Every pregnant woman in this world should have her own little pillow to carry around or keep on the sofa for quick (or extensive) naps – you’re just so tired when your pregnant.
Thinking about it, expecting fathers need one too. Both parents would be wise to "stock up" on sleep. There will be so little of that once the baby arrives.
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Yarn: Phildar Coton Micro Fibres. 129 m/141 yds per 50 g/1,76 oz ball. 50% cotton, 50% acrylic.
3 balls each of Ecru (color A below) and Lin (color B below)
If substituting yarn, choose one that is easily washable. -
Hook: I used a 3mm hook, which is between a C-2 and a D-3 US hook.
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Zipper
-
Pillow form or fill
- Needle
40x40 cms/15 ¾ x 15 ¾ inches
26 stitches and 25 rows in single crochet = 10 cms/4 inches
The pattern uses US terminology
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
hdc = half double crochet
sl st = slip stitch
About the design: The front part of this cushion cover is loosely based on the classical quilt pattern known as "Log Cabin". You make a square in the center and then crochet strips around it. When I made it, it felt like some kind of structured free-form (if you can imagine free-form in a single type of yarn and only two colors) – I even wondered whether I should make a formal pattern of it or not. I finally decided to tell you exactly what I did, though, even though your own choices could give an equally good, or better, result.
Should you choose to follow the "pattern table" below, don’t worry too much about achieving exactly the same number of stitches as I did. I’d even advise you to try to get a bit below my numbers on strips 18 and 20. Ahem. But a good blocking should straighten everything out, as it did for me.
Notes
- In order to tell the right side from the wrong, and the "top" from the "bottom", I fastened a safety pin on the right side of the fabric, with the closure oriented towards the "top" according to the schematic.
- Each strip will be fastened off at the end, with the new strip begun with a sl st in the upper right corner.
- All strips should start on the "right" side, except where indicated.
- Work over ends as you work each strip.
Special stitches used:
|
Name |
Explanation |
|
Griddle stitch |
sc, dc, sc, dc… and so on. On second and following rows, dc in sc and sc in dc. |
|
Crumpled griddle stitch |
Like Griddle stitch, but on second and following rows, dc in dc and sc in sc. |
|
Back and front loop single crochet |
Over an even number of stitches: sc in front loop only, sc in back loop only, sc in front loop only, sc in back loop only… All rows are worked in the same way. |
|
Crunch stitch |
Slip stitch, hdc, slip stitch, hdc… and so on. On second and following rows, hdc in slip stitch and slip stitch in hdc. |
This schematic shows how the front of the pillow is constructed:
Pattern
Front of pillow
|
Strip number |
Colour |
Type of stitch |
Number of stitches (and see comments above) |
Number of rows |
|
1 |
A |
Single crochet |
20 |
24 |
|
2 |
B |
Griddle stitch |
20 |
4 |
|
3 |
A |
Single crochet in back loop only. Start first row on the wrong side |
28 |
6 |
|
4 |
B |
Crumpled griddle stitch |
25 |
4 |
|
5 |
A |
Single crochet in front loop only |
31 |
6 |
|
6 |
A |
Back and front loop single crochet |
32 |
6 |
|
7 |
B |
Single crochet |
38 |
6 |
|
8 |
A |
Single crochet in back loop only. Start first row on the wrong side |
38 |
6 |
|
9 |
B |
First one row of single crochet. Then Crunch stitch. |
43 |
8 |
|
10 |
B |
Single crochet in front loop only |
45 |
6 |
|
11 |
A |
Griddle stitch |
49 |
6 |
|
12 |
B |
Back and front loop single crochet |
50 |
6 |
|
13 |
A |
Single crochet |
55 |
7 |
|
14 |
A |
Crumpled griddle stitch |
57 |
5 |
|
15 |
B |
Single crochet in back loop only. Start first row on the wrong side |
60 |
8 |
|
16 |
A |
Single crochet in front loop only |
63 |
8 |
|
17 |
B |
Griddle stitch |
68 |
6 |
|
18 |
B |
Single crochet |
74 |
8 |
|
19 |
A |
First one row of single crochet. Then Crunch stitch. |
76 |
8 |
|
20 |
B |
Crumpled griddle stitch |
77 |
6 |
|
21 |
A |
Single crochet in back loop only. Start first row on the wrong side |
82 |
8 |
|
22 |
A |
Single crochet |
89 |
3 |
|
23 |
B |
Single crochet |
85 |
3 |
|
24 |
A |
Single crochet |
89 |
3 |
|
25 |
B |
Single crochet |
88 |
3 |
Back of pillow
Back piece 1: Chain 82 in A. Work single crochet back and forth until you’ve finished the ball of yarn. Work 4 rows in B. Continue in A until the piece measures 22 cms/8 2/3 inches.
Back piece 2: Chain 82 in B. Work single crochet back and forth until you’ve finished the ball of yarn. Work 4 rows in A. Continue in B until the piece measures 20 cms/8 inches.
Back piece 1 will overlap back piece 2 a little in order to hide the zipper (and prevent it from scratching the sofa – or your cheek!).
Sew in zipper. Open zipper.
Place back and front right sides facing, and back stitch all the way round.
Turn the right side out, and admire your work.
