Ever since I made my first throw pillow, the 12″ Buttoned Throw Pillow, I’ve been on a bit of a pillow kick. Once I made one, about a dozen ideas for different ones started flooding into my head. The thing I love about crocheted throw pillows is that you can make them whatever color you want to match your decor, and between all the crochet stitches and color schemes out there, the design possibilities are endless. They’re a nice break from all the hats and scarves I’ve been making all winter, too!
This new throw pillow pattern is super cute, if I do say so myself. It utilizes the basketweave stitch, which looks so much more complicated than it really is. Even if you’re a beginner, give it a try. You might surprise yourself, and you’ll certainly impress your family and friends!
One thing I’ve learned in the process of making throw pillows is that they fit over the inserts the best when they’re just slightly smaller in length than the insert itself. So for this 12″ pillow, I edged both sides in SC until they were about 11.75″ (that’s width, not corner-to-corner). Any larger than that, and I’ve found that the edges get wavy and floppy and just don’t lay as nicely. So for this pattern, although I SC’d around the 3 times, you should measure your piece before edging and only add as many rounds of edging as you need to get to about 11.75″. You might need more or less than I did.
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BASKETWEAVE THROW PILLOW
Hook: H (5.00mm)
Yarn: About 340 yards (170 yards for each side) of your favorite medium worsted weight yarn
Difficulty: Easy
Gauge: 7DC per 2″. If yours is slightly tighter, it’s not going to matter because I’ve given instructions on the “edging” section that will help you adapt the pattern to get to the right measurements. If your tension is looser than mine, however, you’ll want to adjust your hook size down.
You’ll also need: 12″ throw pillow insert (I got mine at Hobby Lobby), tape measure, yarn needle and scissors.
Notes:
(1) This pattern is worked in American Standard Terms.
(2) Starting Ch2 DOES count as 1st stitch of each row.
PATTERN (MAKE 2):
Ch 37.
Row 1: DC in 3rd Ch from hook. Dc across. (36, including starting Ch)
Row 2: Ch 2; turn. Skipping 1st DC from previous row (see photo), FPDC in next 3 Sts. (BPDC in next 4 Sts, FPDC in next 4 Sts) across. (36)
Row 3: Ch 2; turn. Skipping 1st DC from previous row, BPDC in next 3 Sts. (FPDC in next 4 Sts, BPDC in next 4 Sts) across. (36)
Row 4: Ch 2; turn. Skipping 1st DC from previous row, BPDC in next 3 Sts. (FPDC in next 4 Sts, BPDC in next 4 Sts) across. (36)
Row 5: Ch 2; turn. Skipping 1st DC from previous row, FPDC in next 3 Sts. (BPDC in next 4 Sts, FPDC in next 4 Sts) across. (36)
Rows 6-?: Repeat rows 2-5 until the length is approximately the same as the width. (Mine took 26 rows. Since you’re making two of these, be sure to crochet the same number of rows for both pillow pieces.)
Edging:
Round 1: Ch 1. SC evenly around all 4 sides of pillow, putting 3SC in each corner. Join with Sl St to 1st SC. (NOTE: Two of your sides will have exactly 36 stitches, and your goal is to get as close to that as you can on the other two sides, so that you’ll end up with a perfect or close-to-perfect square. You may have to do a little visual math here. I did it by dividing the side into fourths – you can place a bobbie pin in the center, and then again in the center of each half, to help you visualize this. Then, because
36 (stitches) ÷ 4 (sections) = 9
…I put 9 SCs in each section. I know, I’m such a nerd, but I made you a diagram.)
Round 2: Ch 1. SC evenly around all 4 sides of pillow, putting 3SC in each corner (which would be the middle SC from the previous round’s 3 corner SCs). Join with Sl St to 1st SC.
Measure your width. If it’s not 11.75″ yet, repeat Round 2 until it is.
For Pillow Side 1, fasten off and weave in ends. For Pillow Side 2, do not fasten off; weave in only your starting end, and continue to sewing instructions.
Sewing the Pillow Together:
Hold both pillow pieces together with the unfinished one closest to you, wrong sides facing each other, right sides facing out. (If you’re a perfectionist, you may want to make sure that the stitches from both pieces are going in the same direction, although it won’t affect assembly either way.) Insert your hook into the loop of the unfinished side, then slip stitch through the top loops of both pillow pieces. Ch1. Working through both pillow pieces throughout, SC in same St and evenly around 3 sides, putting 3SC in each corner. When you finish the 3rd side, insert your pillow. Continue to SC around the final side, sewing the pillow shut. Fasten off and weave in ends.
I love the diagram, I’m not kidding! Math is what I studied in college, and it’s fun to see how crochet (which I also love) can be so mathematical.
I ran across this pattern. It is different than any basket weave I have done. I am giving it a try tonight. may one pillow with this basket weave and the other with another basket weave. Yours is a rather unique take on the traditional basket weave. Nice job. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Rebecca, thanks a lot for the pattern I’m making them throw pillows for my living roon, I’m a begenner and still struggling with patterns. I’m a bit confused with the edging so when you ch 1 sc that I’ll start the sc after the 1st edge right? Then when I’ll reach the next edge I’ll 3sc ? And as for the sl st where will it be in the 1st sc after the ch sorry if I sound a bit dumb . Thanks again:)
Hi Dina! I’m suffering from serious mommy brain these days and I’m having a really hard time processing exactly what you’re asking. 😀 You need to SC evenly around the whole square, putting 3SC in each corner. Does the diagram help at all?
OMG I have mommy brain too :), ok so I understood the SC part, what about the sl st where does that go sorry for asking a lot 🙂
No problem. You slip stitch to the very first SC that you made, which joins the round. Have you crocheted in the round before, or only in rows?
This is my 4th project ? but now I understand what you mean thanks again you were really helpful
I was wanting to make this for a 18×18 pillow. Can you tell me how many stitches i would add to do that? I am not sure have to adjust for it to fit.
Thank You
Jean
You’ll want to start with a multiple of 8 + 5.
Thanks for sharing such a pretty pillow pattern. I’d like to try this one.
How are the 3 stitches in the corner counted? Are they separate from the 36 on the sides, or do they include one of the 36 of the adjacent sides?
Also, do you turn before starting the edging, and after each round of the edging?
I love this pattern! Made the 12” pillow and a 16” pillow. I even made a never ending wildflower and added it to the 12”. Perfect set.
Hey, this is lovely – thanks so much for sharing! I want to make a huge pillow so do you think this pattern would work if I essentially doubled it to make a 24″ cushion?
Thanks
I would purchase the cushion and make my starting chain to match the length.
Hi Rebecca, Thank you so much for sharing your basketweave pillow pattern. I love crocheting the basketweave stitch and am anxious to begin crocheting this pattern. Again, thank you!!