Free Pattern: Happy Chic Pillow

I always wish I had the right words to brighten someone’s day. When I see the “Chic Sheep Yarn” colors they make me happy. I knew I wanted to make a cute little project that could be whipped up in HAPPY COLORS to spread sunshine each time someone sees it.

Thanks to Red Heart Yarns for sending me this yarn! I have had a lot of people ask me what it is like. This was the first I had seen it in person because it hasn’t been in my local stores. Here are my thoughts:

The colors are just as wonderful in person, if not even better!
Working with the yarn is definitely a happy experience. It is soft, but still has a nice body.
The yarn has a spring to it 🙂 I kept asking myself it is stretchy…hmmm.. I think I have decided it isn’t stretchy, but springy. It has a “BOING” to it. If Tigger made yarn this is what it would be like 🙂
It has a slight shine to it which makes the color pop even more.
It isn’t splitty. Hallelujah!
Overall it was just what I hoped… HAPPY YARN!

Now for the only con I can see: It is pricey. The skeins are decent size, but I think you would need more than one skein for most projects. BUT Since most places offer big saving coupons, you could plan ahead and use coupons.

For this pillow I did use almost all of the two skeins. The pompoms took a lot of yarn! If you left those off and did just one color you might be able to make this pillow with one skein.

I hope you will choose bright colors for your little happy pillow too.

Materials and Details

Yarn: 300 yards worsted weight yarn. Sample: Red Heart Yarns Chic Sheep. One skein each: Fairy tale and Green Tea
Crochet Hook: H
Miscellaneous: yarn needle for weaving in ends, stuffing or pillow form

Measurements

10” wide x 8” tall

Gauge: Not needed for this project.

Tips

The first stitch of each row is worked into the same st as the turning chain.
Stitch counts remain the same unless noted at end of row.

Directions

With an H hook and pink yarn, ch 42, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (41sts)
Ch 2, turn, hdc in same st, *sk 2, (sc, hdc, dc) in next st*, repeat until 1 st remains, hdc in last st.
Repeat previous row.
Note: do not cut yarn when changing colors. Carry the unused strand up the side of the piece. The border will cover these later. Make sure to not leave the strand too loose or pull too tight. See arrows in photo.

Change to green yarn. Ch 2, turn, hdc in same st, *sk 2, (sc, hdc, dc) in next
st*, repeat until 1 st remains, hdc in last st.

5. Repeat previous row.

6. Change to pink yarn. Ch 2, turn, hdc in same st, *sk 2, (sc, hdc, dc) in next
st*, repeat until 1 st remains, hdc in last st.

7. Repeat previous row.

Keep repeating steps 4-7 until piece measures 14” long.

8. This step is worked around the outer edge. Ch 1, sc in same st. Pivot to work across edge of piece. Sc evenly across. (sc, ch 1, sc) in first st of beginning row, sc in each st across until 1 st remains, (sc, ch 1, sc) in last st.

Pivot to work across edge of piece. Sc evenly across. (sc, ch 1, sc) in first st of row, sc in each st across, sl st to join. Finish off, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing edges.

Lining (optional): Since this piece has a slightly open weave, the stuffing might work through the holes. It would be easy to add a lining.

Cut a piece of fabric the same size of the pillow piece. Sew the lining to the wrong side of the piece with either a sewing machine or by hand.

Assembly

Fold piece in half with right sides together and matching beginning and ending rows. With a yarn needle and yarn tail, sew the layers together across two edges. Leave the third edge open for now.

Turn the pillow right side out.

Stuff the pillow. Use a yarn needle and matching yarn to sew the final edge together.

Pom Poms -Optional (make 4)

Make 4 pom poms from the same yarn used in the pillow. Attach each pom to the corners of the pillow.