Crochet a beautiful pillow with pineapple color work to add some warmth and hospitality to any living space with this free crochet pineapple pillow pattern.
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What? You too? I thought I was the only one.'”
C. S. Lewis
Have you ever seen a design by another maker and thought it looked strikingly similar to one of yours?
Community over competition. This is what everyone in the fiber community preaches, but how many actually mean it? Do you get offended when you see someone release a design similar to yours? Does it bother you that it appears as if someone has gained some “inspiration” off of your items and is now offering them at a lower price?
Let’s face it. We all have the initial feeling of rage. Then, if you are anything like me, I begin to give the person the benefit of the doubt. “Maybe they didn’t see my pattern. They probably legitimately had the same idea as me. After all, we are all creatives and are bound to have similar ideas.” These are some examples of thoughts that run through my mind.
Back in August 2019, I released a pattern called the Boho Crochet Coasters. Sometime after, I received a DM from another maker friend. The DM was a screen shot of what looked like Boho Crochet Coasters…except they weren’t mine! The gist of the message went something like this, “Hey girl, I didn’t know if you saw these, but I know you released these a while ago.”
What’s the Solution?
Oh no! Now what? I had several options. Option #1 would be to go on a rampage, and send everyone I could think of a DM accusing this other designer of stealing my idea and claiming it as her own. Let’s face it. We’ve all seen how ugly that gets, and it never ends well for either party.
Option #2 would be to ignore it. Stew about it for a while, and then secretly dislike that designer every time I see her content pop up in my feed convinced that she really did do me wrong but not wanting to start a war over it.
I chose option #3! That being to reach out, and offer a collaboration! I basically said something along the lines of, “Hey girl! Not sure if you saw that I released these a while back. I was wondering if you’d be interested in writing up a mod of them for my blog, and then I can design some content for your blog, and we can share audiences!
Community Over Competition
Guys! COMMUNITY OVER COMPETITION wins every time! She was all for it! She had not seen my design, and she honestly did not know her design was almost exactly like mine. After talking things over, we agreed to collaborate! Now, all of my audience has been introduced to hers and all of hers has been introduced to mine! She wrote a square version of the coasters for my blog, and I wrote up a modification of one of her designs for her blog! We both gain content. We both gain followers. It’s a win-win!
So now, you are wondering, “Well, what pattern of hers did you write up a mod for?” I’m so glad you asked! Rachel of Cozy Nooks Designs released the Easter Tails Pillow back in the spring of 2020. It is a horizontal rectangle pillow that features three bunny silhouettes in color work on the front panel. I decided to write up a mod of this bunny pillow, and I changed the bunnies to…you guessed it…PINEAPPLES!
I am pleased to introduce you to the Stay Sweet Summer Pillow. You can find this crochet pineapple pillow pattern for FREE on Rachel’s blog (which is gorgeous, and you should subscribe to it) OR you can purchase the ad-free PDF version in my Etsy or Ravelry shop!
I hope that if nothing else, this post encourages you to reach out and work together with other makers in the community. Don’t assume the worst. Assume the best unless they prove themselves otherwise. We rise by lifting others! Alone we can do so little, but together…
…we can do SO MUCH!
Skill Level – Intermediate
Materials
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to the products used in this project. If you make a purchase through any of these links, we will get a small commission at no additional cost to you.
- Size US H8/5.0mm crochet hook
- Worsted (4) weight acrylic yarn
- Approximately 270 yards MC and 105 yard CC
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- 12″ x 20″ pillow form
Notes
- Finished measurements are as follows:
- 20″ wide x 12″ tall
- Beginning CH stitches do not count as a stitch.
- Pillow is made from two panels worked flat (back and forth in rows) from the bottom up. The panels are then seamed together using the mattress stitch.
- I chose to use the bobbin method to change colors. Seven bobbins are used for the front panel. Wind approximately 15 yard of MC on two bobbins, 30 yards of MC on two bobbins, and 35 yards of CC on three bobbins.
- When changing colors, pull the new color through to complete the stitch before the color change. Keep all tails on the WS of the work. Sometimes you will have to change color several stitches away from where the new color is. When this happens, just crochet around the loose strand.
- A graph of the front panel is included in the PDF version if you prefer to use a graph versus line-by-line instructions. The graph is split on to two different pages.
- If you have any difficulty completing this project and would like support, please email me at aplushpineapple@gmail.com.
If you make this pillow, please share it! I would love to see your work! You can tag me on Instagram and Facebook @aplushpineapple. Use the tags #aplushpineapple and #staysweetpineapplepillow.
The photographs and pattern contained in this document are the property of A Plush Pineapple. Unauthorized reproduction, in whole or in part, or distribution of this pattern or content is prohibited. ALL FINISHED PRODUCTS created using this pattern may be sold locally or online. If selling finished products online, please give my blog credit for the pattern by posting a link to my website.