Add a southwestern inspired style for your home. One cake of self-striping yarn creates impressive colorwork that’s much easier than it looks!
Time: Weekend Project
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 15” tall x 16” wide to fit a 16” square pillow form
Gauge: 20 sts and 10 rows = 4” [10 cm] in double crochet
Materials
Yarn: Bernat Baby Sport (100% acrylic; 1,256 yards [1,148 meters]/350 grams): Baby Taupe (MC, 1 ball), Lion Brand Mandala (100% acrylic; 590 yards [540 meters]/150 grams): 240 Groot (CC, 1 cake)
Hook: US size C (2.75 mm)
Notions: Tapestry needle, 16” square pillow form or stuffing
Pattern Notes
The pillow front and back are identical. This is a scrap yarn-friendly project. Use scrap yarn as CC, or separate one cake of Mandala yarn into its individual colors before beginning. Contrast color yarn is changed every row from Row 9-20, then the color order is mirrored for Rows 21-32. Both main color and contrast color yarns can be carried across each row. Crochet over the color not in use.
To change colors, work to last yarn over of the last stitch in the old color, change color, and complete stitch with the new color. Contrast color yarn can be cut and knotted after each row. Knots can be hidden inside the pillow.
Each box of the chart represents 3 stitches in 1 row.
Special Stitches
Color Change Instructions
Row 9: 33 MC, 3 CC, 9 MC, 3 CC, 33 MC.
Row 10: 33 MC, 6 CC, 3 MC, 6 CC, 33 MC.
Row 11: 24 MC, 3 CC, 6 MC, 15 CC, 6 MC, 3 CC, 24 MC.
Row 12: 24 MC, 6 CC, 3 MC, 15 CC, 3 MC, 6 CC, 24 MC.
Row 13: 24 MC, [9 CC, 3 MC] twice, 9 CC, 24 MC.
Row 14: 15 MC, [3 CC, 6 MC, 9 CC, 6 MC] twice, 3 CC, 15 MC.
Row 15: 6 MC, 3 CC, [6 MC, 6 CC] twice, [3 MC, 3 CC] twice, 3 MC, [6 CC, 6 MC] twice, 3 CC, 6 MC.
Row 16: 6 MC, 6 CC, 3 MC, 9 CC, 6 MC, 3 CC, 3 MC, 9 CC, 3 MC, 3 CC, 6 MC, 9 CC, 3 MC, 6 CC, 6 MC.
Row 17: 6 MC, 18 CC, 3 MC, 3 CC, 6 MC, 9 CC, 6 MC, 3 CC, 3 MC, 18 CC, 6 MC.
Row 18: 6 MC, 9 CC, [3 MC, 6 CC] twice, 3 MC, 9 CC, 3 MC, [6 CC, 3 MC] twice, 9 CC, 6 MC.
Row 19: 9 MC, [9 CC, 3 MC, 3 CC, 3 MC] 3 times, 9 CC, 9 MC.
Row 20: 12 MC, 9 CC, 6 MC, 12 CC, 3 MC, 12 CC, 6 MC, 9 CC, 12 MC.
Pattern
Front/Back (Make 2)
With MC, ch 83.
Row 1 (RS): Dc in 4th ch from hook (skipped 3 ch count as first dc) and each remaining ch across, turn. (81 dc)
Rows 2-8: Ch 3 (counts as first dc throughout), dc in each remaining st across, turn. (81 dc)
Rows 9-20: Ch 3, dc in each st across, changing colors according to the written Color Change instructions or chart, turn.
Row 21: Rep Row 19.
Row 22: Rep Row 18.
Row 23: Rep Row 17.
Row 24: Rep Row 16.
Row 25: Rep Row 15.
Row 26: Rep Row 14.
Row 27: Rep Row 13.
Row 28: Rep Row 12.
Row 29: Rep Row 11.
Row 30: Rep Row 10.
Row 31: Rep Row 9.
Rows 32-39: With MC, ch 3, dc in each st across, turn.
Do not fasten off.
Border
Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, turn, work sc evenly spaced around all edges of piece, working 2 sc in each corner; join with sl st in first sc.
Fasten off.
Finishing
Pull all yarn tails to WS and knot if desired. Block to dimensions if desired. With RS of Pillow Front and Back facing out, work sc through both layers evenly around 3 edges of Pillow. Insert pillow form and work sc evenly along the last side to close the opening. Weave in all ends.