A New Pillow and a Flat Join

Hello,
 How is October going for everyone so far? I am loving it. It has been cold here since last week and I am so glad. Time to finish my cardigan I think.
 I made this granny ripple blanket this year and had lots of yarn leftover from the project. I didn't know what to do with it and made a few squares, just to see what I could come up with. The squares were small and only had four rounds. There were a pile of them. I also have a few pillow forms in my stash of craft things. I have wanted to make a pillow to go with this blanket for months. Yesterday I sat down and made this.

I added two rounds to all the squares and made three more. I only had 15. Six rounds made the squares large enough that they would make a patchwork and fit the pillow form perfectly. I sewed the squares together. That was alright for a small project like a pillow but it had me thinking that there had to be a better way. The join as you go method looked funny to me with this particular pattern and I don't like the bump or raised ridge that comes with slip stitching or single crocheting them together. I messed around for a while and figured out how to make a flat join. I am amazed that my mind somehow put this together.

It is a perfectly flat join and looks nice as the rim of the pillow.

No bump in the middle. I am sure I am not the first person to come up with this, but it is the way I will join certain kinds of squares from now on. No sewing.

I am going to write  a tutorial for this when I get home from work. I need help taking the pictures. I can't seem to photograph myself crocheting. Lol.
 This blanket and pillow will go in the den in the basement, once we buy the couch. For now it is keeping me warm and cosy while I crochet or read in the evenings. I love the feel and weight of it. It is the only blanket I have made with dk yarn. I am going to make a few more.

 I hope everyone has a great Monday! I have to go get ready for work now. Talk to everyone soon. :)