Solar Flare Round Ripple Blanket Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

The Solar Flare Round Ripple Blanket is a cozy, space-age throw that starts as a small black circle and grows outward in glowing rings of yellow, orange, and rusty red. It is written for beginners: every round is plain double crochet, and the only thing you need to master is a simple increase that repeats around and around. The black base makes the warm stripes pop like a solar corona, while the steady increases give the whole disc a gently wavy, rippled surface and a softly undulating edge. Worked in worsted weight acrylic, it feels light but warm, and at about 40 inches across it is just right for a lap, a sofa, or a child's bed.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (4) acrylic, in four colors:
  • Color A, Black: 400 yd
  • Color B, Yellow: 200 yd
  • Color C, Orange: 200 yd
  • Color D, Rusty Red: 200 yd
• Hook: 5.5 mm (US I-9)
• Notions: Stitch marker (for the first stitch of each round), tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, tape measure
• Finished size: Approx. 40 inches (102 cm) in diameter

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook.
• dc — double crochet: yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops.
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
• st / sts — stitch / stitches.
• MR — magic ring: an adjustable loop you crochet into, then pull closed.
• rep — repeat.

Gauge

12 dc and 6 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in the ripple pattern. To check it, crochet a small swatch in the round or flat in dc, then measure a 4-inch section across the middle; if you have more stitches than 12, go up a hook size, and if you have fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round. Because the rounds spiral outward and the surface ripples, it is easy to lose your place without one.
• Each round begins with ch 3, which counts as the first dc, and ends with a sl st into the top of that ch-3. Keep that join loose so the blanket stays flat.
• The increase is always "2 dc in the same stitch" at the start of the round, then the repeat adds one more plain dc between increases each round. Count your stitches at the end of every round before joining.
• Change colors on the last pull-through of the final stitch of a round, so the new color begins cleanly at the join.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Center and Black Base (Color A)

Rnd 1: MR, ch 3, 11 dc in ring, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (12 dc).

Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, join (24 dc).

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (36 dc).

Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (48 dc).

Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (60 dc).

Rnd 6: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (72 dc).

Rnd 7: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (84 dc).

Rnd 8: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (96 dc).

Rnd 9: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 7 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (108 dc).

Rnd 10: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 8 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (120 dc).

Rnd 11: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 9 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (132 dc).

Rnd 12: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 10 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (144 dc).

Rnd 13: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 11 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (156 dc).

Rnd 14: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 12 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (168 dc). Change to B.

Yellow Band (Color B)

Rnd 15: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 13 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (180 dc).

Rnd 16: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 14 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (192 dc).

Rnd 17: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 15 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (204 dc). Change to C.

Orange Band (Color C)

Rnd 18: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 16 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (216 dc).

Rnd 19: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 17 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (228 dc).

Rnd 20: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 18 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (240 dc). Change to D.

Rusty Red Band (Color D)

Rnd 21: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 19 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (252 dc).

Rnd 22: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 20 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (264 dc).

Rnd 23: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 21 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (276 dc). Change to A.

Black Band (Color A)

Rnd 24: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 22 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (288 dc).

Rnd 25: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 23 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (300 dc).

Rnd 26: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 24 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (312 dc). Change to B.

Yellow Band (Color B)

Rnd 27: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 25 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (324 dc).

Rnd 28: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 26 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (336 dc).

Rnd 29: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 27 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (348 dc). Change to C.

Orange Band (Color C)

Rnd 30: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 28 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (360 dc).

Rnd 31: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 29 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (372 dc).

Rnd 32: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 30 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (384 dc). Change to D.

Rusty Red Band (Color D)

Rnd 33: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 31 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (396 dc).

Rnd 34: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 32 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (408 dc).

Rnd 35: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 33 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (420 dc). Change to A.

Black Band (Color A)

Rnd 36: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 34 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (432 dc).

Rnd 37: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 35 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (444 dc).

Rnd 38: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 36 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (456 dc). Change to B.

Yellow Band (Color B)

Rnd 39: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 37 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (468 dc).

Rnd 40: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 38 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (480 dc).

Rnd 41: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 39 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (492 dc). Change to C.

Orange Band (Color C)

Rnd 42: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 40 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (504 dc).

Rnd 43: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 41 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (516 dc).

Rnd 44: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 42 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (528 dc). Change to D.

Rusty Red Band (Color D)

Rnd 45: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 43 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (540 dc).

Rnd 46: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 44 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (552 dc).

Rnd 47: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 45 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (564 dc). Change to A.

Outer Black Band (Color A)

Rnd 48: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 46 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (576 dc).

Rnd 49: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 47 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (588 dc).

Rnd 50: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 48 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join (600 dc). Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

There is no seaming: this blanket is one continuous disc. Weave in all ends on the wrong side, running each tail through several stitches in its own color band so it disappears. Block lightly by misting the blanket with water and pinning it flat to a 40-inch circle on a blocking mat or clean floor, easing the outer edge into a gentle wave. Let it dry completely before unpinning.

Pro Tips and Variations

• For a softer, more pastel corona, swap the yellow, orange, and red for peach, coral, and dusty rose while keeping the black base.
• To make a larger throw, keep repeating the increase rounds in three-round color bands; each extra round adds 12 dc, so the disc grows steadily.
• If the outer rounds start to cup or ruffle too much, go up one hook size for the last few rounds to keep the surface flat and rippled rather than wavy.