“Now I know we had no money
But I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me.”
Dolly Parton

A lot has been written about grit and how important it is for success. The psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth has given a TED Talk about how when working as math teacher early in her career, she noticed that some of her best math students weren’t the smartest kids in her classroom. Years later when she went to graduate school in psychology that observation led to her to do research on what traits lead to success. By studying people in various demanding situations, she determined that “In all those very different contexts, one characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success. And it wasn’t social intelligence. It wasn’t good looks, physical health, and it wasn’t IQ. It was grit.”

Duckworth defines grit as “passion and perseverance for very long-term goals” that aren’t necessarily related to talent. Yes, you read that correctly. Talent doesn’t play as much of a role as we typically think, but when talent and grit collide, amazing things can happen. Dolly Parton’s career is a great example, and she makes it clear how big a role grit has played in her success in her commencement address at the University of Tennessee.

Parton’s grit has allowed her to overcome obstacles that would have stopped most of us in our tracks: poverty, hunger, ridicule, childlessness, and health issues that led to suicidal thoughts. Throughout it all not only has Dolly persevered, she has thrived and used her success as a force for good. Her Imagination Library and the Dollywood Foundation are just a couple of examples.

I can’t help but think that love has played a role in her success as well. When I listen to Dolly Parton’s song “Coat of Many Colors,” I can just feel her mother’s love. Her Mom transformed a box of colorful fabric scraps and into a beautiful coat for her daughter. I’ve done something similar with yarn for my daughter, so I can imagine how much love her mother sewed into Dolly’s coat.

In honor of Dolly Parton and her mother, I wanted to provide the Rainbow Bobble Crochet Blanket as a free pattern in the hope that it spreads a little more love in the world. We all need it.

Instructions
Not only is the Rainbow Bobble Blanket made with gorgeous colors, but it is also a wonderful sensory experience. The bobbled side of the blanket feels like bumpy, unpoppable bubble wrap, and the back side feels like a soft cotton throw.

Abbreviations
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
st – stitch
yo – yarn over

Blanket Measurements
approximately 34.5″ wide x 38.5″ long

Gauge
16 double crochet stitches in 4″
13 rows in 4″

Materials
Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton® Yarn: 1 skein each Ecru, Pink, Rose, Magenta, Lilac, Purple, Navy, Denim, Sky, Aqua, Succulent, Mint, Jade, Grass, Goldenrod, Lemon, Tangerine, and Red
G 4.0mm Crochet Hook
Tapestry Needle
Scissors

Pattern
The multiple for this pattern is 4 + 1. Starting in Red for the foundation chain, make 144 chains + 1. Add 2 turning chains for a total of 147.

Row 1: Continuing in Red, dc in the fourth chain from the hook and continue double crocheting across for a total of 145 stitches. The turning chain counts as the first dc. Ch 1 and turn your work.

Row 2: (Bobble A) Single crochet into the first and second stitches (turning chain does not count as a stitch). Make your first bobble stitch in the third stitch. Each bobble stitch will be made by *yarning over and inserting your hook into the designated stitch and pulling up a loop. Then yarn over and pull through the first two loops on your hook.* Repeat from * five times. You will have 6 loops on your hook after the fifth repeat. To complete the bobble, yarn over and pull through all 6 loops. For visual learners, the Boy & Bunting YouTube Channel has an excellent bobble stitch tutorial. *Single crochet into the next 3 stitches and make a bobble stitch into the fourth stitch.* Repeat from * and make 2 sc at the end of the row for a total of 36 bobbles. Ch 3 and turn your work. The turning chain counts as your first dc.

Row 3: DC across starting in the 2nd stitch from the hook for a total of 145 dc. Ch 1 and turn your work.

Row 4: (Bobble B) Single crochet into the first, second, third, and fourth stitches (the turning chain does not count as a stitch). Make a bobble in the fifth stitch. *Make 3 sc followed by a bobble stitch.* Repeat until reaching the last 4 stitches. Make 4 sc into the last 4 stitches for a total of 35 bobbles. The last sc will be make in the turning chain. Ch 3 and turn your work.

Row 5: Repeat Row 3.

Row 6: Repeat Row 2.

Row 7: Repeat Row 3.

Row 8: Repeat Row 4.

Row 9: Repeat Row 3. Row 9 is the final row of Red.

Starting in Row 10, continue the pattern by repeating Rows 2 to 9 and making color changes in the rows listed below. A simplified way to think of the pattern for each stripe of color (except Red, which starts with a row of dc in Row 1) is as a repeat of each of the following types of rows: Bobble A, DC, Bobble B, DC, Bobble A, DC, Bobble B, DC.

Row 10: Tangerine
Row 18: Lemon
Row 26: Goldenrod
Row 34: Grass
Row 42: Jade
Row 50: Mint
Row 58: Succulent
Row 66: Aqua
Row 74: Sky
Row 82: Denim
Row 90: Navy
Row 98: Purple
Row 106: Lilac
Row 114: Magenta
Row 122: Rose
Row 130:Pink

Row 137 is the last row of the blanket. It is a row of dc in Pink.

Border
To crochet the border, using Ecru, double crochet around the perimeter of the blanket making 3 dc in each corner.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

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