How to Crochet the Simple Textured Pillow

Hi guys! Welcome to another crochet project that will add some coziness to your space. Not only does this pillow look pretty, it’s also comfy – a great quality of any pillow – and functional. This pillow case is designed to be removable, so you can wash it without having to toss in the entire pillow, or make a trip to the dry cleaners. This crochet textured pillow cover can also be adjusted to fit any sized pillow form.

If you have mastered the single crochet stitch, then this is the perfect project for you. Let’s get started!

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Handmade Pillows are Trendy:

I’m a huge fan of home renovation and design shows like Home Town and Fixer Upper. I could watch Erin and Ben all day! Watching these shows made me realize how trendy pillows have become. Pillows add a touch of warmth, colour and texture to every space; and can be placed on chairs, benches, couches, beds, outdoor furniture, and floors (of all places). Pillows designed to look handmade are especially trendy.

A trendy pillow can range from $7.00 – $100+, depending on the company, style, colour, or design. If you can hold a crochet hook, why not make your own? I find that I appreciate an item so much more when I know it’s handmade. If you imagine all of the hours of work and love that’s gone into making a piece, it will become a cherished part of your home.

How You Can Save Money on this Project:

Doing it yourself is always more fun than buying a ready-made item, but it can be expensive. The trick to saving money on DIY projects is either having the supplies on hand, or thrifting them.

1. Pillow Forms:

Pillow inserts can be so expensive that it makes you think twice about starting a crochet project. You might ask yourself, “Wouldn’t it make more sense to buy a new pillow and save myself the time and money?”. The answer depends on where you buy your pillow forms. Before I learned about thrifting, I purchased pillows from Amazon and loved them for their quality and comfort level.

• Amazon.ca has a set of 4 pillows for $36.00 CAD which works out to $9.00 CAD/ pillow.

• Amazon.com has a set of 4 pillow set for $26.49 USD working out to $6.62 USD/ pillow.

However, you can save even more money by thrifting your pillows. In my area, our thrift stores include the Goodwill, Salvation Army, Bibles for Missions, and Value Village. So far, I’ve found pillows ranging from $1.49 – $6.99, depending on the style and size. Facebook Marketplace is another great thrifting resource. I found 3 18″ x 18″ pillows for $10! (Score).

2. Yarn:

If you are a crocheter, you know how expensive yarn can be. Yikes! Before I make a large yarn purchase, I always shop around. Here are a couple of places I like to search for yarn:

• Local Craft Stores like Michael’s, Joann’s, or Hobby Lobby. These stores mark-up the price of yarn compared to a wholesaler, but you can use 40% off coupons to purchase each skein individually.

• Wal-Mart or Meijer. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen a coupon specifically for yarn at these retailers, but sometimes they have roll-back sales on yarn.

• Thrift Stores. Depending on where you are located, some thrift stores have a wide selection of yarn at a discounted price (since it’s been previously owned).

• Amazon. Amazon usually offers free shipping (perfect for the online shopper), and often has good deals on certain brands of yarn.

• Facebook Marketplace. This is another resource for people looking to thrift their yarn. You may not find any people selling yarn, but it’s worth a look.

• *Lion Brand Wholesalers. Lion Brand is usually having a sale on yarn, whether it’s priced at 20%, 30%, 40%, or 45% off. The only thing you have to worry about is shipping.

Pin this Pillow Project for Later – Here!

Materials:

• 9.0 mm crochet hook
• Yarn Needle
• Scissors
• 18″ x 18″ Pillow Insert (or any sized pillow insert)
• 2 – 3 buttons (optional)
• Sewing Thread (optional)

Yarn and Yardage:

• Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick Weight 6 Super Bulky (80% acrylic, 20% wool, 106 yd/ 97 m, 6 oz/ 170 g)
  • Colours: Fisherman OR Butterscotch
  • Yardage: 4 Skeins or approximately 404 yds used

Abbreviations:

• St(s) – stitch(es)
• Ch – chain
• Sc – single crochet
• BLO – back loops only (only make your single crochets in the back loops)

Gauge: Approximately 8 sts x 8 rows in 4″ x 4″

We all crochet a little differently: some loose, some tight, and some in between. So it is important to check your gauge as you crochet. The pillow is worked like a rectangle, so 4” x 4” is approximately 8 sc wide by 8 rows long. 

Trouble with Gauge? 

• If your gauge is too small, try using a thicker weight 4 yarn or a larger crochet hook, until you meet the gauge. 
• If your gauge is too big, try using a thinner weight 4 yarn or a smaller crochet hook, until you meet the gauge. 
• If you are having trouble meeting the gauge, read the customizing instructions to see how easy it is to create a pillow cover to fit your insert.

Single Crochet in the Back Loops Only Method/Video Tutorial:

To make this pillow, we will be single crocheting in the back loops only! Each stitch has a front and back loop; the front loop is the closest to you, and the back loop is the furthest from you.

Normally, we crochet through both loops (front + back). However, working single crochets in the back loops only creates a ridge pattern that adds texture to your finished piece.

If you prefer to learn through a video, here is a link to a tutorial that will show you how to single crochet in the back loops only.

Other Crochet Patterns You’ll Love:

• That 70’s Pillow Cover
• The Retro Velvet Circular Pillow
• The Burst of Sunshine Pillow

Pattern Measurements:

This pillow cover is designed to fit an 18″ x 18″ pillow form.

• Front Panel: 18″ x 18″
• Back Panel(s): 12.5″ x 18″

Customize the Size of your Pillow Cover:

If you are working with a pillow insert that isn’t 18″ x 18″, don’t panic! This pattern can be adjusted to fit any sized pillow form. The first step is to measure your pillow.

Length:

• Front Panel: This pillow cover is worked length-wise, which means that the starting chain will determine the length of your pillow case. Make your chain the exact length of your pillow OR no more than an inch shorter than the length of your pillow. Continue on with the pattern as normal.

• Back Panel: The back panels are also worked length-wise, so chain the same number of chains as the front panel.

Width:

Since the pillow cover is worked length-wise, the number of crocheted rows determines how wide your pillow case will be. Also keep in mind that by working in the back loops only, the fabric will be stretchy, so make sure to stretch out your panels before measuring them.

• Front Panel: If the width of your pillow is smaller than 18″, work fewer rows (less than 36 rows); if your pillow is larger than 18″, work more rows (more than 36 rows). Stretch out and measure your fabric to see if it is the proper width before you fasten off.

• Back Panel: Keep track of the number of rows you crocheted for the width of your pillow cover. Divide this number by 2, and add 1. For example, if your front panel was 31 rows wide, dividing by 2 gives you 15.5 = approx. 16 + 1 = 17. Therefore, each back panel will be 17 rows wide.

Pattern:

Notes:

• The beginning ch 1 does not count as a st.
• Work the last sc of each row in the beginning ch 1 of the previous row. This will create a straighter edge.
• This pillow is made up of 3 pieces – 1 front panel and 2 back panels – that are sewn together; buttons are added to the back to make it removable for washing.

Front Panel:

Ch 36
Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, and in each ch across. Turn. <35 sc>

Rows 2 – 36: Ch 1, sc in the BLO in each st across. Turn. <35 sc>

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Back Panel (Make 2):

Ch 36

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, and in each ch across. Turn. <35 sc>

Rows 2 – 19: Ch 1, sc in the BLO in each st across. Turn. <35 sc>

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Sewing Your Panels Together to Make a Pillow Cover:

Sewing is arguably the worst part of any crochet project, but when it comes to pillows, it’s exciting. You never know your crochet pillow cover will turn out until you sew your sides together and pop in your insert.

To sew these panels together, we will be using a technique called the whip stitch. If you are unfamiliar with this stitch, there is a great tutorial by Wool and the Gang to help you here.

Method:

We will be sewing one back panel at a time.

• Using the whip stitch, sew the first back panel to your front panel along the 3 dotted lines shown in the diagram below. Do not sew along the fourth inside length. The fourth edge is your opening for the pillow insert to fit through.

• Now, it’s time to sew your second back panel on. Your second back panel will overlap your first back panel by about 4 stitches. Therefore, you will be sewing through both the front panel and the first back panel along these 4 stitches.

• Line up your second panel and begin whip stitching along the 3 dotted lines shown in the diagram below. Do not sew along the fourth inside length. The fourth edge is your opening for the pillow insert to fit through.

• Your crochet textured pillow case is almost complete! Insert your pillow to see how it looks.

• To hold my pillow case in place, I sewed 3 buttons onto the first back panel (green in the diagrams). Then, I pulled on the second back panel (red in diagrams) until I was happy with the position. I squeezed each button through a stitch in the second back panel to close.

Proper Care and Washing Instructions

Here is an easy tutorial to follow for washing crochet pillow cover to maintain their shape, look, and feel!

And You’re Done!

Congratulations! You just made your first Simple Textured Crochet Pillow. I hope you enjoyed making it as much as I did. Now you can snuggle up with this beauty while you work on other projects. It really is as comfy as it looks!

Disclaimer: You are welcome to sell items that you’ve made from this pattern; however, you are not allowed to use my pictures or sell my pattern as your own (Copyright @ ThisPixieCreates).

Questions?

If you have any questions, please send me an email through my Contact page. I am happy to help!

Thank you guys so much for following along. I can’t wait to see your versions of this Simple Texture Pillow!

Love, Dayna
Instagram: @thispixiecreates