7 buttons
Yarn
Mandarin petit from Sandnesgarn
(cotton)
100g (31⁄2oz) white no. 101
100g (31⁄2oz) red no. 4418
50g (13⁄4oz) pink no. 4505
50g (13⁄4oz) dark pink no. 4517
3mm (size 3) crochet hooks
Front piece:
Crochet 16 granny squares in total:
Crochet 4 ch with pink yarn and make a ring with 1 sl st. Crochet 2 ch that is first dc, and continue with 7 dc so that you have 8 in total. Finish the row with 1 sl st. Switch to dark pink yarn and crochet 2 sl st between every dc in the first row so that you get 16 dc in total. Finish the row with 1 sl st. Switch to red yarn and crochet 2 dc between every dc in the last row so that you get 32 dc. Finish the row with 1 sl st.
Continue with red yarn on the next row, but crochet every other 1 dc and 2 dc between every dc in the previous row. When you are at the end of the row you should have 48 dc in total. Finish with 1 sl st. Switch to white yarn and *crochet 3 dc in the same gap, 1 ch, skip 3 red dc and crochet 3 new dc in the next gap, 2 ch, skip 3 red dc and crochet 3 new dc in the next gap. Then crochet 3 ch and 3 new dc in the same gap. Continue with 1 ch, skip 3 red dc and crochet 3 new dc in the next gap, 1 ch*. Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. Finish with 1 sl st.
Last row: Continue the same way with 3 dc in each gap and 1 ch between while you increase in the corners. See description of granny squares in Good Advice.
Secure all loose ends and crochet together as shown in Good Advice.
Back piece, bottom part:
Crochet 76 ch with red yarn, turn *crochet 1 ch and 76 sc *. Repeat from * to * until you have 4 rows of red.
Switch to pink yarn and crochet 4 rows of sc in the same way.
Repeat the stripes of red and pink until you have 9 red and 9 pink stripes. Switch to red yarn and crochet 6 rows of sc.
Back piece, top part:
Crochet 76 ch with red yarn, turn and crochet 1 ch and 76 sc. On row 3, crochet buttonhole like this: 1 ch, 8 sc, *2 ch, skip 2 sc and continue with 8 sc*. Repeat from * to * 6 times, crochet 2 ch, skip 2 sc and finish with 7 sc.
Next row: 1 ch when you turn, 7 sc, *2 sc around the ch loop, 8 sc*. Repeat from * to * 6 times, and finish with 2 sc around the ch loop, 7 sc.
Switch to pink yarn and continue with the stripes until you have 4 red and 3 pink stripes in total.
Assembly:
Secure all loose ends. Sew together the two back pieces on the sides. The top piece should lie above the bottom piece so that the two red stripes overlap. Sew on buttons that fit the holes.
Place the front and back pieces wrong sides together and crochet the two layers together from the front side with sc and white yarn. Finish off with a round of picot: 1 sc, *3 ch, skip 1 sc and crochet 1 sc*. Repeat from * to * the whole way around the pillow. Don’t skip 1 sc in the corners.
