I wanted to use this yarn and couldn't think of a project. But I found a pillow form laying around that I hadn't gotten around to using - so I made this pillow! I love the color changes on the yarn - and I love that Diamond Stitch!

2 Skeins Universal Yarn, Inc., Deluxe Chunky LP, 100% Wool, Color 01
13" x 13" Pillow Form
Size "K" Crochet Hook
Yarn Needle
Scrap coordinating yarn (for lace tie)

13" x 13"

3 ½ sc + 4 Rows = 1" (worked over sc)

The Diamond Stitch used in this pillow looks hard - but once you have worked a few repeats, you'll see how it's done and you'll soon be working without referring to the pattern notes.

To work a Front Post Treble Crochet (abbreviated FPtr): YO twice, insert hook from front to back around post of sc indicated, YO and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), (YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times.

Instructions
Ch 38.
Row 1: sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across, ch 1, turn (37 ch)
Row 2 and 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn
Row 4 (Right Side): sc in first 2 sc, work FPtr around post of first sc on third row below, skip next 4 sc on third row below, work FPtr around post of next sc on third row below, * skip next 2 sc from last sc made, sc in next 4 sc, work FPtr around next sc on third row below, skip next 4 sc on third row below, work FPtr around next sc on third row below, repeat from * across to last 5 sc, skip next 2 sc from last sc made, sc in last 3 sc. Ch 1, turn.
Rows 5 - 7: sc in each sc across
Row 8: work FPtr around third sc on third row below, skip first sc, sc in next 4 sc, * work FPtr around next sc on third row below, skip next 4 sc on third row below, work FPtr around next sc on third row below, skip next 2 sc from last sc made, sc in next 4 sc; repeat from * across to last 2 sc, work FPtr around next sc on third row below, skip next sc from last sc made, sc in last sc.
Rows 9 - 11: sc in each sc across
Repeat Rows 4 -11 for Diamond Stitch Pattern.

Work until piece measures 27 ½" from beginning. I used a slip stitch to seam the beginning chain edge to the edge just finished. (I also ran out of the chunky yarn at this point. So I switched to Noro Silk Garden, #208, which happened to coordinate with the project yarn. Any yarn you have on hand that coordinates will work fine.)

Seam one side of pillow using coordinating scrap yarn and also using the slip stitch method.

For Lace Tie:
I didn't really want to mess with buttons on this, so I crocheted a chain about 30" long and used it to lace it down the sides of the remaining unseamed side. And tied a little bow at the bottom. That way, I can unlace it and hand-wash the pillow cover when needed. I folded the lace tie in half, with the open ends toward the bottom of the pillow, and the folded loop at the top of the pillow. With a yarn needle, I threaded one lace tie through the edge stitches all the way down, then I threaded the remaining tie on the opposite stitches all the way down. Cinch it tight and tie a bow!

I came up with this while thinking of something for my students to make after my Tunisian stitch workshop coming up this month.

Light Worsted/Worsted weight yarn
Size H/8.00mm Tunisian (afghan) hook
Size H/8.00mm Crochet hook
Fiberfill
Scrap yarn for embroidery (optional)
Yarn needle

Approx. 6"x6", give or take

not very important

Stitches used:
Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS)
Tunisian Cross Stitch (TCS)
Single Crochet (SC)
Reverse Single Crochet (RSC)

Special Stitches:
Cast on:
Chain amount indicated, [insert hook into next chain, Yarn over (YO), pull up loop] repeat in each chain across, keeping loops on hook

Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS)-
Forward Pass (FPS): [Insert hook in stitch/post indicated, pull up loop, leave on hook], repeat across.
Backward Pass (BPS): Yarn over, pull through 1 loop on hook, [YO, pull through 2 loops on hook] repeat until 1 loop remains on hook.

Tunisian Cross Stitch (TCS)-
Forward Pass (FPS): [Skip next post, insert hook into next post, YO, pull up loop, insert hook into skipped post, YO, pull up loop], repeat across, keeping all loops on hook, to last post, insert hook into last loop, YO, pull up loop.
Backward Pass (BPS): work same as TSS BP

Bind off:
[Insert hook into post indicated, YO, draw up loop, pull through loop on hook] repeat across until 1 loop remains on hook.

Reverse Single Crochet:
Work the same as single crochet, except working from left to right (if right handed, the opposite if left handed).

Instructions:
Front
Chain 24,
Row 1- Cast on 23 more loops (24 loops), BPS until one loop remains on hook.

Rows 2-4- TCS FP ([skip next post, pull up loop in next post, go back to skipped post, pull up loop] across), until last loop, insert hook in last loop YO, draw up loop, 24 loops on hook, BPS.

Rows 5-17- TCS over next 4 posts, TSS until last 5 posts, TCS in next 4 posts, draw up loop in last post, 23 loops on hook, BPS.

Rows 18-19- TCS FP, until last loop, insert hook in last loop YO, draw up loop, 24 loops on hook, BPS.

Cast off in the TSC pattern. Finish off.

Back
Chain 24,
Row 1- Cast on 23 more loops (24 loops), BP until one loop remains on hook.

Rows 2-19- TCS FP ([skip next post, pull up loop in next post, go back to skipped post, pull up loop] across), until last loop, insert hook in last loop YO, draw up loop, 24 loops on hook, BP.

Cast off in the TSC pattern. Finish off.

Pocket
Ch 9, cast on 8 more loops (9 loops), BPS until one loop remains on hook.

Rows 1-7- TSS, cast off, DONOT finish off.
Row 8- with standard crochet hook, Ch 1, RSC across,
finish off with long tail for sewing.
Weave in short tail.

Finishing:

Rnd 1- With wrong sides together (the back will be slightly smaller than the front, but the stitch count should be the same), working through both pieces, using the standard crochet hook, with the back facing, join yarn in any corner, ch 1, SC in same st as joining, SC evenly around, doing 3 SC in each corner to the 1st SC, 2 SC in same st, join to 1st SC. NOTE: When about half way done on the 4th side, stuff pillow with fiberfill.

Rnd 2- Ch 1, turn, RSC in each SC around, join to 1st RSC, finish off. Weave in ends.

Embroider flower onto pocket, if desired.
Sew pocket onto the middle of the front of the pillow.

http://community.livejournal.com/starrs_crodream/12579.html

This cheery, cuddly pillow is sure to brighten even the dullest day. It's a fabulous project for beginners, so come on all you newbies out there, show us what you got.

• Sport Weight Baby Yarn, 2 colors A & B (pick your favorites!)
• Size I hook
• Polyester Fiberfill for pillow stuffing
• Small piece of yarn, stitch marker, or safety pin to mark rounds

I used 2 colors for the front of the flower and one single color for the back.