***You can purchase an INEXPENSIVE AD-FREE PDF of this pattern on Etsy HERE and on LoveCrochet HERE! This beautifully formatted PDF includes the step-by-step pictures and is a total of 6 pages including the cover page! Lion Brand has also put together a convenient KIT to make these pillows HERE!
The Pillowji Pillows are playful home decor pieces that will brighten any room and are perfect for cuddling! Combine the different features to make a range of cute expressions full of emotions and personality!
***This is the FREE PATTERN for my Pillowji! I highly recommend reading through my STEP-BY-STEP BLOG POST HERE to better understand this written pattern and to visually see how all the parts are created!
***You can purchase an INEXPENSIVE AD-FREE PDF of this pattern on Etsy HERE and on Craftsy HERE! This beautifully formatted PDF includes the step-by-step pictures and is a total of 6 pages including the cover page! Lion Brand has also put together a convenient KIT to make these pillows HERE!
Materials:
- Super bulky (level 6) t-shirt yarn: I used Lion Brand Yarn’s Fast-Track in “Taxi Cab Yellow” (on the Lion Brand site HERE)- 1 skein needed for each pillow; purchase the Lion Brand Kit HERE!
- Worsted weight (level 4) yarn: Small amounts of brown, red, white, and pink – I used Lion Brand Yarn’s DIYarn in Brown, Red, White & Pink
- 6.5 mm Clover Amour crochet hook and 2.75 mm Clover Amour hook
- Yarn needle (bent tip helpful for attaching amigurumi parts- see HERE)
- fiberfill
- Clover lock ring stitch markers
Note:
- I worked in continuous rounds (vs. joined rounds) so that there is no visible seam unless otherwise stated.
- Leave long initial and final tails for all facial features so that they can be attached more easily.
Finished Dimensions:
- Diameter of face (with stuffing): 12″/30.5 cm
- Circumference of face (with stuffing): 31″/78.7 cm
Gauge: First four rounds is 3″/7.6 cm in diameter.
PATTERN:
HEAD (make 2)
Using 6.5 mm hook and yellow Fast-Track yarn,
Round 1: 6 sc in Magic Ring. (6 sts)
R2: *Sc 1, Inc*, rep 3 times. (9 sts)
R3: *Inc*, rep 9 times. (18 sts)
R4: *Sc 2, Inc*, rep 6 times. (24 sts)
R5: *Sc 2, Inc*, rep 8 times. (32 sts)
R6: *Sc 3, Inc*, rep 8 times. (40 sts)
R7: *Sc 3, Inc*, rep 10 times. (50 sts)
R8: *Sc 9, Inc*, rep 5 times. (55 sts)
R9: *Sc 10, Inc*, rep 5 times (60 sts)
R10: *Sc 14, Inc*, rep 4 times. (64 sts)
R11: *Sc 7, Inc*, rep 8 times. (72 sts)
R12: *Sc 3, Inc*, rep 18 times. (90 sts)
R13: *Sc 14, Inc*, rep 6 times. (96 sts)
R14: Dc 1, Sc 95. Sl st to top of dc. (96 sts) {The dc helps to create more height for a cleaner finish when we need to close up the round.}
For one side of head, fasten off and cut end.
For other side of head, do not fasten off as we will be using this working yarn to seam the two sides together.
FACIAL FEATURES:
- SMILING FACE:
***OPEN eyes (work in joined rounds):
Using 2.75 mm hook and brown yarn,
R1: 6 sc in Magic Ring. Sl st to first sc. (6 sts)
R2: Chain 1. *Inc around*, rep 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (12 sts)
R3: Chain 1. *Sc 1, Inc*, rep 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (18 sts)
R4: Chain 1. *Sc 2, Inc*, rep 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (24 sts)
R5: Chain 1. *Sc 3, Inc*, rep 6 times. Sl st to first sc (30 sts)
Adding white detailing to eyes: Using white yarn, make pupil by embroidering many lines, rotating each subsequent line to form a circle of diameter 1 cm/0.4″. Position this circle across Rounds 3-4. Embroider a small white circle diagonally across in Round 3 with a diameter of 0.5 cm/0.2″.
Attach eyes so that they span across Rounds 7 – 11, about 4.5″/11.4 cm apart.
***OPEN mouth:
Using 2.75 mm hook and brown yarn,
Chain 9
R1: Starting in second chain from hook, Sc 8. (8 sts).
R2: Chain 1, turn. Dec, Sc 4, Dec. (6 sts)
R3-5: Chain 1, turn. Sc 6. (6 sts)
R6: Chain 1, turn. Dec, Sc 2, Dec. (4 sts)
R7: Chain 1, turn. Dec x 2. (2 sts)
Fasten off and leave long end for sewing. Attach mouth below Round 1 circle of face.
***TONGUE
Using 2.75 mm hook and red yarn,
Chain 8
R1: Starting in second chain from hook, Sc 2, Hdc, Dc, Hdc, Sc 2. (7 sts)
Turn work and start working UNDERNEATH stitches.
R2: Sc 3, Hdc, Sc 3. (7 sts)
Fasten off and leave long end for sewing.
Sew tongue onto brown mouth. Sew mouth across Rounds 2-8 centered right below middle circle.
Alternatively, embroider tongue shape with red yarn across Rows 5-8 (semi circle ontop, semi circle on below).
***CHEEKS (make 2 for ALL FACES)
Using 2.75 mm hook and pink yarn,
Chain 5 (this is the foundation chain- see tutorial on how to crochet around a foundation chain HERE).
R1: Starting from second chain from hook, Sc 4 in back loops of foundation chain. Turn and Sc 4 in front loops of the foundation chain [we are making an oval by crocheting around the chain]. Sl st to first sc. (8 sts)
Fasten off and leave long end for sewing. Sew cheeks diagonally below all eyes.
2. KISSING FACE
***CLOSED WINKING eyes:
Chain 12.
Starting in second chain from hook, Sc 11. Do not cut yarn and continue crocheting: Chain 12, starting in second chain from hook, Sc 11. Slip stitch to side of 1st single crochet to form bottom of “V”.
Attach first eye across Rounds 2-7 and second eye across Rounds 7-12 slightly above midline.
***KISSING MOUTH:
Using 2.75 mm hook and brown yarn,
Chain 12. Starting in second chain from hook, Slip stitch 11. Fasten off. Flip and rejoin yarn in 2nd stitch from right side.
Chain 10. Starting in second chain from hook, Slip stitch 9. Slip stitch to junction to form a “3”.
Attach mouth across Rounds 4-8 closer to the rightmost eye.
***HEART:
Using 2.75 mm hook and red yarn,
R1: Sc 3 in Magic Ring (do not close up ring).
R2: Chain 1, turn. Inc, Sc 1, Inc. (5 sts)
R3: Chain 1, turn. Inc, Sc 3, Inc. (7 sts)
R4: Chain 1, turn. Sc 7. (7 sts)
R5: Chain 1, turn. Inc, Sc 5, Inc. (9 sts)
R6: Chain 1, turn. Sc 9. (9 sts)
R7: Chain 1, turn. Inc, Sc 7, Inc. (11 sts)
R8: Chain 1, turn. Sc 11. (11 sts)
R9: Chain 2, turn. Starting in 4th st from hook, Dc. Dc, Tc, Hdc, Sl st, Hdc, Tc, Dc, Dc, Hdc. (11 sts – initial chains count as 1 st)
Chain 1, slip stitch around bottom V of heart. Fasten off and leave long end for sewing.
Attach heart across Rounds 12-14 so that edge of heart is hanging off face unattached.
Follow cheeks pattern above.
3. WINKING SMILING FACE
Follow pattern above for 1 Open Eye and 1 Closed Winking Eye. Attach them across Rounds 6-11 about 8.5 cm apart.
Follow pattern above for open mouth but use white yarn instead of brown yarn. Embroider brown line across mouth between Rounds 4 and 5. Attach mouth just below Round 1 circle of face.
Follow cheeks pattern above.
ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL FEATURES
***Simple Smile:
Using 2.75 mm hook and brown yarn,
Chain 21. Starting from second chain from hook, slip stitch across. Fasten off and leave long end for sewing.
***Closed Smiling Eyes:
Using 2.75 mm hook and brown yarn,
Chain 17. Starting from second chain from hook, Sc 16. Fasten off and leave long end for sewing.
To add lashes (see Snuggle Bunny Pillows Pattern for example),
Left eye: Position row so that right side is facing you (yarn ends will be on the left side). Rejoin yarn in 3rd stitch from left (insert your hook into third stitch from left, add a slip knot, and pull it through).
We will now crochet the curved lashes,
Chain 5, Sl st 4 in back “bumps” of chain, slip stitch in same stitch where chains are originating from. Sl st 2 across to make it to the first stitch on the left. Chain 7, slip stitch 6 in back “bumps” of chain, slip stitch in same stitch where chains are originating from. Fasten off and leave long end for sewing.
Right eye: Position row so that wrong side is facing you (yarn ends will be on the right side). Rejoin yarn in 3rd stitch from left (insert your hook into third stitch from left, add a slip knot, and pull it through).
We will now crochet the curved lashes,
Chain 5, Sl st 4 in back “bumps” of chain, slip stitch in same stitch where chains are originating from. Sl st 2 across to make it to the first stitch on the left. Chain 7, slip stitch 6 in back “bumps” of chain, slip stitch in same stitch where chins are originating from. Fasten off and leave long end for sewing. FLIP this eye so that the lashes are on the right side.
***Teardrop
Using 2.75 mm hook and blue yarn,
Chain 4.
R1: Starting in second chain from hook, Sc 3. (3 sts)
R2: Chain 1, turn. Inc, Sc 1, Inc. (5 sts)
R3: Chain 1, turn. Inc, Sc 3, Inc. (7 sts)
R4: Chain 1, turn. Sc 7. (7 sts).
R5: Chain 1, turn. Dec, Sc 1, Dec, Dec. (4 sts)
R6: Chain 1, turn. Dec, Sc 2. (3 sts)
R7: Chain 1, turn. Dec, Sc 1. (2 sts).
R8: Chain 1, turn. Dec. (1 st)
Slip stitch around teardrop shape. When you reach the top again, Chain 1 to give it sharper point. Fasten off and leave long end for sewing.
SEAMING TWO SIDES OF HEAD TOGETHER:
After all the features have been added, it is time to seam the two sides of the head together and stuff the head. We will slip stitch the front and the back sides of the head together for a beautiful and strong seam. Place both sides ontop of each other, with wrong sides touching each other on the inside (correct sides should be facing outwards). Position joins towards bottom of the face. When seaming the sides together, the side with the facial features should be facing you. Insert crochet hook into back loop of one side (with facial features) and front loop of other side. Yarn over and pull through all loops. Continue in this manner all the way around the circle working counter-clockwise, stuffing firmly as you go. Push stuffing firmly to all edges so that there are no dimples or dips in the face. Slip stitch to first slip stitch, fasten off and weave in end.
You can put a different expression on each side of the pillow so you can flip them for different emotions! Another idea is to add velcro to the facial features so you can swap them out and create different expressions whenever you want!
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{This post is sponsored by Lion Brand Yarn! I’ve loved working with their yarn throughout the years and I’m thrilled that I get to collaborate with them every month!}
This pattern is an original pattern by Stephanie Lau of All About Ami. Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for your own personal use but please DO NOT sell the pattern or distribute it.
You may sell products made from this pattern but please clearly credit the design to me, Stephanie Lau of All About Ami, and provide a link to my blog www.AllAboutAmi.com. Permission is NOT granted for mass production or factory manufacturing of any kind. Thank you for being respectful and for your understanding!
