Linda Permann - Soft Owl Pillow: E-Pattern from Little Crochet

This oversized pillow is really cute and fun to snuggleits sure to delight anyone who walks into the nursery. Its also a great way to use up your worsted-weight scrapsyou can change colors as frequently as you like, or stick to the wide stripes as written in the pattern. Youll actually be crocheting a pillowcase; a hidden zipper makes the owl-shaped cover easy to remove and launder as needed. Simple instructions for sewing your own owl-shaped pillow form are also included.

SKILL LEVEL Easy

YARN 760 yds (695m) of worsted-weight yarn

Sample Knit with Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash (100% superwash wool; 3 oz/100g, 220 yds/201m): 1 skein each #810 teal (A), #819 brown (B), #906 green (C), #824 pale yellow (D), #871 white (E), and #877 gold (F)

CROCHET HOOK Size F-5 (3.75mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge

GAUGE 17 stitches and 9 rows = 4" (10cm) over double crochet

OTHER MATERIALS Yarn needle Straight pins 2/3 yard (0.6m) cotton fabric, 44" (112cm) wide 22" (56cm) zipper Tailors chalk Scissors Sewing machine (optional) Sewing needle and thread to match yarn colors Polyester stuffing or wool roving, about 20 oz (567g)

NOTE This pillow can be finished with or without a zipper. Read alternate finishing instructions before completing Round 40.

For easy laundering, be sure to use a washable yarn, such as superwash wool (shown), cotton, or an acrylic blend.

With A, ch 33.

Round 1 (RS): 5 dc in fourth ch from hook (beginning ch counts as first dc), dc in next 28 ch, 6 dc in next ch, turn to work the opposite side of the foundation row, dc in next 28 ch, join with sl st in top of beginning ch68 dc.

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), dc in first dc, 2 dc in next 5 dc, dc in next 28 dc, 2 dc in next 6 dc, dc in remaining 28 dc; join with sl st in top of beginning ch80 dc.

Round 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in next dc, [dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc] 5 times, dc in next 28 dc, [dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc] 6 times, dc in remaining 28 dc; join with sl st in top of beginning ch92 dc.

Round 4: Ch 3, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, [dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc] 5 times, dc in next 28 dc, [dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc] 6 times, dc in remaining 28 dc; join with sl st in top of beginning ch104 dc.

Round 5: Ch 3, dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc, *dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, dc in remaining 5 dc; join with sl st in top of beginning ch128 dc.

Rounds 612: Ch 3, dc in each dc around; join with sl st in top of beginning ch. Fasten off A.

Rounds 1320: With B, repeat Round 6. Fasten off B.

Rounds 2126: With C, repeat Round 6. Fasten off C.

Rounds 2734: With D, repeat Round 6. Fasten off D. Count 13 stitches to the right of join, place marker.

Round 35: Join B in marked stitch, ch 1, sc in same stitch, sc in next 5 dc, hdc in next 6 dc, dc in next 40 dc, hdc in next 6 dc, sc in next 12 dc, hdc in next 6 dc, dc in next 40 dc, hdc in next 6 dc, sc in remaining 6 dc; join with sl st in first sc24 sc, 24 hdc, and 80 dc.

Rounds 3639: Ch 1, sc in first 6 sc, hdc in next 6 hdc, dc in next 40 dc, hdc in next 6 hdc, sc in next 12 sc, hdc in next 6 hdc, dc in next 40 dc, hdc in next 6 hdc, sc in remaining 6 sc; join with sl st in first sc.

Round 40: Sk first 2 stitches, 4 dc in next stitch (shell made), sk next stitch, *sl st in next stitch, sk next stitch, 4 dc in next stitch, sk next stitch; repeat from * around; join with sl st in first sc of previous round32 shells.

Fasten off.

With B, make an adjustable ring.

Round 1 (RS): Ch 2 (counts as first hdc here and throughout), 9 hdc in ring; join with sl st in top of beginning ch10 hdc.

Round 2: Ch 2, hdc in same stitch as join, 2 hdc in each hdc around; join with sl st in top of beginning ch20 hdc.

Round 3: Ch 2, 2 hdc in next hdc, [hdc in next hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc] 9 times; join with sl st in top of beginning ch30 hdc.

Round 4: Ch 2, hdc in next hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, [hdc in next 2 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc] 9 times, join with sl st in top of beginning ch40 hdc. Fasten off B.

Round 5: With A, ch 2, working in back loops only, hdc in next 2 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, [hdc in next 3 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc] 9 times; join with a sl st in beginning ch50 hdc. Fasten off A.

Round 6: With E, ch 2, hdc in next 3 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, [hdc in next 4 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc] 9 times; join with sl st in beginning ch60 hdc.

Round 7: Ch 2, hdc in next 4 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, [hdc in next 5 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc] 9 times; join with sl st in beginning ch70 hdc.

Round 8: Ch 1, sc in each hdc around; join with sl st in first sc70 sc.

Fasten off.

With F, make an adjustable ring.

Row 1 (RS): Ch 3, 2 dc in ring3 dc.

Row 2 (WS): Ch 3, turn, dc in first dc, dc in next dc, 2 dc in last dc5 dc.

Row 3: Ch 3, turn, dc in first dc, dc in each dc across to last dc, 2 dc in last dc7 dc.

Rows 46: Repeat Row 313 dc.

Row 7 (RS): Repeat Row 315 dc.

Round 8 (RS): Do not turn, ch 1, work 45 sc evenly around entire edge of beak; join with sl st in first sc45 sc.

Fasten off.

Referring to the photograph, position the eyes and beak on the front of the crocheted owl and pin them in place. Using B for eyes and F for beak, slip stitch through both the pillow and eye or beak to attach the features.

Fold your fabric in half widthwise and lay it out on a flat surface. Flatten the crocheted owl, aligning the shells along the top edge, and lay it on top of the fabric. With tailors chalk, draw a line 1" (2.5cm) from the outside edge, all around the owl. Draw another line following the top edge only of the owl, about 1" (2.5cm) below the first line, and erase (or disregard) the original top line.

Cut out the owl shape through both layers of fabric. Pin the two fabric pieces together with the wrong sides facing. Leaving a " (1.5cm) seam allowance, sew all around the fabric leaving an 8" (20.5cm) opening on one of the straight sides. Turn the pillow form inside out and press it, turning the open edges under " (1.5cm). Stuff the pillow form firmly, then hand- sew the open edges shut.

Weave in all ends. Sew one side of the zipper to the inside front edge of the crocheted owl as follows: pin the zipper in place just below the row of crocheted shells and hand-stitch the zipper to the case. Repeat for the other side of the zipper, aligning the zipper with the row below the shells on the opposite edge of the inside of the owl. Open the zipper as needed in order to sew it in place. Insert the pillow form into the crocheted owl and zip up the zipper.