Happy Camper Crochet Pillow Cover

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Have you been camping yet this year? It's often the go-to family tradition for many. But for us in Florida, summer is not usually the time of year for not having AC, at least for me lol. So I brought some of the camping spirits inside with the Happy Camper Crochet Pillow Cover.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

If you knit and would love to make this pillow, head on over to the Knit Happy Camper Knit Pattern

With each passing year the phrase 'Always Take the Scenic Route' changes. When I was younger it was more literal, wanting to travel and explore the world around me. As I get older it's more a metaphor for taking those risks or branching out to stretch my abilities. Self-confidence can also determine what type of scenic route one is willing to take.

How about you? What scenic route have you taken lately? Feel free to respond in the comments of this post.

Are you ready to jump right in? Before you get started take a moment to jump on over to this post to not only learn about the different ways to do crochet color-work, but also for a freebie!

The printable Sheep Yarn Bobbins are super helpful and also cute. You can even cut them out on a cutting machine!

Supplies for the Happy Camper Crochet Pillow Cover

Notes for the Happy Camper Crochet Pillow Cover

• Please note, matching gauge both horizontal and vertical can be difficult. Extra rows can be added at the top if needed so it is more important to match the stitch gauge versus the row gauge. This pattern also has some ease to fit over a pillow.
• This pattern is worked in rows and in two pieces. The front panel will also work a buttonhole flap to secure the top of the crochet pillow. The front and the back panels will be slip stitched together once completed. 
• After the end of each row turn and ch 1. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch. 
• Since there are a wrong side and a right side to the pillow panels, I used a combination of intarsia and carrying yarn across the back for the colorwork. Experiment and see what works best for you.
• Please visit https://brianakdesigns.com/ways-to-colorwork-in-crochet/ for a full tutorial on colorwork as well as a FREE Sheep Yarn Bobbin Printable to assist you with this project. No one loves tangles.
• A burlap back can be used in substitute for a crochet pillow back.

Written Instructions are shown below graphs.

Happy Camper Pillow Graph Instructions

Holiday Camper Crochet Pillow Written Instructions

To begin: With white, chain 89 and start the first row in the second chain from hook.
After the end of each row turn and ch 1. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch.

→ Row 1 - 10: (sc White) x 88

→ Row 11 [WS]: (sc White) x 53, sc Grey, (sc White) x 34

← Row 12 [RS]: (sc White) x 34, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 52

→ Row 13 [WS]: (sc White) x 17, (sc Grey) x 19, (sc White) x 16, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 18, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 12

← Row 14 [RS]: (sc White) x 11, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 18, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 17, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 7, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 11

→ Row 15 [WS]: (sc White) x 10, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 5, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 17, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 18, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, sc Grey, (sc White) x 11

← Row 16 [RS]: (sc White) x 10, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 18, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 13, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 5, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 9

→ Row 17 [WS]: (sc White) x 9, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 4, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 5, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, sc Grey, (sc White) x 10

← Row 18 [RS]: (sc White) x 9, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, sc Grey, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, sc Grey, sc White, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, sc Grey, (sc White) x 6, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 9

→ Row 19 [WS]: (sc White) x 8, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 6, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 4, sc White, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, sc Grey, (sc White) x 9

← Row 20 [RS]: (sc White) x 8, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, sc White, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, sc Grey, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 6, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 8

→ Row 21 [WS]: (sc White) x 8, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 7, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, sc Grey, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 4, sc White, (sc Grey) x 4, sc White, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 4, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 6, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 4, sc Grey, (sc White) x 8

← Row 22 [RS]: (sc White) x 8, sc Grey, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 5, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 5, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 3, sc White, (sc Grey) x 4, sc White, sc Grey, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 11, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 8

→ Row 23 [WS]: (sc White) x 8, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 11, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, sc Grey, sc White, (sc Grey) x 3, sc White, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, sc White, sc Grey, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 6, sc Grey, (sc White) x 8

← Row 24 [RS]: (sc White) x 15, sc Grey, sc White, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 3, sc White, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 4, sc White, (sc Grey) x 5, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 11, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 8

→ Row 25 [WS]: (sc White) x 8, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 12, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 6, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 3, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 3, sc White, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, sc Grey, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 14

← Row 26 [RS]: (sc White) x 14, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, sc Grey, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 6, (sc White) x 15, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 6, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 12, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 9

→ Row 27 [WS]: (sc White) x 9, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 12, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 36, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, sc Grey, (sc White) x 14

← Row 28 [RS]: (sc White) x 14, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 42, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 12, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 9

→ Row 29 [WS]: (sc White) x 9, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 13, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 16, sc Grey, (sc White) x 19, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 20

I don't need therapy. I just Need to go Camping.

← Row 30 [RS]: (sc White) x 20, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, sc Grey, (sc White) x 9, sc Grey, (sc White) x 9, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 15, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 12, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 10

→ Row 31 [WS]: (sc White) x 10, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 3, sc Grey, (sc White) x 9, sc Grey, (sc White) x 16, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 8, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 9, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 19

← Row 32 [RS]: (sc White) x 19, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, sc Grey, (sc White) x 10, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 8, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 26, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 11

→ Row 33 [WS]: (sc White) x 12, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 27, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 8, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 11, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 19

← Row 34 [RS]: (sc White) x 18, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 8, (sc Grey) x 3, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 4, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 7, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 29

→ Row 35 [WS]: (sc White) x 22, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 7, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, sc Grey, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, sc Grey, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, sc Grey, sc White, sc Grey, (sc White) x 8, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 18

← Row 36 [RS]: (sc White) x 18, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 4, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 3, sc White, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 3, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 22

→ Row 37 [WS]: (sc White) x 22, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, sc Grey, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, sc Grey, sc White, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 17

← Row 38 [RS]: (sc White) x 16, sc Grey, sc White, (sc Grey) x 4, sc White, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 4, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, sc Grey, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 22

→ Row 39 [WS]: (sc White) x 22, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 4, sc White, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 7, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 15

← Row 40 [RS]: (sc White) x 15, sc Grey, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 4, sc White, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 22

→ Row 41 [WS]: (sc White) x 21, (sc Grey) x 10, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 3, sc White, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 18

← Row 42 [RS]: (sc White) x 18, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, (sc Grey) x 3, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 2, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 22

→ Row 43 [WS]: (sc White) x 22, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 2, sc White, sc Grey, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 6, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 6, (sc White) x 4, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 3, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 18

← Row 44 [RS]: (sc White) x 23, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 25, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 22

→ Row 45 [WS]: (sc White) x 22, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 57

← Row 46 [RS]: (sc White) x 57, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 22

→ Row 47 [WS]: (sc White) x 22, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 57

← Row 48 [RS]: (sc White) x 57, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 22

→ Row 49 [WS]: (sc White) x 22, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 5, (sc Grey) x 2, (sc White) x 57

← Row 50 [RS]: (sc White) x 58, sc Grey, (sc White) x 6, sc Grey, (sc White) x 22

Front Panel Continued:

Continue to sc Rows 51-72 in White. 
Button Row 73: ch 1, sc 2, *ch 3, skip 3, sc 17: repeat from * until last 3 stitches, sc in last 3, turn
Continue to sc Rows 74-78 in white.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Back Panel:

With Grey or color of choice, chain 89 and start the first row in the second chain from hook.
Single crochet a total of 52 rows to create the back panel. 
Fasten off and weave in ends. 
OR Continue to below for burlap. 

Attaching Panels Together:

Place the front and back panels together with wrong sides facing. If using burlap cut two pieces approximately one in longer on each side of pillow. Your crochet hook will be able to work through the holes in the burlap. Using white yarn, slip stitch from top of one side of pillow (where the panels meet, not over the flap), around the bottom, and up the other side.

I found by slip stitching with a tight tension really makes some crisp edges, but you do not want puckering. Fasten off and weave in ends. Flip pillow so the right side is facing out and the seams are on the inside.

Attaching Buttons:

With the back panel facing, fold front panel down over the top of the back panel and with stitch markers mark the row where each button will be placed. Using a yarn needle and green yarn, sew each button in place. 

Place a 12x20 pillow inside the cover and enjoy!

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