Rayons de Soleil (Free Crochet Blanket Pattern)
Introduction
Rayons De Soleil was designed with ease in mind with simple stitches but I wanted something surprisingly stunning for how easy it is. The slightly altered Suzette Stitch paired with the window rows yields some truly amazing visual and physical texture!
About The Yarn
How often do you buy yarn with a specific project in mind and actually stick with that plan? (I’m actually asking, btw! Leave a comment and let me know if I’m alone or not 😉 )
For me personally, almost never. Most of the time I’m thinking of doing one thing with it when I purchase it and end up doing something completely different with it in the end. Not that it’s a bad thing! This was one of those skeins of yarn, though, that I actually did exactly what I planned on doing with it. That just rarely happens for me and figured it was worth a mention!
I saw these HUGE skeins of Lion Brand Ice Cream Big Scoop on sale at Michael’s while shopping with a friend one day and couldn’t resist grabbing one. I made this entire blanket for around $6 USD!! Talk about yarning on a budget, amiright?! I even had about 20 grams of yarn leftover from this skein that I sent with the finished blanket to the recipient as she knits and crochets as well so she could add tassels or poms or whatever kind of fun thing she might think of to make it super special for her and her new babe.
I simply love the way this variegated yarn striped up and there are several other beautiful colorways, as well. Some other comparable yarns I would recommend for this project are:
Hobby Lobby Baby Bee Sweet Delight
You don’t have to use a #3/lightweight yarn, either. Use a heavier yarn for a thicker, warmer blanket if that’s more your jam. I recommend using whatever hook size is recommended by the manufacturer for the type of yarn you’re using.
Techniques Used
As with most of my designs, this one is worked using a unique combination of easy stitches. Would you believe the only stitches used in this pattern are chains, single crochets, and double crochets? Easy peasy, right?
For the textured sections of this blanket I used the Suzette Stitch which is only single and double crochets but I worked them all in the back loops only to give the fabric all that wonderful texture you see! To keep things interesting and give it more visual appeal, I broke those sections up with ‘window’ rows which are just alternating chains and double crochets if you’ve never worked it before.
P.S. The ‘window’ rows are where the inspiration for the ‘rays’ part of the name came from 😉
Gauge and Sizing
Gauge for blankets isn’t normally that important, for most people anyway! I always swatch when I’m designing because I want to reach a specific length/width but if you’re not as particular as I am when it comes to that then swatching is super unimportant!
If you’d like to adjust the width and/or height of your blanket (keep in mind I wrote this pattern to be worked ‘side to side’ i.e. the starting ch is the total length and the solid and window sections are worked to the desired width), simply start with any even number of chains that you find suitable, work the textured and window sections to your desired length/width, and the pattern will work 🙂
Skill Level
Easy
Gauge
17 sts and 12 rows in pattern is 4″ x 4″ (10x10cm)
Finished Measurements
32” (81cm) by 38” (97cm)
Materials
1 skein Lion Brand Ice Cream Big Scoop in Lemon Meringue or ~240g/950 yards #3/lightweight yarn
US Size 7/4.5mm crochet hook
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Scissors
Blocking mat and pins (optional)
Notes
-This blanket is worked ‘side to side’ meaning it is worked from its longest length first, then to its widest width.
-[ ] indicate that everything within them is worked all in one st
-* * indicates a repeat
Stitch Index
R-row/round
ch-chain
st(s)-stitch(es)
sk-skip
sc-single crochet
dc-double crochet
Special Stitches
Note: The Suzette Stitch is worked in the BLO for the entirety of this pattern (after the foundation/setup rows). This is what yields the majority of the texture for this project.
Suzette Stitch-(after foundation/setup rows) ch 1, [sc, dc] in 1st st (last sc of previous R), sk 1 dc, *[sc, dc] in next sc, sk 1 dc* repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, sc in ch 1 from previous R
Pattern
Foundation ch 160 (or any even number of ch)
R1 [sc, dc] in 2nd ch from hook, *sk 1 ch, [sc, dc] in next ch* repeat from * to * until 2 ch remain, sk 1 ch, sc in last ch
R2-6 ch 1, turn, [sc, dc]BLO in 1st sc (beg st), *sk 1 dc, [sc, dc]BLO next sc* repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, sk 1 dc, sc in both loops of ch 1 from previous R
R7 ch 3 (counts as 1 dc + ch 1), turn, sk 1st sc (beg st) and next dc, *dc in next sc, ch 1, sk 1 dc* repeat from * to * until 1 st remains, dc in ch 1 from previous R
R8-13 ch 1, turn, [sc, dc]BLO in 1st sc (beg st), *sk 1 dc, [sc, dc]BLO next sc* repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, sk 1 dc, sc in both loops of ch 1 from previous R
Repeat R7-13 9 more times for a total of 76 rows with 11 solid sections and 10 window rows.
I hope you enjoy making this beautifully textured blanket. I would love to see pictures of your work, it really makes my day! Tag me on FB or IG 🙂
Happy making!
