Hello! It’s Jennifer Ryan, the designer and blogger behind Celtic Knot Crochet. I am excited to be sharing the Reading Pocket Pillow project here on the Clover blog! This is for National Book Lovers Day which is on August 9th, so if you’re a big reader, THIS ONE’S FOR YOU!
I love to snuggle up on the couch and read a good book! This colorful pocket pillow has a place for your book and provides a soft cushion for your head when you are able to sit down to read. I’ll take you through each step of the project in the pattern below – this project uses basic crochet stitches and easy color changes with the traditional granny square design. Let’s get started. ?
Skill Level: Easy
Supplies:
Acrylic medium weight yarn (Size 4) in 5 colors (Colors A, B, C, D & E) – 1 skein of each
These are my colors: Color A = Pink; Color B = White; Color C = Purple; Color D = Lime Green; Color E = Turquoise
J/6 mm Clover crochet hook
Jumbo Tapestry Needle by Clover
Clover Wonder Clips
2 ½” Clover Pom-Pom Maker
Sharp scissors
Pillow or pillow form (16” x 16”)
(I found my pillow in the home accessories department of my local craft store – it was all ready to go in between my crocheted pieces)
Finished Measurements: 17” x 17”
Gauge: 4” = 11 hdc stitches (for back of pillow); 10 rows of hdc = 4”
Abbreviations:
YO (yarn over)
Hk (hook)
Lp (loop)
Ch (chain)
St (stitch)
Sl st (slip stitch)
Hdc (half double crochet)
Dc (double crochet)
Notes:
The front of the pillow is worked in rounds and the back of the pillow is worked in rows.
Weave in ends as your work progresses.
(Click here to watch a video tutorial about weaving in your ends)
Instructions:
Front of Pillow – Granny Square Side:
With Color A ch 5 and sl st in 1st ch to form ring.
Round 1: (Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in ring; (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in ring 3 times; join with sl st in top of starting ch-3. Fasten off.
Round 2: With Color B join with sl st in any ch-3 sp; (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same ch-3 sp; [ch 1, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp (corner)] 3 times; ch 1, join with sl st in top of starting ch-3. Fasten off.
Round 3: With Color C join with sl st in any ch-3 sp; (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same ch-3 sp; [(ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) across to next ch-3 sp; (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp at corner] 3 times around; (ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) across to next corner; ch 1, sl st in top of starting ch-3. Fasten off.
Rounds 4- 12 : Repeat Round 3 following color order shown in photos. Do not fasten off after Round 12.
Round 13: Ch 1, sl st across to next ch-3 sp; sl st in next ch-3 sp; ch 3, 4 dc in same sp; dc in each st and ch-1 sp around working 5 dc in each ch-3 sp at corners; join with sl st in top of starting ch-3. Fasten off.
Back of Pillow and Pocket:
With Color E ch 52
Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hk and in each ch across. Turn. (50 hdc).
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn.
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 27” long.
Fasten off.
Pom-Poms:
With Color E and using Clover’s pom-pom maker, make 4 pom-poms leaving tying yarn tails long.
**Note: Each side of the pom-pom maker (A & B as indicated by arrows in above photo) is wound 80 times**
(Click here to watch a step-by-step video tutorial of how to make pom-poms with Clover’s clever gadget!)
Finishing/Assembly:
Fold Back Piece to create a pocket that is 11” long.
Turn piece over so pocket side down and lay granny square piece on top.
Clip together all sides using Wonder Clips.
(Back piece will be slightly bigger than front piece – when clipping together make sure edges align – the extra room will help the pillow insert fit better)
With Color E join with sl st at top left corner of pillow.
Ch 1, sc all layers together working along the next 3 sides of pillow.
Insert pillow form through top opening.
Working along last side sc all layers together. Fasten off.
Using tying yarn tails attach pom-poms to corners.
Tada! Your Reading Pocket Pillow for National Book Lovers Day is complete 🙂
You can find a large-print instant downloadable PDF of this pattern by clicking here and purchasing it in my Etsy shop.
[Etsy shop link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CelticKnotCrochet]
Please tag me @celticknotcrochet and use the #celticknotcrochet on Instagram – I would love to see your pillow!
Find Celtic Knot Crochet on the internet: Blog Youtube Instagram Etsy Pinterest