Hopeful Rainbows
- Sue's Crochet Cafe
- Mar 25, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 28, 2020
Hello Lovely Crocheters!
Today marks the launch of my new website and with it my very first blog. It’s a lovely time to be writing – just minutes after people took to their doorsteps right cross the UK and erupted into applause and cheers for the workers in our National Health Service who are on the front line of our fight against this unprecedented pandemic. A beautiful expression of our gratitude.
If we've met in person (before we were all separated to save lives) you'll know that I'm a teeny bit passionate about crochet and colour and yarn and crafting for mental health and socialising and for keeping the brain cells active. At a time where many of us are filled with anything from uncertainty to fear, creative pursuits like crochet are more important than ever. The world feels a pretty scary place, Many people are feeling dis-empowered. But amidst all the uncertainties there have arisen some beautiful examples of the human need to connect and a strength of compassionate spirit which is truly uplifting.
A lovely local example of this is the rainbow art with which people are decorating their windows here in Yorkshire, England. The Rainbow in the Window is designed to lift the spirits of those passing on their way to work who may be in need of a bit of brightness; to communicate with the housebound around who are able to see rainbows from their windows and know that others are thinking of them and to provide a happy spy game to children walking by who may be struggling with this strange new world in which they must not meet their friends or go to school and can only go outside once a day.
Over the last few days I’ve been experimenting with a design for a crocheted rainbow. I saw some on a forum which had been made with a circle folded in half (shout out especially to Lis and Linda here after our intense mathematical circle workshop just before the self-isolation closed us down!). These work up nicely but I couldn’t help thinking that there was a lot of yarn waste – if I’m going to fold, I could have made two!
So, I set about working from a chain and experimenting with hook sizes to create a sturdy fabric whilst keeping a pleasing shaped arc. My rainbow is worked on the same principles as a circle and so is good counting discipline of beginner and experienced hookers alike.
I’ve played around with colours too – my blue and green worked together in a similar palette and gave way to a bold yellow almost as wide as the blue and green together. You can use my colours which are all listed and colour changed in the pattern or go rogue with your own!
The Rainbow Window Mobile pattern I’ve come up with is available here:
It’s a photo- pattern with hints and tips as well as instructions – I hope you enjoy it.
I’ve added raindrops to my design as I found the idea of a little water refreshing from my confinement. They’re worked around a chain loop or a magic circle in just one round of varied length stitches and are quick to make up so you can choose how many you’d like.
The finished window rainbow is a cheery splash of colour and I’ve even seen my housemates smile as they walk past! If you do make one…or several rainbows do share your photos. When the current danger is passed perhaps I’ll work up another pattern to convert them to a hanging mobile with other motifs too.
Meanwhile, stay safe and as hopeful as you are able. I’m missing my lovely crochet students and social crocheters but am enjoying online chatting with crocheters from around the globe – what a lovely bunch you yarnisters are!
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