Super Chunky Knitted Pillow

So I'm trying to get all these posts done that have been postponed so many times that it's been already months since I actually created these things ;P. Well what can you do when life gets in the way :))
One of those things is this super-duper-mega-üper-(insert some other extreme adjective here)-chunky knitted pillow(case) I made.
I got some really chunky yard from my mum and decided to make a pillow out of it.
The design is actually really easy and I didn't follow any particular pattern. I just knew that I wanted there to be knitted cables in various sizes on it. And that's basically what I created.

I tried to make a printable pattern if anybody would happen to be interested. Since this is the first time I've done this it might not be perfect but I tried my best to make it clear :)) I knitted a piece that was approximately 30 cm wide and 95 cm long repeating this pattern.

 

Then I folded the piece lengthwise so that the ends would overlap approximately 5cm at the top. I sewed the sides together using instructions from this tutorial on YouTube. After that i sewed on the buttons, inserted the pillow and that's it :))

It was a pretty quick project to make since the yarn was so thick and the needles were also huge (10mm ones). The only problem right now is that the buttons are too small for the button holes because I used the biggest buttons I had lying around which clearly weren't big enough since the buttons keep slipping open ;P I should really get some bigger buttons... I probably will..at some point...if I remember ;P


Ciao-ciao,

Crochet Mittens (instructions included)

Ok, so I know I promised you some summery posts but the weather here in Estonia is very reluctant to let go of winter. So when I saw a picture of some crochet mittens then I instantly thought "Why haven't I thought of this?!" and immediately (I literally stood up right away) went to get some yarn from my yarn basket and tried it out. It was super easy, in my opinion easier than knitting a pair of mittens and I've knitted a few pairs in my life ;)
I decided to write down the instructions so anybody who would like to crochet mittens but can't be bothered to invent the pattern themselves can get the instructions here :)) 
I used quite a thick yarn (I didn't have the packaging and info anymore because they were leftovers from previous projects) and a 5.00 mm (European size) hook.

So here we go!

EDIT: Count -chain 3- in the beginning of a row as a dc (so the dc at the end of the row would add up).

Make a magic circle (see video instruction here)
Row 1: Make 10 single crochets(sc) into the magic circle, slip stitch (sl st) in first sc.
Row 2 : Chain 3, *double crochet (dc) in next sc, 2 dc in next sc* ; repeat from * to *,join with sl st (14 dc)
Row 3 : Chain 3, *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc*; repeat from * to *join with sl st (20 dc)
Rows 4-5 : Chain 3, dc in every dc, join with sl st(20 dc)
Row 6 : Chain 3, *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat from * to *, join with sl st (29 dc)
Rows 7-11. Chain 3, dc in every dc, join with sl st (29 dc)
Row 12: 
*Right hand:Chain 3, dc in next 10 dc, chain (ch) 3, skip 3 dc, dc in next 15 dc, join with sl st
*Left hand: Chain 3, dc in next 15 dc, ch 3, skip 3 dc, dc in next 10 dc, join with sl st

Row 13: Chain 3, dc in next 15 dc, dc in each ch (3 dc), dc in next 11 dc, join with sl st (29 dc)

Rows 14-16: Chain 3, dc in every dc, join with sl st (29 dc)
Row  17: Chain 3, dc in next 4 dc, dc next two stitches together, dc in next 8 dc, dc next two stitches together, dc in next 8 dc, dc next two stitches together, dc in next 2 dc, join with sl st (26 dc)
Rows 18-20: Chain 3, dc in every dc; on last round fasten off.

Thumb:
Attach yarn with a slip stitch to one of the dc in the space for the thumb, chain 3, dc around the edge, join with sl st(12 dc)

Rows 2-3: Chain 3, dc in every dc, join with sl st
Row 4: chain 3, dc in next 2 dc, dc next two stitches together, dc in next 3 dc, dc next two stitches together, dc in remaining two dc, join with sl st (10 dc)
Row 5: Chain 3, now make a cluster stitch (see video instruction here) with all of the remaining stitches and on the last stitch pull the yarn through all of the loops on your needle. 
Side note: I actually put about half of the loops on a safety pin because otherwise it's very difficult to crochet on the last stitches (you'll see what I mean if you try it ;P).
 




Now just fasten off and hide all the loose ends and you're ready!

I hope these instructions were relatively easy to understand but if have any questions feel free to ask me and I'll do my best to answer you!

Here is my wonderful hubby modelling for me :))

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There will be other crafty posts coming soon :))
Ciao-ciao!

EDIT: Thank you to a couple of readers for pointing out some errors / confusing parts in the pattern. I've made corrections and hope that it is now easier to understand the instructions :))