You are invited to crochet a sweet unicorn pillow with me.
The pillow is crocheted in 3 parts - 2 identical units for its front and back & 1 additional panel that will connect them both. I crocheted this pillow with YARNART Jeans Plus yarn, but you can crochet it with any other yarn as well - thicker or thinner. However, the final measurements will change accordingly.
Materials
4 skeins of White YARNART Jeans Plus yarn 20 m of Green, Pink & Turquoise yarn and 2 m of Black yarn (1 skein =100 g, 160 m, 55% cotton, 45% Pac).
For the horn decoration – Approx. 5 meters of gold rubber or any other YarnArt JEANS PLUS yarn in a different color.
3.75 & 3.5 mm crochet hook.
A tapestry needle for embroidering and to weave in all extra yarn.
Markers.
Scissors
Tension / Gauge
10 cm(4”) *10 cm (4”) = approx. 16 sc & approx. 17 rows.
Measurements
Approx. 40 cm (15.7”) *
40 cm (15.7” ) *
8 cm (3.14”)
Abbreviations - US Terms
ch(s) - chain(s)
sl st - slip stitch
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
fl - front loop
bl - back loop
st(s) - stitch(s)
sk - skip
pm - place marker
yo - yarn over
inc - sc increase (details in the general part)
dec - sc decrease (details in the general part)
inv dec - invisible sc decrease (details in the general part)
ch sp - chain space
WS - Wrong side
RS - Right side
General
This pattern is written using US crochet terms.
While crocheting in rows, each row will end with a ch 1 that DOES NOT count as a st.
While crocheting sc sts to chs in the 1st row of each part - crochet to the little bumps behind the chs – the 3rd method in the video tutorial below.
While crocheting sc sts to chs in all other rows of each part - crochet under the back-loop – the 1st method in the video tutorial below=>
While crocheting in rounds using the spiral method, you should place a marker (pm) at each rnd end. I recommend using a different color of yarn than the color that is being crocheted as markers.
X sc = crochet 1 sc to next X sts, for example=> 8 sc => crochet 1 sc to each of next 8 sts
Inc => crochet 2 sc to the next st
dec - sc decrease => Insert the hook to the next st and pull a loop (2 loops on hook), insert the hook to the next st and pull a loop (3 loops on hook), yo & pull through 3 loops.
inv dec - invisible sc decrease = > Insert the hook to the fl of the next st (2 loops on hook), insert the hook to the fl of the next st (3 loops on hook), yo & pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo & pull through 2 loops.
We will repeat instructions in brackets [ ] the number of times written after the brackets.
At each row/rnd end, the total number of sts will be mentioned in brackets ( ).
When crocheting in rnds, the RS of your work will be the one where the sc sts look like a “V” shape.
Mouth (* 2)
Row 1 = This row will be the RS of the mouth. We will crochet it using the white yarn and 3.75 mm crochet hook.
You can crochet this row using the chainless foundation stitches method - in that case you will crochet 5 sc sts OR ch 6, and 5 sc, starting the 2nd ch from hook, after having 5 sc sts
ch 1 and turn (5)
Row 2
1 sc to the 1st st, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, ch 2, turn (7)
Row 3
1 sc to 2nd ch from hook ,5 sc, inc, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (9)
Row 4
2 sc starting the 1st st, inc, 6 sc, ch 3, turn (10)
Row 5
12 sc starting 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn (12)
Row 6
12 sc starting the 1st st, ch 3, turn (12)
Row 7
14 sc starting 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn (14)
Row 8
1 sc to the 1st st, inc, 12 sc, ch 3, turn (15)
Row 9
17 sc starting 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn (17)
Row 10
17 sc starting the 1st st, ch 3, turn (17)
Row 11
19 sc starting 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn (19)
Row 12
19 sc starting the 1st st, ch 3, turn (19)
Row 13
21 sc starting 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn (21)
Row 14
21 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (21)
Cut the yarn, leaving 15 cm (5.9”) tail and pull it from the st.
Put that part aside till you crochet the next part.
In photo 1 you can see the finished mouth while its RS is facing you.
If you crocheted this part using chainless sc sts, the yarn tail from the 1st row turns to your right as mind. If you crocheted using chs, the yarn tail will be to your left.
Anyway - the mouth position should be as shown here in the photo while joining it to the shoulder & neck later.
Shoulder & Neck (* 2)
Row 1
Using the white yarn and 3.75 mm crochet hook, crochet 37 chainless sc sts OR ch 38, 37 sc, starting the 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn (37).
Row 2
1 sc to the 1st st, inc, 33 sc, inc, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (39)
Row 3
1 sc to the 1st st, inc, 35 sc, inc, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (41)
Row 4
1 sc to the 1st st, inc, 37 sc, inc, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (43)
Rows 5-9
43 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (43)
Row 10
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 40 sc, ch 1, turn (42)
Row 11
39 sc starting the 1st st, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (41)
Row 12
1 sc starting the 1st st, dec, 38 sc, ch 1, turn (40)
Rows 13-14
1 sc starting the 1st st, 39 sc, ch 1, turn (40)
Row 15
37 sc starting the 1st st, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (39)
Row 16
39 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (39)
Row 17
36 sc starting the 1st st, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (38)
Row 18
38 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1 and turn (38)
Row 19
35 sc starting the 1st st, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (37)
Row 20
37 sc to the 1st st, ch 1, turn (37)
Row 21
34 sc starting the 1st st, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (36)
Row 22
36 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (36)
Row 23
33 sc starting the 1st st, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (35)
Row 24
35 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (35)
Row 25
32 sc starting the 1st st, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (34)
Rows 26-30
34 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (34)
Row 31
34 sc starting the 1st st, DO NOT turn, ch 3,
continue crocheting on the mouth, while its position is as shown on photo 2.
Continue crocheting 18 sc, dec, 1 sc (in photo 3 you can see the finished row),
ch 1, turn (54 sc and 3 chs).
Row 32
20 sc starting the 1st st, 1 sc to each of next 3 chs, 34 sc, ch 1, turn (57)
Row 33
1 sc to the 1st st, 56 sc, ch 1, turn (57)
Row 34
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 54 sc, ch 1, turn (56)
Row 35
56 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (56)
Row 36
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 53 sc, ch 1, turn (55)
Row 37
55 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (55)
Row 38
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 52 sc, ch 1, turn (54)
Row 39
54 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (54)
Row 40
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 48 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (52)
Row 41
52 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (52)
Row 42
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 46 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (50)
Row 43
50 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (50)
Row 44
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 44 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (48)
Row 45
50 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (48)
Row 46
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 42 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (46)
Row 47
46 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (46)
Row 48
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 40 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (44)
Row 49
44 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (44)
Row 50
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 38 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (42)
Row 51
42 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (42)
Row 52
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 36 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (40)
Row 53
40 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (40)
Row 54
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 34 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (38)
Row 55
38 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (38)
Row 56
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 32 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (36)
Row 57
36 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (36)
Row 58
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 30 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (34)
Row 59
34 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (34)
Row 60
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 28 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (32)
Row 61
32 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (32)
Row 62
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 2 sc, dec, 18 sc, dec, 2 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (28)
Row 63
28 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (28)
Row 64
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 2 sc, dec, 14 sc, dec, 2 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (24)
Row 65
24 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (24)
Row 66
1 sc to the 1st st, dec, 18 sc, dec, 1 sc, ch 1, turn (22)
Row 67
22 sc starting the 1st st, DO NOT ch 1 and DO NOT TURN (22)
We will crochet 1 rnd around the unit=>
1 sc to the same place you crocheted the last sc in the last row – so there should be 2 sc in the left head corner (pm the last sc - this is our 1st st in this rnd),
1 sc to each row, 2 sc to each corner,
1 sc to each of the unworked chs in the 1st row of the mouth,
1 sc to each unworked ch and to each row,
Keep crocheting sc sts till you get to the last sc st you crocheted in row 67. Cut the yarn, leaving 15 cm (5.9”) tail and pull it from the st. Using a needle insert the yarn to the marked sc in the rnd, and back to the bl of the last st in the last rnd.
Weave in all extra yarn and create additional unit.
Count the sts number and make sure that while crocheting around the 2nd unit, you have the same sts number. This number is the number of rows we will crochet for the pillow side panel. Weave in all extra yarn.
Pillow Side Panel (* 1)
Row 1
Using the white yarn and 3.75 mm crochet hook crochet 10 chainless sc sts, OR ch 11, 10 sc, starting the 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn (10).
Row 2
10 sc starting the 1st st, ch 1, turn (10)
Repeat row 2 till you reach the Shoulder & Neck sts number. DO NOT cut the yarn.
Put the pillow side panel aside. We will get back to it later.
Ear
Using white YarnArt JEANS PLUS yarn & a 3.75 mm crochet hook create a magic ring.
Rnd 1
5 sc into the ring (5), pull the magic ring tail in order to minimize its hole. Rnd 2
4 sc, inc (6).
Rnd 3
inc, 3 sc, inc * 2 times (9).
Rnd 4
[inc, 2 sc] * 2 times, inc, 1 sc, inc (13).
Rnd 5
[inc, 3 sc] * 3 times, inc (17).
Rnd 6
[inc, 4] * 3 times, 1 sc, inc (21).
Rnd 7
10 sc, inc, 10 sc (22).
Rnds 8-11
22 sc (22).
Rnd 12
[inv dec, 9 sc] * 2 times (20).
Rnd 13
[inv dec, 8 sc] * 2 times (18).
Cut the yarn, leaving a 15 cm (5.9”) tail, and pull the yarn from the st.
Put the ear aside – we will join it to the head later.
Flower (* 3)
Row 1 This row will be the WS of the flower. Leave a 50 cm tail for sewing, ch 39, (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) to 6th ch from hook, [ch 2, sk 2 sts, (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) to next st] * 10, ch 2, sk 2 sts, 1 dc to the last st (11 “V” holes, ch 2 sp between them and 1 dc st in each row edge), ch 1, turn
Row 2 This row will be the RS of the flower. 1 sc to 1st ch 2 sp, 6 dc to next “V” hole, [1 sc to next ch 2 sp, 6 dc to next “V” hole] * 10, 1 sc to the last ch sp, ch 1 to secure, cut the yarn leaving 7 cm tail and pull it from the st, weave it in (11 petals).
While the RS is facing you, start rolling the flower and use the 50 cm tail to sew it tight to the chains area, the dc sts in the 1st row & to the bottom of the dc in the 2nd row.
Weave in all extra yarn.
Put the flowers aside – we will join them to the head later.
Horn
Using white YarnArt JEANS PLUS yarn & a 3.75 mm crochet hook create a magic ring.
Rnd 1
6 sc into the magic ring (6), pull the magic ring tail in order to minimize its hole. Rnd 2
2 sc, inc, 3 sc (7).
Rnd 3
2 sc, inc * 2 times, 3 sc (9).
Rnd 4
[2 sc, inc] * 2 times, 3 sc (11).
Rnd 5
2 sc, inc, 4 sc, inc, 3 sc (13).
Rnd 6
13 sc (13).
Rnd 7
2 sc, inc, 6 sc, inc, 3 sc (15).
Rnd 8
15 sc (15).
Rnd 9
2 sc, inc, 8 sc, inc, 3 sc (17).
Rnd 10
17 sc (17).
Using gold rubber or any other YarnArt JEANS PLUS color yarn & a 3.5 mm crochet hook, we will add a sl st decoration that will cause the horn to be more stable and taller.
While the yarn is coming from the inner side of the horn, start crocheting from the 1st sc in rnd 1, loose, yet sequel sl sts to each st around. Keep crocheting 1 sl st to each st around till you reach the last st.
Cut the yarn leaving a 15 sts tail and pull it from the st.
Using a needle, insert the yarn to the last st you just crocheted, to the inner side of the horn. Weave in the yarn.
Horn Bottom
Using white YarnArt JEANS PLUS yarn & a 3.75 mm crochet hook create a magic ring.
Rnd 1
5 sc into the ring (5), pull the magic ring tail to minimize its hole. Rnd 2
inc * 5 times (10).
Rnd 3
inc * 10 times (20).
Cut the yarn leaving a 50 cm tail and pull it from the st.
Using a needle, sew each of the next 10 sts of the horn and its bottom
together, stuff it with Acrilan and finish sewing both parts together
(photos 9 & 10).
Pillow Decoration
I chose to decorate only one side of the pillow, but you can decide to decorate the 2nd side as well. In that case, you will have to crochet 3 more flowers, an additional ear and embroider the eyes and mouth on both sides.
Embroidering the Eyes and Nose
Using black YarnArt JEANS PLUS yarn & a needle embroider the eye.
I counted 15 rows down to the right part of the eye,
and 19 rows to the left part of it, while counting 4 sc from its left side:
Now, we should embroider one line between 4 rows and 9 sts.
Insert the needle above the eye line and embroider 5 eyelashes according the arrows below.
Using black YarnArt JEANS PLUS yarn & a needle embroider the mouth:
Embroider one line between 7 rows and 4 sts.
Insert the needle above the mouth line and embroider 1 line from row 2 down, while 2 sts separate between the 2 lines.