Crochet Flower Filet Pillow Cover

Skill level: Intermediate to advanced

Size of cover: approx. 12" square (excluding edging)

Materials:

400 yds. sport weight yarn (sample shown in Brown Sheep Naturespun Sport)

Size G/6 (4.25 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to achieve gauge

Tapestry needle

12" to 14" pillow form to fit finished pillow cover

Optional: 1 yd. ea. ¼” satin ribbon in one, two or three colors

Gauge: 9 mesh sps and 9 dc = 4"

2 mesh rows = 1"

Center flower measures approx. 6" square

Technique: This pillow cover starts as a circle which is formed into a square on Round 6. Front and back are the same. When squares are completed, choice of edging is applied, then squares are seamed together. Decorative trims are applied when pillow is finished.

Stitches/Terms: beginning (beg), chain (ch), double crochet (dc), double treble crochet (dtr), half double crochet (hdc), repeat (rep), round (rnd), single crochet (sc), slip stitch (sl st), treble crochet (tr)

Pillow Cover Square (make 2)

Beg at center of square, ch 8, join into ring.

Rnd 1: Work 16 sc in ring, join with sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 5, *skip next sc, 1 hdc in next sc, ch 3; rep from *, end sl st in 2nd ch of ch-5 (8 sps).

Rnd 3: Sl st into next sp, ch 2, work 3 hdc in same sp, *ch 10, work 4 hdc in next sp; rep from *, end ch 10, join with sl st to first hdc.

Rnd 4: Sl st in next hdc, ch 1, sc in same hdc, *work 7 dc, ch 3 and 7 dc in next ch-10 loop, skip 1 hdc, 1 sc in next hdc; rep from *, end join with sl st in first sc (8 petals).

Rnd 5: Sl st to ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, *ch 5, 1 dtr in sc between petals, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch-3 sp; rep from *, end ch 5, join with sl st to first sc.

Rnd 6 (form circle into a square): Ch 1, sc in same sc, *ch 7, 1 dtr in next dtr, ch 7, 1 sc in next sc, ch 10, skip 1 dtr, 1 sc in next sc; rep from *, end ch 10, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 7: Ch 1, *6 sc in ch-7 sp, 3 sc in corner dtr, 6 sc in ch-7 sp, 1 sc in next sc, 8 sc in ch-10 sp, 1 sc in next sc; rep from * around, ending 8 sc in ch-10 sp, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 8 (start filet mesh rounds): Join yarn in center sc of corner 3-sc group, ch 6, tr in next sc, *[ch 1, skip 1 sc, dc in next sc for 1 mesh sp] 11 times, ch 1, tr in next sc, ch 1, (dtr, ch 2 and dtr) in corner sc, ch 1, tr in next sc; rep from * 3 times more, end last rep by ch 1, dtr in same corner sc as beg ch-6, ch 2, join with sl st to 5th ch of ch-6.

Rnd 9: Sl st in previous sp (so you can work beg ch from corner), ch 4, dc in dtr, ch 1, dc in tr, [ch 1, dc in dc] 11 times, ch 1, dc in tr, ch 1, dc in dtr, ch 1, (dc, ch 2, dc) in corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, dc in dtr, ch 1; rep from * 3 times more, ending last rep dc, ch 2 in corner, join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-4 (16 sps between corners).

Rnd 10: Sl st in previous sp (so you can work beg ch from corner), ch 4, dc in dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, [ch 1, dc in dc] 11 times, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1, (dc, ch 2, dc) in corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1; rep from * 3 times more, ending last rep dc, ch 2 in corner, join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-4 (18 sps between corners).

Rnd 11: Rep Rnd 10 (20 sps between corners)

Rnd 12: Rep Rnd 10 (22 sps between corners)

Rnd 13: Ch 3, dc in next dc and ea sp around, working 3 dc in ea corner sp, join with sl st to top of beg dc (192 dc).

Rnd 14: Ch 1, sc in ea dc around, working 3 sc in ea corner dc, join with sl st to beg sc (200 sc). Fasten off.

Finishing:

Edging: Working in front loops only on last sc round, work edging of choice (e.g., shells, scallops, points, loops, etc). Seam three sides of pillow together through back loops only using whipstitch, slip st, or single crochet. Insert pillow form, close seam on fourth side of pillow cover, fasten off securely and weave in ends.

To finish with fringe or tassels, seam pillow front and back together first. Cut lengths of yarn for fringe, or make 4 tassels for each corner, and attach to finished pillow as desired.

Ribbon can be woven through filet mesh rows on front for additional decoration.