Mint Rainbow Jar Sleeve Free Crochet Pattern
Introduction
This Mint Rainbow Jar Sleeve is the perfect little project for anyone who has just learned single crochet and wants to make something genuinely cute. It is a simple mint rectangle seamed into a tube that slips over a standard 16 oz jar, with a three-arc lavender and white rainbow stitched across the front. The fabric is smooth, dense single crochet that hugs the glass and stays put, while the stacked arcs give it a soft, whimsical look. It works up in an evening, uses only scraps of yarn, and makes a sweet gift for a desk, a kitchen shelf, or a handmade jar of treats.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: Worsted weight (4) yarn. Mint (A): 50 yds. Lavender (B): 10 yds. White (C): 5 yds.
- Hook: 5.5 mm (I-9) crochet hook.
- Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch marker (optional), measuring tape.
- Finished size: Fits a standard 16 oz jar (approx. 3 inches diameter, 5 inches tall). Sleeve measures 9.5 inches circumference x 4 inches tall.
Abbreviations
- ch — chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook.
- sc — single crochet: insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
- st(s) — stitch(es).
- yds — yards.
Gauge
12 sts and 14 rows = 4 inches in single crochet. To check, crochet a small swatch in sc and measure a 4-inch section; adjust your hook size if you have more or fewer stitches than 12 per 4 inches.
Tips Before You Start
- Keep your single crochet tension even and slightly firm so the sleeve holds its shape around the jar.
- Count your stitches at the end of every row — the sleeve stays at 28 sts throughout.
- Leave long tails on the rainbow arcs so you have plenty of yarn for sewing them down neatly.
- Lay the arcs on the sleeve and check the placement before sewing; the rainbow is centered and stacked largest at the bottom.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Sleeve (Color A — Mint)
Row 1: Ch 29, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (28 sts).
Rows 2–14: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (28 sts).
Fasten off.
Rainbow Applique — Arc 1 (Color B — Lavender, bottom, largest)
Row 1: Ch 11, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (10 sts).
Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Rainbow Applique — Arc 2 (Color C — White, middle)
Row 1: Ch 9, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (8 sts).
Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Rainbow Applique — Arc 3 (Color B — Lavender, top, smallest)
Row 1: Ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (6 sts).
Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Assembly and Finishing
Fold the mint rectangle so the two short ends meet and whipstitch them together to form an open tube. Turn the tube so the seam faces the back. Center the three arcs on the front of the sleeve with the largest (lavender, 10 sts) at the bottom, the white arc (8 sts) in the middle, and the smallest lavender arc (6 sts) on top, overlapping them slightly so they read as a rainbow. Pin or hold them in place and sew each arc down securely with its long tail. Weave in all ends. Lightly mist and block the sleeve flat, then slide it over your jar once dry.
Pro Tips and Variations
- Swap the mint for any worsted color to match your decor, and change the arc colors for a different rainbow palette.
- Add a second rainbow on the back of the sleeve, or repeat the arcs in a larger size for a bolder look.
- Work a few extra rows for a taller jar, or fewer for a shorter one — just keep the stitch count at 28 so the fit stays the same.
