Lamb Stitch Crochet Pattern: Plush Shag Pillow

I’m kicking off the Cozy at Home Crochet Along with CAL Central with this ultra cozy and super plush pattern. The lamb stitch mimics the look of deep pile shag and with a soft, chenille-feel yarn, you’ll just love to run your fingers through the Plush Shag Pillow!

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Materials for this post were generously provided by Fairfield World, Lion Brand, and WeCrochet.

Years ago, I came across a pattern in a stitch guide (I can’t remember which one now) and fell in love with a stitch the author called the “Astrakhan stitch” because the look mimics the cozy Russian hats. Over the years, I’ve varied the stitch a little bit and I’ve since seen it called the lamb stitch online. I’m including a video tutorial for this pattern to guide you through making this stitch.

When finished, the lamb stitch creates such a plush texture that you literally want to run your fingers through it. That’s why I knew a project made with this stitch would be perfect for the Cozy at Home Crochet Along with CAL Central. I’ve designed the back of the pillow to be quite simple both because the lamb stitch takes a bit of time to create and because I wanted to highlight some cute buttons from my collection.

This pillow is the perfect size for a decorative throw pillow, or, if you now have an office chair for working from home like me, it’s a great for added comfort.

This pattern is part of the Cozy at Home Crochet Along with CAL Corner. Follow along and be sure to enter the end-of-CAL giveaway here by Sunday, April, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. To join the CAL:

  • Sign up for the Underground Crafter newsletter to get regular updates, including links to new CAL patterns, each week. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to my subscriber vault which includes exclusive free PDF patterns, a coupon code for your choice of any crochet or knitting pattern or ebook from my Ravelry shop, and coupon codes from other indie designers and crafts businesses. 
  • You can join in by crocheting the patterns as you have time.
  • Share your progress and post pictures of your finished projects. Tag your projects and posts #CALCentralCrochet on all social media. 
  • If you’d like to chat with other crocheters, join the CAL Central Facebook group or visit this thread in the CAL Central Ravelry group.
  • By the end of the CAL, you’ll have up to 12 awesome projects. Make your home comfy and cozy while having fun with us!
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If you make your own Plush Shag Pillow, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and private access to my vault of subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!

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Plush Shag Pillow

Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter

This cozy pillow has a deep pile like a shag rug. The lamb stitch, a variation on what is called the “Astrakhan stitch” in older stitch guides, is formed with simple crochet stitches. This pattern includes a video tutorial and is part of the Cozy at Home Crochet Along with CAL Central.

Finished Size

  • Approximately 11.5” (29 cm) square to fit a 12” (30.5 cm) square pillow form.

Materials

Gauge

  • 16 dc = 4” (10 cm). Exact gauge is not critical for this project. Stitches should be close together so pillow form does not show through.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

  • BL – back loop only – Shown in the video tutorial for this pattern below.
  • ch – chain
  • dc – double crochet
  • FL – front loop only – Shown in the video tutorial for this pattern below.
  • rep – repeat
  • Rnd(s) – Round(s)
  • RS – right (front) side
  • sc – single crochet
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sp – space
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • WS – wrong (back) side
  • * Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.

Pattern Notes

  • Ch 1 at beginning of rows and rounds does not count as a stitch.
  • The lamb stitch used in this pattern is a variation of the stitch sometimes called the “Astrakhan stitch” in older stitch guides because the look mimics the cozy Russian hats. A helpful video tutorial for crocheting the lamb stitch as used in this pattern is below.
  • If you can’t see the lamb stitch video above, click here to watch it on YouTube..
  • A helpful photo tutorial for seaming with single crochet is available here.

Pattern Instructions

Back Panel

  • Ch 42 (or any multiple of stitches).
  • Row 1: Turn, skip 3 ch (counts as dc), dc in next 39 ch. (40 sts)
  • Row 2: Turn, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 39 sts.
  • Rep Row 2 until Back Panel measures approximately 11” (28 cm), or approximately 0.5” (1.5 cm) shorter than desired finished size.
  • Begin to work in the round for the border.
  • Rnd 1: (RS) Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, sc in next 39 sts, ch 2, turn to work along edge of Back Panel, evenly work 40 sc in side of rows across, ch 2, turn to work along foundation chain, sc in unworked side of next 40 sts, ch 2, turn to work along edge of Back Panel, evenly work 40 sc in side of rows across, ch 2, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Front Panel in Lamb Stitch (see Pattern Notes for link to video tutorial)

  • Ch 42 (or any multiple of stitches).
  • Row 1: Turn, skip 3 ch (counts as dc), dc in next 39 ch. (40 sts)
  • Row 2: (RS) Do not turn, *ch 7, scFL to previous st on prior row; rep from * across, ending last rep in top of ch 3.
  • Row 3: (RS) Do not turn, ch 3 (counts as dc), dcBL in next 39 sts.
  • Rep Rows 2-3 until Front Panel measures approximately 11” (28 cm) (or approximately 0.5”/1.5 cm shorter than desired finished size, or includes the same number of Row 3 repeats as Row 2 repeats in Back Panel), ending after Row 2.
  • Begin to work in the round for the border.
  • Rnd 1: (RS) Do not turn, ch 1, scBL in first st, scBL in next 39 sts, ch 2, turn to work along edge of Back Panel, evenly work 40 sc in side of rows across, ch 2, turn to work along foundation chain, sc in unworked side of next 40 sts, ch 2, turn to work along edge of Back Panel, evenly work 40 sc in side of rows across, ch 2, join with sl st to first sc. Do not fasten off.

Add Button Loops

  • Next Row: Ch 1, sc in first st, sc in next 7 sts, [ch 20, sc in next 8 sts] 4 times, sl st to ch-2 sp, fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

  • Position Front Panel with RS facing you over Back Panel with WS together. Starting at any ch-2 sp at side of Button Loop Row, join around 3 sides (leaving Button Loop Row unseamed) with single crochet seam (see Pattern Notes), working 1 sc in each ch-2 sp. Fasten off.
  • With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of pillow.
  • Cut a piece of yarn approximately 24” (61 cm) long and thread yarn needle. With Back Panel RS facing, position buttons so that button loop, when pulled taut, will loop over buttons. With yarn needle, sew buttons in position being careful to only attach to Back Panel and not to join both Panels. Weave in yarn tails.
  • Insert pillow form.
  • Button closed and enjoy your pillow!
© 2021 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use the pattern to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: https://undergroundcrafter.com/2021/01/12/lamb-stitch-crochet-pattern-plush-shag-pillow/. Thanks for supporting indie designers!

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