How to crochet a pillow case for a baby blanket or home decor

Dear Artsy Craftsy Friends ,

I am so happy you are showing interest in following my instructions on how to crochet a pillow case for a baby or child using the crocodile stitch that I re-learned recently and that I love so much since it gives me the opportunity to crochet more complicated patterns and fancier stitches . If you did not reach these instructions following my previous on how to crochet a baby blanket using the crocodile stitch , then please take a look at the respective article since it includes important details about this stitch , materials and tools needed and so on . You can find this pattern here .

Let’s recap a few things :

1. I used 14 colors in total for one type of pillow case and a mix of 4 shades of blue and white for the baby boy pillow case . Most of the yarn that I used was leftover yarn from the 28-30 skeins that I bought to complete the whole project altogether . That means a baby blanket and two pillow cases . If you prefer crocheting only the pillow case , I still recommend that you get plenty of yarn in case you decide to make it bright and colorful . For example 14 skeins of different colors are enough to make two pillow cases , but only if you change the colors between them to make the best of your yarn work . Whereas for the blue pillow case I used 4 shades of blue and 6 skeins of white to complete both my pillow cases . It is still a continuous effort for me to discover the right amount of yarn needed to end a crochet project .

2. I used a 6 mm European size crochet hook .

3. It took me approximately 4 days to make one pillow case .

4. One pillow case is 30cmx30cm (12inch x12inch)

5. The following information is a repeat of one of the points described in my previous pattern on how to crochet a baby blanket, but it is mandatory that you decide beforehand how you want to combine the colors, since you do not want your pillow case to turn either too wide or too long. So this is how I mixed my colors:

Baby girl pillow case:

A-B-C-D-E-F-G/ H-I-J-K-L-M-N/ A-B-C-D-E-F-G

H-I-J-K-L-M-N/ A-B-C-D-E-F-G/ H-I-J-K-L-M-N

Baby boy pillow case:

A-B-A-C-A-D-A-E-A-D-A-C-A-B-A-C-A-D-A-E-A

Abbreviations and how to :

ch – chain ;

ch sp – chain space ;

sl st – slip stitch ;

sc – single crochet stitch ;

dc – double crochet stitch ;

IR – in round ( this pattern is executed in rounds with no sewing whatsoever , since sewing is a procedure I would not be able to make since I am blind ) ;

crocodile scale – working from top to bottom work 5 dc around post of first dc of next set of 2dc, ch 1, turn work so the set of 2dc is sideways, working from bottom to top around post of second dc of the set, work 5 dc.

Let’s get started!

With your first choice of color , chain 49 ; 1sc in each chain across the foundation chain on both sides of the chain ; that means that you will have 48 sc on one side and 48 sc on the other side of the foundation chain . Please count your stitches and make sure you have 96 sc in total ; join with sl st in first sc to complete the foundation of your pillow case .

Round 1 : ch 3 ( counts as a dc here and throughout ) ; 1dc in same sc as beg ch3 ; ch2 ; skip next 2sc ; * 2dc in next sc ; ch 2 ; skip next 2sc * ; repeat from * to * around ; join with sl st in top of beg ch3, do not turn (32 sets of 2dc) .

*Note: please be aware that you need to have 16 sets of 2 dc on one side of the foundation chain and 16 on the other side; when you finish the last set of 2dc on one side you need to have 2sc remaining at the end of one side you need that you need to skip; turn your work on the other side of the foundation chain and repeat the instructions from this note.

Round 2 : Ch3 ; working from top to bottom , 4dc around the beg ch3 from previous round ; ch1 ; working from bottom to top 5dc around the second dc from previous round ; ch1 ; skip next set of 2dc ; * 1 crocodile scale around the next set of 2dc ; ch1 ; skip next set of 2dc * ; repeat from * to * around ; join with sl st in top of beg ch3 of the first scale ; cut the yarn and fasten off (16 scales in total) .

Round 3 : Attach your next choice of color with a sl st between the two dc of any available set of 2dc from previous round ; ch3 ; 1dc in same space as ch3 , making sure you grab the ch-1 sp between the 2 scales from previous round and crochet around it as well ; ch2 ; * 2dc in next ch sp in the middle of next scale ; ch2 ; 2dc between the next set of 2dc , making sure you grab and crochet around the ch-1 sp between the 2 scales from previous round as well ; ch2 * ; repeat from * to * around ; join in top of beg ch3 with sl st (32 sets of 2dc in total)

Round 4 : Ch3 ; working from top to bottom , 4dc around the beg ch3 from previous round ; ch1 ; working from bottom to top 5dc around the second dc from previous round ; ch1 ; skip next set of 2dc ; * 1 crocodile scale around the next set of 2dc ; ch1 ; skip next set of 2dc * ; repeat from * to * around ; join with sl st in top of beg ch3 of the first scale ; cut the yarn and fasten off (16 scales in total) .

Round 5-42 : Repeat round 3 and 4 , making sure you alternate between your desired colors .

Round 43 : Do not cut the yarn on round 42 ; crochet one last round of sc in each stitch and chain from previous round , making sure you crochet around the ch1 sps between the scales and in the sps in the middle of the scales as well ; 96 sc in total ;do not cut the yarn yet, as you will need to sew the pillow.

Sew all the loose ends around the crocodile scales to conceal them better .

Methods to sew the pillow case:

1. Do not cut the yarn on round 43 of sc; insert your pillow in the pillow case; use the yarn to crochet sl st along this last round of sc to finish the pillow case.; alternatively, you can cut the yarn but leave a long tail and simply sew across this last round of sc.

2. With the left-over yarn, braid a lace, approximately 50cm long; insert it throughout the chain spaces across the last round of crocodile scales; pull the lace softly while inserting, in the same way as you would do your shoelaces; knot a ribbon at the end.

And there you have it . Two beautiful small sized pillow cases for your children or even for yourself , if you decide to use the pillows as decor in your living room or bedroom . I hope you are enjoying your new finished items and that you are pleased with my instructions . If you find any details that sound unclear or confusing , please write them down to me in a comment bellow this article . I will add the corrections afterwards .

And one last thing . Please add photos of your crocodile baby blankets and pillow cases on our Facebook page that you can find in the sidebar .

Happy crocodiling , everyone ,
The Coolorburbians.

 

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