Step One

Crochet Retro Rainbow with Cumulus Clouds Pillow

Finished Size

• Approximately 12” (30.5 cm) square.

Gauge

• 16 dc x 8 rows = 4” (10 cm). Exact gauge is not critical for this project. Stitches should be close together so pillow form does not show through.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

• CA – Color A
• CB – Color B
• CC – Color C
• CD – Color D
• CE – Color E
• CF – Color F
• CG – Color G
• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• FPsc – front post single crochet – Insert hook from front around back to front of st in previous row or round, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops. Stitches N Scraps has helpful photo and video tutorials for this stitch here.
• rep – repeat
• RS – right (front) side
• sc – single crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• tr – treble (triple) crochet
• yo – yarn over
• WS – wrong (back) side
• *Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
• [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.

Pattern Notes

• Ch 1 at beginning of rows and rounds does not count as a stitch.
• Change colors in last yo of final stitch of row, as demonstrated in this video from AllFreeCrochet.
• Crochet over your yarn tails as you work, as demonstrated in this video from Fiber Flux.
• A helpful tutorial for seaming with the whipstitch is available here.
• A helpful tutorial for seaming with single crochet is available here.

Step Two

Pattern Instructions

Rainbow Panels (Make 2)

• With CA, ch 52.
• Row 1: Turn, sk 3 ch (counts as first dc), dc in next 49 ch. (50 sts)
• Row 2: Turn, ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next 49 sts.
• Row 3: Rep Row 2 once.
• Row 4: Rep Row 2 once (or until CA stripe measures approximately 2”/5 cm wide), changing to CB in last yo of final dc. Fasten off CA.
• Rows 5-7: Rep Row 2, 3 times.
• Row 8: Rep Row 2 once (or until CB stripe measures approximately 2”/5 cm wide), changing to CC in last yo of final dc. Fasten off CB.
• Rows 9-11: Rep Row 2, 3 times.
• Row 12: Rep Row 2 once (or until CC stripe measures approximately 2”/5 cm wide), changing to CD in last yo of final dc. Fasten off CC.
• Rows 13-15: Rep Row 2, 3 times.
• Row 16: Rep Row 2 once (or until CD stripe measures approximately 2”/5 cm wide), changing to CE in last yo of final dc. Fasten off CD.
• Rows 17-19: Rep Row 2, 3 times.
• Row 20: Rep Row 2 once (or until CE stripe measures approximately 2”/5 cm wide), changing to CF in last yo of final dc. Fasten off CE.
• Rows 21-23: Rep Row 2, 3 times.
• Row 24: Rep Row 2 once (or until CF stripe measures approximately 2”/5 cm wide). Fasten off CF.

Step Three

Cumulus Clouds (Make 3)

• With CG, ch 4, skip 3 ch, join with sl st to next ch to form ring.
• Row 1: Turn, ch 1, 8 dc in ring. (8 sts)
• Row 2: Turn, ch 1, 2 dc in first st, dc in next 2 sts, [2 dc in next st] twice, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in last st. (12 sts)
• Row 3: Turn, ch 1, 2 dc in first st, dc in next 4 sts, [2 dc in next st] twice, dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in last st. (16 sts)
• Row 4: Turn, ch 1, 3 dc in first st, dc in next 6 sts, [3 dc in next st] twice, dc in next 6 sts, 3 dc in last st. (24 sts)
• Row 5: (RS) Turn to work along bottom unworked edge, ch 1, 2 sc in side of next 4 rows, 2 sc in ring, 2 sc in side of next 4 rows. (18 sts)
• Fasten off CG with long yarn tail (approximately 18”/46 cm) for seaming. With yarn needle, weave in yarn tail from starting chain onto WS.

Step Four

Attach Cumulus Clouds

• Designate one Rainbow Panel as the front panel and one side as its RS.
• Position Cumulus Clouds as desired on the RS of front Rainbow Panel. Use locking stitch markers to pin into position. Starting with bottom layer Cumulus Cloud, thread yarn needle with long yarn tail. Seam to Rainbow Panel using whipstitch (see Pattern Notes).

• Continue until all 3 Cumulus Clouds are seamed to RS of front Rainbow Panel. Weave in yarn tails on WS of front Panel.

Step Five

Seam Rainbow Panels Together

• Position Rainbow Panels with WS together and RS of front Rainbow Panel (with Cumulus Clouds) facing you. Join CG with sl st to side of last st in Row 20 (or last Row in CF).

• Join on 3 sides with single crochet seam through both Rainbow Panels (see Pattern Notes) as follows:
  • Ch 1, *3 sc in side of row, 2 sc in side of next 22 rows (or across to last Row), 3 sc in side of last row,** turn to work along foundation edge, ch 2, sc in next 50 sts, ch 2, turn to work along next st, rep from * to ** across, do not join final edge. Do not fasten off CG.

Step Six

Cloud Edging

• Turn to work along front Rainbow Panel top edge. DO NOT JOIN Rainbow Panels as you crochet.
• Round 1: Ch 1, starting in first st of Row 20 (or Final Row), *[sc in next st, tr in next st] 25 times,** turn to work on back Rainbow Panel top edge with RS facing, rep from * to **, join with sl st to first sc.
• Round 2: Ch 1, starting in same st, [sc in next sc, FPsc in next tr pushing st towards RS] 50 times around, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off CG.

Step Seven

• With yarn needle, weave in all remaining ends on inside of Rainbow Panels.

• Insert pillow form.

• Enjoy your pillow! The top is open so you can wash the pillow cover.