches after a color change to ensure they are not tighter or looser than the rest of your work.

Use stitch markers liberally. Even in a relatively simple pattern, stitch markers can help you maintain your stitch count, especially at the beginning and end of rows. A dropped stitch at the edge of a large blanket is easy to miss until several rows later.

Block your finished blanket. Wet blocking or steam blocking your completed blanket will even out your stitches, open up any textural stitch patterns, and help the piece lie flat and look its best. This step is especially important if you are making the blanket as a gift, as it gives the finished piece a polished, professional look.

Photograph your progress. Beyond being satisfying for you, sharing your progress on social media connects you with other makers working on the same pattern. The Somewhere Over the Rainbow community is warm and encouraging, and seeing other people’s color choices may inspire your own decisions along the way.

Color Customization Ideas

While the rainbow colorway is the heart and soul of this pattern, one of its greatest strengths is how well it translates to other color palettes. Here are some ideas to get you thinking about how you might make this pattern your own.

A pastel rainbow version, using soft pinks, lavenders, pale yellows, and mint greens, creates a dreamy, ethereal feel that is perfect for a nursery or a baby gift. Pair these with a soft white or cream neutral for a look that feels tender and sweet.

A sunset palette — working through warm corals, deep oranges, rich pinks, and purples — transforms the blanket into something moody and romantic. This version works beautifully in a living room with earthy, warm tones throughout.

A monochromatic version, using different shades and values of a single color (say, every shade of blue from pale sky to deep navy), creates a sophisticated, gallery-worthy piece that reads as more subtle but no less beautiful.

An autumnal version using burnt orange, mustard yellow, deep red, forest green, and brown creates something that feels grounded and seasonal — perfect for snuggling under on cool evenings.

Whatever palette you choose, the key is to select colors that have enough contrast between them so that each band reads as distinct rather than blending together into muddiness. Laying your yarn skeins out side by side before you begin can help you check that your planned sequence of colors works visually.

Where to Find the Pattern

The Somewhere Over the Rainbow pattern by Michelle Burger is available for purchase through Ravelry, which is the most well-known and widely used platform for crochet and knitting patterns. You can search for the pattern by name on Ravelry and purchase a downloadable PDF that you can save and reference as many times as you need.

Michelle Burger’s designer page on Ravelry also lists her other patterns, which are well worth exploring if you fall in love with her design style after completing this project. Her catalog reflects the same combination of colorful confidence and clear instruction that makes Somewhere Over the Rainbow so enjoyable to work.

Some of her patterns may also be available through her own website or social media channels, so it is worth following her online to stay up to date with new releases, pattern updates, and any errata that may be posted.

Why This Pattern Has Endured

Crochet trends come and go. Certain stitches have their moment in the spotlight, certain color palettes cycle in and out of fashion, and certain types of projects dominate the feeds for a season before giving way to the next thing. What is remarkable about the Somewhere Over the Rainbow pattern is how steadily it has maintained its popularity over time.

Part of that longevity comes down to the universal appeal of the rainbow itself. There are very few people who do not have some emotional response to those bands of color — whether it is nostalgia, joy, a sense of hope, or simple delight in something beautiful. A handmade rainbow blanket carries all of that feeling with it, amplified by the knowledge that every stitch was placed with intention.

Part of it also comes from the quality of the pattern itself. A well-written pattern that makes a maker feel capable and guided is a pattern that gets recommended, gifted, and returned to. Michelle Burger’s clear instructions and thoughtful construction ensure that the experience of making the blanket is as rewarding as the finished object.

And part of it is the community that has grown up around it. When you finish this blanket and share it with the world, you are joining a long line of makers who have done the same thing — each with their own color choices, their own yarn, their own hands, but all connected by the same pattern and the same sense of accomplishment.

Final Thoughts

The Somewhere Over the Rainbow crochet pattern by Michelle Burger is more than a blanket pattern. It is an invitation to slow down, to play with color, and to make something genuinely beautiful with your own two hands. Whether you are a seasoned crocheter looking for a satisfying large project or a newer maker ready to stretch your skills, this pattern meets you where you are and takes you somewhere wonderful.

Pick your colors, wind your yarn, and cast on. Somewhere over the rainbow, your next favorite project is waiting.