Satin Pillow Stitch Necklace

The ‘Satin Pillows’ crochet stitch was developed for this design. Show off pearls and the chunky, irregular beads you may have in your stash. Use any size #10 cotton crochet thread and a size 1.50mm steel crochet hook. This design is handy for the medium-sized (8mm) beads with small holes most of us can’t resist buying but which get buried in our bead stashes because they’re too unusual for standard stringing and crocheting. It’s also a popular class at my local yarn shop. For jewelry making, “Satin Pillow Stitch” is my favorite alternative to the classic Irish Clones Knot crochet stitch. (Although I love the Clones Knot, An alternative is useful because I’ve noticed that crocheters are all over the map on the Clones Knot: some have never heard of it, others have tried it but aren’t sure they’re doing it right.) This stitch is a type of puff that I developed for this design, so it should be more familiar and perhaps a more comfortable way to crochet exciting jewelry. I like how the stitches look like diamond-shaped tiles, or like satiny pillows. It’s a valuable stitch for jewelry crocheters to know. Includes an easy crochet-as-you-go metal-free adjustable and “locking” necklace clasp Finished Dimensions: Pattern is for a beaded strand of any length (dependent on the number of beads available; necklaces pictured have 48 beads and are 25-inch/64cm. long, with simple adjustable necklace clasps that can shorten necklaces to any length, and extend length up to 34 inches/86cm. Supplies: Any size #10 cotton crochet thread in any size ball can be used. Yarn used for pictured projects: For abalone version, Coats Opera size 10 thread (100% Cotton, 1.75oz/50g, 251yds/230m per ball), 1 ball Sage. For pearl version, 1 ball off-white. Beads: abalone beads pictured are irregularly-shaped chips averaging five-eighths of an inch (8mm) across. The bead holes are not centered; 48 were used. The pearls are also 8mm in diameter. Skill Level: Intermediate because of stitch.