Hello, my dear crocheter! It's Patricia. Is there anything more joyful than working with a cascade of rainbow colors? I think not! It’s pure happiness, translated into yarn. That's the exact feeling I wanted to capture in this pattern for the Rainbow Sprite Doll. With her sweet, simple face and a show-stopping rainbow hoodie, she is designed to be a beacon of cheer on any shelf or in any loving arms.
I was inspired by the way a splash of color can completely brighten a day, and I wanted to create a friend who does just that. Every stitch of her vibrant hoodie is a step along the rainbow. I'm so delighted to share this Rainbow Sprite Doll pattern with you for free. Your enthusiasm and support, simply by visiting, sharing, and creating, are what keep my hooks clicking and allow me to design these detailed patterns. Thank you for being here. Let's create some joy!
Materials You'll Need for Your Rainbow Sprite Doll
To bring this little sprite to life, I have a few recommendations that will help you get that clean, adorable look from the photo.
Absolute Essentials
- Yarn: Worsted Weight (Category 4). I highly recommend a smooth cotton or a cotton-blend yarn. This type of yarn provides incredible stitch definition, which is exactly what we want for those crisp, clean rainbow stripes!
- Skin Tone: Approx. 60 yards of a cream or beige (Color A).
- Rainbow Colors: Approx. 20 yards each of Pink, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple.
- Jacket Body Accent Colors: The sample uses Red, Purple, and Orange for the stripes on the jacket body and arms.
- Jacket Edging & Tie: Approx. 25 yards of bright Yellow.
- Crochet Hook: 3.25mm (D/3). Using a slightly smaller hook than the yarn calls for is key to tight, no-hole amigurumi fabric.
- Safety Eyes: 2x 9mm black safety eyes.
- Notions:
- Polyester Fiberfill Stuffing
- Yarn Needle
- Stitch Marker
- Scissors
- Black Embroidery Floss (for the smile)
- Pins for assembly
My 'Game Changer' Recommendations
- Pink Felt & Fabric Glue: For the cheeks! This gives a perfectly round, soft blush just like the original. You can of course crochet small circles, but I find felt to be quicker and incredibly sweet.
- A Wooden Dowel or Chopstick: This is my secret weapon for stuffing! It helps you get the fiberfill firmly and evenly into all the small parts like the legs and arms.
Skills Required & Techniques Demystified
This is an intermediate pattern, but an ambitious beginner will find the detailed instructions very helpful! The most unique part is the construction of the jacket.
- mr: magic ring
- sc: single crochet
- inc: increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
- dec: invisible decrease (insert hook into front loop of first st, then front loop of second st, yarn over and pull through both loops, yarn over and pull through remaining two loops)
- sl st: slip stitch
- ch: chain
- st(s): stitch(es)
- FLO: front loop only
- BLO: back loop only
- Color Change: To get the cleanest stripes, complete the final stitch of a round/row right up until the last yarn over. Drop the current color, and yarn over with the new color to pull through and complete the stitch.
A Note on Photos & Your Unique Rainbow Sprite Doll
Every handmade creation is a little piece of the artist's heart. Your tension, your choice of yarn, and the way you stuff your doll will make her uniquely yours. Embrace her one-of-a-kind personality and let her unique rainbow spirit shine through!
Onwards, creative spirit, let's bring our Rainbow Sprite Doll to life! The full pattern is right ahead.
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The Rainbow Sprite Doll Amigurumi Pattern
A friendly reminder: Work in continuous rounds unless stated otherwise. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.
Head
(Using Color A - Skin Tone)
Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a mr. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 3: [Sc in next st, inc] around. (18)
Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc] around. (24)
Rnd 5: [Sc in next 3 sts, inc] around. (30)
Rnd 6: [Sc in next 4 sts, inc] around. (36)
Rnd 7: [Sc in next 5 sts, inc] around. (42)
Rnd 8: [Sc in next 6 sts, inc] around. (48)
Rnd 9: [Sc in next 7 sts, inc] around. (54)
Rnd 10-18: Sc in each st around (9 rounds). (54)
Place the safety eyes between Rnds 15 and 16, about 9 stitches apart. Before placing the backs on, take a moment to ensure you love their placement.
Rnd 19: [Sc in next 7 sts, dec] around. (48)
Rnd 20: [Sc in next 6 sts, dec] around. (42)
Rnd 21: [Sc in next 5 sts, dec] around. (36)
Rnd 22: [Sc in next 4 sts, dec] around. (30)
Rnd 23: [Sc in next 3 sts, dec] around. (24)
Begin to stuff the head firmly. Continue to stuff as you go.
Rnd 24: [Sc in next 2 sts, dec] around. (18)
Rnd 25: [Sc in next st, dec] around. (12)
Rnd 26: Dec around. (6)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Weave the tail through the front loops of the final 6 stitches and pull tight to close. Hide the yarn tail inside the head. Using black embroidery floss, stitch a small, curved smile two rounds below the eyes, centered between them.
Legs (Make 2)
(Start with Color A - Skin Tone)
Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a mr. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 3: [Sc in next st, inc] around. (18)
Rnd 4-5: Sc in each st around (2 rounds). (18)
Rnd 6: Sc in next 4 sts, dec 5 times, sc in next 4 sts. (13)
Rnd 7: Sc in next 4 sts, dec 2 times, sc in next 5 sts. (11)
Rnd 8-15: Sc in each st around (8 rounds). (11)
Lightly stuff the foot and the bottom of the leg. Do not stuff the top 2-3 rounds. For the first leg, fasten off and weave in the end. For the second leg, do NOT fasten off. We will now join the legs to form the body.
Body
Continuing from the second leg with Color A.
Rnd 16: Ch 3. Take the first leg, and sc in the next available stitch. Continue to sc in the remaining 10 sts around the first leg. Sc in each of the 3 chains. Sc in each of the 11 sts around the second leg. Sc in the other side of the 3 chains. (28)
Rnd 17-18: Sc in each st around (2 rounds). (28)
Rnd 19: [Sc in next 6 sts, inc] around. (32) Change to Orange yarn.
Rnd 20: Sc in each st around. (32) Change to Purple yarn.
Rnd 21: Sc in each st around. (32) Change to Red yarn.
Rnd 22: In BLO, [sc in next 6 sts, dec] around. (28) Change to Orange yarn.
Rnd 23: Sc in each st around. (28) Begin stuffing the body firmly. Change to Purple yarn.
Rnd 24: [Sc in next 5 sts, dec] around. (24) Change to Red yarn.
Rnd 25: Sc in each st around. (24) Change to Orange yarn.
Rnd 26: [Sc in next 2 sts, dec] around. (18)
Fasten off, leaving a very long tail for sewing the head to the body. Finish stuffing the body firmly.
Arms (Make 2)
(Start with Color A - Skin Tone)
Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a mr. (6)
Rnd 2: [Sc in next st, inc] around. (9)
Rnd 3-4: Sc in each st around (2 rounds). (9) Change to Red yarn.
Rnd 5-6: Sc in each st around (2 rounds). (9) Change to Purple yarn.
Rnd 7-8: Sc in each st around (2 rounds). (9) Change to Orange yarn.
Rnd 9-12: Sc in each st around (4 rounds). (9)
Stuff the hand and lower arm lightly. Do not stuff the top half. Pinch the opening flat and sc across to close. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
The Rainbow Hoodie (Removable)
Hood
The hood is worked flat in rows. Ch 1 and turn at the end of each row. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
Start with Pink yarn. Row 1: Ch 29. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across. (28) Change to Red yarn. Row 2-3: Sc in each st across. (28) Change to Orange yarn. Row 4-5: Sc in each st across. (28) Change to Yellow yarn. Row 6-7: Sc in each st across. (28) Change to Green yarn. Row 8-9: Sc in each st across. (28) Change to Blue yarn. Row 10-11: Sc in each st across. (28) Change to Purple yarn. Row 12-13: Sc in each st across. (28)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Fold the rectangle in half so the first and last rows are aligned. Use the tail to whip stitch the side closed to form the hood shape. Weave in all other ends.
Jacket Body
Worked flat in rows. Ch 1 and turn. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
Start with Red yarn. Row 1: Ch 37. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across. (36) Row 2: Sc in each st across. (36) Change to Purple yarn. Row 3: Sc in each st across. (36) Change to Orange yarn. Row 4: Sc in each st across. (36) Change to Red yarn. Row 5 (Create Armholes): Sc in next 6 sts, ch 6, skip next 6 sts. Sc in next 12 sts. Ch 6, skip next 6 sts. Sc in next 6 sts. Row 6: Sc in each st and ch across. (36) Change to Purple yarn. Row 7: Sc in each st across. (36) Change to Orange yarn. Row 8: Sc in each st across. (36)
Do not fasten off. We will now add the edging.
Jacket Edging & Assembly
Using Yellow yarn. Attach the hood to the jacket body neckline. The "seam" of the hood should be on the inside. Pin the edge of the hood to the starting chain of the jacket body, centering it.
Now, with yellow yarn, ch 1, and sc evenly all the way around the entire jacket opening: up the right front panel, around the edge of the attached hood, and down the left front panel. Place 3 sc in the corners to keep them flat. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Sleeves (Make 2)
Join Red yarn at the bottom of an armhole. Rnd 1: Work 12 sc evenly around the armhole opening. Join with a sl st. (12) Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with a sl st. (12) Change to Purple yarn. Rnd 3-4: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with a sl st. (12) Change to Orange yarn. Rnd 5-6: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with a sl st. (12) Fasten off and weave in ends.
Yellow Tie
Using Yellow yarn, ch 60. Fasten off. Weave the tie through the stitches at the neckline of the jacket. Tie in a bow.
Assembly Instructions for Your Rainbow Sprite Doll
- Attach Head to Body: Using the long tail from the body, pin the head in place. Make sure the face is centered. Sew the head on securely, going through the stitches of the last round of the body and a round on the base of the head. Add a little more stuffing just before you close the final gap to ensure a firm neck.
- Attach Arms: Pin the arms to either side of the body, approximately one round down from the neck seam. Sew them securely in place.
- Cheeks: If using felt, cut two small pink circles and attach them with fabric glue or a few small stitches. Position them just below the outer corners of the eyes.
- Dress Up! Slide the removable Rainbow Hoodie onto your doll and tie the bow.
Tips & Tricks for Your Rainbow Sprite Doll
- Troubleshooting a Wobbly Head: If the head feels a bit loose, it likely needs more stuffing at the neck joint. You can also insert a small piece of a wooden dowel or a rolled-up piece of felt into the neck before sewing it closed for extra stability.
- Customization Corner: This doll is a perfect base for creativity! Try a pastel rainbow for a softer look, or crochet a simple beanie in a solid color for an alternative outfit. You could even add tiny buttons to the jacket instead of the tie.
- Gifting Your Rainbow Sprite: When gifting this doll, consider tucking a little hand-written note about hope or friendship into the pocket of her hoodie. It’s a tiny touch that adds so much heart.
Frequently Asked Pattern & Finishing Questions
- Can I make the hoodie non-removable? Absolutely! Simply place the hoodie on the doll before sewing the head on. When you sew the head to the body, make sure your stitches go through the body, the hoodie's neckline, and the head to secure all three layers together.
- My stripes have a noticeable 'jog' or seam. How can I avoid this? Because the hoodie is worked in flat rows, you shouldn't have a jog. For the striped body and arms worked in the round, my best tip for less noticeable changes is to make your last slip stitch to join a round with the new color.
- What's the best way to attach the felt cheeks so they last? For a doll that will be played with, sewing the felt on with matching pink thread is the most durable option. For a display piece, a good quality fabric glue (like Fabri-Tac) works beautifully and gives a very clean finish.
A Final Word & Caring for Your Adorable Rainbow Sprite Doll
Congratulations on bringing your Rainbow Sprite Doll to life! Seeing your finished creation is the greatest reward for me as a designer. Each colorful stitch is a testament to your skill and patience. Your engagement with these designs is what makes creating these free, detailed patterns possible, and for that, I am truly grateful. I hope she brings a rainbow of happiness to your home.
Happy stitching, my dear!
- Patricia