Update

Update: I didn’t like how the sleeves came out following the pattern -- too long and too loose, so I frogged them and re-knit them K2P2 with an abbreviated fade.

Also, for the collar, I ran out of yellow yarn and was running low on some of the other colors, so they didn’t all get the same amount of short rows or full rows of color. But it’s not super noticeable. (OK, one of my kids happened to be very observant and noticed the yellow didn’t have as many repeats, but he’s the only one.)

Rainbow fade notes

I made this in a size large for a finished bust circumference of 42.5” and modified the pattern to be 27” long (rather than 24”).

My gauge was the same as the pattern (for once) at 21sts/32rows = 4” on 4mm circular needles.

For the fade, the plan was to do 20 rows of each solid color and 16 rows of the fades.

Instead, I did this:

Body -
Red - 26 rows
Red to Orange fade per pattern instructions - 16 rows
Orange - 16 rows (oops, didn’t realize I made this section shorter than intended until I was way past it)
Orange to Yellow fade - 16 rows
Yellow - 20 rows
Yellow to Green fade - 16 rows
Green - 20 rows
Green to blue fade - 16 rows
Blue - 20 rows
Blue to purple fade - 16 rows
Purple - in K2P2 rib - 24 rows

Sleeves -
Each solid section is 18 rows
Each fade section is 16 rows

If you want shorter sleeves, reduce solid section to 16 rows. If you want longer sleeves, leave the solid sections at 20 inches like the body.

The sleeves are very narrow on this sweater and knitting in the round is usually a tighter gauge than knitting flat, so take that into consideration and maybe size up your needles (I didn’t have any in the size larger and I regret not buying some). I also didn’t decrease as much as the pattern called for.

Cuffs -
Reduce stitches to a number divisible by 4
K2 P2 all sts
2 rows blue
2 rows purple
2 rows blue
2 rows green
2 rows blue
2 rows green
2 rows yellow
2 rows green
2 rows yellow
2 rows orange
2 rows yellow
2 rows orange
2 rows red
2 rows orange
4 rows red
BO with stretchy bind off

For the collar, I had to calculate the number of stitches to pick up, as my cardi is longer than the pattern. You need to pick up a total of 5.25 sts/inch of length plus the CO neck edge. For me, that was 145 stitches for each side, plus 62 stitches for the CO neck edge, for a total of 352 stitches.

The following notes changes to the pattern as written. Otherwise follow the pattern:

Begin collar with Red (color A = Red)
Short Row 1 (RS): Sl 1 wyif, K198 sts, W&T
Short Row 2 (WS): K 36 sts, W&T

Rows 19 and 20: Join Orange and work even (Color B = Orange)

Short Row 29 (RS): Sl 1 wyif, K 213 sts, W&T.
Short Row 30 (WS): K 80 sts, W&T.
Repeat Short Row 31 13 more times. (I was running low on orange yarn at this point and did 7 repeats)

Rows 47 & 48L Join Yellow yarn and work even (Color C = Yellow)

Short Row 57 (RS): Sl 1 wyif, K 228 sts, W&T.
Short Row 58 (WS): K 110 sts, W&T.

I didn’t do any yellow short rows due to running out of yarn. I also didn’t manage as many full rows of yellow as the other colors. But if you have enough yarn, keep following the pattern!

Color D = Green
Short Row 85 (RS): Sl 1 wyif, K 243 sts, W&T.
Short Row 86 (WS): K 140 sts, W&T.

Additional colors not in pattern…
Blue:
Continue pattern as for the other colors

Blue short rows
Short Row (RS): Sl 1 wyif, K 258 sts, W&T.
Short Row (WS): K 154 sts, W&T.
Next short row: K to previous W&T, knit the wrapped stitch, k1, W&T
Repeat last row for 13 more times (14 times total)
Knit to end
Sl 1 wyif, knit to end
Join purple and work even 2 rows
Work even with blue 2 rows
Work even with purple 2 rows
Work even with blue 2 rows. Break blue yarn.
Work even with purple 2 rows

Purple short rows
Short Row (RS): Sl 1 wyif, K 273 sts, W&T.
Short Row (WS): K 184 sts, W&T.
Next short row: K to previous W&T, knit the wrapped stitch, k1, W&T
Repeat last row for 13 more times (14 times total)
Knit to end
Sl 1 wyif, knit to end
Work even 1 or 2 more rows
BO using a stretch cast off.

Pocket:
Pick up as many stitches as you want your pocket to be wide towards the bottom, above the ribbing, with Purple. I did about 26 sts.

K 4 rows purple
K 2 rows blue
K 2 rows purple
K 4 rows blue
K 2 rows green
K 2 rows blue
K 4 rows green
K 2 rows yellow
K 2 rows green
K 4 rows yellow
K 2 rows orange
K 2 rows yellow
K 4 rows orange
K 2 rows red
K 2 rows orange
K 4 rows red
BO all sts

Weave in ends and enjoy being fabulous!