Crocheted cotton motifs are transformed using shibori resist techniques with indigo dye. The bright contrast of blue against white left from the shibori resists creates a clean look for summer. Dye each motif according to your own tastes for a beautiful pillow.

Difficulty Easy

Finished Size About 19.5” square.

Yarn Knit Picks Simply Cotton Organic Worsted (distributed by Crafts Group LLC) (100% organic cotton; 164 yd / 3.5 oz): #80 marshmallow, 5 balls.

Hook Size I/9 (5.5 mm). Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Notions Yarn needle; stitch marker; plastic safety pins; 1” buttons, 4 (sample used .91” bamboo buttons from Lyanwood at etsy.com); sewing thread (navy); 18” square pillow form; dark navy felt, 5/8 yd.

Gauge Motif = 6.5” square; 8 sts and 7 sps and 16 rows = 4” in patt (blocked).

Notes Motifs are worked first and then dyed in indigo using shibori resist methods (instructions included in magazine). Motifs are then sewn together to form front. Reverse side of pillow is made in 2 panels with shibori design and buttons down center. Front and back panels are then sewn together.

Make and dye 1–2 extra motifs to select the most consistent color and resist results in the 9 final selected motifs used for pillow front.

Information about different Shibori techniques here.