Crochet Rainbow Romper – Pattern & Tutorial

Hello, maker! Today I returned with a crochet version of a knitted Pattern that I absolutely love: the Knitted Rainbow Romper. On this occasion, you will learn how to make a Crochet Rainbow Romper with this beautiful combination of pastel colors that should ring a bell if you follow the blog for a while.

The Rainbow Romper was the first pattern I made in 5 different sizes and the one that opened my online store. With this model, I took the step of sharing a pattern size and step-by-step photo-tutorial completely free of charge. Besides, I started to give options to those who need to acquire the downloadable and printable PDF and to be able to follow the tutorial row by row and in all sizes.

Nowadays, they are accompanied by many more patterns in the online store, but even so, for me, it is still the jewel of the crown, for all the illusion I put into it and what it meant to me.

In addition, this design has a beautiful story behind what few know. The idea of ​​this design comes from the Rainbow Babies, those little ones who come to the world after losing a child and enlighten their parents’ lives again. It has a precious meaning for many people and families. Luckily, this has not been my case, but I have friends who have suffered this, and the Rainbow Romper was born, so we have in mind that after the storm always comes the calm.

Materials to make a Crochet Rainbow Romper

Different colors of cotton yarn for 3 mm needles. (4Ply Yarn) I chose Anchor Style Creativa Fino in colors:

• 1 skein of 50 gr. 00105 Pale Cream
• 1 skein of 50 gr. 00403 Lemon
• 1 skein of 50 gr. 00401 Apricot
• 1 skein of 50 gr. 00408 Dusky Pink
• 1 skein of 50 gr. 00399 Lilac grey
• 1 skein of 50 gr. 00173 Pale blue
• 1 skein of 50 gr. 00385 Peppermint Green

You will also need:

• 2,75 mm (USA C) crochet hook
• 4 stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• 4 snap buttons

Gauge

23 stitches x 15 rows in Half Double Crochet = 10×10 cm

Required Crochet stitches and techniques

• Chain stitch
• Single Crochet
• Front post single crochet
• Half double crochet
• Increase. Crochet 2 stitches into the same stitch
• Decrease
• Change color at the beginning of the row: When instructed in pattern to switch colors, cut your yarn and take the white one. Keep the white yarn hanging while you work the other colors. When it’s time to switch, carry white yarn that has been hanging up the side of your work, giving a little tug (but not too tight as that will cause bunching).

Abbreviations

st / sts: stitch/ stitches
hdc: Half Double Crochet
sc: Single Crochet
ch: Chain
FPsc: Front post single crochet
hdc.triple inc.: Work 3 hdc into the same stitch
sc.triple inc.: Work 3 sc into the same stitch
hdc. inc: Work 2 hdc into the same stitch
sc. inc: Work 2 sc into the same stitch

As always, you can work on the Crochet Rainbow Romper following only the online tutorial instructions, but if you prefer to download the pattern to have the instructions row by row and stitch by stitch and be able to print it to make your own notes or simply consult it without depending on the mobile or internet connection, I have it ready for you!

Besides the size 1-3 months, which I show in the tutorial, this Crochet Rainbow Romper Pattern is available in size Newborn, 3-6 months, 6-12 months and 12-24 months.

You also have the option to buy all sizes together with a good discount on this other link.

How to make the Crochet Rainbow Romper – Size 1-3 months

Crochet the yoke of the romper

To start, we will chain 52 stitches. From the second chain from the crochet hook, work 50 half double crochet (from now on hdc).

Turn your work, and in the next row, we will chain 1, 1 sc, 48 front post single crochet (FPsc), 1 sc.

From now on, we will start working with stitch markers to determine where to increase. Every time the pattern requires a triple crochet increase, you must crochet 3 hdc into the same stitch and place the marker at the center stitch of these three (the second stitch).

 Change the color to yellow   and work 2 ch. 8 hdc, hdc triple inc, 7 hdc, hdc triple inc, 16 hdc, hdc triple inc, 7 hdc, hdc triple inc, 8 hdc (58 sts).

Turn your work and crochet 2 ch. 9 hdc, hdc triple inc, 9 hdc, hdc triple inc, 18 hdc, hdc triple inc, 9 hdc, hdc triple inc, 9 hdc (66 sts)

We already have our two strips of color; now it’s time to change the color to white and crochet the first Single Crochet row (remember to make sc triple increases into the stitch markers stitches) and a second row in white by crocheting 1 ch. 1 sc, FPsc until only 1 stitch remains and 1 sc.

 Change the color to salmon   and crochet two rows of hdc triple increases in each stitch marker. Then, make another white stripe as we did before.

At this point, you must have 98 stitches.

Work the front of the Crocheted Rainbow Romper

From now on, we will only work with the central 30 stitches of the front (from stitch marker to stitch maker).

With the   pink thread ,  ch 2 and work 2 hdc in the stitch marker stitch, 28 hdc, 1 hdc.inc (32 sts).

Crochet another pink row, increasing 1 stitch at each end and a white stripe (increasing 1 stitch at each end of the first row and working Front Post Single Crochet stitches in the second row).

When you get a total of 36 stitches, it is time to form the front central pleat.

If you find it more accessible, remember that you can also have the downloadable and printable PDF pattern in the Newborn size for only € 1.99. You will find all these detailed instructions row by row so you do not miss a stitch! Click here to get it or on the following link.

Shape the front central pleat

 Change color to lilac   and ch 2, hdc. inc, 17 hdc, ch 16, 17 hdc, hdc. inc. This way, you will now have a total of 54 stitches.

Continue alternating stripes of color and white, increasing 1 stitch at each end until you have 64 stitches.

Crochet these 64 stitches to complete 7 more color stripes and 6 white stripes.

Remember that in this pattern in particular, color stripes are formed by 2 hdc rows and white stripes are formed by 2 sc rows: the first one worked in regular sc and the second one crocheting FPsc.

Shape the front diaper cover

We will begin to shape the front diaper cover part at the end of the second mint strip. To do this, skip 24 stitches and start crocheting only the 16 center stitches.

With these 16 stitches, crochet 1 white stripe, 1 yellow stripe, and finish with another white stripe.

Crochet the back of the romper

Return to the stitches on the back and   with the pink yarn , ch 2, work a hdc.inc into the stitch marker stitch, 14 hdc. Continue crocheting on the other side of the back. 14 hdc, 1 hdc.inc. In this way, you will have 32 sts.

Continue alternating colors, increasing 1 stitch on each side until you get 48 stitches. At the end, you will have finished the blue stripe.

Crochet these 48 stitches to complete 7 color stripes and 6 white stripes, as we crocheted the front.

Shape the back diaper cover

To shape the back-cover area, you should crochet by doing 1 decrease on each side until you reach the pink stripe. From there, crochet making 2 decreases on each side until you get 16 stitches.

When you have 16 stitches, crochet the last row of the lilac color and the last white stripe.

Final touches

To give our Crochet Rainbow Romper its final shape, fold the garment by the shoulders and, with a white strand of yarn and a tapestry needle, seam the sides.

You could also make this baby romper without a seam crocheting in rounds. Remember that the stitches won’t look exactly the same as the ones worked back and forth. If this doesn’t bother you, go ahead!

To finish making the pleat, distribute it equally between the two sides so that it is symmetrical and sew it to the white stripe.

Finish the legs of the Crochet Rainbow Romper

Pick up the stitches around the leg opening. Start from the right side of the front of the romper.

Row 1. 2 hdc. in each stripe side. Work *2 hdc, 1 dec* until you reach the lateral seam. Work 2 hdc in each stripe side of the back of the diaper cover.

Row 2. ch 1. 1 sc, FPsc until only 1 stitch remains, 1 sc.

Remember that the amount of stitches that you pick up may vary. Do not worry if you pick up more or less stitches, the important thing is that you pick up the same amount of stitches for both leg openings.

I always thought that I was more of a knitting person than a crocheting one, and I reserved this last technique for accessories, home clothes, etc… but I am soooooo satisfied with the result that I have decided to version all my patterns to crochet, so soon you can also crochet the Watermelon Romper, which will be the following pattern to come out.  

If you have enjoyed this free Crochet Rainbow Romper baby pattern and tutorial, please pass my website address along to a friend and do not hesitate to share it or comment below. I love to hear your opinions and I can try to resolve any questions that you may have if you decide to make it. And remember, once you’re done crocheting… show off your work! Send your pics through Instagram using the hashtags #rainbowromper & #creativaatelier!

Kisses,