I was told today that someone’s favorite animal is a rainbow! Which isn’t quite an animal, but for a 1 1/2 year old, it’s pretty cute. And it’s inspired me to make this small crochet rainbow pillow today, at least!
This is a really simple rainbow that can easily be customized to whatever colors you want, and change the size depending on what size yarn you use.
As I’m going to be shipping this across the world, I wanted to make it a good medium-sized. Not too big to ship, but not too small to squish. So I’ve made this really cute and simple rainbow amigurumi!
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As with all of my other patterns, this starts with US crochet terminology and keep scrolling to get to UK terminology!
About This Crochet Rainbow Pillow
This is a really simple pattern to follow, just increasing each row around.
The only downside about this pattern is it does mean that you have to count every single row because there is an increase.
I did use cotton because I could get small 20g balls of each color, but you can make this out of any type of yarn. Just make sure to use the same type of yarn for each color, otherwise it can change the gauge.
And keep in mind, depending on what type of yarn you use will change the amount in weight you need).
What You’ll Need:
8 colors (7 rainbow colors and cream for clouds) 8ply, I DMC Happy Cotton, which is not a common yarn in the USA, so just look for one that has all of the colors you want!
Amounts I used for each color:
- Red – 24g (50-54m)
- Orange – 22g (45-50m)
- Yellow – 19g (40-45m)
- Green – 16g (32-38m)
- Blue – 12g (25-30m)
- Indigo – 10g (20-25m)
- Purple – 6g (12-18m) *you will need more yarn for the outer edges than the inner rows
3.25mm hook
4mm hook (optional)
Darning needle – read what yarn needles are here!
Stitch marker – read why stitch markers are helpful!
Scissors
Stuffing – about 80-90g
Gauge: with the 3.25mm hook 20 stiches and 21 rows in 4 inches (10cm)
Size
Before stuffing, it’s about 40cm wide (15 3/4in)
After stuffing, it’s width is 35cm (14in) and height is 18cm (7in). The more stuffing you use, the narrower it will be.
Crochet Rainbow Pillow US Terms
This is a really simple crochet rainbow to make, making one big circle with the rainbow colors and then adding on a few white half circles to make the clouds. Each section will be referenced with the colors in the images.
If this is starting to look too much like a hexagon, just offset the increase by a few stitches. I.e. instead of 10sc, inc you would start with 5sc, inc, and then do the 10sc, inc the rest of the way around.
Use a stitch marker to mark the start of each row, and work in a continuous circle
Read how to change colors easily here!
Terminology
Sc = single crochet
Ch = chain
Sl = slip stitch
Inc = increase (2 in same space)
Rainbow Pattern
Using Purple:
Start with the your inner color (purple) and a 4mm hook (this is optional, but it will make the first row easier). Chain 36.
Making sure it’s not twisted, sl to the first chain to make a loop. Ch1.
Row 1: switch to the 3.25mm hook, and sc in each ch loop (36)
Row 2: (5sc, inc) across (42)
Row 3: (6sc, inc) across (48)
Row 4: (7sc, inc) across (54)
Row 5: (8sc, inc) across (60)
Using Indigo:
Row 6: (9sc, inc) across (66)
Row 7: (10sc, inc) across (72)
Row 8: (11sc, inc) across (78)
Row 9: (12sc, inc) across (84)
Row 10: (13sc, inc) across (90)
Using Blue:
Row 11: (14sc, inc) across (96)
Row 12: (15sc, inc) across (102)
Row 13: (16sc, inc) across (108)
Row 14: (17sc, inc) across (114)
Row 15: (18sc, inc) across (120)
Using Green:
Row 16: (19sc, inc) across (126)
Row 17: (20sc, inc) across (132)
Row 18: (21sc, inc) across (138)
Row 19: (22sc, inc) across (144)
Row 20: (23sc, inc) across (150)
Using Yellow:
Row 21: (24sc, inc) across (156)
Row 22: (25sc, inc) across (162)
Row 23: (26sc, inc) across (168)
Row 24: (27sc, inc) across (174)
Row 25: (28sc, inc) across (180)
Using Orange:
Row 26: (29sc, inc) across (186)
Row 27: (30sc, inc) across (192)
Row 28: (31sc, inc) across (198)
Row 29: (32sc, inc) across (204)
Row 30: (33sc, inc) across (210)
Using Red:
Row 31: (34sc, inc) across (216)
Row 32: (35sc, inc) across (222)
Row 33: (36sc, inc) across (228)
Row 34: (37sc, inc) across (234)
Row 35: sc across (234)
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing closed.
Putting the Rainbow Together
Stitch markers will be your friend for putting the rainbow together!
Start by cutting off the extra yarn of any of the colors, and tie them off on the inside.
Next, fold your giant circle of a rainbow in half. I tried to have the line where the colors changed at the bottom, so it’s hidden at the fold point.
Using stitch markers, close the edges for easier sewing (the inner circle and outer circle).
Stitch closed the inner seam first (the purple). Tie off, and hide yarn inside the rainbow.
Next, start stitching closed the outer seam (the red). Once it’s about 3/4 of the way stitched, add stuffing. Stuff to your preference, I used about 80 grams.
Optional: add a mini heart inside to give your rainbow life!
Finish stitching closed and tie off the remaining yarn, and hide the tail inside the rainbow.
Now you have a finished crochet rainbow!
Crochet Rainbow Pillow UK Terms
If you’re more used to UK terms, find the pattern here!
If this is starting to look too much like a hexagon, just offset the increase by a few stitches. I.e. instead of 10dc, inc you would start with 5dc, inc, and then do the 10dc, inc the rest of the way around.
Use a stitch marker to mark the start of each row, and work in a continuous circle. Read how to change colors easily here!
Terminology
Dc = double crochet
Ch = chain
Sl = slip stitch
Inc = increase (2 in same space)
Rainbow Pattern
Using Purple:
Start with the your inner color (purple) and a 4mm hook (this is optional, but it will make the first row easier). Chain 36.
Making sure it’s not twisted, sl to the first chain to make a loop. Ch1.
Row 1: switch to the 3.25mm hook, and dc in each ch loop (36)
Row 2: (5dc, inc) across (42)
Row 3: (6dc, inc) across (48)
Row 4: (7dc, inc) across (54)
Row 5: (8dc, inc) across (60)
Using Indigo:
Row 6: (9dc, inc) across (66)
Row 7: (10dc, inc) across (72)
Row 8: (11dc, inc) across (78)
Row 9: (12dc, inc) across (84)
Row 10: (13sc, inc) across (90)
Using Blue:
Row 11: (14dc, inc) across (96)
Row 12: (15dc, inc) across (102)
Row 13: (16dc, inc) across (108)
Row 14: (17dc, inc) across (114)
Row 15: (18dc, inc) across (120)
Using Green:
Row 16: (19dc, inc) across (126)
Row 17: (20dc, inc) across (132)
Row 18: (21dc, inc) across (138)
Row 19: (22dc, inc) across (144)
Row 20: (23dc, inc) across (150)
Using Yellow:
Row 21: (24dc, inc) across (156)
Row 22: (25dc, inc) across (162)
Row 23: (26dc, inc) across (168)
Row 24: (27dc, inc) across (174)
Row 25: (28dc, inc) across (180)
Using Orange:
Row 26: (29dc, inc) across (186)
Row 27: (30dc, inc) across (192)
Row 28: (31dc, inc) across (198)
Row 29: (32dc, inc) across (204)
Row 30: (33dc, inc) across (210)
Using Red:
Row 31: (34dc, inc) across (216)
Row 32: (35dc, inc) across (222)
Row 33: (36dc, inc) across (228)
Row 34: (37dc, inc) across (234)
Row 35: dc across (234)
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing closed. Scroll up between the US and UK terminology to find how to sew this up and finish your crochet rainbow pillow!
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