Turn skeins of yarn into a starburst of cozy comfort with this stunning 12-pointed star design.

There’s something magical about a handmade baby blanket. It’s a hug in textile form, a tangible wish for warmth and sweetness. But this pattern—Celeste Young’s breathtaking Rainbow Ripple Baby Blanket—is more than just a blanket. It’s a cascading galaxy of color, a 12-pointed star that ripples outward in a symphony of soft yarn. Perfect for draping over a nursery glider or wrapping a little one in a rainbow, this project is a rewarding crochet journey with a spectacular finish.

Project Snapshot

• Designer: Celeste Young

• Finished Size: Approximately 45 inches in diameter from point to point.

• Skill Level: Confident Beginner to Intermediate. You’ll need to be comfortable with working in the round, double crochet, and following a repeating shell pattern.

• The Look: A vibrant, flat circular afghan with a dramatic star-like shape, featuring sharp, beautiful points created by strategic shell stitches.

Materials & Tools

Yarn (Worsted Weight):
This pattern uses the beautifully soft Berroco Comfort Worsted for a durable, machine-washable finish. You will need:

• #9700 Chalk (G): 2 skeins (Main background/separator color)

• #9705 Pretty Pink (F): 2 skeins

• #9704 Peach (E): 2 skeins

• #9706 Limone (D): 1 skein

• #9714 Robin’s Egg (C): 1 skein

• #9707 Boy Blue (B): 1 skein

• #9708 Grape Fizz (A): 1 skein

Hook & Notions:

• Crochet Hook: Size H/8 (5.0 mm). Adjust your hook size if necessary to meet gauge.

• Scissors

• Yarn Needle for weaving ends.

• Stitch Markers (optional but helpful for marking the start of rounds).

Gauge:
15 double crochet stitches and 8 rows = 4 inches.
Why it matters: Gauge ensures your blanket reaches the intended 45-inch diameter. A quick swatch can save you from a blanket that’s too small or uses more yarn than planned.

Stitch Glossary & Key Notes

Abbreviations:

• ch: chain

• st(s): stitch(es)

• sl st: slip stitch

• dc: double crochet

• small shell: (dc, ch 2, dc) all worked into the same stitch or space.

• large shell: (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all worked into the same stitch or space.

Pro-Tips Before You Begin:

1. Weave as You Go: The pattern advises to crochet over your loose yarn ends as you work. This minimizes the daunting task of weaving in dozens of ends at the finish line.

2. The Magic Chain-2: Always begin rounds with ch 2 (not the traditional ch 3 for dc). This creates a much less visible and tighter starting point.

3. Join Seamlessly: Join each round with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-2.

The Rainbow Ripple Pattern

Color Sequence Reminder: You will work in the following color order, using White (G) as a separator between each rainbow hue:
A (Grape Fizz) → G (Chalk) → B (Boy Blue) → G → C (Robin’s Egg) → G → D (Limone) → G → E (Peach) → G → F (Pretty Pink) → G.

Part 1: Forming the Center Star (Rounds 1-13)

Round 1 (Color A): Ch 4. Join with sl st to form a ring. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), work 11 dc into ring. Join with sl st to top of beg ch-2. (12 dc)
Round 2 (A): Ch 2, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around. Join. (24 dc)
Round 3 (A): Ch 2, *skip next dc, work (dc, ch 2, dc) in next dc. Repeat from * around. End with dc in base of beg st, ch 2, join to top of beg ch-2. (12 small shells made)
Round 4 (A): Sl st into first ch-2 sp. Ch 2, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp. *Work large shell in next ch-2 sp. Repeat from * around. Join.
Round 5 (A): Sl st to next dc. Ch 2, *work large shell in next ch-2 sp, dc in next dc, skip 2 dc, dc in next dc. Repeat from * around. Join.
Round 6 (A): Sl st to next dc. Ch 2, dc in next dc, *work large shell in ch-2 sp, dc in next 2 dc, skip 2 sts, dc in next 2 dc. Repeat from * around, ending with skip 2 sts. Join. Fasten off A.

Round 7 (Color G – White): Join G with sl st to next dc. Ch 2, dc in next 2 sts, *work small shell in ch-2 sp, dc in next 3 sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 3 sts. Repeat from * around, ending with skip 2 sts. Join. Fasten off G.

Round 8 (Color B – Blue): Join B. Ch 2, dc in next 2 sts, *work large shell in ch-2 sp, dc in next 3 sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 3 sts. Repeat from * around. Join.
Round 9 (B): Sl st to next dc. Ch 2, dc in next 3 sts, *work large shell in ch-2 sp, dc in next 4 sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts. Repeat from * around. Join.
Round 10 (B): Sl st to next dc. Ch 2, dc in next 4 sts, *work small shell in ch-2 sp, dc in next 5 sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 5 sts. Repeat from * around. Join.
Round 11 (B): Sl st to next dc. Ch 2, dc in next 4 sts, *work large shell in ch-2 sp, dc in next 5 sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 5 sts. Repeat from * around. Join.
Round 12 (B): Sl st to next dc. Ch 2, dc in next 5 sts, *work large shell in ch-2 sp, dc in next 6 sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 6 sts. Repeat from * around. Join. Fasten off B.

Round 13 (Color G – White): Join G. Ch 2, dc in next 6 sts, *work small shell in ch-2 sp, dc in next 7 sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 7 sts. Repeat from * around. Join. Fasten off G.

Part 2: The Expanding Ripple

You have now established the core pattern! Continue expanding the blanket by repeating the logic of Rounds 8-13 with each new color set.

The Golden Rule:

• Work 5 rounds of each main rainbow color (F, E, D, C).

• Separate each color block with 1 round of White (G), which is always a small shell round.

• Within each color block, follow the established increase pattern:

  • Round 1 of Color (Large Shell): Increase the dc groups on either side of the shells by 1 stitch.

  • Round 2 of Color (Large Shell): Increase again.

  • Round 3 of Color (Small Shell): Do not increase the dc groups.

  • Rounds 4 & 5 of Color (Large Shell): Increase the dc groups in each round.

Continue this process until you have completed all rainbow colors (F, E, D, C, B, A is already done in the center).

Part 3: The Final Edge

Final Round (Color G – White): For the very last round, you will break the “small shell” rule for white. Work a large shell round. This specific increase is crucial—it creates the final, sharp, defined points around the edge of your star and ensures the blanket lays perfectly flat.

Fasten off. Weave in any remaining ends.

Finishing Touches

Blocking is Your Best Friend: Gently wash your finished blanket and lay it flat to dry, shaping it into a perfect circle and pinning out the points. Blocking will even out your stitches, open up the lace-like shell pattern, and give your masterpiece a professional, heirloom-quality finish.

There you have it! A rainbow captured in yarn, ready to become a cherished keepsake. This blanket is a testament to the joy of making—each round a meditation, each color change a new chapter. Happy crocheting!