Homespun Pillow

  Crocheted pillows are often so colorful and textured with different stitch designs. Not this one! What we have here is a plain and practical pillow for my truck-driving husband. It's a simple pattern, quick to make, and it could be a colorful stash-buster if you want it to be... Because he wanted it his way, I'm bringing you a drab grey square fit for a man:

  So while Rip van Winkle complained about how uncomfortable it is to sleep in a truck, I questioned the ethics of napping while getting paid. I'm kidding. 😉 If they get called in early and the job gets cancelled, the guys clock out. But they don't drive home. They sprawl out on tables, perch in chairs, or curl up in trucks as they wait for the next job to start, and sometimes take pictures of each other snoring to post on Facebook... Driving a truck (or sleeping in one) can be a real pain in the neck, so I searched the stash for a soft yarn to make a manly pillow for him.

  This pattern could be made with any yarn or hook size. The squares are easy to continue if your gauge is tighter and you need to work more rounds. The beginning starts with a circle, so changing colors each round would really make the design pop... Or, it can make just a subtle bit of texture in one shade for a simple project that will use up a skein of yarn.

Skill level:
Easy

Materials:
Bulky weight (5) 100% acrylic yarn
I'm using Homespun from Lion Brand in the color Edwardian
Crochet hook size L-11 / 8 mm
Stitch markers (optional)
Yarn needle
16" x 16" (40.5 cm x 40.5 cm) pillow form

  *Although one color, this project did make room in my stash. The squares were made from the Homespun yarn I had bought many years ago as a beginner, planning to knit a blanket. When I learned to crochet I recycled it for (what would have been) an afghan along with the Country Loom from my recent review. The pillow form was stuffed in the stash, too, so I really made some space for more yarn!

Gauge:
Not important... Square size is easy to adjust.

Notes:
Chain-1 at beginning of rounds does not count as a stitch.

The single crochet stitch is used to join rounds after round 3. This the takes place of a chain-1 corner space.

Stitch markers can be very helpful to use while working round 3. Marking your stitches while making this round will help you avoid recounting in the next.

Stitches:
(American terms)
Chain
Slip Stitch
Single crochet
Single crochet 2 together (sc2tog)
Double crochet


Instructions for squares:
*Find example photos after pattern*

(Make 2)

Round 1:
Begin with a magic circle. Chain 1, make 12 double crochet in the ring.
Tighten ring and join with a slip stitch in the first double crochet made.
(12 double crochet)

Round 2:
Chain 1, double crochet in the first stitch available. 2 double crochet in each of the 11 stitches remaining.
Double crochet once more in the beginning space; join with a slip stitch to beginning double crochet.
(24 double crochet)

Round 3:
Chain 1, double crochet in the first stitch available. 2 double crochet in each of the 23 stitches remaining.
Double crochet once more in the beginning space; join with a slip stitch to beginning double crochet. *Optional... Count and mark every 12 stitches (4 markers; 1 for each corner space).
(48 double crochet)

Round 4:
Chain 1. Make 2 double crochet in the first stitch available.
*1 double crochet in each of the next 11 stitches. (2 double crochet, 1 chain, 2 double crochet) in the next.*
Repeat from * to * 2 more times.
Work 1 double crochet in each of the 11 remaining stitches; 2 double crochet in the beginning space. Join with a single crochet in the first double crochet made.

Round 5:
Chain 1. Make 2 double crochet in the single crochet joining space.
*1 double crochet in each stitch up to corner space. In corner, work (2 double crochet, 1 chain, 2 double crochet).*
Repeat * to * 2 more times.
Work 1 double crochet in each remaining stitch up to beginning space. Make 2 double crochet in the single crochet joining space; join with a single crochet in the first double crochet made.

All following rounds:
Repeat Round 5 for each additional round. I worked 8 rounds to fit a 16" (40.5 cm) pillow form. The squares barely stretched over the sides of the pillow at this point, but the joining seam will make extra space. Bind off and weave in ends of first square. I chose to start joining without cutting the yarn from the second square.

 Round 1: Make 12 double crochet.

 Round 2: Make 2 double crochet in each stitch (24 double crochet).

 Round 3: Make 2 double crochet in each stitch (48 double crochet).

 Doubling up again in round 3 makes extra stitches that cause the pattern to ruffle. Don't worry, it will flatten out as you work the next round.

 Work 1 double crochet in next 11 stitches for side; (2 double crochet, 1 chain, 2 double crochet) for corners.

Repeat for all following rounds. Pattern should remain flat from here on.

Joining:
I hate having to sew anything I can crochet instead. You can sew your squares together if you prefer a smooth seam, but I like the textured seam around the edge.

You can begin joining the squares on the first three sides without inserting the pillow.

Chain 1. Insert hook in the single crochet joining space of the working square. Yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook).

With the wrong side of the next square facing, insert hook in the corner space. Yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).

Yarn over, pull through all three loops.

Sc2tog in each stitch around, completing the first three sides.

Insert the pillow. Continue joining the last side together using the sc2tog to the last stitch. Do not join. Cut yarn and thread tail on a yarn needle. Bring the tail from back to front through the first stitch, top to bottom through the ending stitch, and bottom to top through the middle of the false stitch created. Weave in ends.

  I still think it's a pretty boring-looking pillow compared to what it could be with a combination of colors... But what I think doesn't matter this time. We often want to make our work exciting with stripes and polka dot pops of color. But when you just need to make a practical pillow for a truck driver, that one-color skein that's been buried in the stash can come through to make a special gift... Even if it doesn't look like much to the crocheter's eyes.

Happy Crocheting!