The Yarnival of the Animals

This project was originally conceived as a rainbow-themed handbag, but ended up as a bag that I keep my current crochet projects in. I've been crocheting a lot lately, and it helps keep the living room clean from bits of yarn, half-finished projects and needles.    The bag is made up of separately crocheted circles that are then sewn on top of each other. For each circle, start with a magic ring. All elements are made of SMC Catania cotton yarn for a 2-2.5mm hook.   R1. 10 dc in the magic ring (10) R2. 2dc in every stitch (20) R3. 2dc in every second stitch (30) Fasten off with a slip stitch and weave in ends.    Make as many circles in as many colours as you like.  Sew them onto each other with the rims of the next circle just touching the tops of the stitches in tour 1 of the previous circle. Make two of these swatches, one for each side of the bag. To turn your rectangle of circles into a proper bag, fasten on with white or any other contrasting colour a...

If you want to show your support for the LGBTQ+ community, or just like rainbows, I figured a little patch to sow onto bags or clothing would be ideal. This simple little pattern can be made from scraps of any type of yarn as long as all the main colours of the rainbow are there. For size, it is also more advisable to use a thinner yarn and for sturdiness I would recommend cotton over wool or acrylic (end result would be quite floppy).  For this pattern I had some SMC Catania in various colours available (see list at end of pattern), but only managed 6 out of the 7 colours, although personally I do think the division of blue and indigo is a bit of a scam.   Start by chaining 15 in purple (15). Row 1: sc in the second stitch from the needle; (2sc in the next stitch, sc in the next to stitches) x2; (sc in the next to stitches, 2sc in the next stitch) x2; 1sc in the last stitch (18). Chain 1 to turn. Row 2: (sc in the next 3 stitches, 2sc in the next stitch) x2; sc in the n...