Mini Rainbows
One of my absolute favorite things to make is mini rainbows. They’re great for using up little bits of yarn and fun to give people for any occasion. I made 45 of them to hand out to people as birthday favors last year. We handed one to almost everyone we encountered the day and they were a hit with kids and adults alike.
All it takes is some worsted weight acrylic yarn (usually Red Heart Super Saver, Big Twist, or Paintbox) in the colors you want for your rainbow and a 3.5mm hook. If you’d like your mini rainbow to be a little less mini, use a bigger hook. You’ll need a yarn needle for sewing it closed and a very small bit of Poly-Fil stuffing (I usually get it from Joann Fabrics).
When I change colors, I crochet over the tail of the previous color for 2 stitches. You can do this too or tie the tails together in pairs when it’s all done, or secure them however you like. The tails will all be hidden inside the rainbow, so they don’t have to be pretty or perfect and they don’t have to be completely woven in.
You’re basically going to crochet a round, flat donut and then fold it in half.
I like to stagger the increases so that they don’t pile up and make the rainbow start looking more like a trapezoid. I’ve written staggering into the pattern but if you prefer to just do regular increases and know how to do that, go ahead!
With purple yarn: Chain 12, join with a slip stitch to form a ring. Leave a tail about 8 inches long.
With purple yarn: Chain 1, inc in same stitch and inc in every stitch around, join with a slip stitch (24 stitches total)
Pull blue yarn through the loop on your hook and cut the purple yarn. I like to leave a tail a few inches long. Chain 1, [ sc, sc, sc, inc] around, join with a slip stitch (30 stitches total)
Pull green yarn through the loop on your hook and cut the blue yarn. Chain 1, sc, inc, [sc, sc, sc, sc, inc] around, join with a slip stitch (36 stitches total)
Pull yellow yarn through the loop on your hook and cut the green yarn. Chain 1, [sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, inc] around, join with a slip stitch (42 stitches total)
Pull orange yarn through the loop on your hook and cut the yellow yarn. Chain 1, sc, inc, [sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, inc] around, join with a slip stitch (48 stitches total)
Pull red yarn through the loop on your hook and cut the orange yarn. Chain 1, [sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, inc] around, join with a slip stitch (54 stitches total)
Fasten off and leave a 10-12 inch tail.
If you didn’t crochet over any of the tails and you’re worried about the whole thing unraveling from within, tie the tails together in pairs on the inside before you proceed to the next step.
Fold the rainbow ring you have just created in half with the seam where you changed colors/rows as the fold on one side of the rainbow. Your long tail should be right there at the seam.
Use the long tail to sew the top arc (red) of the rainbow together first, making sure the tails are on the inside.
Add a little polyfil to make the rainbow a bit squishy and then use the other long tail to sew the bottom arc (purple) of the rainbow closed.
Repeat to your heart’s content!