How to Crochet Pillow Shams
There is not better project to learn crocheting than a sham pillow covering. It is either square or rectangular and uses a basic pattern. It is sturdy and will never wear out. The project is simple but will take several nights of work before it is ready for your bed or sofa.
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Things You'll Need
- Crochet yarn--bulky weight
- Size H crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Pillow
- Zipper
Instructions
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1
Crochet a swatch of material about 6-by-6 inches. Count the number of stitches in 1 inch and the number of rows in 1 inch to determine exactly what your gauge will be. If your gauge is 4 stitches by 5 rows, calculate the size of your finished pillow sham by multiplying width by stitch gauge and length by row gauge.
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2
Make a loop. Use your crochet hook to reach through and pull up another loop. Each loop is a chain and each chain is a stitch. Continue until your gauge measurement of stitches per inch matches the size of your intended sham.
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3
At the end of that row chain one more. This is the turning chain and is added at the end of each row. Insert your crochet hook into the top of the first chain, pull through a loop and then pull a loop of yarn through both. This is a single crochet stitch. Continue to the end of the row. There should be as many stitches as there were when you chained your first row.
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4
Continue to single crochet across each row remembering the turning chain at the end of each row. Cast off by snipping a 16-inch length of yarn and pulling it completely through the last single crochet stitch when the piece measures the dimension you planned. Repeat this entire process for the second side of the sham.
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5
Block both sides of the sham by pinning them to a towel exactly so that both sides are equal. Steam lightly and leave them both to dry. Do not run the iron on top of the stitches because that will mash down the loft of the yarn.
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6
Insert a zipper in one side of the pillow sham if you wish to close the end. Hand-stitch it with coordinating thread. Use the long tag ends to stitch the three sides of the sham shut with your tapestry needle.
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7
Insert a pillow form and zip the sham shut.
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Tips & Warnings
Learn other crochet stitches so that you can vary the texture of your pillow tops or shams.
