Product Description
Khlaidri is a worsted weight pillow cover featuring the crochet ladder stitch climbing up the front and a buttoned envelope style back.
This cover is designed to fit a standard 13” x 13” (33 cm x 33 cm) throw pillow and is made using three panels crocheted flat and then seamed together. (1 Front, 2 Back)
Size: 14” x 14’ (35.6 cm x 35.6 cm)
Yarn Used: Red Heart Super Saver Yarn 316 Soft White (100% acrylic: 364 yds/333 m; 7 oz/ 198 g), 1 skein.
US size H/8 (5.0mm) crochet hook
Tools/Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, buttons (optional), needle and thread for attaching buttons (optional)
Gauge: 19 sts and 11 rows per 4” (10 cm) in Double Crochet.
Skill Level: Easy - projects using basic stitches, repetitive stitch patterns, simple color changes, and minimal shaping and finishing.
Khlaidri Worsted Weight Pillow Cover
What is Being Made
The Khlaidri Pillow Cover is a crochet project designed by Kristina Smiley that creates a decorative cushion cover perfectly sized for standard 13" x 13" throw pillows. The finished cover measures 14" x 14" (35.6 cm x 35.6 cm), providing a snug fit with slight ease. This is a functional home décor item that combines aesthetic appeal with practical construction, featuring a distinctive front panel and a convenient buttoned envelope-style back closure for easy pillow insertion and removal.
Construction and Techniques
The Khlaidri pillow cover uses a three-panel construction method, with pieces crocheted flat and then seamed together. The design consists of one front panel and two back panels that overlap to create the envelope closure system. The most distinctive design element is the crochet ladder stitch, which climbs vertically up the front panel, creating a textured visual interest and decorative focal point. The ladder stitch technique adds depth and dimension to an otherwise straightforward construction, making this an intermediate-level project despite using relatively basic stitches. The envelope-style back allows for button closures (optional), providing both aesthetic finishing and functional closure.
Stitches Used
The Khlaidri pillow cover employs fundamental crochet stitches appropriate for worsted weight yarn. The primary stitch used throughout the project is Double Crochet (dc), which forms the base fabric and creates the gauge of 19 stitches and 11 rows per 4" (10 cm). The signature design element utilizes the ladder stitch, a decorative technique that creates a rope-like or braided appearance climbing the front panel. Additional stitches referenced in the pattern abbreviations include Chain (ch) for foundation and shaping, Single Crochet (sc) for finishing edges, and Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc), which works into the back post of stitches to create textured effects. These stitches combine to create a project that is accessible to intermediate crocheters while producing a polished, professional-looking finished piece.
Materials and Yarn Specifications
The Khlaidri pillow cover is worked in worsted weight yarn, specifically using Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in colorway 316 Soft White. This yarn is 100% acrylic, offering durability and easy care for a frequently-used home décor item. One skein provides sufficient yardage at 364 yards (333 meters) with a weight of 7 ounces (198 grams). The project is worked with a US size H/8 (5.0mm) crochet hook, which pairs appropriately with the worsted weight yarn to achieve the specified gauge. Additional notions include a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends, and optional buttons with needle and thread for attaching button closures to the envelope back. The acrylic yarn choice makes this project budget-friendly, machine-washable, and suitable for households with children or pets.