Stash Busting Monster Pouf: A Free Crochet Pattern

The Stash Busting Monster Pouf is a free crochet pattern perfect for using up all that leftover yarn I know you have laying around. This pattern is super easy and can also be used to store yarn if you’d like!

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Materials

Worsted Weight Yarn (approx. 1810 total yards). Most of the yarn used in the sample is Red Heart Super Saver.

*You will use 2 strands held together.
J/6 mm hook
Stuffing (ideas for stuffing below)
Yarn needle
Scissors

Gauge

11 sc by 11 rows = 4” square

Abbreviations

Ch = chain
St = stitch
Ss = slip stitch
SC = single crochet
Ssc = spike single crochet
Sc2tog = single crochet 2 together

Size

Approx. 12” tall by 22” wide depending on how full you stuff your
pouf.

Ideas for Stuffing

*Keep in mind the bottom comes is left open so whatever you put in you can always take out.

For the pouf pictured I used 4 throws/afghans.
Comforters/blankets/sheets
Towels
Bean bag filler and zippered pillow cases
Poly-Fill (you will need quite a bit)
Plastic bags
Foam
Pillows

Special stitches

Spike single crochet (Ssc): Insert your hook into the stitch 1 row below, pull up a loop, yarn over pull through all loops on hook.

Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog): Insert you hook into the first st indicated, pull up a loop, insert your hook into the next st, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.

Notes

Please read all instructions before beginning.
You will use 2 strands of yarn held together.
If you do not know how to make a magic loop I have a video here.
This pouf is worked in two pieces (pouf and the bottom) in the round.
For the main color (MC) I used 2 strands of brown, For the contrasting color (CC) I used 1 strand of the MC and one strand of a CC.
You will change colors every round. At the end of each round join the last st of the round to the first st of the round with the new color and work the first stitch into the first st of the last round.
For the CC I picked random colors as I went.
Do not fasten off your MC when changing colors.
This was designed to be a stash buster so feel free to use as many or as little colors as you’d like
*TIP: Try to keep fairly loose tension as you work. You hands will thank you later!

Stash Busting Monster Pouf Crochet Pattern Instructions

Increases (top)
*Use 2 strands of yarn held together.
Round 1 – With MC sc 6 in magic loop, join. (6)
Round 2 – With CC ch 1 (does not count as a st from here on), 2 sc in every st around, join. (12)
Round 3 – With MC ch 1, *Ssc in next, 2 sc in next: repeat from * around, join. (18)
Round 4 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st, 2 sc in the next, (sc in the next 2, 2 sc in the next) 5 times, sc in the last, join. (24)
Round 5 – With MC ch 1, *Ssc in next, sc in the next, Ssc in the next, 2 sc in next: repeat from * around, join. (30)
Round 6 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 2, 2 sc in the next, (sc in the next 4, 2 sc in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 2, join. (36)
Round 7 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 2 times, Ssc in the next, 2 sc in next: repeat from * around, join. (42)
Round 8 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 3, 2 sc in the next, (sc in the next 6, 2 sc in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 3, join. (48)
Round 9 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 3 times, Ssc in the next, 2 sc in next: repeat from * around, join. (54)
Round 10 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 4, 2 sc in the next, (sc in the next 8, 2 sc in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 4, join. (60)
Round 11 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 4 times, Ssc in the next, 2 sc in next: repeat from * around, join. (66)
Round 12 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 5, 2 sc in the next, (sc in the next 10, 2 sc in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 5, join. (72)
Round 13 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 5 times, Ssc in the next, 2 sc in next: repeat from * around, join. (78)
Round 14 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 6, 2 sc in the next, (sc in the next 12, 2 sc in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 6, join. (84)
Round 15 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 6 times, Ssc in the next, 2 sc in next: repeat from * around, join. (90)
Round 16 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 7, 2 sc in the next, (sc in the next 14, 2 sc in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 7, join. (96)
Round 17 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 7 times, Ssc in the next, 2 sc in next: repeat from * around, join. (102)
Round 18 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 8, 2 sc in the next, (sc in the next 16, 2 sc in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 8, join. (108)
Round 19 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 8 times, Ssc in the next, 2 sc in next: repeat from * around, join. (114)
Round 20 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 9, 2 sc in the next, (sc in the next 18, 2 sc in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 9, join. (120)
Round 21 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 9 times, Ssc in the next, 2 sc in next: repeat from * around, join. (126)
Round 22 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 10, 2 sc in the next, (sc in the next 20, 2 sc in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 10, join. (132)
Round 23 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 10 times, Ssc in the next, 2 sc in next: repeat from * around, join. (138)
Sides
Round 1 – With CC ch 1, sc in every st around, join. (138)
Round 2 – With MC ch 1, *Ssc in next, sc in next; repeat from * around, join. (138)
Repeat rounds 1-2, 19 more times (or until your desired height).
Repeat round 1, one more time.

Decreases (bottom)
Round 1 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 10 times, Ssc in the next, sc2tog in next: repeat from * around, join. (132)
Round 2 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 10, sc2tog in the next, (sc in the next 20, sc2tog in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 10, join. (126)
Round 3 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 9 times, Ssc in the next, sc2tog in next: repeat from * around, join. (120)
Round 4 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 9, sc2tog in the next, (sc in the next 18, sc2tog in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 9, join. (114)
Round 5 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 8 times, Ssc in the next, sc2tog in next: repeat from * around, join. (108)
Round 6 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 8, sc2tog in the next, (sc in the next 16, sc2tog in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 8, join. (102)
Round 7 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 7 times, Ssc in the next, sc2tog in next: repeat from * around, join. (96)
Round 8 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 7, sc2tog in the next, (sc in the next 14, sc2tog in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 7, join. (90)
Round 9 – With MC ch 1, *(Ssc in next, sc in the next) 6 times, Ssc in the next, sc2tog in next: repeat from * around, join. (84)
Round 10 – With CC ch 1, sc in the 1st 6, sc2tog in the next, (sc in the next 12, sc2tog in the next) 5 times, sc in the last 6, join. (90)
Fasten off, weave in all ends.

Bottom
Repeat rounds 1-20 of the increases, fasten off.
Weave in all ends.

Stuffing Instructions
Stuff your pouf with the stuffing of your choice. I found it was easier to use a few smaller blankets than one large blanket. You may find it’s a bit lumpy at first but after it’s been sat on (or jumped on by very excited children) the lumps will work themselves out.

Slip the bottom into the opening.
To wash: take the bottom out and remove stuffing.