Abbreviations:
Ch = Chain
sl st = Slip Stitch
sts = stitches
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
*( )* = repeat what is in the brackets
You will need a:
- 5mm hook, size H in US, size 6 in UK
- 1 skein sunflower
- 1 skien middle of sunflower and ruffle around the pillow
- 3 skeins for pillow
- stuffing to fill pillow
- tapestry needle to sew
- You will need 1 skien of yarn to make the sunflower and the center of the sunflower and ruffle.
- You will need 3 skeins of yarn to make the pillow itself.
- You will also need a tapestry needle to sew the pillow together and some stuffing to fill the pillow with.
If you would prefer to make a pillow and cover it with silk before putting the pillow covering on then go for it, it will prevent the stuffing from coming out, though with this single crochet stitch it will be less likely that it will.
Making the Center of the Sunflower:
Ch 4 and sl st into first ch to form a ring.
Round 1 Ch 1 and SC 12 into ring (12 sts)
Round 2 *(Ch5 and sl st into the next st, ch 5 and sl st into the same st)* (24 sts)
Round 3 *(Ch 3 and sl st into the nearest back st to the left)* (24 sts)
Round 4 sl st into nearest ch 3 space from the last round and *(ch 7 and sl st into same space, ch 7 and sl st into next ch 3 space)* I have used a different color below just for the sake of the picture, to show you that every ch 3 space should have 2 connections in it and one going to the next ch 3 space. (48 sts) when done fasten off your yarn.
Now we will be making the second part of this flower almost the same way you just did, except the center circle will be bigger, but the rest is done the same way.
Round 5 (second part of flower) Ch 5 and sl st into beginning ch to form a ring
(Not sc this time) DC 12 into center of the ring (12 sts)
Round 6 Ch 3 (this will count as your first dc) dc into same st. Dc 2 into all sts around (24sts)
Round 7 Just like in round 2:
Ch 5 and sl st into the same space, the ch 5 and sl into the next space. *(Ch 5 and sl st into the same space, then ch 5 and sl st into the next space)* (48 sts)
Round 8 Just like in round 3:
Ch 3 and sl st into the back of the nearest st to the left. *(Ch 3 sl st into the next back st)*
(48 sts)
Round 9 Just like in round 4:
Sl st into nearest ch 3 petal to the left and ch 7 and sl st into same space, ch 7 and sl st into next ch 3 space. *(Ch 7 and sl st into same space, ch 7 and sl st into next ch 3 space)* (72 sts)
Cut Yarn and leave a long tail to sew flower pieces together and to sew to pillow later.
Sew the small piece into the center of the bigger piece, you may want to stick a pen or pencil into the center of the flowers to keep the centered while you sew.
Making the Sunflower petals:
We're going to be doing a regular circle increase for each row.
Ch 3 and sl st to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc) and Dc 11 into center of ring (12 sts)
Round 2: Dc 2 into all sts around (24 sts)
Round 3: *(Dc 2 into same st , then dc 1 into next st)* (36 sts)
Round 4: For this row we start to make the petals.
Dc 2 into same space, then dc 1 into the next 2 sts then Dc 2 giving you a total of 7 sts covering 5 sts from the previous row. Now turn your work around to the back.
Round 5: Dc in each st (7 sts)
Round 6: Turn your work and dc 6 and increase in last st DC 2 (8 sts)
Round 7: Turn your work and dc 7 and increase in last st DC 2 (9 sts)
Rounds 8 & 9: Turn your work and dc in all 9 sts across
Round 10: Turn your work and dc 7 across and do a decrease dc in last st (8 sts)
Round 11: Turn your work and dc 6 across and do a decrease dc in last st (7 sts)
Round 12: Turn your work and do a decrease dc in first st, dc 4 sts and do a decrease dc in last st (5 sts)
Round 13: Turn your work and do a decrease dc in first st, dc 1sts and do a decrease dc in last st
Round 14: Turn your work and ch 1, skip first st and dc into middle st, sl st into last st and fasten off your yarn.
To make the next petal, you want to begin in the last stitch of the previous petal like shown here
Starting Next Petal:
sl st into the same st where the last petal ended and repeat rows 5-14.
Continue around and at the end you should have 9 petals total
You need to make 2 total so you can stack one on top of the other and it should look like the picture above.
Now to make the pillow you will need to ch 61 with your desired color, and in the second ch from the hook sc in all sts across (60 sts) Do this for 140 rows.
Fold the piece in half to make sure your flower fits into the middle
If it doesn't fit add more rows of sc's. Everyone crochet's at different tightness so best to make sure it fits before you start to sew. There are two ways to you can sew this pillow. You can use a tapestry needle, or you can sc it closed. I prefer the sc method just because it's a stronger hold.
Before you do either, make sure that you have the inside of the pillow facing you. (the side you don't wish to show) because once your done sewing you will turn the pillow inside out before stuffing, so pick your best side to be on the inside for now. Start to sc your pillow closed starting in a corner and when you get to the other corner, put 3 sc in the corner space. When you get two sides sewn up to the folded side, leaving one side open, turn your pillow inside out.
Keeping the pillow centered you want to sew on both sets of petals, sewing the center on first then going up the side of the nearest petal and sewing it down all around the edge and continue until all petals and sewn. It's best if you have a large flat book, or piece of cardboard that you can slip into the pillow, so when your sewing you don't have to worry about poking through both sides.
Once done you can stuff your pillow now with stuffing, or if you made a silk cover you can stuff that, if your just stuffing the bag with no lining then you will want to sew this last side some, half way, or maybe a little more, and then start to stuff it. Once you have it stuffed to your liking, finish sewing the pillow up with a tapestry needle.
Adding the Ruffle:
Once you have the pillow sewn together and stuffed you want to start to make your ruffle. I chose one corner to start with and followed down the top of the pillow until I found the row where I had sewn the pillow together, and tried to crochet down that line. Put 3 dc in each st and sometimes you have to skip one but that is okay. Make sure when you get to a corner that you add an extra 3dc's so that your ruffle turns the corner in a natural way.
When you get to the last corner sl st into the top of the beginning st and ch 3, now you need to dc 2 into all the sts around.
Leaving you with a more defined and beautiful ruffle around the edge of the pillow. Making the ruffle takes a lot of yarn, you may have to get more of the color you are using.
And Your Done!