Crochet Rainbow Pattern Towel Topper free crochet pattern

Mar 4, 2022 | Crochet patterns

This crochet rainbow pattern is a free crochet pattern for a bright and cheerful rainbow towel topper by Nana’s Crafty Home!

This is a fun and easy crochet rainbow pattern that works up quickly and easily with scrap amounts of yarn.

This towel topper is another addition to my series of towel topper patterns that use a hidden 3″ ring inside so your towel will be removable for easy washing.

Crochet Rainbow Towel Topper Pattern Details

The last few months have been very hard for me and for my family. My 7 year old granddaughter passed away of brain cancer in December and my dad died unexpectedly at the beginning of January. Winter has seemed so dreary and never ending this year. I needed a project that would make me smile while I worked on it. One that Nina would have loved ❤️

Rainbows are so cheerful and bright – a wonderful way to add some fun to your kitchen home decor. The addition of the smiling sun is a reminder that even after the darkest and fiercest storms God sends the sun to warm and light the day.

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner this would make a quick and easy project and perfect for your scraps. If you are anything like me you have a basket full of small balls of leftover yarn you just can’t bear to throw away. This project would be perfect for those small bits and bobs of yarn!

You can make your rainbow in more traditional rainbow colors or mix it up – would be great in spring pastels, too!

I made mine with Red Heart With Love* worsted weight yarn and Red Heart Super Saver* but use whatever you have on hand. If you change up the yarn weight to a smaller yarn you may need to add one row to the rainbow panel to give enough height for your ring.

I have several towel toppers now that utilize a hidden 3″ ring* which allows the towel to be removable. I purchase my rings from Amazon* but you can substitute with inexpensive plastic shower rings, wood rings or even elastic hair ties. All have been used successfully by other makers.

Amazon 3" plastic ring — Plastic 3″ ring from Amazon

I discovered the amazing plastic ring* I could use inside a towel topper when I designed my original Gnome Towel Topper. Since then I have designed several towel toppers using a 3″ plastic ring which I have incorporated into the pattern and have been hooked ever since.

*This post contains affiliate links. You can click on any yarn or material highlighted to purchase. I will receive a small commission if you purchase but it won’t cost you any extra!

This pattern could easily be tackled by an adventurous beginner. Uses beginner-friendly double crochet and single crochet stitches throughout. If you haven’t ever worked over a ring before you can watch me work over one in my Tasseled Towel Topper Video Tutorial. Another great towel topper!

And, if you love rainbow crochet patterns you may enjoy my Love Bear Rainbow Baby Blanket. Perfect for a rainbow baby!

This crochet rainbow pattern is also available as an ad-free, printable PDF! You can purchase the individual pattern, or if you love PDFs, you might want to check out my Lifetime Membership. It’s an awesome deal! Never pay for one of my PDFs again!! (Or, scroll down for the free version!)

Purchase the ad-free pdf of the Rainbow Towel Topper pattern for a small fee. Thank you so much for supporting my work!

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You may also love the following free crochet patterns by Nana’s Crafty Home:

Leprechaun Gnome Towel Topper free crochet pattern — 1. Leprechaun Gnome Towel Topper

Snowman Towel topper free crochet pattern — 1. Leprechaun Gnome Towel Topper

Crochet Rainbow Pattern Towel Topper free written pattern instructions

Pattern written in US crochet terminology

Supplies:

Size J (6.0 mm) crochet hook
1 – 3” plastic ring
1 – 1” button
1 kitchen towel
Embroidery floss for sewing on button
2 – 6 mm safety eyes
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
Stitch Markers

Purchase 3” ring at Amazon (affiliate)

Approximate finished size: 8” wide x 7.5” tall (not including towel)

Gauge: not necessary for project

Recommended Tutorials:

Mattress Stitch Join Tutorial

Abbreviations:

RS = right side
MC = magic circle
ch(s) = chain(s)
dc = double crochet
sc = single crochet
st = stitch
sp = space
sk = skip
hdc = half double crochet
sl st = slip stitch

Pattern Notes:

Hanging tab is crocheted onto the 3” ring working in turned rows.
Hanging tab is inserted between rainbow panels and then sewn in place as panels are sewn together.
Ch 3 at beginning of row counts as first stitch throughout pattern.
Each new color of rainbow panel is joined in the top of the beginning ch-3 of previous row. Fasten off each color at end of row.
Rainbow panels are worked flat row by row – not in the round. Two panels are then sewn together at the end.
Sun is worked in seamless rounds – do not sl st join at the end of each round, use a stitch marker in first st of each round and move up to keep track of rounds.
If substituting with a lighter weight yarn, you may need to add another row to rainbow panels.

Pattern Instructions

Hanging Tab

Row 1: (WS) With red and working over 3” ring, 7 sc over ring. Turn. (7)

Row 2: (RS) ch 1, 1 sc in each st. Turn. (7)

Row 3 – 28: repeat row 2. (7)

Row 29: (button hole row) ch 1, 1 sc in first 2 st, ch 3, sk next 3 st, 1 sc in next 2 st. Turn. (4 sc + 3 chs)

Row 30: ch 1, 1 sc in first 2 st, 3 sc in ch-sp, 1 sc next 2 st. Turn. (7)

Row 31: ch 1, 1 sc in each st. (7)

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Note: Hanging tab is approximately 8” long excluding 3” ring.

Rainbow Panel (make 2)

With purple, make MC (alternatively ch 4, sl st to first ch to form a ring).

Row 1: (RS) ch 3, 6 dc in MC (or ring). Tighten MC. Do not turn. (7) Fasten off purple.

Row 2: Attach Blue to top of beginning ch-3 from previous row, ch 3, 2 dc in each remaining st. (13). Fasten off blue.

Row 3: Attach Green to ch-3 of blue, ch 3, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st,* repeat from * to * to end. (19) Fasten off green.

Row 4: Attach Yellow to ch-3 of green, ch 3, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (25) Fasten off yellow.

Row 5: Attach Orange to ch-3 of yellow, ch 3, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (31) Fasten off orange.

Row 6: Attach Red to ch-3 of orange, ch 3, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 4 sts,* repeat from * to * to last 4 sts, 1 dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in last st. (38)

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Sun

With yellow, make MC (alternatively ch 4, sl st in first ch to form ring).

Round 1: (RS) ch 1, 6 sc in MC. Tighten MC. (6)

Round 2: 2 sc in each st. (12)

Round 3: *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next st,* repeat from * to * to end. (18)

Round 4: *ch 4, sc in second ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in last ch, sk next st of round, sl st in next st,* repeat from * to * to end. (9 “rays” made)

Round 5: (now working in skipped sts and behind rays made from previous round), sl st in next skipped st, *ch 4, sc in second ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in last ch, sl st in next skipped st,* repeat from * to * to end. (9 “rays” made)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing and weave in remaining ends.

Assembly

With RS facing, attach 2 safety eyes to sun. With black yarn, embroider smile on RS of sun.

With embroidery thread, attach button to front bottom at row 4 of hanging tab.

Using long tail left for sewing, sew sun to front of hanging tab just above button hole.

With RS of rainbow panels facing out, count 15 stitches on both rainbow panels along the top arch, place stitch markers through both panels, count 8 stitches over, place stitch marker through both panels. Insert 3” ring side of hanging tab between stitch markers, pull up tab until ring comes to the top of the panels. With a long length of red yarn on tapestry needle and starting on right side of panels, use mattress stitch to sew rainbow panels together to first stitch marker, sew through panels and hanging tab through next 8 stitches, use mattress stitch for remaining stitches.