Curl up with your favorite book and this super soft shark pillow. When you’re done reading for the night, just slip your book into the pocket for safe keeping!
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The pocket also allows you to store your favorite tablet or e-reader for those who prefer digital reading.
No more searching around for your reading materials, with the Shark Pillow, your book is always within arm’s reach, making bedtime reading an absolute pleasure.
Looking to instill a love for reading in your child? The Shark Pillow can be an excellent tool.
Children are more likely to develop positive reading habits from an early age by associating bedtime with the joy of reading.
The excitement of snuggling up with this Shark Pillow with a story inside of it’s friendly jaws can turn reading into a treasured nighttime ritual.
You can also change the skin color and make a Tiger Shark, Lemon Shark, Mako Shark and more!
No worries if you hate working with chenille yarns, as you could also make this pillow with traditional super bulky yarns!
This pattern is part of the Crochet Shark Week event! Go to the Main Post for event details!
Materials
Chenille Super Bulky Weight Yarn (#6)
- Gray [7.1oz/149yds]
- White [4.6oz/96yds]
- Red (or Pink) [4oz/ 84yds]
- Black [Scraps]
K/10.5/6.50mm
Yarn Bobbins
Fiberfill Stuffing
Yarn Needle
Scissors
Gauge
8 sc x 8 rows = 4”
Gauge is not critical for this project
Finished Measurements
14″W x 18″H
Stitch Guide
arnd = around
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
dec = single crochet decrease
hdc = half double crochet
sc = single crochet
sl st(s) = slip stitch(es)
st(s) = stitch(es)
Skill Level
Easy
Written in U.S. Terms
Notes
- Beginning chains do not count as stitches.
- Where asterisks appear, repeat the instructions between them.
- Where parenthesis appear, work those stitches all into the same space.
- Chenille yarn = 100% Polyester and is also known as “blanket yarn”.
- Tutorial photos and the middle panel chart are at the end of the pattern.
Instructions
BACK PANEL
With Gray,
R1.Ch 31, sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn (30)
R2. Ch 1, sc across, turn (30)
R3-20. Repeat R2
R21. Ch 1, dec, sc x 26, dec, turn (28)
R22. Ch 1, dec, sc x 24, dec, turn (26)
R23. Ch 1, sc across, turn (26)
R24. Ch 1, dec, sc x 22, dec, turn (24)
R25. Ch 1, sc across, turn (24)
R26. Ch 1, dec, sc x 20, dec, turn (22)
R27. Ch 1, sc across, turn (22)
R28. Ch 1, dec, sc x 18, dec, turn (20)
R29. Ch 1, sc across, turn (20)
R30. Ch 1, dec, sc x 16, dec, turn (18)
R31. Ch 1, sc across, turn (18)
R32. Ch 1, dec, sc x 14, dec, turn (16)
R33. Ch 1, dec, sc x 12, dec, turn (14)
R34. Ch 1, dec, sc x 10, dec, turn (12)
R35. Ch 1, dec, sc x 8, dec, do not turn (10)
R36. Ch 1, sc in the end of each row and in each st arnd outside; keep a working loop.
MIDDLE PANEL
With Pink (or Red),
R1.Ch 31, *sc, dc* across, turn (30)
R2. Ch 1, sc across, turn (30)
R3-15. Repeat R2
R16. With White: Ch 1, sc, With Pink: sc x 28, With White: sc in last st, turn (30)
R17. With White: Ch 1, sc x 2 With Pink: sc x 26, With White: sc x 2, turn
R18. With White: Ch 1, sc x 3, With Pink: sc x 24, With White: sc x 3, turn
R19. With Gray: Ch 1, sc, With White: sc x 3, With Pink: sc x 22, With White: sc x 3, With Gray: sc, turn (30)
R20. With Gray: Ch 1, sc x 2, With White: sc x 3, With Pink: sc x 20, With White: sc x 3, With Gray: sc x 2, turn (30)
R21. With Gray: Ch 1, dec, sc, With White: sc x 3, With Pink: sc x 18, With White: sc x 3, With Gray: sc, dec, turn (28)
R22. With Gray: Ch 1, dec, sc, With White: sc x 3, With Pink: sc x 16, With White: sc x 3, With Gray: sc, dec, turn (26)
R23. With Gray: Ch 1, sc x 2, With White: sc x 4, With Pink: sc x 14, With White: sc x 4, With Gray: sc x 2, turn (26)
R24. With Gray: Ch 1, dec, sc, With White: sc x 4, With Pink: sc x 12, With White: sc x 4, With Gray: sc, dec, turn (24)
R25. With Gray: Ch 1, sc x 3, With White: sc x 4, With Pink: sc x 10, With White: sc x 4, With Gray: sc x 3, turn (24)
R26. With Gray: Ch 1, dec, sc, With White: sc x 18, With Gray: sc, dec, turn (22)
R27. With Gray: Ch 1, sc x 3, With White: sc x 16, With Gray: sc x 3, turn (22)
R28. With Gray: Ch 1, dec, sc x 2, With White: sc x 14, With Gray: sc x 2, dec, turn (20)
R29. With Gray: Ch 1, sc x 3, With White: sc x 14, With Gray: sc x 3, turn (20)
R30. With Gray: Ch 1, dec, sc x 2, With White: sc x 12, With Gray: sc x 2, dec, turn (18)
R31. With Gray: Ch 1, sc x 4, With White: sc x 10, With Gray: sc x 4, turn (18)
R32. With Gray: Ch 1, dec, sc x 3, With White: sc x 8, With Gray: sc x 3, dec, turn (16)
With Gray,
R33. Ch 1, dec, sc x 12, dec, turn (14)
R34. Ch 1, dec, sc x 10, dec, turn (12)
R35. Ch 1, dec, sc x 8, dec, do not turn (10)
R36. Ch 1, sc in the end of each row and in each st arnd outside; Fasten.
POCKET PANEL
With White,
R1. Ch 31, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across, turn (30)
R2. Ch 1, sc across, turn (30)
R3-14. Repeat R2
R15. Ch 1, dec, sc x 26, dec, turn (28)
R16. Ch 1, dec, sc x 24, dec, turn (26)
R17. Ch 1, dec, sc x 22, dec, turn (24)
R18. Ch 1, dec, sc x 20, dec, turn (22)
R19. Ch 1, dec, sc x 18, dec, do not turn (20)
R20. Ch 1, sc in the end of each row and in each st arnd outside, switching to pink when working across the top; Fasten.
TEETH (Make 2)
With White,
Ch 31, sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch 2, sl st to 1st ch), sl st in next 2 sts, *sc, (ch 2, sl st to 1st ch), sl st x 2* 9X; Fasten. (10 “teeth”)
EYES (Make 2)
With Black,
Make magic ring, sc, hdc, dc x 3, hdc, sc in ring, close ring; Fasten.
Finishing
- Lay back panel flat and lay batting on top, lay middle panel over the top, then lay pocket panel over the middle panel, lining up the bottom edges.
- Insert hook in bottom right corner, through all 3 crochet layers, and with Gray yarn single crochet in the same space and in the end of each row up the side, in each stitch across the top, in the end of each row down the left edge; Stuff generously, but don’t overfill or it will stretch the stitches and stuffing will poke through; Switch to White yarn and single crochet in each stitch across the bottom; Fasten. Make sure you’re working through all the crochet layers around. Do not crochet across the top of the pocket.
- Attach bottom teeth to the inside of the pocket, along the backside of the pink stitches.
- Attach top teeth to the middle panel, where the pink meets the white.
- Tack down corners of mouth, approximately 1” on each side to stabilize.
- Attach Eyes to sides of pot holder in desired locations. I attached them 11-13 stitches from the top.
- Stitch on gills and nostrils as desired.
- Hide all strings.
And that’s how you Crochet a Shark Pillow with Book Pocket!
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Happy Crocheting!
Written pattern and photographs © 2023 Sonya Blackstone of Blackstone Designs. Please do not sell, share, or modify this pattern, but instead share the link to where the pattern can be found. You may sell items you make with this pattern. This pattern, as with all Blackstone Designs/Sonya Blackstone patterns, are not for educational use without written permission from the designer. All rights reserved.
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Thank you for the free Shark pillow crochet.
pattern. I hope I will be able to crochet it and finish it, as my great grandchildren like sharks’ toys and etc.
Thanks again,
l
How do you change colors for the middle panel?
Hi Tailor!
When changing colors, finish off the last stitch by pulling the new color through the last two loops on hook. You can find further explanation and photo tutorials as part of the
Buffalo Check Plaid Blanket pattern: https://blackstone-designs.com/buffalo-check-plaid-blanket-free-crochet-pattern/
-Sonya
Hi Sonya! LOVE the shark pillow. I even bought the book for my granddaughter who is in love with sharks, especially hammerheads. But I do have a question about the middle panel. I follow directions to the tee! That’s how my generation was taught in school. So here is the question:
On the first 15 rows, I am to do 30sc, turn and start next row with a chain 1. On the following rows you do not say to chain 1. So I worked 3 rows of changing color and NOT chaining one. Is this correct? I don’t want to move forward until I know for sure what I am doing is correct. Thank you for this adorable pattern. My granddaughter is going to love it.
Hi MaryAnn!
That is a great question! Chaining one or not chaining one will not hurt the outcome of the project! The truth is, it was an oversight and those rows should say to chain one. I have updated the pattern to reflect!
I’m so happy to hear you love this pattern (and that your granddaughter loves sharks, my kids do too!!)
-Sonya