My first attempt at a C2C (corner to corner) graphic square. My “first” Santa I used double crochet stitches rather than the half double the pattern called for. It is much larger. That is the Santa I used for the pillow cover. The “second” Santa square I crocheted with the half doubles and it came out about the right size if I want to use it for a Christmas throw. For the smaller Santa I used the hook size pattern calls for and all my yarns are Caron’s Simply Soft in red, white, black and gray.

My problems or what I learned…it’s better to follow the written pattern than to try to crochet from the graphic. I didn’t know about “carrying the yarn up” so I ended up with a MILLION ends on several of my other squares (i.e., tree, snowman etc). I haven’t weaved them in yet. On my latest C2C square I’m trying to “carry up my yarn” but even that isn’t easy. The yarn gets getting all tangled up. I guess practice will make it easier down the road because these squares are so cute.

Back to Santa. I added an edging in red yarn (just simple chain three, single crochet every C2C finished stitches around). I sewed an easy pillow cover out of scrap fabric I had on hand with a slip in back for the pillow insert. I tacked a red ribbon in each corner of the pillow cover and weaved the ribbon between stitches on the Santa square. Tied them up and the Santa Pillow Cover looks so cute. It is adorable. I can even change it out with other C2C squares if I wish. And just remove the crochet Santa to throw the fabric pillow cover in the wash when needed.