I Love U Pillow in Caron Simply Soft and Simply Soft Collection - Downloadable PDF

I Love U Pillow Crochet Pattern in Caron Simply Soft – Free Downloadable PDF by Patsy L. Harbor

The I Love U Pillow is a charming heart-shaped decorative cushion designed by Patsy L. Harbor and published by Caron International as a free downloadable PDF. Worked in Caron Simply Soft yarn, this intermediate-level crochet project produces a finished pillow measuring approximately 13 x 12 inches (33 x 30.5 cm). The design features a textured stitch pattern across two identical panels that are joined and stuffed with fiberfill, making it an ideal handmade gift or decorative accent for any home.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a heart-shaped decorative pillow with front and back panels crocheted separately and then assembled. The heart silhouette is achieved through careful row-by-row shaping worked side to side, with increases and decreases at the beginning and end of rows to sculpt the distinctive curved outline. The finished cushion is stuffed with fiberfill to give it a plump, three-dimensional form. The two-color design adds visual interest and warmth to the finished piece.

Materials Used

• Yarn: Caron Simply Soft (100% Acrylic, 6 oz/170g, 315 yd/288 m per skein) in two colorways:
  • #9730 Autumn Red (Color A) – 6 oz/170g
  • #0002 Harvest Rose (Color B) – 3 oz/85g
• Hook: One size US H-8 (5mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge. The pattern references Tulip/Etimo crochet hooks as a recommended option.
• Additional supplies: Fiberfill stuffing and a yarn needle for finishing and seaming.

Caron Simply Soft is a well-loved worsted/aran weight acrylic yarn known for its smooth, silky feel and wide color range. Its 100% acrylic composition makes the finished pillow easy to care for and durable for everyday display.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 16 stitches and 14 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) worked in the main pattern stitch of alternating single crochet and double crochet. Achieving the correct gauge is important for reaching the intended finished dimensions of the pillow.

Techniques and Construction Method

The pillow is constructed using a side-to-side working method, meaning the fabric is built horizontally rather than from bottom to top. This approach allows the heart shape to be formed organically through row shaping — increases are worked at both ends of rows during the widening phase, and decreases are used to taper and sculpt the upper lobes and lower point of the heart. Two identical panels (front and back) are made using this method and then joined together with fiberfill inserted before closing.

This side-to-side construction is a clever technique that gives crocheters precise control over the silhouette of the finished piece without requiring complex colorwork or intarsia. The shaping is integrated naturally into the stitch pattern, making it accessible for intermediate-level crocheters who are comfortable with increases, decreases, and following multi-row instructions.

Stitches Used

• Chain (ch) – used for foundation and turning chains throughout the pattern
• Single crochet (sc) – one of the two main stitches in the alternating texture pattern
• Double crochet (dc) – paired with single crochet to create the main fabric texture
• Half double crochet (hdc) – used in specific shaping or detail sections
• Half double crochet 2 together (hdc2tog) – a decrease stitch used to reduce stitch count and shape the pillow's outline
• Bullion stitch (bs) – a special decorative stitch defined in the pattern as wrapping the yarn around the hook 5 times, inserting the hook into the next stitch, drawing through, then working off all