Tween Pillow & Throw in Caron Simply Soft Brites - Downloadable PDF

Tween Pillow & Throw in Caron Simply Soft Brites – Crochet Pattern Summary

Designed by Kim Guzman, the Tween Pillow & Throw is a free, downloadable PDF crochet pattern that produces two coordinating home décor pieces: a large, colorful throw afghan and a matching square pillow. The pattern is rated beginner level, making it an excellent project for those who are just building their crochet skills while still wanting a finished piece that looks polished and vibrant. Both items are worked using Caron Simply Soft worsted weight yarn in bold, playful colorways from the Brites collection.

Projects Included in This Pattern

1. Tween Throw Afghan

The throw afghan is the centerpiece of this pattern, measuring approximately 47 inches wide by 56 inches long (119.5 cm x 142 cm). It is a generously sized blanket suitable for draping over a sofa, using on a bed, or gifting to a tween who loves bold, bright colors. The finished dimensions make it practical for everyday use while remaining a manageable crochet project for beginners.

The throw is worked in a simple, repetitive stitch pattern that creates an open, lacy texture through the use of chain spaces. The construction is straightforward: the blanket is worked flat, back and forth in rows, from the cast-on chain all the way to the finished length. One of the most appealing design elements is the three-color striping sequence, which cycles through colors A, B, and C in a one-row-each rotation throughout the entire piece. This rhythmic color change keeps the work visually interesting without adding complexity.

Throw Techniques and Stitches

• Foundation chain: The throw begins with a long starting chain of 254 chains, setting the full width of the blanket from the very first row.
• Single crochet (sc): The primary stitch used throughout the throw. Single crochet is one of the most fundamental crochet stitches, created by inserting the hook, drawing up a loop, and pulling through two loops. It produces a dense, sturdy fabric when used alone, but here it is paired with chain spaces to create an airier result.
• Chain-3 spaces (ch 3): Between each single crochet, a chain of three is worked and the next three stitches of the previous row are skipped. This creates the open lattice or mesh-like pattern that defines the texture of the throw.
• Slip stitch (sl st): Referenced in the abbreviations and used at various finishing or joining points in the pattern.
• Reverse single crochet (reverse sc): Also known as the "crab stitch," reverse single crochet is worked in the opposite direction of normal crochet — from left to right rather than right to left. It creates a neat, twisted, rope-like edging and is commonly used as a decorative border finish. Its inclusion here adds a professional, tidy edge to the completed throw.
• Color changing technique: Colors are changed at the end of each row by completing the last single crochet of the row with the new color. Specifically, the hook is inserted into the last stitch, the old color loop is drawn up, and then the new color is yarned over and pulled through both loops to complete the stitch. Old colors are not fastened off between rows; instead, they are carried along the side edge of the work, which reduces the number of ends to weave in and keeps the side seam tidy.
• Three-color striping sequence: The color pattern rotates as follows — one row with Color A, one row with Color B (Watermelon 9604), one row with Color C (Grape 9610) — repeated from beginning to end. This creates even, consistent horizontal stripes across the full length of the blanket.

Throw Materials

• Yarn: Caron Simply Soft, worsted weight (Category 4), in three colorways. Color A is an unspecified base color (1 skein listed as blank in the source), Color B is Watermelon (9604), and Color C is Grape (9610). Three skeins of each color are required for the throw. Each skein contains 170 g / 6 oz and approximately 288 m / 315 yards.
• Hook: US F-5 (4 mm) crochet hook.