Solid Half Circle Pillow Tutorial

Solid Half Circle Pillow Tutorial

Note:  This is tutorial is really a basic circle pattern, so you can use any weight yarn, any size hook, and any size pillow form.  You just keep crocheting until you can snugly fit your circle over your pillow form.

What I used:

Vanna's Choice Yarn

Size J Hook

20 in. goose down pillow form

Written in US stitch terms

You may want to make a slip cover for you pillow insert.  I made a simple one from a lightweight cotton.

Start with a magic ring (or join a few chains into a loop.)

Rnd 1-  ch 3 (counts as first dc), 11 dc in ring, join with sl st in top of ch 3, fasten off. 

You should have a circle of 12 dc

When I start rounds with a different color, I join with a standing stitch.  Yarn over, and insert hook into any dc, and complete stitch as normal.  (Placing a finger over the loops on the hook to keep them from moving, helps as begin your stitch.)

Rnd 2-  Join with dc standing stitch (or sl st and ch 3), dc in same stitch as standing stitch, * 2 dc in next stitch, repeat from * around, join with sl st in first dc, fasten off.

(24 dc)

Note:  For the following rounds, try to join your standing stitch in a different place each round, to avoid your increases (2 dcs) from being on top of each other.  If your 2 dc ends up in one of the increase stitches from the previous round every round, it becomes really noticeable.

Rnd 3-  Join with standing stitch, 2 dc in next stitch, *1 dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch repeat from * around, join with sl st in first dc, fasten off.  (36 dc)

Rnd 4-  Join with standing stitch, 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st in first dc, fasten off.  (48 dc)

Rnd 5-  Join with standing stitch, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st in first dc, don't fasten off (I will show you how to start next rnd with same color).  (60 dc)

Rnd 6-  ch 3 (counts as first dc), 

2 dc in next st (this staggers your 2 dcs for this round),

*dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around, ending with 1 dc in each of last 3 sts,  join with sl st, fasten off.  (72 dc)

Rnd 7-  Join with standing stitch, dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st, fasten off.  (84 dc)

Rnd 8-  Join with standing stitch, dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around, join with st st, fasten off.  (96 dc)

Got the pattern down?  Each round add one more dc to the stitches between your increases (2 dcs).  Keep going until your circle will fit snugly around your pillow.  (I went 18 rounds [dc 16, 2 dc]).  Sew in your ends.

Fold your circle in half, with the right side facing out.  Using the two inner most loops, start to whipstitch the seam together with the same color yarn as your last round.

When you've sewn a bit more than half of your circle, insert your pillow form, finish sewing, and sew in your ends.

You are left with a nice clean seam...

And a lovely pillow.

If you run into any problems, or find a mistake, please let me know!  And if you make a pillow, I'd love to see it!!

(The tutorial for the granny triangle version coming soon!)