Bongo the Clown Pillow

Crocheted clown: round pillow casing with pompoms for children, crocheted in the round from centre outwards. Piece is crocheted in DROPS Paris.

DROPS Children 35-1
DROPS Design: w-062-bn
Yarn group C or A + A
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Measurements: Diameter pillow casing (without pompoms): 42 cm - casing fits a pillow approx. 50 cm in diameter as it should stretch a bit to fit nicely.
Materials:
DROPS PARIS from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group C)
300 g colour 27, peach
50 g colour 38, raspberry
50 g colour 37, bordeaux
50 g colour 24, dark grey
50 g colour 16, white

And for pompoms:
DROPS PARIS from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group C)
50 g colour 14, dandelion
50 g colour 13 orange
50 g colour 10, turquoise
50 g colour 02, light turquoise
50 g colour 06, cerise
50 g colour 33, pink

1 pompom of approx. 6 cm in diameter = approx. 10 g yarn.

CROCHET TENSION:
17 treble crochets in width and 10 rows vertically = 10 x 10 cm.

DROPS CROCHET HOOK SIZE 4 mm
Hook size is only a suggestion! If you have too many stitches on 10 cm switch to larger hook. If you have too few stitches on 10 cm switch to smaller hook.

ROUND INNER PILLOW: approx. 50 cm in diameter.

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EXPLANATION FOR THE PATTERN:

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CROCHET INFORMATION - CLOWN NOSE:
On every round with double crochets replace first double crochet with 1 chain stitch.
At beginning of every round with treble crochets replace first treble crochet with 3 chain stitches.

COLOUR CHANGE TIP:
When changing colour work as follows: Work last stitch on round with first colour but wait with last yarn over and pull through, switch to next colour and work last yarn over and pull through with this colour, then work next round.

PATTERN
Work eyes according to diagram A.1.


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START THE PIECE HERE:

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PILLOW CASING - SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE PIECE:
Pillow casing is worked in a circle from the middle and outwards. Work 2 circles that are worked together at the end. Work a face on either one or both sides. The nose is worked as a part of the circle, while the mouth and eyes are attached afterwards. Make pompoms for hair.

CIRCLE:
Work in the round. First work 2 clown noses that are placed on top of each other and worked together, before working the rest of the face in the round.

Clown nose:
Work 4 chain stitches with raspberry and hook size 4 mm and form a ring with 1 slip stitch in first chain stitch. 
ROUND 1: Work 1 chain stitch (= 1 double crochet) - read CROCHET INFORMATION, work 7 double crochets around ring. Finish round with 1 slip stitch in first double crochet = 8 double crochets.
ROUND 2: 3 chain stitches (= 1 treble crochet), 2 treble crochets in first double crochet, 3 treble crochets in every double crochet the entire round, finish with 1 slip stitch in 3rd chain stitch at beginning of round = 24 treble crochets.
ROUND 3: 3 chain stitches (= 1 treble crochet) in first treble crochet, 2 treble crochets in next treble crochet, * 1 treble crochet in next treble crochet, 2 treble crochet in next treble crochet *, work from *-* the entire round, finish with 1 slip stitch in 3rd chain stitch at beginning of round = 36 treble crochets. Cut and fasten the yarn.
Work another 1 part the same way (= 2 equal parts).
Place the 2 parts with wrong side against each other and work them together, through both layers as follows: work 1 chain stitch (= 1 double crochet) in first treble crochet, 1 double crochet in each of the next 4 treble crochets, 2 double crochets in next treble crochet, * 1 double crochet in each of the next 5 treble crochets, 2 double crochets in next treble crochet *, work from *-* entire round, finish with 1 slip stitch in 1st chain stitch at beginning of round = 42 double crochets. Then work the rest of the face.

Switch to peach - READ COLOUR CHANGE. Insert a marker thread at beginning of round. Move the marker thread upwards when working. Now work in the round in a spiral as follows:
ROUND 1: Work 1 chain stitch (= does not replace first double crochet on round but is worked in addition to double crochets), * 2 double crochets in back loop of first double crochet, 1 double crochet in back loop in each of the next 6 double crochets *, work from *-* the entire round = 48 double crochets in back loop.
2 double crochets have now been worked in 6 of the double crochets on round. Each of these 6 double crochets = 1 increase stitch. Insert a marker in each of these stitches and displace the marker upwards while working.
ROUND 2: Skip chain stitch and work 1 double crochet in every stitch AT THE SAME TIME work 2 double crochets in each of the 6 increase stitches on round (= 6 stitches increased on round) = 54 double crochets.
Continue in the round with 1 double crochet in every double crochet and 2 double crochets in each of the 6 increase stitches. For every round worked there is 1 double crochet more between every increase stitch. Continue like this until piece measures 42 cm in diameter in total (= 21 cm from centre and outwards).
Work another circle the same way but work the clown nose in peach, i.e. work entire second part in peach (= back side). A face can be worked on both sides, if so work 2nd circle the same way as 1st circle.

MOUTH:
Work mouth over the 9th round with peach (= 13th round from centre). Work 1 row with slip stitches with raspberry from right side as follows: Insert hook into stitch where you want the mouth to start in the 9th round with peach, get the yarn (= 1 loop on hook). Insert hook into next stitch on same round, get the yarn and pull it through loop on hook. Continue like this with slip stitches along 9th round until mouth has desired length. Cut and fasten the yarn. Work a similar row with bordeaux, over 10 round. If working face on both sides, repeat this on the other side.

EYES:
Work eyes separately and then fasten to pillow. Work 4 chain stitches with dark grey on hook size 4 mm and form a ring with 1 slip stitch in first chain stitch. Then work in the round according to diagram A.1. Before last round switch to white - read COLOUR CHANGE TIP. Cut and fasten the yarn. Work another eye the same way. If working face on both sides work 3 more eyes the same way. Sew eyes to face, over the clown nose - see picture for placement.

POMPOMS:
Make 3 pompoms with diameter 6 cm in dandelion and 2 pompoms in each of the other colours (= 13 pompom in total). Cut them so that they are even. If working a face on both sides make 26 pompoms in total. 5 pompoms in dandelion, 5 pompoms in any other optional colour, and 4 pompoms in each of the remaining colours.

ASSEMBLY:
Place the 2 circles wrong side against wrong side and work through both layers with peach as follows: Work 1 double crochet in first double crochet (around both layers), continue in the round with 1 double crochet in every double crochet until an opening of approx. 25 cm remains - do not cut the yarn. Fasten pompoms at the top of the front circle over the face. If working face on both sides, fasten 13 pompons to each side of pillow. Insert inner pillow into casing and work the rest of the opening. Fasten off.

Diagram explanations

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