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A rainbow on the window is a worldwide symbol of hope. I originally wrote this pattern because I could not find a free rainbow pattern in French on Ravelry. I offer you the US English version, in case some people are also interested in it, but there are already lots of good English patterns.
Supplies:
Rainbow color yarn : purple, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, red.
If you don’t have all the colors it’s OK : the important thing is the symbol, whatever liberty you take with the colors. Add pink, or neon green, or make a pastel rainbow, or a 5 or 6 color rainbow…
Pick any yarn type : I mixed cotton and acrylic from 3 different brands to make mine. The important thing is yarn weight : try to pick yarns that work with the same hook. If one yarn is too thin, double it.
My rainbow was made with a 3.5 mm hook (US 4 / E). It is 18 cm wide (7 in.) and 8 cm tall (3 3/4 in.)
Techniques:
Chains (CH), slip stitches, double crochet (DC), change color.
« 1 INC » means « one increase » : make 2 double crochet in the same stitch.
Use any color change method you like.
Tutorial:
The ‘chain 3’ at the beginning of each row DOES NOT COUNT as a double crochet. You will not make DC in them when reaching the end of a row.
Row 1 :
With purple. Chain 9. In the 4th chain from the hook, make 2 DC. Make also 2 DC in each of the remaning 5 chains. Insert indigo yarn when doing the last yarn over. Total = 12 DC.
Row 2 :
With indigo blue : Chain 3. Turn. Make * 1 INC, 1 DC * 3 times, then * 1 DC, 1 INC * 3 times. Insert blue yarn in last yarn over.Total = 18 DC.
Row 3 :
With blue : Chain 3. Turn. Make * 1 INC, 2 DC * 3 times, then * 2 DC, 1 INC * 3 times. Insert green yarn in last yarn over. Total = 24 DC.
Row 4 :
With green : Chain 3. Turn. Make * 1 INC, 3 DC * 3 times, then * 3 DC, 1 INC * 3 times. Insert yellow yarn in last yarn over. Total = 30 DC.
Row 5 :
With yellow : Chain 3. Turn. Make * 1 INC, 4 DC * 3 times, then * 4 DC, 1 INC * 3 times. Insert orange yarn in last yarn over. Total = 36 DC.
Row 6 :
With orange : Chain 3. Turn. Make * 1 INC, 5 DC * 3 times, then * 5 DC, 1 INC * 3 times. Insert red yarn in last yarn over. Total = 42 DC.
Row 7 :
With red : Chain 3. Turn. Make * 1 INC, 6 DC * 3 times, then * 6 DC, 1 INC * 3 times. Don’t cut red yarn. Total = 48 DC.
Row 8 :
With red : chain 1, turn. In each of the 48 DC, make one slip stitch. (Total = 48 slip stitches)
Fasten off. Weave in all the yarn ends.
Finish:
I’m currently living in isolation on a small amount of yarn, so I didn’t make any pompoms or fringes.
You can attach small pompoms under each color, or put fringes… or attach pearls…
Some people crochet small white clouds.
You can sew it on a metal ring, or glue it on a blue paper…
Some people also make 2 identical rainbows and insert cardboard inside before sewing both together, to make it strong.
I took a thin piece of wood and made single crochet with a thick white acrylic yarn. Then I sew the rainbow on it with thin cotton thread.
Other uses for the rainbow:
I think it would make a great appliqué sewed on a child t-shirt. And also a great decorative pillow.
Please show me pictures of your rainbow 🙂 I’d be happy to see your work. Contact me for any support on this tutorial.
Terms of use: this pattern is totally free for any use. In exchange please link back here and don’t attribute yourself any text or pictures from this page.
Le coin paisible 