Pill(ow) Popper

Crocheted Button Pillow

Technique used: Crochet

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Pillow measures about 16"/40.5cm square, with pillow form inserted.

Materials:

Vickie Howell for Caron Sheep(ish)
(70% Acrylic/30% Wool; 3oz/85g, 167yds/153m):
#0014 Coral(ish): 3 balls (A)
#0003 Grey(ish): 1 ball (B)

One size US H-8 (5mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
16"/40.5cm square pillow form
Yarn needle
Tapestry needle (for sewing button)

GAUGE

Rounds 1–5 worked as for Pillow Back measure about 4 1/2"/11.5 cm square.

STITCHES USED

Chain (ch), double crochet (dc), single crochet (sc), slip stitch (sl st)

SPECIAL STITCHES

Cl: Four double crochet cluster— Yarn over, insert hook in indicated stitch or space and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook (2 loops remain on hook); [yarn over, insert hook in same stitch or space and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] 3 times; yarn over and draw through all 5 loops on hook.

rev sc: Reverse single crochet—Work single crochet in opposite direction by inserting hook in next stitch (to the right if right-handed, and to the left if left-handed), yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook.

SPECIAL TECHNIQUE

Adjustable-ringmethod—Wrap yarn into a ring, ensuring that the tail falls behind the working yarn. Grip ring and tail firmly between middle finger and thumb. Insert hook through center of ring, yarn over (with working yarn) and draw up a loop. Work stitches of first round in the ring. After the first round of stitches is worked, pull gently, but firmly, on tail to tighten ring.

NOTES

Pillow is worked in two pieces. Each piece is worked in the round from the center out. Both pieces are joined and turned at the end of each round.

PILLOW BACK

With A, make an adjustable ring.

Round 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, [3 dc in ring, ch 2] 3 times; join with sl st in top of beginning ch, turn—12 dc, and 4 ch-2 sps.

Round 2 (WS): Ch 1, [(sc, ch 2, sc) in next corner ch-2 sp, sc in each st to next corner ch-2 sp] 4 times; join with sl st in first sc, turn—20 sc, and 4 ch-2 sps.

Round 3 (RS): Ch 3, dc in each sc to first corner ch-2 sp, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner ch-2 sp, dc in each sc to next corner ch-2 sp] 3 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner ch-2 sp, dc in each remaining sc; join with sl st in top of beginning ch, turn—36 dc, and 4 ch-2 sps.

Round 4 (WS): Ch 1, sc in each st to first corner ch-2 sp, [(sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-2 sp, sc in each st to next corner ch-2 sp] 3 times, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, sc in each remaining st; join with sl st in first sc, turn—44 sc, and 4 ch-2 sps.

Round 5–18: Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 seven times—212 sc, and 4 ch-2 sps.

Fasten off.

PILLOW FRONT

With A, make an adjustable ring.

Round 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, [3 dc in ring, ch 2] 3 times; join with sl st in beginning ch, turn—12 dc, and 4 ch-2 sps.

Round 2 (WS): Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-2 sp, sc in each st across to next ch-2 sp, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, Cl in next st, [sc in next st, Cl in next st] across to next ch-2 sp, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, sc in each st across to next ch-2 sp, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, Cl in next st, [sc in next st, Cl in next st] to end of round; join with sl st in first sc, turn—4 clusters, 16 sc, and 4 ch-2 sps.

Round 3 (RS): Ch 3, dc in each st to first corner ch-2 sp, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner ch-2 sp, dc in each st to next corner ch-2 sp] 3 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner ch-2 sp, dc in each remaining st; join with sl st in beginning ch, turn—36 dc, and 4 ch-2 sps.

Round 4 (WS): Ch 1, sc in first st, Cl in next st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-2 sp, sc in each st to next corner ch-2 sp, (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-2 sp, Cl in next st, [sc in next st, Cl in next st] across to next corner ch-2 sp, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, sc in each st to next corner ch-2 sp, (sc, ch 2, sc), Cl in next st, [sc in next st, Cl in next st] to end of round; join with sl st in first sc, turn—10 clusters, 34 sc, and 4 ch-2 sps.

Rounds 5–18: Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 seven times—212 sts, and 4 ch-2 sps.

Fasten off.

BUTTON

Note: Do not turn at the ends of rounds.

Holding 2 strands of B together throughout, make an adjustable ring.

Round 1 (RS): Ch 2 (counts as hdc here and throughout), 9 hdc in ring; join with sl st in top of beginning ch—10 hdc.

Round 2: Ch 2, hdc in same st as join, 2 hdc in each hdc around; join with sl st in top of beginning ch—20 hdc.

Round 3: Ch 1, rev sc in each st around; join with sl st in first st —20 rev sc.

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

FINISHING

Block both pieces to 16"/40.5cm square. Note: If your blocked pieces are larger than 16"/40.5cm, unravel rounds until squares measure approximately 16"/40.5cm. Weave in the ends.

Pillow Edging

Place two pillow pieces together with WS together. With RS of pillow front facing, count back 8 stitches from one corner and insert hook through both loops of both pieces, yarn over with A and draw up a loop.

Round 1 (RS): Ch 1, working through both thicknesses, [sc in each st to next corner ch-2 sp, 2 sc in corner ch-2 sp] 4 times, sc in next 8 sts. Insert pillow form, then continue to sc across; join with sl st in first sc of round—220 sc. Fasten off.

Round 2 (RS): Join B with sl st in any sc, ch 1, rev sc around; join with sl st in first st—220 rev sc.

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Using B, sew button to center front of pillow. Insert needle all the way through pillow to back side and then back to front again, through button, tufting center of pillow. Repeat once or twice more and sew "X" shape in center of button. Fasten off and weave in the ends.