PREMISE
Last year I created this Table Runner (see picture) for Christmas – you can find the free pattern at this link.
With some yarn left over, I wanted to make a pillow in a similar style. I started the pillow last year, but the Christmas preparations got in the way, and it ended up in my WIPs pile!
This year I finally got back to it and here we are!
The pattern on this page is totally free, but it’s intellectual property of Elendipity.
You can use it and, of course, you can sell the final products you create, but you cannot sell the pattern or any alteration of the pattern.
It will be nice of you also to credit Elendipity (as pattern creator) whenever you create and/or sell it.
Feel free to tag me on my Instagram if you create it, I would love to see your works and choice of colours!!
HOW TO
The Pillow is made of Granny Squares of difference sizes.
You can create as many as you want, depending on the size of your pillow.
After creating the Granny Squares, you will join them together with your favourite method: for my pillow I used a Zigzag Slip Stitch to join the squares and an invisible seam to join the front and back panels.
You can find a video of both method on my YouTube channel at this link.
This pillow is created with Granny Squares that have smaller holes comparing to normal/standard Granny Squares.
If you don’t know this variation yet, don’t worry, here you can find the video-tutorial I recorded to help you out.
HOW MANY GRANNY SQUARES
As mentioned, this pillow is made of many Granny Squares of difference sizes.
I decided to create n. 24 Small Granny Squares (3 rounds) and n. 2 Medium Granny Squares (6 rounds).
Depending on the size of your pillow, you might want to create more or less Granny Squares or different sizes.
Create one Small Granny Square, measure it and, depending on the size of that Granny Square, you can now calculate how many Granny Squares you need.
So this why in my project I calculate 12 small Granny Squares and 1 medium for one side, so 24 small and 2 medium in total for all the pillow.
Then I did a couple of colouring tests, and I decided for the second one (bottom right).
MATERIAL
Here I will indicate what I used to create the Granny Squares I mentioned before.
For your project it really depends on the combination of colours you decide to use and, of course, on you decision to go for smaller or a bigger pillow.
Tools:
- 2.5mm crochet hook
- stitch markers (to help in joining together the Granny Squares)
- darning needle
- scissors
- pillow insert (mine is 20cm x 20 cm – 8″ x 8″)
- small button to secure the pillow inside
Yarn:
Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/4 Glitter Christmas Color Pack (link) and specifically this is how much yarn I used for my pillow:
- Bordeaux Gold, colour n. 60, 40 gr
- Natural White Gold, colour n. 2, 25 gr
- Dark Red Gold, colour n. 59, 20 gr
- Dark Green Gold, colour n. 22, 5 gr
- Petrol Green Gold, colour n. 20, 5 gr
TERMS
Here below the list of the stitches (US terms) that you are going to use for this project.
- CH = Chain
- MC = Magic Circle
- SS = Slip Stitch
- SC = Single Crochet
- HDC = Half Double Crochet
- HDC2TOG = Half Double Crochet 2 together (HDC decrease)
- DC = Double Crochet
- Cluster = 3 DC in the same space
Shall we start?
Let’s go!!
granny square – SMALL Granny squareS
As mentioned before, you can create as many granny squares as you like depending on the size of your pillow, in this specific projects you will need 24 Small Granny Squares.
At this link you find the video-tutorial to learn how to do the Modified Granny Square, the one with less holes, but you can absolutely proceed also with normal Granny Squares.
Here below you find the written pattern of the SMALL Granny Square – the colour would be different from the pillow’s colour, just for demonstration purposes.
- START
Create a MC, work R1 all in the MC.
- ROUND 1
CH 2, 2 DC, *CH 2, 3 DC* x 3 times, CH 2. Join with a SS on top of CH 2. (20)
In the photo you can see the Round made, just before the SS.
If you want to change colour, you will do so now, when you do the SS.
- ROUND 2
CH 2, turn your work. 2DC in the ‘CH 2’ space made in previous round (the one at the bottom of the CH 2 you just made), ‘CH 2, 3 DC’ all in same space. Now starting from the next ‘CH 2′ space: *3 DC, CH 2, 3 DC* x 3 times (for the 3 ‘CH 2’ spaces left). Join with a SS on top of CH 2. (32)
- ROUND 3
CH 2, turn your work. 2DC in the ‘CH 2’ space made in previous round (the one at the bottom of the CH 2 you just made). *3 DC, CH 2, 3DC* in each corner of the previous round and *3 DC* in each space between the corners spaces. Join with a SS in top of CH 2. (44)
MEDIUM Granny square
For the Medium Granny Square, you will follow the pattern above for the Small Granny Squares, but you won’t fasten off at the third round, you will instead continue and do 6 rounds in total.
In this specific project you will need n. 2 of the the Medium Granny Squares.
GRANNY SQUARES BLOCKING
I would recommend to block your Granny Squares before positioning and joining them together.
In this way they will be all the same right size and you will understand better how the final result could be when you’ll position them, before the joining.
GRANNY SQUARES POSITIONING
Now that you have all your Granny Square ready, if you didn’t do before, please weave all the ends.
I know it’s annoying, that’s why I do that every time I finish each Granny Square, otherwise I will never weave the ends later 🙂
Now, you will position the Granny Squares as you prefer; this, in the picture, was my chosen combination.
TIP: take a photo of your combination so, even if you stop and come back to the project later, you won’t be lost.
It will helpful also for the joining.
GRANNY SQUARES JOINING
You will now join the squares together.
As mentioned before, I decided to use two methods, one to join the Granny Squares together and one to join the two panels.
To join the Granny Squares I used a Zigzag Slip Stitch join and here you can find the video I recorded on how to do it.
I used the Bordeaux colour and this, in the picture, is the order I used to join the Granny Squares:
- Blue line: I joint the central Granny Squares
- Pink line: I joint the Granny Square on the vertical sides
- Green line: I joint the horizontal sides
1. Blue lines – central Granny Squares
2. Pink lines – vertical
3. Green Lines – horizontal
After this, weave all the ends in.
If you prefer, you can leave the “external” ends there and weave them in while you’ll work the border.
This is your first panel, repeat the process to create the second panel.
BORDER
Now that all your Granny Square are joined together, you can continue with the border.
The border is not necessary, but it gives a nice neat and professional finishing.
I decided to use again the Bordeaux colour.
Join the colour you chose for the border on the corner on the top right of the pillow.
Then CH 1 and do 1 HDC in each of the previous DC from the Granny Squares.
When you reach the corners of the Granny Square (not the corner of the panel with all the Granny Square joint together), you will work 1 HDC in each of the corner as shown in the images with the needle.
When you reach the corner of the panel, you will work 3 HDC in the corner space.
Now continue working 1 HDC in previous DC and previous internal corner spaces and 3 HDC in panel’s corners.
When you reach the last corner, do 3 HDC in the corner space and then join with a SS to the first HDC of the round.
Now you will create other 2 rounds of the border.
Start with CH 1, and in the same st where you worked the SS, do 1 HDC in the third loop *.
Then continue with 1 HDC in the third loop on top of the previous HDC.
In the corners, you will work 3 HDC in the third loop in the HDC in the middle of previous 3 HDC you made in the previous corners.
Close the round with a SS on top of the first HDC of this round.
Then you will do a second and last round – this will be all normal HDC.
Do CH 1 and 1 HDC on top of the previous HDC.
In the corners, you will work 3 HDC in the HDC in the middle of previous 3 HDC you made in the previous corners, closing with a SS on top of the first HDC of the round.
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Repeat the same for the second panel.
* the HDC in the third loop gives that “ridge” look to the project, but, if you don’t know how to do it, you can do a normal HDC.
FLAP
Now you can create a flap, which will help to keep your pillow insert secured inside the pillow cover.
Take one of the panels you just created – this will become your front panel.
Join the yarn on the top right corner (the last HDC of the corner, not the central one).
I used the same colour, but you can decide for which colour you prefer.
CH 1 and do the following rows:
R1: HDC 1 in each previous HDC until the first HDC of the corner on the top left side of the panel (included), CH 1 and turn
R2 – R7 (6 rows): in the first 2 st, HDC2TOG, then HDC 1 in each of the previous HDC and in the last 2 st, HDC2TOG, CH 1 and turn
Basically you will do a HDC decrease at the beginning and at the end.
R8: HDC 1 in each previous HDC until you reach the middle of the flap; in the middle HDC, you do (SS, 8 CH, SS) all in the same st, then continue with HDC 1 in each previous HDC until you reach the end of the flap
The loop is for the button.
Fasten off and weave ends.
You will have 2 panels:
Front Panel with a flap and Back Panel.
Now you will join them together!
ASSEMBLING PANELS and button
Take the back panel, flip it and put it on the front panel, right side facing each other.
If you want, you can use stitch markers in the corners to block the two panels together.
Take a needle and some yarn (3 times the length of the sides) and sew 3 sides together.
DON’T sew the top side (where the flap is) because that will be the entrance for the pillow insert!
I used a seamless join and you can find a video at this link.
After you sew the two panels together, weave in the ends and turn the pillow cover inside out.
Now put the pillow insert inside, close the flap and mark with a needle where you should sew the button.
Sew the button in place and you’re done!!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your Granny Square Pillow is finished and ready to be used or gifted!
I hope you enjoyed this Free Pattern 🥰
I have other many patterns available that you can find at this link.
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any explanation for the pattern – you can write me at info@elendipity.com.
I also offer crochet lessons (both in person or online) if you need some help with crochet creations and reading patterns.
You find all the info at this link.
Feel free to tag me on my Instagram if you create it, I would love to see your works!
Happy Crocheting!
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