Step One

Finished Size

• Fits a 12” (30.5 cm) square pillow form.

Gauge

• 14.5 sc = 4” (10 cm) across. Exact gauge is not critical for this project.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

• BL – back loop only – Marly Bird has a helpful video for identifying the back loop here.
• CA – Color A
• CB – Color B
• CC – Color C
• CD – Color D
• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• rep – repeat
• Rnd(s) – Round(s)
• sc – single crochet
• sk – skip
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• *Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
• () Repeat instructions between parentheses into same stitch or space.
• [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.

Pattern Notes

• When choosing colors, note that CA is the color of the pillow background, CB is the color of the Christmas Tree, CC is the color of the Christmas Tree Bark, and CD is the color of the Star.
• The Star is crocheted in the round. Other pieces are crocheted flat in rows.
• Ch 1 at beginning of Rows and Rounds does not count as a stitch.
• A helpful tutorial for seaming with the mattress stitch is available here.

Step Two

Pillow Background

• With CA, ch 45.
• Row 1: Turn, sk 1 ch, sc in next 44 ch. (44 sts)
• Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st and in each st across.
• Rep Row 2 until Pillow Background measures approximately 24” (61 cm) long. Place stitch markers in the first and last sts of the last Row to mark position for seaming. Do not fasten off CA.

Shape Back Flap

• Row 3: Turn, ch 1, scBL in first st and in each st across.
• Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first st, *sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts; rep from * across to last 2 sts, sk 1 st, sc in last st. (43 sts)

Form Button Loop

• Row 5: Turn, ch 1, sc in first 3 sts, [3 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts] 3 times, ch 4, sk 1 st, [sc in next 5 sts, 3 sc in next st] 3 times, sc in last 3 sts. (54 sts + ch-4 button loop)
• Fasten off CA with long yarn tail (approximately 36”/91.5 cm long) for seaming. Cut an additional 36”/91.5 cm. piece of CA for seaming other side of pillow.

Step Three

Christmas Tree

• With CB, ch 2.
• Row 1: Turn, sk 1 ch, 2 sc in next ch. (2 sts)
• Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st and in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st. (Increases by 1 st with each rep)
• Rep Row 2, 37 more times (39 sts), or until Christmas Tree measures approximately 11” (28 cm) wide along bottom row, ending with an odd number of sts. Fasten off CB with a long yarn tail (approximately 36”/91.5 cm long) for seaming.

Step Four

Christmas Tree Bark

• If you had 39 sts in the last Row of your Christmas Tree, continue on to Row 1 below. If you had a different number of sts in your bottom row, calculate the following:
  • (Your Number of Stitches – 9) = Number of Stitches on the Sides
  • (Number of Stitches on the Sides) ÷ 2 = Number of Stitches To Skip
  • Continue on to Row 1 below, substituting your Number of Stitches To Skip
• Start CC with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm long) for seaming. Row 1: Working on bottom row of Christmas Tree, sk 15 sts, join CC with sl st to next st, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 8 sts, sk next 15 sts. (9 sts)
• Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st and in next 8 sts.
• Rep Row 2 until Bark measures approximately 2” (5 cm) long. Fasten off CC.

Step Five

Star

• With CD, ch 6, sk 5 ch, join with sl st to next ch to form ring.
• Rnd 1: Ch 1, 20 dc in ring, join with sl st to first dc. (20 sts)
• Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in first st, [*sk 1 st, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next st, sk 1 st,** sc in next st] 4 times, rep from * to ** once, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off CD with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm long) for seaming.

Step Six

Assembly

• With yarn needle and long yarn tail in CD from Star, position Star on Christmas Tree so that the ring (first Round) covers the tree tip.

• With yarn needle, sew Star to Christmas Tree. Fasten off CD, weave in ends on wrong side of Christmas Tree with yarn needle.

• Fold Pillow Background so that foundation chain (start of project) touches row with stitch markers.

• Fold over Back Flap along unworked front loops of Row 1. Side without Back Flap touching is the front of Pillow Background. (The back is shown in the picture below.)

• With stitch markers, mark position of bottom row on Front at fold.
• Unfold Pillow Background. Position Christmas Tree in center of Pillow Background above the stitch markers.

• Use stitch markers to pin Christmas Tree in place before seaming.

• With yarn needle and long yarn tail in CC, sew Christmas Tree Bark to Pillow Background. Fasten off CC, weave in ends on wrong side. With yarn needle and long yarn tail in CB, sew Christmas Tree to Pillow Background, working behind Star. Fasten off CB, weave in ends on wrong side.
• Fold Pillow Background again. Use stitch markers to pin sides closed.

• With long yarn tail in CA, use the mattress stitch (see Pattern Notes) to seam first side closed up to marked final row.

• Fasten off CA, weave in ends on inside of pillow. With long yarn tail in CA, attach yarn to other side and use mattress stitch to seam second side closed up to marked final row. Fasten off CA, weave in ends on inside of pillow.
• Fold over Back Flap. Position button on back of Pillow Background beneath button loop. With yarn needle and CA, sew button in place. Weave in ends in CA on inside of pillow.

• With yarn needle, weave in any remaining ends on inside of pillow.

• Insert pillow form into pillow case. Close with button.