It’s crafty day! I mentioned a few weeks ago that crochet has been my latest crafty venture, and I’m still loving it. My next-in-line project was a crocheted pillow cover, using this photo as my inspiration.
(source)
I had this project in mind for several reasons. First, I had some extra yarn from my first attempt at the cowl-type scarf that was far too heavy to be a scarf. I really loved the texture of the yarn, but it just didn’t seem clothes-y to me. Second, I randomly saw a crocheted (or knitted maybe) pillow at target one day while I was walking around and I thought: I could do that! For a hell of a lot less than $40 too. So I googled around a bit and cave up with a very basic crocheted pillow, seen above, and thought yep— that will be the next project.
I don’t have a tutorial for you because it was just THAT easy (well, if you know how to crochet). First I decided what pillow I would use. I picked one of the green ones off of our couch upstairs because I’ve been wanting to cover those basically since we bought them and just never got around to it. I made a chain of enough stitches to match the length of the pillow. Then I made rows of half-double crochets until my square was as tall as the pillow. That was it!
I didn’t want to crochet both sides of the pillow for two reasons: 1) I was out of yarn (it took almost 2 skeins to do the front) and 2) my hand kinda hurt because this yarn is pretty stiff to work with, so I was over this particular project at that point. I debated what sort of fabric to pick up for a backing and actually started to use a leftover piece of cotton I had from quilting. Quickly though I realized that it wasn’t working because the fabric was really too thin to stand up to the thick plush crochet, and I was having issues using my sewing machine on the crocheted front anyways because it was so thick and I don’t have a foot that can be raised for thick fabrics.
That’s when genius/laziness/cheapness struck. Why not just place the crocheted square over the existing pillow front and whip-stitch it all along the edges? The front would be crocheted, the back would be sturdy and match the couch, and I wouldn’t have to figure out a way to make my sewing machine sew crochet OR buy new fabric. Win. So that is what I did. Wanna see?
First, here is a wider room-shot. Notice the boring fade-into-the-couch pillow on the left side? That is the same as the pillow I covered.
Here is a closer shot, I paired my new crocheted pillow with the only decorative pillow I’ve ever purchased (I know, crazy right?)… which I love and feels very winter-y to me.
I really love the texture of the two together. The tree pillow is linen-y and the crocheted pillow is all kinds of chunky and awesome.
Just the crocheted pillow now. Doesn’t it look like a sweater you just want to lay on?
Mmmmm…. LOVE!
So that’s the pillow. Made from leftovers and totally awesome, in my humble opinion.
It rocks my socks. And so does that last picture. I’m so weirdly OCD that I routinely just sit back and admire the perfectness of the rows I crochet. And in that last picture, there’s nothing but perfectness of rows. LOVE.
Ah, I LOVE this! I wish I knew how to crochet, haha
Me too Anna, me too.
Amanda- It is seriously SO easy. It took me less than half an hour to get started and the only real tool you need (other than your yarn) is a crochet hook. Which costs like $2. It’s worth picking one and some yarn up and googling a tutorial
(This was a 9mm hook with chunky yarn)
Maybe next monday you can teach me how to do it!