Tapestry Circles Pillow: free crochet pattern

Last week I showed you a photo-tutorial on how to do tapestry crochet. You can check it HERE. I hope it was helpful and if you have never tried tapestry crochet technique, it was easy for you to master it. And today I would like to share my newest pillow pattern.My pillow cover consists of two squares joined together, with zip for easier taking care. Front part is made in tapestry crochet with circles pattern. And back has simple stripes made with single crochet stitches. I wanted this pillow to be reversible. But you can make both sides with tapestry circles if you wish.

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You will need:

• Yarn in 10 shades. I used Stone Washed by Scheepjes in shades 802, 820, 816, 815, 806, 817, 808, 813, 805 and 801. One skein of each shade (but you can create your own color combination if you wish).

Please, read my review about this yarn HERE. You can choose and purchase your shades via Scheepjes local shops (NL), Deramores* or Wool Warehouse* (both retailers ship yarn internationally) and Paradise Fibers* (US).

• Crochet hook Clover Soft Touch* 3.25mm
• One zip – 30cm.
• Scissors and tapestry needle to weave yarn tails in.

Finished Measurements

The size of finished pillow cover will depend on yarn and hook you choose, and also on your personal gauge. My pillow is approx. 44cm x 44cm (17 ½” x 17 ½”).

Gauge

Gauge for front and back differs a bit, because of additional yarn going through front.
Front: 20 sts x 21 rows = 10cm x 10cm (4” x 4”)
Back: 19 sts x 21 rows = 10cm x 10cm (4” x 4”)

Level

Intermediate (though I believe advanced beginners can absolutely try tapestry crochet as well).

 

Stitch guide and Abbreviations

US standard abbreviations are used in this pattern. But if you are used to other terms, please check this Crochet Translation Project which might be helpful in translation to your native language.

rnd(s) - round(s)
st(s) - stitch(es)
ch - chain
sl st (slip stitch) – insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw yarn up and pull 2nd lp through the 1st lp on hook.
sc (single crochet) – insert hook in indicated stitch, yo, draw up a lp, yo and pull through both lps on hook.
NJ – needle join
*…* *crochet following directions* as many times as indicated

Important Notes

• If you have never tried tapestry crochet before, please, study THIS photo-tutorial first and make sure you understand the technique and can read the chart.
• Ch1 in the beginning of every row doesn’t count as sc. So 1st sc of every row is made in 1st sc of previous row.
• Change colour on the last yarn-over of the last sc of the relevant row. In the same way as in Windy Morning Shawlette (HERE).

INSTRUCTIONS

Add this pattern to Ravelry Queue

Copyright LillaBjornCrochet 2016. All rights reserved. This pattern is for unlimited personal use only. Do not reproduce or sell the pattern. The pattern may not be copied in any way (print or digitally), in part or in full. Items may be sold that are made from this pattern as long as the designer is credited. Shop owners, if you wish to make a kit with yarn using this pattern, please request permission and copyright details from me before offering any kits for sale. Please, read Copyright page for more information.

FRONT

Front part of the pillow is made in tapestry crochet. Each repeat consists of 16 sts + 5sts to finish (for symmetry). I made 5 repeats, but you can make more (to make the pillow larger).

Each stripe with dots (18 rows) is made with yarn in 2 colors.

Row 1. Ch86 with 802 (C1). Starting in 2nd ch from hook sc in every ch to the end. (85sc) Turn.
Rows 2-3. Ch1 (doesn’t count as sc here and throughout), 85sc. Turn.
Row 4. You will start working with shades 802 (C1) and 820 (C2) at the same time.
Ch1, *8sc with C1 (change yarn on 8th sc), 5sc with C2 (change yarn on 5th sc), 3sc with C1* 5 times, 5sc with C1. Turn.

Row 5. Сh1, *7sc with C1, 5sc with C2, 2sc with C1* 5 times, 5sc with C1. Turn.
Row 6. Сh1, *6sc with C1, 9sc with C2, 1sc with C1* 5 times, 5sc with C1. Turn.
Row 7-12. Сh1, *5sc with C1, 11sc with C2* 5 times, 5sc with C1. Turn.
Row 13. As row 6.
Row 14. As row 5.
Row 15. As row 4. Cut C2 leaving 15cm (6”) tail.
Row 16-18. With C1 as row 2. Change to 816. Cut C1 leaving 15 cm (6”) tail.

Next stripe (rows 19-36) will be worked with shades 816 (C3) and 815 (C4).

Rows 19-21. With C3. As row 2.
Row 22. Ch1, *5sc with C4, 11sc with C3* 5 times, 5sc with C4. Turn.
Row 23. Ch1, *6sc with C4, 9sc with C3, 1sc with C4* 5 times, 5sc with C4. Turn.
Row 24. Ch1, *7sc with C4, 7sc with C3, 2sc with C4* 5 times, 5sc with C4. Turn.
Rows 25-30. Ch1, *8sc with C4, 5sc with C3, 3sc with C4* 5 times, 5sc with C4. Turn.
Row 31. As row 24.
Row 32. As row 23.
Row 33. As row 22. Cut C4 leaving 15cm (6”) tail.
Rows 34-36. With C3 as row2. Change to 806. Cut C1 leaving 15 cm (6”) tail.
Rows 37-54. Repeat rows 1-18 working with shades 806 (C1) and 801 (C2).
Rows 55-72. Repeat rows 19-36 working with shades 808 (C3) and 813 (C4).
Rows 73-90. Repeat rows 1-19 working with shades 805 (C1) and 817 (C2).

Note: after row 90 you should get a square shape.

After row 90 change to shade 808 and crochet around the whole square making 85sc on each side and 3sc in each corner (for even and neat work - make 17sc into every stripe on the sides). Finish with sl st in 1st sc of this rnd or with NJ in 2nd sc. Cut yarn and weave all tails in.

BACK

You have two options for the back. To make it easier, you can begin with the same stitch count as for front (ch86 and 85sc on each row) and make necessary amount of stripes to match the front in height. Since you will have the same stitch count on the bottom and top, it will be easy to join both parts together.

I wanted the back of my pillow to be composed of stripes which are later squared up with simple striped border. To imitate quilt. So I began with a smaller stitch count. Here is what I did:

Row 1. Ch75 with 802. Starting in 2nd ch from hook sc in every ch to the end. (75sc) Turn
Row 2-90. Ch1 (doesn’t count as sc here and throughout), 75sc. Turn.

Color way:

Rows 1-9. Shade 802
Rows 10-18. Shade 820
Rows 19-27. Shade 815
Rows 28-36. Shade 816
Rows 37-45. Shade 806
Rows 46-54. Shade 808
Rows 55-63. Shade 817
Rows 64-72. Shade 813
Rows 73-81. Shade 801
Rows 82-90. Shade 805

After row 90 the back is approx. 40cm x 39 cm (16” x 15 ½”). To bring stitch count of the back to the same amount as front, change yarn to 808 after row 90 and start working around the whole square.

Rnd 1. 75sc on the top, 3sc in the corner, turn quarter and work 75sc on next side (you will make 7sc and 8sc in every other stripe), 3sc in next corner, 75 sc on the bottom, 3sc in corner, 75sc on next side (same as previous), 3sc in corner. Join with sl st in 1st sc of the rnd. Mark central sc in every corner.

Rnd 2. Ch1 (not a st), sc in same st. Continue crocheting around the square and make 3sc in every marked st in the corner. Join either with sl st in1st sc after ch1, or with Needle (invisible) Join into 2nd st after ch1 (see tutorial HERE). Fasten off. (77sc on each side + 3sc in every corner)

Rnds 3-4. Join shade 815 in any st after central st in the corner (by simply pulling a loop and making ch1) and sc around making 3sc in central st in each corner. Join as on rnd 2. Fasten off. (After rnd 4 you’ll get 81 sc on each side + 3 sc in every corner)

Rnds 5-6. With shade 817 repeat rnds 3 and 4. (After rnd 6 you’ll get 85 sc on each side + 3 sc in every corner. And this is the same stitch count as on front!)

After rnd 6 back part should be the same size as front!

JOINING

Place front and back with wrong sides facing (I liked the wrong side look of the border on the back, so I decided that wrong side will be right. But you may join the pillow as you like). You will crochet joning row on the back! With shade 813 start joining both parts on the bottom approx 5cm (2”) before the corner – for an appropriate size of the zip opening.


Important! Find central sc in the corner on both front and back and make sure you begin joining in the right st on front and back (the amount of sts till the corner should be the same!)

Crochet with sc till the 1st corner (insert the hook under all 4 loops), continue crocheting along 3 next sides, and make the same amount on another edge of the bottom as in the beginning. Don’t fasten off and continue to crochet with sc on the back only. When you come to the beginning of joining row, cut yarn leaving approx 50cm (20”) tail and NJ in 1st sc of joining row.

Now crochet with sc along unworked part of the zip opening (on the wrong side of the Front part).

When you come to the beginning of joining row, again - cut yarn leaving approx 50cm (20”) tail and finish with NJ to the beginning of joining row.

 

INSERTING ZIP

Pin zip to the opening on the bottom of the cover with a few sewing pins and sew it along the opening using yarn tails with running stitch. Secure the tails and cut yarn.

Ta-dah!!! Your very own Tapestry Circles Pillow cover is now finished!

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