Nursery Pillow Covers

Crochet a soft cover for a nursery pillow, in two sizes: one for a 12 inch square pillow form and one for a 14 inch form. The front has a crescent moon and three little stars in butter yellow on sage green, with a cream line near the top and bottom. Keep the design, or chart your own in the same space. The back is an envelope of two overlapping panels, so there is nothing to button, zip or tie.

Each size comes as an editable chart for every piece and a printable PDF with a written row for every row.

You'll need:

• Worsted-weight cotton or a smooth cotton blend in three colors: sage, cream and butter
• A crochet hook, about 4.5 mm (change it to match your gauge), a yarn needle and scissors
• A purchased, fully sealed square pillow form, 12 or 14 inches

Sizes:

• 12 inch form: cover about 11 x 11 in (28 x 28 cm); front 39 stitches by 44 rows.
• 14 inch form: cover about 13 x 13 in (33 x 33 cm); front 45 stitches by 52 rows.

Each cover is made about 1 inch smaller than its form so it fits snugly. It is worked in single crochet (US; UK double crochet) in three flat pieces, a front and two backs, joined with a single crochet seam. Make a gauge swatch first. Yarn amounts: weigh your swatch to estimate; amounts vary with tension.

Difficulty: Advanced beginner (you carry a second color inside the stitches). Craft: Crochet. Tags: nursery, pillow, decor, baby shower, moon and stars, tapestry crochet, small project. Colors are approximate.

Important Safety Notes#

Decor only: This is for decoration. Do not put it in a crib, bed, play yard or car seat, and do not give it to a baby or child to play with.

Pillow form: Use a purchased, fully sealed pillow form, and keep it inside the cover's overlap. Do not use loose filling, beans or pellets, and do not add buttons, zips or ties.

Yarn and care: Use soft, smooth, washable yarn that does not shed or fuzz, and wash a swatch first. Weave in every end and check inside the finished item for loose strands, which can wrap around a baby's fingers or toes. Wash inside out.

If you sell what you make: Children's products sold in the US must meet CPSC rules, including testing, a Children's Product Certificate and a tracking label. Start at cpsc.gov.