SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- RED HEART® With Love®: 3 skeins 1303 Aran A and 1 skein of Tan B
- Susan Bates® Crochet Hook: 6.5mm [US K-10-1/2]18" [46 cm]
- Square pillow form
- Matching upholstery thread and needle
- Stitch marker
- Yarn needle
Gauge
10 sc = 4" [10 cm]; 11 rows = 4" [10 cm] in single crochet using 2 strands of yarn held together. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.
MEASUREMENTS
Pillow measures 18" [46 cm] x 18" [46 cm], excluding fringe.
DIRECTIONS:
NOTESPillow is worked in joined rounds with two strands of yarn held together throughout.
Mandala motif is worked separately in joined rounds with yarn held doubled and is sewn onto pillow top using matching thread and needle.
PILLOW COVER
Holding two strands of A together, ch 86, slip st in first ch to join, taking care not to twist sts.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in same space and in each ch around, slip st in first sc to join -85 sts.
Rounds 2-49: Ch 1, sc in each st around, slip st in first sc.
Fasten off, leaving long yarn end for sewing. Whipstitch one end closed. Insert pillow form and whipstitch opposite end closed. Weave in ends.
MANDALA MOTIF
Holding two strands of B together, ch 4, slip st in first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1 here and throughout), [dc, ch 1] 11 times in ring, slip st in 3rd ch of beginning ch-4 to join - 12 dc and 12 ch-1 spaces. Fasten off.
Round 2: Holding two strands together, join A with a slip st to any ch-1 space, ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 2 dc in same space, [ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 space] 11 times, ch 1, slip st in top of beginning ch-3, Fasten off.
Round 3: Holding two strands together, join B to any ch-1 space with a slip st, *ch 3, skip 3-dc cluster, slip st in next ch-1space; repeat from * around.
Round 4: Slip st in next ch-3 space, 5 hdc in ch-3 space, *slip st in next slip st, 5 hdc in next ch-3 space; repeat from * around, slip st in first slip st. Fasten off.
Round 5: Holding two strands together, join A to 3rd st in any 5-hdc cluster with a slip st, ch 4 (counts as hdc and ch 2 here), hdc in same st, *ch 3, hdc in 3rd st in next 5-hdc cluster, ch 2, hdc in same st; repeat from around, ch 3, slip st to 2nd ch of beginning ch-4. Fasten off.
Round 6: Holding two strands together, join B in any ch-2 space with a slip st, ch 2, (counts as hdc here and throughout), 2 hdc in same space, 5 sc in next ch-3 space, *3 hdc in next ch-2 space, 5 sc in next ch-3 space; repeat from * around, slip st in top of beginning ch-2. Fasten off.
Round 7: Holding two strands together, join A to 2nd st in any 3-hdc cluster with a slip st, ch 2, 4 hdc in same space, ch 1, sc in 3rd sc of 5-sc cluster, ch 1, *5 hdc in 2nd st of 3-hdc cluster, ch 1, sc in 3rd st of 5-sc cluster, ch 1; repeat from * around, slip st in top of beginning ch-2. Fasten off.
Round 8: Holding two strands together, join B in any sc with a slip st, ch 3, 4 dc in same st, *ch 1, sc in 3rd st of 5-hdc cluster, ch 1, 5 dc in next sc, ch 1; repeat from * around, slip st in top of beginning ch-3. Fasten off.
Round 9: Holding two strands together, join A in any sc with a slip st, ch 5, skip next 2 dc, slip st in next dc , *ch 5, skip 2 dc, slip st in next st; repeat from * around, slip st in first ch of beginning ch-5.
Round 10: Ch 1, *6 sc in next ch-5 space, ch 1; repeat from * around. Fasten off.
Round 11: Holding two strands together, join B in any ch-1 space, *ch 7, slip st in next ch-1 space; repeat from * around, slip st in first ch-1 space.
Round 12: Slip st in next ch-7 space, 9 sc in each ch-7 space around, slip st in first slip st. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
FINISHING
Center Mandala on pillow front and sew in place with thread.
Fringe Edge
For ease in attaching fringe make row of sc in seamed edges, join A to corner along one sewn edge of Pillow Cover with a slip st, work 39 sc evenly spaced along edge. Repeat along opposite sewn edge.
Weave in ends.
With A, cut 3 strands of same color yarn, each 8" [20 cm] long, for each fringe. Hold strands of yarn together and fold in half. Use crochet hook to draw fold through first st along Fringe edge, forming a loop. Pull ends of fringe through loop. Pull to tighten.
Alternating A and B, repeat to add Fringe in each st along each sewn edge. Trim fringe evenly.
ABBREVIATIONS
A, B, C = Color A, B, C
ch = chain
cm = centimeters
dc = double crochet
hdc = half double crochet
mm = millimeters
sc = single crochet
st(s) = stitch(es)
[ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified
* or ** = repeat whatever follows the * or ** as indicated