Crocheted Ottoman or Floor Pillow (Free Pattern)

INNER CUSHION
Lay the hessian flat and cut out 2 circles of 54 cm (1’91/4”) diameter and a rectangle of 26(101/4”) x 180cm(5’11”) (including seams). Oversew the edges.

Fold over 5cm (2”) on each of the short edges of the rectangle. Pin together the rectangle and one of the circles, then machine-sew them together 1.5 cm(5/8”) in from the edge. Do the same with the
other circle. Leave the side of the rectangle open for the stuffing.

Turn the right way out and stuff it with wool or other stuffing of your choice. Oversew the seam to close it.

To make a firm, plump ottoman, be generous with the stuffing and pack it in firmly.

TOP
Using a size 12 crochet hook and 3 strands of wool, start by wrapping the strands round your fingers twice to make a centre ring.

Draw the strands back through the loops.

ABREVIATIONS
ch: chain stitch
dc: double crochet
sl st: slip stitch
tr: treble crochet
Work 1 ch.

Row 1: work 6 ch around the centre ring.

Tighten the ring by pulling the strands twice and carry on working in a circle.

Row 2: work 2 dc in each ch of the previous row (= 12 dc).

Crochet patterns often have a series of steps that are repeated across a row.
Rather than writing these out time after time, asterisks () are used to indicate the repeats.
 
Row 3: work * 1 dc in the following dc, 2 dc in
the next dc * . Repeat 5 times from * to * (row 3
= 18 dc). Row 4: work ** 1 dc in the 2 next dc, 2 dc
in the next one ** . Repeat 5 times from ** to **
(row 4 = 24 dc).

Rows 5 to 15: continue as for row 4, in each row adding another dc to the following dc 3–13 (= 90 dc). Close the last dc row by making a sl st in
the first dc of row 15.
NB: the extra stitches should always be worked on the extra stitches of the previous step.

Row 16: popcorn stitch row (top). For the first popcorn stitch, work 3 ch and 3 tr on the same dc of the previous row.

Remove the hook from the loop and insert in the third ch.

Pick up the loop and bring it back through the third ch.

Make a ch, skip a dc and, for the next popcorn stitch, work 4 tr in the next dc.

Remove the hook from the loop, insert it in the top of the first of the 4 tr and draw back the loop.

Repeat steps 16 and 17 43 times. Finish with 1 ch and 1 sl st in the centre of the first popcorn stitch in the row (= 45 popcorn stitches
alternating with 45 chain stitches).

BOTTOM
Repeat steps 5 to 12. Cut the yarn, keeping the end long enough to start sewing the seam.

Row 1:work 1 ch and 1 dc in the centre of the same popcorn stitch and 1 dc by inserting the hook under the following ch. Work *** 1 dc in the centre of the following popcorn stitch and 1 dc, inserting the hook under the following ch *** . Repeat 43 times from *** to *** .
Finish the row with a sl st in the first dc of the row.

Row 2 : work 1 ch and 1 dc in the same dc, then 1 dc in each of the following 89 dc. Finish the row with a sl st in the first dc of the row (= 90 dc). Repeat this row 9 times (= 11 rows of dc).

For the bottom row of popcorn stitch, repeat steps 13 to 18 (= 45 popcorn stitches alternating with 45 chain stitches). Cut the yarn and thread it through the crochet loop before tucking it in.

ASSEMBLING THE OTTOMAN
Put the hessian cushion inside the crocheted cover. Use a tapestry needle to sew the bottom of the cover to the sides, matching the 90 stitches on each side. Tie off any loose ends and tuck them in.

Excerpted with permission from Natural Designs: Contemporary Organic Upcycling (Diy Designer Projects).