Crocheted Pillowcases

Designer: Kari Stecher

• Pillowcase
• Water-soluble marking pen
• Large-eye embroidery needle
• Sport weight/DK cotton yarn in desired color
• Size E/4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook
• Fabric marker

Note: Gauge is not crucial to the success of this project.

1. Turn pillowcase inside out. Beginning 1⁄4" from pillowcase edge, use a water-soluble marking pen to mark dots every 1⁄2" along the inside of pillowcase band.

2. Measure a length of yarn that is 15 times the width of the pillowcase opening. Fold the yarn in half and knot the ends.

3. Working from inside pillowcase band, blanket-stitch the edge. To blanket stitch, refer to photos and diagram.

4. Push needle through a marked dot to outside of pillowcase. Form a reverse L shape with the yarn, and hold angle of L shape in place with your thumb. Push the needle down into next dot to the right. Come up under the reverse L shape, and, crossing over the trailing thread to secure the stitch, again form a reverse L shape with the yarn. Push the needle down at the next marked dot to the right and come up under the reverse L shape. Continue around pillowcase band.

5. To join end of blanket stitches to beginning, bring needle through front of first stitch knot. Tie off.

6. Turn pillowcase right side out. Make a slip knot on crochet hook and insert hook under blanket stitch.

Note: The first stitch can begin anywhere.

Rnd 1: 3 sc in each st, join to first sc with sl st.

Rnd 2: Ch 4, dc in same st, * sk next 2 sc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st. Rep from * to end. Sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch 4.

Rnd 3: * (sc, ch 3, sc) in next ch 1 sp, sk next 2 dc. Rep from * to end. Sl st to 1st sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 2: Ch 5, sk next 2 sc; * dc in next sc, ch 2, sk next 2 sc. Rep from * to end. Sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch 5.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, * 3 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 1, sk next dc. Rep from * to end. Sl st to beg ch 1. Fasten off.

Rnd 2: *Ch 1, sk 2 sc, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next sc, ch 1, sk 2 sc, sl st in next sc. Rep from * to end. Sl st to 1st sc. Fasten off.