Heirloom Pillow

Heirloom Pillow
Design by Michele Wilcox
Heirloom Pillow is copyrighted 2009 Michele Wilcox and Cute Crochet

You may print it for your personal use, but you may not copy, distribute it, or sell it.

Heirloom Buttoned Embossed Pillow


Size: Pillow measures 13 inches x 17 inches.

Gauge: 7 dc = 2 inches; 2 dc rows = 1 inch.

Materials: Bernat Berella "4" worsted weight yarn by Spinrite, 10-1/2 oz. #894l Winter White;

Pillow Form, 12" x 16";

Assorted 1 inch heirloom-looking buttons, 5;

H (5mm) hook;

NOTE: This pattern is for INTERMEDIATE crocheters. Pillow is made in one piece.

PATTERN STITCH:
Embossed Roundels (abbreviation ERd)
ERd=work 1 (1 dc, 2 ch) 9 times all into same st, remove hook from working loop, insert hook from the back through the top of first dc of Roundel; keeping sts of Roundel at back of crochet piece, pick up working loop again and draw through to close Roundel.


PILLOW
Row 1: Beginning at one short end, ch 46; sc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea ch across, ch 1, turn. (45).

Rows 2-7: Sc in ea sc across, ch 1. turn. (45). At the end of Row 7, ch 3, turn.
Note: Ch-3 counts as first dc.

Row 8: Dc in ea sc across, ch 3, turn. (45 dc).

Row 9: Dc in next 3 dc, *ERd into next st, dc in next 7 dc, repeat from * across, ending 1 dc into top of turning ch-3, ch 3, turn.

Row 10: Dc in ea dc across, ch 3, turn. (45).

Row 11: *Dc in next 7 dc, ERd into next st; repeat from * across to last 4 dc, dc in last 4 dc; ch 3, turn.

Row 12: Dc in ea dc across, ch 3, turn. (45).

Rows 13-56: Repeat Rows 9-12 consecutively.

Row 57: Dc in ea dc across, ch 1, turn. (45).

Row 58: Sc in ea dc across, ch 1, turn. (45).

Rows 59 & 60: Sc in ea sc across, ch 1, turn. (45).

Row 61: (Buttonhole Row) Sc in next 3 sc, *ch 3, skip 3 sc, sc in next 6 sc; repeat from * across, ending sc in last 3 sc, ch 1, turn.

Row 62: Sc first 3 sc, *3 sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in next 3 sc; repeat from * across, ch 1, turn.

Rows 63 & 64: Sc in ea sc across, ch 1, turn. (45).

Fasten off. Fold in half, matching both short ends. Sew side seams.

Sew buttons under buttonholes.
Place pillow form into pillow cover and button.

This pattern is copyrighted by Michele Wilcox and Cute Crochet @ 2009

A Boring Crochet Blog?

Today I had a brief conversation with Kim Werker on Twitter about crochet blogging and twittering. It was actually the longest 'conversation' I had ever had on Twitter before. After our discussion, Kim wrote a blog post regarding Crochet Blogging. I was going to directly write to her, but instead, I decided to BLOG about it. Somehow, I think Kim would be happy about that. :)
Just like several other crochet industry professionals have stated, blogging about our crochet design work can be difficult. It is hard to mix business with the pleasure of blogging mostly because there are so many things we just can't discuss!
On the other hand, as I told Kim today, when I do blog, I usually always try to keep my posts and my twittering crochet related. Kim makes a valid point when she suggests that it is hard to remain engaging when you continually just speak about one topic. So I am definitely guilty of this. Why have I chosen in the past to just post about crochet? First of all, I guess I am basically a private person and until now, never thought that anyone would be interested in anything related to my life but crochet. Do I want to have an interesting crochet blog that people can relate to and will want to return to? Definitely! Do I want to sometimes voice my opinion on industry matters? Yes, certainly! Can I think of some topics right offhand that I would have loved to have blogged about in response to some crochet or knitting controversy? Absolutely. Boy do I have an opinion! But being a professional in the industry and having an opinion doesn't always seem to mix. So I usually just decide to keep quiet. It seems better that way.
I think I learned today, though, that it doesn't have to be so cut and dried, as they say. It doesn't have to be 'all or nothing' when it comes to blogging, just like in real life. Maybe I can begin to blog about crochet, crochet design, the process and how it relates to my real life without 'putting it all out there' and giving away all the secrets.
So what is the answer?
From now on, I think I will try and take my cues from Kim's Top 10 Ways To Be More Interesting. If you read her post, at the bottom she outlines how she feels you can be a better blogger.
Oh and by the way, if you really want to see how it's done, click on over to Doris Chan's Everyday Crochet. She has a wonderful way of telling a great crochet story. I think she must be the epitome of what Kim would consider an incredibly interesting crochet blog.

Crochet Bouquet

Since many of us are in need of Spring, I thought I would take a couple of moments to post links to a site I found that specializes in really pretty crochet flowers and bouquets. I think you might enjoy Crochet Bouquet. Crochet Bouquet is an Etsy shop that sells crochet flowers and bouquets, and crochet related items. You might also enjoy viewing these beautiful crochet bouquets on her Crochet Bouquet Blog. So pretty!

Special Olympics Scarf UPDATE!!

I was informed last week by Coats and Clark that the Knit and Crochet Scarf Project they sponsored had been an overwhelming success!
At that time, the World Games committee had received over 40,000 (yes, 40,000!) knit and crochet scarves from all over the world! Amazing, right?
Today, you can read an article posted on the Special Olympics World Games Website that states they have received over 60,000 knit and crochet scarves to date!! It is truly incredible!
Of course, WE always knew how GENEROUS crocheters and knitters are, right?
I can't wait to actually see the atheletes wearing the scarves. The Games begin February 7 and run through February 13. Check you local television listing to see where in your area the Games are being broadcast.