Crochet Rainbow (Any Size) Free Pattern

Crochet Rainbow – Free Pattern In Any Size

I wanted a large crochet rainbow for my window and just couldn’t find anywhere a pattern that can be adjusted easily, so I decided to create my own.

This rainbow wall hanging can be made in any size you like. At the end of the pattern, I will show you exactly how to do that.

This is a great project for using your scrap yarn, I used different types and brands of yarn to make my rainbow window display.

You can adjust the pattern for this rainbow and turn it into a wall hanging for your baby and kids’ room, make it extra large and turn it into a window display or go the other way and make it small and use it as an applique for your baby blankets and afghans.

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Crochet Rainbow Pattern For Window Display Or Wall hanging

Video Tutorial

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For those who learn better by watching videos, I have created a tutorial on how to make this face mask (adult only), you can find it on Crafting Happiness YouTube Channel

How To Crochet A Rainbow Shape ANY SIZE

Learn The Basic Crochet Stitches

Crochet Rainbow – Pattern Info

Crochet Level

Beginner – This pattern is suitable for beginner crocheters who are familiar with reading a pattern and know the basic stitches.

Supplies I used

scrap yarn in lilac/purple/blue/green/yellow/orange/red or you can use one of my favorites
crochet hook size 5mm
tapestry needle & scissors

Marriner Yarns has a Rainbow DK Pack specially created for this and they will donate £2 for each pack sold to NHS Charities Together which I think it’s a great idea.

If you live anywhere else than the UK, Deramores has a great option, Deramores Studio DK Classic Rainbow Colour Pack, that comes in 12 balls in 12 colors. You can make your rainbow and have enough left for a rainbow blanket.

Size

Using the yarn weight and hook size suggested in this pattern will create a rainbow size 44cm (17.3in) wide and 29cm (11.4in) tall.

Gauge

Gauge is not very important in this pattern, but for your reference, a 10cm by 10cm area contains 7 rows by 13 stitches.

The Stitches

Pattern written in US terms using Craft Yarn Council abbreviations.

Most basic stitches below have a video that shows you how to crochet them. Follow the blue link next to them for each individual video.

ch – chain
dc – double crochet
inc – increase (2dc in the same stitch)

Special Stitches

No special stitches were used in this pattern.

A crochet rainbow displayed in the window as decoration

Crochet Rainbow – WRITTEN PATTERN

Ch3 at the beginning of each row counts as a dc.

With 5mm hook and lilac yarn ch33

Row 1: sc in 4th ch from hook, 29dc, turn

Row 2 : ch3, 11dc, 6inc, 12dc, turn

Change colors to purple.

Row 3: ch3, 11dc, (1inc, 1dc) x 6, 12dc, turn

Row 4: ch3, 11dc, (1inc, 2dc) x 6, 12dc, turn

Change colors to blue.

Row 5: ch3, 11dc, (1inc, 3dc) x 6, 12dc, turn

Row 6: ch3, 11dc, (1inc, 4dc) x 6, 12dc, turn

Change colors to green.

Row 7: ch3, 11dc, (1inc, 5dc) x 6, 12dc, turn

Row 8: ch3, 11dc, (1inc, 6dc) x 6, 12dc, turn

Change colors to yellow.

Row 9: ch3, 11dc, (1inc, 7dc) x 6, 12dc, turn

Row 10: ch3, 11dc, (1inc, 8dc) x 6, 12dc, turn

Change colors to orange.

Row 11: ch3, 11dc, (1inc, 9dc) x 6, 12dc, turn

Row 12: ch3, 11dc, (1inc, 10dc) x 6, 12dc, turn

Change colors to red.

Row 13: ch3, 11dc, (1inc, 11dc) x 6, 12dc, turn

Row 14: ch3, 11dc, (1inc, 12dc) x 6, 12dc, turn

Fasten off and weave in ends.

How To Adjust The Size Of Your Rainbow

As you might have noticed, the pattern for this crocheted rainbow is basically a one-row repeat.

It starts and ends with 12dc and the middle part, the increased area as I call it, is a repeat of 6 increases (2dc in the same stitch) separated by dc stitches that gradually increase in number (1dc on row 3, 2dc on row 4, 3dc on row 5 and so on).

To Make The Rainbow Bigger

To make a giant crochet rainbow, repeat the last row, but increase the number of dc stitches in between the increases.

So, for example, row 15 will have (1inc, 12dc) x 6 in the increased area, while row 16 will have (1inc, 13dc) x 6. Row 17 will have (1inc, 14dc) x 6 and so on until you are happy with the size.

To keep the colors of the rainbow, make more rows per color. Right now there are 2 rows in each color, you can increase to 3, 4, or more per color.

Another option is to use a thicker yarn and a bigger hook.

To Make the Rainbow Smaller

To make a smaller rainbow, you have 3 options:

make 1 row per color but don’t change the number of stitches
make 1 or 2 rows per color but change the number of dc stitches at the beginning and end of each row (in my pattern there are 12dc at the beginning and 12 at the end) and also change the number of increases on row 2. Try starting with 3inc and 6dc stitches at the beginning and 6dc stitches at the end.
Another option is to use a thicker yarn and a bigger hook.

Two large crochet rainbow decoration free pattern

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Happy Crocheting!

Looking For Similar Crochet Patterns?

Display of yarn rainbow made in crochet as decoration

6 Comments

Hayley
July 28, 2023 @ 11:26 pm

Hi! I love this so much – not sure if you’re still active on here but was just wondering how to alter the pattern if I want there to be a larger gap in the middle? Like a big arch. Thank you!
- Ariana Wimsett
  August 2, 2023 @ 9:07 am
  
  You will need to make your increases on each side of the arch instead of the top of it (you will need to insert stitches between the 2 increases…something like this: stitches on the side of the arch, increases to form the curve, stitches on the top of the arch, increases to form the other curve, stitches on the side of the arch. Basically, a different pattern 🙂
Sarah
February 22, 2021 @ 5:07 am

Thank you so so much for this – it’s such a fantastic tutorial (I came across it on You Tube initially). Could I please ask, if I was wanting there to not be a ‘gap’ in the middle (next to where the smallest upside down U of lilac is) but make that bit solid (I would love to make a rainbow blanket using this pattern) how would I go about that? Would it be a matter of DC around both sides of a chain and adding the DC increases in the middle? Do you have any specific instructions? Thanks so much 🙂
- Ariana Wimsett
  February 22, 2021 @ 8:12 am
  
  Yes, thats all you have to do, crochet around a chain with the increases in the middle
  - Sarah
    February 22, 2021 @ 8:43 pm
    
    Thanks so much for your response!
    - Ariana Wimsett
      February 22, 2021 @ 10:05 pm
      
      you’re welcome