How to Knit a Rainbow
Complete Size – 22cm width x 12cm height x 4cm rainbow breadth
What you will need…
Total time – from 1 Hour (single knitted rainbow) to 2 Hours 40 Minutes (double thickness with clouds)
4mm knitting needles (UK 8, US 6) for rainbow
3.25mm knitting needles (UK 10, US 3) for clouds
Double knitting yarn – Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. White yarn for knitted clouds.
Sewing up needle
Scissors
Optional toy stuffing if making two rainbows to place back to back to form a 3D soft toy version.
Before You Start…
Abbreviations
K = Knit P = Purl St = Stitch Sts = Stitches
Cast On – I use the thumb method.
St-st = stocking stitch. Alternating a row of knit stitches (right side), with a row of purl stitches (wrong side).
G-st = Garter stitch. Every row knit.
K2tog = Decrease by knitting two stitches together, making one stitch from two.
Inc = Increase – by knitting into the front and the back of the same stitch, to make two stitches out of one.
Cast off – K wise or P wise according to pattern. US – bind off.
TOP TIP
If placing two knitted rainbow pieces together – Fasten each of the loose row ends before placing them together. This is a little more time-consuming but leaves a neater finish.
How to Make it…
Made from two knitted rainbow pieces and four knitted cloud pieces. Sewing these together with a little bit of stuffing will make a fuller cuddly soft toy version. Alternatively, knit a single rainbow to place on a greetings card or picture, and either make two single cloud pieces to place one on each end, or place a bit of cloud-like stuffing.
Main Piece
Make 1 (or 2 pieces for the rainbow toy version)
Time – 40 Minutes Each Piece
Piece Size 17 cm x 9 cm
Needles 4 mm
Yarn Variable as per Rainbow
Beginning in violet cast on 33sts
Break off yarn and join on indigo
G-st 2 rows
Break off yarn and join on blue
K5, (inc Kwise, K2) 3 times, inc Kwise, K3, (inc Kwise, K2) 3 times, inc Kwise, K5 (41sts)
K 1 row
Break off yarn and join on green
G-st 2 rows
Break off yarn and join on yellow
K6, (inc Kwise, K3) 7 times, inc Kwise, K6 (49sts)
K 1 row
Break off yarn and join on orange
G-st 2 rows
Break off yarn and join on red
K 1 row
Cast off Kwise
Clouds
Make 2 or 4 (depending on whether a 2D or 3D rainbow respectively)
Time – 30 Minutes Each
Piece Size 10 cm x 4.5 cm
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn White
Cast on 4sts
Inc Knit-wise into every stitch (8sts)
Next row P
Continue in st-st a further 4 rows, Inc Kwise into the first and last stitch of all K rows (12sts)
St-st a further 2 rows
Continue in st-st a further 4 rows, decreasing Kwise (K2tog) at the start and end of all K rows (8sts)
Continue in st-st a further 4 rows, Inc Kwise into the first and last stitch of all K rows (12sts)
St-st a further 2 rows
Continue in st-st a further 4 rows, decreasing Kwise (K2tog) at the start and end of all K rows (8sts)
Continue in st-st a further 4 rows, Inc Kwise into the first and last stitch of all K rows (12sts)
St-st a further 2 rows
Continue in st-st a further 4 rows, decreasing Kwise (K2tog) at the start and end of all K rows (8sts)
K2tog to end (4sts)
Cast off Pwise
Piece it Together…
Sewing-up time – 10 Minutes for single Rainbow
Sewing-up time – 30 Minutes for Two-Piece Rainbow
Sewing-up time – 20 Minutes for Clouds
Sewing Up
Rainbow – Sew through each of the coloured loose ends into the wrong side of the rainbow to leave a neat finish, and trim off as shown in the picture.
If knitting a soft toy rainbow, place wrong sides of rainbow pieces together and sew across one set of row ends and cast-on/cast-off edges. Stuff lightly through this remaining gap, then complete by oversewing these remaining row ends. Fasten off all loose ends.
Clouds – If making a single rainbow, pin and sew the one cloud piece into place at the end of the rainbow, slightly overlapping, with the right side of stocking-stitch facing forward. Sew into place onto your cushion/picture as desired.
If knitting a soft toy version, place a second cloud piece onto the rear side of the rainbow (same end), with wrong sides of the cloud stocking-stitch together. Sew across one set of row ends of the cloud and both cast-on/cast-off edges, leaving a ‘rainbow-width’ gap in the seam. Stuff lightly, and then sew across the remaining row ends of the cloud into the rainbow on both front and back, to close the gap. Fasten off all loose ends.
Complete this step for the other two cloud pieces at the other end of the rainbow.
Ensure all pins are removed when completed.
Make it Different…
A single piece rainbow can be great for several different creations – try a knitted rainbow to make a plain cushion a little more interesting, or make a knitted picture for the wall such as seen with the space scene picture. You can also make one to form part of a handmade greetings card.
A handle for a little basket is another idea, and an idea thanks to Ellie – maybe even extend it a bit, insert a headband, and there you have some earmuffs!
Your finished knitted rainbow may also be decorated further, such as adding extra stitching for a child’s initials, or that little pot of gold on top of one of the clouds. A finger-knitted loop sewn into the top will also allow it to be hung from a drawer handle or picture hook to use the rainbow as a room decoration.
Adjust the pattern to make your own knitted rainbow, for example by making it larger by increasing the number of cast-on stitches. If doing so, you will also need to calculate the number of bends you would like by spreading the “increasing” stitches evenly across a row. You could also adjust the clouds’ size and shape – make thinner or fatter clouds by changing the number of cast-on stitches, make them longer by continuing to repeat the centre part of the pattern, or make them slimmer by reducing the number of increasing/decreasing stitches.
Add a knitted unicorn to your rainbow – a favourite of most little girls I know! Reducing the number of cast-on stitches and then modifying accordingly, could also allow it to become a rainbow mane for a unicorn. Knitting a single rainbow and attaching the ends with a little button, can also turn it into a cute little blanket cover for a unicorn.
Behind the Scenes!
These patterns are all made up as I go along, learning from mistakes along the way. Every time I create a new pattern, I record it in the Updates part of this site (effectively my blog…) There is a story behind each creation, and this can help give you some more ideas and encouragement. See the Update info….
All done?
Feel free to share your successes or any other tips or suggestions by contacting me. If it’s all gone swimmingly and you’re ready for your next challenge, have a look at what to try next! My next pattern!