Crochet LOVE Pillow Cover

Scroll down to find the free crochet tutorial for this LOVE pillow cover.

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This pillow combines some of my favorite things - a good, gradient yarn and a fun, easy project!

If you are new to crocheting graphs and/corner to corner - don't worry! The internet is a marvelous place to learn these two different techniques. Unfortunately, I don't have much time at the moment to create tutorials myself, but just search YouTube!

You will find lots of tutorials for crocheting graphs and how to achieve C2C (corner to corner) there. I highly recommend Mikey from the Crochet Crowd for video tutorials. He has a very great way of explaining things!

For this pillow cover, I used the bobbin method for crocheting the graph. I actually started by using tapestry crochet, which is where you crochet over the yarn you aren't working with for a particular section, but the color parts were showing up over the white parts and it didn't look 'clean' enough.

To achieve the perfect gradient, I had to take apart my yarn. I unraveled the first color on my skein and cut it up into 3 equal parts. I started from the top of the pillow (top of the 'L' and 'heart'), so I needed 3 different bobbins of the color to start - hence cutting up the first color into 3 different parts. 

I continued to do this for each color once I ran out of the color I was working on. It was a bit of a pain at first, but I got the hang of it. As you can see, the result of a perfect gradient was well worth it!

For the back of the pillow, I wanted to do something fun with the yarn that wasn't just single crochet like the front. I chose to do corner to corner (C2C), because I haven't done it in quite some time and it's actually one of my favorites to crochet!

The corner to corner backing makes a beautiful diagonal gradient and compliments the front very well! I typically do the corner to corner using double crochets, but this time I used half-double crochets to make the 'squares' smaller. 

All in all, I'm really happy about the results of this pillow cover! It gives my living room a fun pop of color for Valentine's and while we wait for warmer, sunnier days ahead!

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Tutorial

Materials

Worsted weight yarn in white

2 skeins Red Heart Super Saver Stripes in Retro Stripe 

H/5.00mm hook

Tapestry needle

Scissors

16" x 16" pillow form

Pattern Notes

To complete this project, you will need to be familiar with crocheting graphs. I used the 'bobbins method' where I had multiple small balls of yarn going at once. (YouTube has great tutorials for this.)

You will also need to know how to crochet C2C (corner to corner).

The cover will fit a 16" x 16" pillow form.

Gauge: 4" x 4" ~ 14 st x 16 rows in single crochet

Front

To complete the front portion of the pillow cover, you will complete the graph above in single crochets. 

I worked from the top down and used bobbins. To create that 'perfect' gradient, I unwound the first color of the Red Heart Stripes and cut it off from the rest of the skein.  Starting at the top, I needed three sections of color for the wording so I cut the yarn I unwound into three equal parts.

Once I ran out of my 'first' color from the Stripes yarn, I cut the next section of color from the skein. From there, decided how many sections I needed to make from that color depending on where I was on the graph. (Some places in the graph, I only needed two bobbins of yarn for the color part.)

Back

The back cover is made with corner to corner (C2C) using half double crochets.  Keep increasing until one side is as long as the front cover then start to decrease. Keep decreasing until your square/back cover complete.

I have not included a written pattern for C2C as it's easier learned visually to grasp the concept. Again, YouTube has great tutorials for this! 

Assemble Your Pillow Cover

Use stitch markers or pins to secure both the front and back side of the cover together with the 'wrong sides' facing inside.

Using white and your crochet hook, single crochet the pieces together. Make 3 single crochets in each corner.

Once you have crocheted 3 sides, put in your pillow insert and continue to single crochet the front and back pieces together.

Fasten off and weave in your ends.

I hope you enjoy making this project! I apologize I was not able to give you the video tutorials myself, but I am very busy at the moment with moving into a new home - I hope you understand!

Crochet Tip: Join as You Go Method for Granny Squares

Joining granny squares can be very tedious and it can lead you to procrastinate putting all those squares together because there are so many of them! Don't be intimidated - this join as you go method will allow you to join your squares by crocheting after completing each square.

That means you will see progress of your blanket and how it's going to look!

I'm using this joining method for my Spring Afghan. You can find the free tutorial for it here.


If you're interested in learning about another different method of joining squares - you can view a photo and video tutorial here on how to single crochet the squares together.

Spring Flower Granny Square Crochet Pattern

This flower granny square is used in the Spring Afghan - you can find all the details here.

Find the written pattern and video tutorial below!

Materials
Worsted weight yarn in two colors
H/5.00mm hook
Tapestry needle
Scissors

Pattern notes
Modified Popcorn stitch (Referred to as 'popcorn stitch' in the pattern):
*YO, insert in stitch pull up a loop, YO pull through two loops, repeat from * 3 more times all in the same stitch, YO pull through all 5 loops on hook.

Cluster - 3dc in same space

Color 1 - flower center and outer granny square portion
Color 2 - flower color

Finished square measures approximately: 6" x 6"

Abbreviations (US terms)
Ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, st = stitch (es), yo = yarn over

Pattern

Start with color 1
Round 1: Magic ring, ch 2, 8hdc into ring, join to first hdc - change to color 2

Row 2: Ch 3, popcorn st, *Ch 2, popcorn st repeat from *  in each st around, join to beginning ch 3 space

Row 3: Ch 3, popcorn st into ch 3 space in the previous round, ch 2, *sl st into ch 2 space from previous row, ch 3, popcorn stitch into same ch 2 space, ch 2, repeat from * around, join to the base of beginning ch 3

Round 4: Sl st into ch 3 space that you just joined to. Ch 3, popcorn st into ch 3 space, ch 2, sl st into ch 2 space from previous row, ch 3, popcorn stitch into ch 2 space, ch 2, *sl st into ch 3 space from previous row, ch 3, popcorn stitch into ch 3 space, ch 2, sl st into ch 2 space from previous row, ch 3, popcorn stitch into ch 2 space, ch 2, repeat from * all the way around, join to base of beginning ch 3
(See photo of where to slip stitch and make popcorn stitches)

Fasten off and weave in ends

Using color 1, attach to any chain 3 space from Round 4

Round 5: Ch 3, (2dc, ch 3, 3dc) all in ch 3 space, ch 1, 3hdc into next ch 3 space, ch 1, 3sc into next ch 3 space, ch 1, 3hdc into next ch 3 space, ch 1, *(3dc, ch 3, 3dc) into next ch 3 space, ch 1, 3hdc into next ch 3 space, ch 1, 3sc into next ch 3 space, ch 1, 3hdc into next ch 3, space, ch 1, repeat from * 2 more times, join to the top of beginning ch 3

Round 6: Sl st over to ch 3 space, Chain 3, (2dc, ch 3, 3dc) all in ch 3 space, ch 1, (cluster st in ch 1 space, ch 1) 4 times *(3dc, ch 3, 3dc) all in next ch 3 space, ch 1, (cluster st in chain 1 space, ch 1) 4 times, repeat from * 3 times, join to beginning ch 3

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

If you would like to learn the join as you go method, click here for the tutorial. **It's important to watch the join as you go method tutorial after you make the first square.**

You can go back to the main post for the Spring Afghan crochet along here.

Spring Granny Afghan Crochet Along

In this post you will find the weekly instructions/layout for this Spring Afghan crochet along! Find all the information and materials list here.

Because the project consists of the same granny square, I will be releasing the layout in parts weekly! Each week we will be making 10 squares and joining them as you go (or which ever method of joining you prefer!) After 9 weeks, we will have an afghan for spring! (10 squares x 9 weeks = 90 squares!)

You can purchase the ad-free PDF version here.

PDF version includes the complete layout along with a blank layout if you choose to come up with your own layout. *It will not come with join as you go instructions - there will be a video for that!

Important Notes

READ THIS BEFORE YOU START!

There are five different colored flowers for this afghan, and I know not everyone will be using the same colors as I chose so I will be referring to these colors as color A, B, C, D, and E. Make note of what color you are using for each letter so you don't forget!

Following the layout I assigned my yarn colors as follows: A = sunshine, B = lavender, C = sage, D = lavender blue, E = soft pink. (This is just for reference if you want to go by exactly how I made my afghan).

If you are new to using the join as you go method, please watch the video on joining before you complete your squares if you've never used this method before! We will literally join as we go. After making one square, you will start joining the second square before completing (if that's confusing - you'll understand once you watch the instructions!)

Tips

Weave in as you go! (Cliche, I know.) Joining as you go method works smoothly and nicely when you don't have pesky ends to work around. Try to weave in after each join.

When weaving in the tail from the magic ring, make a knot (or two) around a stitch to make it secure. Magic rings are known for coming undone after much use/washing.

If you are using Caron Simply Soft, they have nice center pulls. You can keep the yarn labels on and mark your colors A, B, C, D, E. This will help you when referring to the layout.

If you have questions, consult the Maria's Yarn Friends Facebook group! We have lots of crocheters working on this project, so someone may be able to answer you quicker than I can :) You can also email me if you aren't on social media! mariasbluecrayon@gmail.com

Find the Granny Square Pattern here

Find the Join as You Go Method here

Week 9 Layout 

This week we will be finishing off the last row of the blanket!

Get the ad-free PDF version here along with the entire layout and a blank layout to create your own layout/pattern.

Please share on Facebook and Instagram, I would love to see your Spring Afghan!

Spring Afghan Crochet Along Materials List & Information

Find all the information you need to know about this free Spring Afghan Crochet Along in this post!

Hello! I'm so excited you are here and (hopefully) interested in this crochet along! I had a crochet along for a Christmas Afghan back in September, and it was a blast! To see everyone's work, creativity, and final projects was so rewarding! Of course, I had to host another crochet along!!

This time around, we will be doing a Spring themed afghan. If you are intimidated by granny squares, don't be! And I promise you won't have to sew all of these granny squares together (unless you want to and that's your preferred method!) For this afghan, I used a join as you go method that I will teach you how to do.

This crochet along will be equipped with written AND video tutorials, plus the best crochet group around (if you ask me)! If you haven't already - hop on over to Maria's Yarn Friends on Facebook to join.

If you aren't a social media person, no sweat! I will be releasing parts of the pattern layout and sending you a heads up via email if you sign up for the email list (I only send subscribers new posts/free crochet patterns!)

Okay, so now on with the details about this crochet along and some questions you may have..

What is a crochet along/CAL?

It's where many crocheters come together to make the same crochet project over a period of time.  The crochet project will be released in parts (in this case, it will be released weekly). Warning: This may cause a lot of inspiration, encouragement, support, and over all - a fun experience!

I have a Facebook group (that is the best around!) full of amazing, supportive yarn lovers where we will share our progress, ask questions, and receive lots of encouragement! You can join here if you haven't already. This isn't mandatory by any means, but it adds to the fun!

How long will this particular CAL last?

This crochet along for the Spring Afghan will start January 14th and run through March 11th (that will be the day the last part of the CAL will be released). That's 9 weeks to complete an afghan - totally doable!

How will this CAL work?

To be honest, this was a bit tricky for me to figure out how I wanted to section this project up. As you can see, all the granny squares are the same except the colors. So to cut it up into digestible parts, I have a layout of how I arranged the colors of the granny squares. Each week I will "reveal" the part we will be working on.

Each week we will be working on one row of granny squares, joining them all together with the join as you go method (or sewing them together if you prefer). We will also tackle those pesky ends after each 'row' so you don't loose your mind at the end of the project. Each week your blanket will grow by one 'row' until you have a completed afghan!

Is this free?

Yes!!! It's all free. It will all be available on my blog and I will announce each week via email and facebook. And yes, it will stay free after it's finished so if you're working on other projects - no big deal! Save it for when you have time.

Totally optional, but as always, there will be a PDF printable version for you to purchase (which helps me immensely to keep my blog up and free crochet patterns coming!) Included in the PDF printable version will be a print out of the entire layout so if you would like to work ahead - you can do that.

ALSO, I know my layout will not be ideal for everyone.. so if you'd like to use more colors than I used for the flowers, I will have a blank layout included in the PDF printable version. That way you can color in how you would like to rearrange your squares and with the colors you would like to use.

What will I need for the project?

For this Spring Afghan, you will need the following materials:

6 skeins Caron Simply Soft in Off-white
1 skein Caron Simply Soft in each of the following colors: Lavender, Sage, Sunshine, Lavender Blue, and Soft Pink
H/5.00 mm hook
Tapestry needle
Scissors

If you plan on substituting your yarn, be mindful that Caron Simply Soft is a lighter medium 4 weight and has 315 yards per skein.

The finished dimensions of this project will be 60" x 54". Of course, you can make the afghan any size you desire by adding or eliminating the number of granny squares made.

Questions? Feel free to get in touch with me via email (mariasbluecrayon@gmail.com) or on Facebook!