Crochet Animal Pillow Pals

Categories: Gifts, Pillow, Crochet, Cushions

This trio of adorable animal pillow pals are easy to crochet and are finished with round pillows, making them easy to stuff, too!

 

What you need to make this project

Materials
Fairfield Poly-Fil Premier 16” Round Accent Pillow Insert
Red Heart Super Saver yarn in various colors.
Safety eyes in various sizes.
Supplies
US Size G-6/4 mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Yarn needle.
Locking stitch marker.

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Poly-Fil® Premier™ Round Accent Pillow Insert 16″

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Price: $15.99

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Instructions

Step One

Theodore Bear Pillow Pal

Additional Materials

  • Red Heart Super Saver yarn (100% acrylic, 7 oz/198 g/364 yd/333 m) – 2 skeins in 365 Coffee (CA), 1 skein in 360 Café Latte (CB), 1 skein in 312 Black (CC), 1 skein in 311 White (CD), or approximately 437 yd (399.5 m) in CA, 45 yd (41 m) in CB, and 5 yd (4.5 m) each in CC and CD in any medium weight yarn.
  • 16 mm round comic safety eyes – 1 pair.

Finished Size

  • Each Pillow Pal fits a 16” (40.5 cm) round pillow form.

Gauge

  • Exact gauge is not critical for this project. Stitches should be tight so that pillow doesn’t show through.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

  • bl – back loop only
  • CA – Color A
  • CB – Color B
  • CC – Color C
  • CD – Color D
  • ch – chain
  • dc – double crochet
  • hdc – half double crochet
  • pm – place stitch marker
  • rep – repeat
  • Rnd(s) – Round(s)
  • sc – single crochet
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • yo – yarn over
  • * Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
  • [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.

Pattern Notes

  • Project is crocheted in the round with the right (front) side facing up.
  • Ch 1 at beginning of Rounds does NOT count as a stitch.
  • Unless otherwise directed, move stitch marker up each Round to mark position.
  • When choosing colors, note CA is the main color of the Face and Back; CB is the color of the Muzzle and Ear Center; CC is the color of the Nose; and CD is the color of the Smile.
  • A photo tutorial for joining with the whipstitch is available here.
  • A photo tutorial for joining with a single crochet seam is available here.
  • The 16 mm Round Comic Safety Eyes used in this project are available from Shiny Happy World.

Step Two

Theodore Bear Pillow Pal Pattern

Muzzle

  • With CB, rep instructions for Back through Rnd 5.
  • Final Rnd: HdcBL in next st, scBL in next st, slstBL in next st. Fasten off CB with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm) for seaming.

Step Three

Nose

  • With CC, rep instructions for Back through Rnd 1. Join with sl st. Fasten off CC with long yarn tail (approximately 12”/30.5 cm) for seaming.

Step Four

Ears (Make 2)

  • With CB, ch 4, skip 3 ch, join with sl st to next ch to form ring.
  • Set Up Rnd: Ch 1, 8 dc in ring, do not join, begin working in Rows. (9 sts)
  • Row 1: Turn, ch 3 (counts as dc, here and throughout), dc in same st, 2 dcBL in next st and each st across. (16 sts)
  • Row 2: Turn, ch 3, dc in same st and in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st; rep from * across, changing to CA in last yo of final dc. Fasten off CB. (24 sts)
  • Row 3: (Right Side) Turn, ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 2 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep from * across. (32 sts) Do not fasten off. Turn to work along bottom unworked edge, ch 1, sc in side of same row, 2 sc in side of next 3 rows, sc in center ring, 2 sc in side of next 3 rows, sc in side of last row, join with sl st to first sc. (15 sts along bottom) Fasten off CA with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm) for seaming.

Step Five

Smile

  • With CD, ch 12.
  • Row 1: Turn, skip 1 ch, sc in next 11 ch. (11 sts)
  • Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sl st in first 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, sl st in last 2 sts. Fasten off CD with long yarn tail (approximately 12”/30.5 cc) for seaming.

Step Six

Back

  • Note: Back diameter should measure 16” (40.5 cm) across to fit the pillow. This is more important than the number of Rounds! If your Back reaches that diameter before 15 Rounds, continue to Final Rnd instructions. If your Back still hasn’t reached that diameter at 15 Rounds, continue increasing following the established pattern before continuing to Final Rnd instructions.
  • With CA, ch 4, skip 3 ch, sl st to next ch to form ring.
  • Rnd 1: Ch 1, 12 dc in ring, pm in last st to mark position, do not join. (12 sts)
  • Rnd 2: 2 dcBL in each st around. (24 sts)
  • Rnd 3: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next st; rep from * around. (36 sts)
  • Rnd 4: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next 2 sts; rep from * around. (48 sts)
  • Rnd 5: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next 3 sts; rep from * around. (60 sts)
  • Rnd 6: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next 4 sts; rep from * around. (72 sts)
  • Rnd 7: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next 5 sts; rep from * around. (84 sts)
  • Rnd 8: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next 6 sts; rep from * around. (96 sts)
  • Rnd 9: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next 7 sts; rep from * around. (108 sts)
  • Rnd 10: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next 8 sts; rep from * around. (120 sts)
  • Rnd 11: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next 9 sts; rep from * around. (132 sts)
  • Rnd 12: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next 10 sts; rep from * around. (144 sts)
  • Rnd 13: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next 11 sts; rep from * around. (156 sts)
  • Rnd 14: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next 12 sts; rep from * around. (168 sts)
  • Rnd 15: *2 dcBL in next st, dcBL in next 13 sts; rep from * around. (180 sts)
  • Final Rnd: HdcBL in next, scBL in next, slstBL in next. Fasten off CA.

Step Seven

Front

  • With CA, rep instructions for Back until Front is the same size. Do not fasten off CA.

Step Eight

Assembly

  • Tip: Use locking stitch markers to “pin” pieces into position before sewing in place.
  • Position facial features on Front.

  • Thread yarn needle with yarn tail from Nose and sew Nose to Muzzle.
  • Thread yarn needle with yarn tail from Smile and sew Smile to Muzzle.
  • Thread yarn needle with yarn tail from Muzzle and sew Muzzle to Front.
  • Position safety eyes. Attach firmly by securing washers on back.
  • Position first Ear with right side up on right side of Front. Join with whipstitch (see Pattern Notes) to front loops of Front using yarn tail.
  • Position second Ear in relation to first Ear on Front. Join with whipstitch seam to front loops of Front using yarn tail.
  • With yarn needle, weave in yarn tails on inside of Front.

  • Position Front and Back so the wrong sides are touching with the right side of the Front facing you. Join Front and Back with sc seam (see Pattern Notes) working through both layers, stopping once pillow is about half joined to insert pillow form. Continue to join with sc seam. Sl st to first sc to join. Fasten off CA.

Finishing

  • With yarn needle, weave in ends.

Step Nine

Wilbur Pig Pillow Pal

Additional Materials

  • Red Heart Super Saver yarn (100% acrylic, 7 oz/198 g/364 yd/333 m) – 1 skein in 373 Petal Pink (CA), 1 skein in 3950 Charcoal (CB), and 1 skein in 312 Black (CC), or approximately 364 yd (333 m) in CA, 30 yd (27.5 m) in CB, and 5 yd (4.5 m) in CC in any medium weight yarn.
  • Fairfield Poly-Fil Fiber Fill.
  • 12 mm round black safety eyes – 1 pair.

Finished Size

  • Each Pillow Pal fits a 16” (40.5 cm) round pillow form.

Gauge

  • Exact gauge is not critical for this project. Stitches should be tight so that pillow doesn’t show through.

Pattern Instructions

  • With CA, make 1 Back piece and 1 Front piece using the Theodore Bear Pillow Pal Back (Step Six) and Front (Step Seven) instructions above.
  • Find the rest of the instructions for making the rest of Wilbur Pig Pillow Pal, including his muzzle, here.

 

Step Ten

Spot Dog Pillow Pal

Additional Materials

  • Red Heart Super Saver yarn (100% acrylic, 7 oz/198 g/364 yd/333 m) – 1 skein in 373 Petal Pink (CA), 1 skein in 3950 Charcoal (CB), and 1 skein in 312 Black (CC), or approximately 364 yd (333 m) in CA, 30 yd (27.5 m) in CB, and 5 yd (4.5 m) in CC in any medium weight yarn.
  • 10.5 mm round blue safety eyes – 1 pair.

Finished Size

  • Each Pillow Pal fits a 16” (40.5 cm) round pillow form.

Gauge

  • Exact gauge is not critical for this project. Stitches should be tight so that pillow doesn’t show through.

Pattern Instructions

  • With CA, make 1 Back piece and 1 Front piece using the Theodore Bear Pillow Pal Back (Step Six) and Front (Step Seven) instructions above.
  • Find the rest of the instructions for making Spot Dog Pillow Pal here.