Free Pattern: Crochet Rainbow Moss Stitch Blanket

There is something quietly magical about a blanket that manages to be both visually striking and wonderfully simple to make. The Rainbow Moss Stitch Blanket checks every box — it is colorful, rhythmic to crochet, beginner-friendly once you get the hang of the stitch pattern, and the finished result is thick, squishy, and absolutely beautiful draped over a couch or gifted to someone you love. Whether you are brand new to crochet or a seasoned maker looking for a satisfying mindless project, this free pattern will walk you through everything you need to know to create your own version from start to finish.

Let’s dive in.

What Is the Moss Stitch in Crochet?

Before we get into the pattern itself, let’s talk about the moss stitch — also commonly known as the granite stitch or the linen stitch, depending on who you learned from. All three names refer to the same basic stitch combination: a single crochet followed by a chain stitch, worked in alternating spaces along each row. The result is a dense, beautifully textured fabric that has a slightly woven or grid-like appearance.

The moss stitch is one of those wonderful crochet stitches that looks far more complicated than it actually is. Once you work your first two rows, the pattern clicks into place and your hands seem to move almost automatically. It creates a tight, sturdy fabric with very little drape, which makes it absolutely perfect for blankets, dishcloths, bags, and anything else where you want structure and durability.

When you combine the moss stitch with a rainbow color sequence, you get long horizontal stripes of texture that shift gradually through the spectrum — and the effect is genuinely stunning. The tight stitch pattern means the colors pop cleanly against each other without blurring, giving your blanket that crisp, intentional look that photographs beautifully and looks even better in person.

Materials You Will Need

One of the best things about this blanket is that it does not require any specialty tools or expensive materials. Here is what you will need to gather before you begin.

Yarn: This pattern is written for a medium weight (worsted weight, size 4) yarn. You will need approximately 200 to 250 yards of each color in your rainbow sequence. For a standard lap blanket, plan on seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. If you want a larger blanket, simply increase the number of rows per color or add additional color repeats. Budget yarn works beautifully for this project — brands like Lion Brand Pound of Love, Caron Simply Soft, Red Heart Super Saver, or Paintbox Simply DK (held double) all give wonderful results.

Hook: A 5.0mm (US H/8) crochet hook is recommended for worsted weight yarn. If you tend to crochet tightly, go up half a size to a 5.5mm hook. Your gauge does not need to be precise for a blanket, but you want the fabric to feel soft and slightly flexible rather than stiff and board-like.

Scissors and a tapestry needle: You will need scissors for cutting yarn at the end of each color stripe and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends. There will be quite a few ends to weave in with a rainbow blanket, so consider weaving them in as you go rather than saving them all for the end.

A stitch marker: Optional but helpful for keeping track of your place, especially when you are first learning the stitch pattern.

Finished Size

As written, this pattern produces a blanket approximately 36 inches wide by 48 inches long — a generous lap blanket or a nice stroller size for a baby gift. The exact dimensions will vary based on your tension and the yarn you choose. Instructions for adjusting the size are included below.

Gauge

In moss stitch using worsted weight yarn and a 5.0mm hook: approximately 14 stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches. Again, gauge is not critical for a blanket, but if you want to match the finished dimensions closely, take a few minutes to make a small swatch before starting.

Abbreviations

For anyone who prefers to see the abbreviations listed clearly, here they are:

ch — chain
sc — single crochet
sp — space
st — stitch
rep — repeat
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
sl st — slip stitch

A Note on Color Changes

Because the moss stitch creates such a dense fabric, color changes happen cleanly and look intentional. You will change colors at the end of a row by completing your last single crochet of the old color, then pulling up the new color to complete the stitch. Leave a tail of at least six inches on both the old and new color for weaving in. Some crocheters like to crochet over their tails for the first few stitches of a new row to reduce the number of ends to weave in later — this is a great technique and works well with this stitch pattern.

For the rainbow sequence in this blanket, each color stripe is worked over 16 rows. You can make the stripes wider or narrower based on your preference.

The Pattern

Starting Chain

Begin with the color red (or whichever color you are starting with in your rainbow sequence).

Chain 127. This gives you a foundation chain of 127 stitches, which will produce a blanket approximately 36 inches wide. If you want to adjust the width, chain any odd number of stitches.

Row 1 (RS):

Starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, sc in the first ch, ch 1, skip the next ch, sc in the following ch; repeat from to the end of the row. Turn.

You will end this row with a sc in the last chain.

Row 2:

Ch 1, turn. Sc in the first sc of the previous row, ch 1, skip the ch-1 sp, sc in the next sc; repeat from to the end of the row. Turn.

Wait — actually, let’s clarify the moss stitch row structure, because it is easy to get confused at first.

The moss stitch in this pattern is worked by placing your single crochet stitches into the chain-1 spaces of the previous row, not into the single crochets themselves. So after your foundation row, every subsequent row follows this structure:

Row 2 onward:

Ch 1, turn. Sc in the first ch-1 sp of the previous row, ch 1, skip the next sc, sc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip the next sc; repeat from across, ending with sc in the last ch-1 sp. Turn.

This is the entire stitch pattern. That is truly it. Every row from here to the bind-off is this same sequence: single crochet into the chain space, chain one, skip the single crochet, repeat across.

Once you get about four rows in, you will be able to visually see exactly where each stitch goes and you will not need to think about it anymore. The stitch essentially guides itself.

Color Sequence

Work 16 rows in each of the following colors in order:

Red — 16 rows
Orange — 16 rows
Yellow — 16 rows
Green — 16 rows
Blue — 16 rows
Indigo (a deep blue-purple) — 16 rows
Violet — 16 rows

This gives you 112 rows total, which produces a blanket approximately 28 inches long. For a larger lap blanket, repeat the entire rainbow sequence twice — this gives you 224 rows and a blanket closer to 48 to 50 inches long. For a throw blanket, consider working through three full color cycles or increasing the row count per color to 24 or 32 rows per stripe.

Finishing

After your final row, fasten off and leave a long tail for weaving in. Weave in all remaining ends using your tapestry needle, taking care to weave through several stitches in different directions to secure them firmly.

Adding a Border

A simple border pulls the whole blanket together and gives it a polished, finished look. For this rainbow blanket, a clean single crochet border in white, cream, or a neutral gray works beautifully because it frames the rainbow without competing with it. You could also do the border in your last color (violet) or your first color (red) for a more cohesive look.

Simple single crochet border:

Join your chosen border color to any corner of the blanket with a slip stitch. Work 3 sc in the corner stitch, then sc evenly around the entire blanket, working 3 sc in each corner to keep the corners flat and neat. When you return to your starting point, slip stitch to join. You can work one round or two or three rounds depending on how substantial you want the border to feel. Fasten off and weave in ends.

If you want something a little more decorative, a reverse single crochet (also called crab stitch) border adds a lovely rope-like texture along the edge without being fussy. Simply work your single crochet border first, then add one round of reverse single crochet on top of it.

Tips for Success

Start with a swatch. Even just 20 stitches and 10 rows will help you get comfortable with the rhythm of the moss stitch before you commit to 127 stitches across. The stitch is genuinely simple once it clicks, but it can feel awkward for the first few rows.

Watch your tension on color changes. The first row of a new color can sometimes be slightly tighter or looser than the rest of your work if you are not used to working in color stripes. Take a breath, work slowly through that first row of each new color, and your tension will even out quickly.

Weave in as you go. With seven color changes (or fourteen if you do two full cycles), you will have a lot of ends. Weaving them in every few color changes rather than all at once at the end makes the finishing process much less overwhelming.

Use a yarn bowl or bag. When you have multiple skeins of yarn out at once, things can get tangled quickly. A yarn bowl or even just dropping each skein into a separate zip-lock bag helps enormously.

Keep your chain stitches loose. A common mistake with the moss stitch is working the chain-1 too tightly, which makes it difficult to insert your hook in the next row. Focus on keeping those chains relaxed and even.

Customization Ideas

One of the most wonderful things about this pattern is how easily it adapts to different color palettes and project sizes. Here are some ideas to make the pattern your own.

Pastel rainbow: Swap the traditional bold rainbow colors for pastel versions — blush pink, peach, soft yellow, mint, sky blue, lavender, and pale purple. This gives the blanket a softer, more vintage feel that works beautifully for nurseries and baby gifts.

Sunset palette: Work the blanket in warm tones only — coral, orange, gold, amber, rust, and burgundy — for a blanket that feels rich and cozy rather than cheerful and bright.

Two-color stripes: Simplify even further by working the blanket in alternating stripes of just two colors. A navy and cream moss stitch blanket has a classic nautical look, while black and white feels modern and graphic.

Baby blanket size: For a smaller baby blanket, start with a foundation chain of 75 or 77 stitches and work through one full color cycle. This gives you a blanket roughly 22 inches wide by 28 inches long — perfect for a stroller blanket or a newborn photo prop.

Monochrome texture blanket: If you prefer a more understated look, work the entire blanket in a single color. The moss stitch provides plenty of visual interest on its own, and a cream or oatmeal colored moss stitch blanket in a chunky yarn is honestly one of the most elegant and timeless crochet projects you can make.

Why This Pattern Makes Such a Wonderful Gift

Handmade gifts carry a weight and warmth that purchased items simply cannot replicate, and a crochet blanket is among the most heartfelt things you can give someone. The Rainbow Moss Stitch Blanket in particular is one of those projects that works for almost anyone on your gift list.

For a new baby, it is colorful and stimulating and will photograph beautifully in newborn pictures. For a child, a rainbow blanket is an obvious dream. For an adult friend or family member, the quality of the moss stitch fabric — dense, durable, and soft — makes it genuinely useful and lasting rather than a purely decorative object that gets tucked away.

The relatively quick pace of the project (experienced crocheters can finish a lap-sized version in three to four days of relaxed crocheting) means it is a realistic gift to make even when you have limited time. And because the stitch pattern is so rhythmic and meditative, working on this blanket feels less like a task and more like genuine rest.

Storing and Caring for Your Finished Blanket

The care instructions for your finished blanket will depend on the yarn you used, so always check the label on your specific yarn before washing. Most acrylic and acrylic-blend yarns — the most common choice for blankets — are machine washable on a gentle or delicate cycle and can be tumbled dry on low heat. Avoid high heat, which can distort acrylic fibers.

If you used a natural fiber yarn like cotton or wool, hand washing or a gentle machine cycle in cold water is safest. Lay wool items flat to dry rather than hanging them, since the weight of wet wool can cause stretching.

Store your finished blanket folded loosely in a breathable cotton bag or on an open shelf. Avoid storing it compressed in a plastic bin for long periods, as this can flatten the texture of the moss stitch over time.

Final Thoughts

The Crochet Rainbow Moss Stitch Blanket is the kind of project that reminds you why you fell in love with crochet in the first place. The stitch is satisfying and rhythmic, the color changes keep things interesting without being complicated, and the finished blanket is something genuinely beautiful that you will be proud to display or give away. Whether you make it in bold traditional rainbow colors or adapt the palette to something that feels more uniquely you, the result is always the same: a thick, cheerful, handmade piece of textile art that will be used and loved for years.

If you make your own Rainbow Moss Stitch Blanket, I would love to see it. Share your finished project in the comments below or tag it on social media so the whole community can celebrate your work. And if you have any questions about the pattern, drop them in the comments — I am always happy to help you work through any tricky spots.

Happy crocheting!