Sleepy Sheep Pillow

Sleepy Sheep Pillow by Lisa Kingsley

Project Overview

The Sleepy Sheep Pillow is an intermediate-level crochet cushion project designed by Lisa Kingsley. This finished pillow measures 12 inches by 12 inches, making it a perfect decorative accent piece for any room. The project combines soft, cozy yarns with fundamental crochet techniques to create a charming sheep-themed pillow suitable for crafters with some crochet experience.

Crochet Techniques Used

This pattern employs several core crochet techniques that intermediate crafters will find engaging and manageable. The pillow is worked primarily in continuous spiral rounds rather than joined rounds, which creates a seamless appearance and reduces visible seams. Stitch markers are used throughout the project to track the beginning of each round, ensuring consistent shaping and structure.

The pattern incorporates shaping through increases and decreases to form the three-dimensional pillow structure. Increases are created by working two single crochet stitches into one stitch, while decreases are formed by combining two single crochet stitches into one. Back loop only (BLO) stitching is also utilized in the pattern, which creates a distinct textured ridge and is often used for ribbed or decorative effects.

Stitches Featured

• Single Crochet (Sc): The primary stitch used throughout the pillow, providing a dense, sturdy fabric
• Chain Stitch (Ch): Used for foundation and construction elements
• Slip Stitch (Sl st): Employed for joining and finishing details
• Single Crochet Increase (2sc): Two single crochet stitches worked into one stitch to add width and create shaping
• Single Crochet Decrease (Sc2tog): Two stitches decreased into one to reduce width and form the pillow's contours
• Back Loop Only (BLO): Working through only the back loop of stitches to create textured sections
• Magic Ring (MR): An alternative cast-on method for beginning rounds seamlessly

Yarn and Materials

The Sleepy Sheep Pillow pattern calls for two complementary yarn weights that work together to create the finished design. Red Heart Super Saver in Aran weight is used in small amounts, likely for accent details or specific design elements. Red Heart Comfort Chunky yarn provides the primary fabric, with white being specified for the main pillow body. The combination of aran and chunky weight yarns creates interesting texture and visual interest while maintaining workability for an intermediate crafter.

Pattern Structure and Notes

The pattern is written in standard US crochet terminology and spans seven pages of detailed instructions. Important notes for crafters include reading through the entire pattern before beginning to understand the overall construction. The pattern clarifies that chain 1 stitches at the beginning of rows do not count as stitches unless specifically noted otherwise, which affects stitch counts and shaping calculations. Continuous spiral working means no joining rounds unless explicitly stated, streamlining the construction process and creating a more polished finished piece.

The pattern uses clear abbreviations and includes a comprehensive key for easy reference throughout the project. Repeat sections are clearly marked with asterisks (*to*) to indicate which directions should be repeated and how many times, making it simple to follow shaping sequences and pattern repeats.