Looking for a free crochet pillow pattern? Here are 24 of them, from an envelope cover a beginner can finish in a weekend to cabled, bobbled and mandala pillows that look straight out of a home decor shop. Every full written pattern is free on the designer's own site, with no sign-up. There's also a group of Christmas pillows (Santa, gingerbread, a snowflake and a stuffed tree) and four chunky floor poufs for extra seating when the family comes home for the holidays. To match a pillow with a throw, see our chunky crochet blanket patterns.
For each pattern I've noted the yarn weight, hook size and finished size where the designer gives them. Many designers also sell an ad-free PDF, but the pattern linked here is free to read on the page.
A quick guide to choosing: if this is your first pillow, make an envelope cover in plain rows. There's no zipper and no seaming in the round, and it slips on and off for washing. Once you've made one, try a texture such as bobbles or waffle stitch. Cables and mandalas take the most time but become the pillow everyone asks about.
Easy pillow covers for beginners
Beginner Crochet Pillow Cover — Winding Road Crochet. A single crochet rectangle folded into an envelope cover for a 16-inch form, in super bulky yarn on an L/8mm hook. It's written for true beginners, and the page also gives a version with no abbreviations. You can finish it in an evening or two.
Striped Crochet Pillow Cover — 5 Little Monsters. A 14-inch two-color striped cover worked entirely in half double crochet, with a button flap, in medium-weight yarn on an I hook. Pick two colors that match your sofa and you're done.
Crochet Pillow with Tassels — Maria's Blue Crayon. An 18-inch cover in alternating single and double crochet rows (70 stitches across) on a 5mm hook, finished with chunky tassels on each corner. It's simple, but the tassels give it a boho look.
Textured Crochet Pillow — Stitching Together. About 17 inches square, in worsted yarn on an H/5mm hook. Working half double crochet in the front and back loops gives a ridged texture. It's rated easy and needs no sewing.
Textured pillows: bobbles, waffles and cables
Textured Throw Pillow with Bobbles — Crochet Dreamz. Rows of bobbles set between front post stitches, in worsted yarn on an I/5.5mm hook, to fit a 16-inch pillow, with an optional button closure. A lovely first bobble project.
Bobble Stitch Pillow Covers — Leelee Knits. Bobble motifs on a single crochet background, 20 by 20 inches, in bulky yarn on a 4.5mm hook. Marked beginner friendly, with clear row-by-row bobble placement.
Waffle Stitch Throw Pillow — Left in Knots. Deep waffle texture from double crochet and front post double crochet, in bulky yarn on an 8mm hook, about 18 inches long, finished with tassels. Bulky yarn makes it quick.
Cabled Throw Pillow — Leelee Knits. A six-stitch cable of front post treble crochet on a half double crochet background, 20 inches square, on a 6.5mm hook. Also marked beginner friendly, and it's a gentle way to learn crochet cables.
Ahead of the Curve Throw Pillow — The Loopy Lamb. Curving post stitch cables in bulky wool on a 5.5mm hook, about 16 inches square. It's rated intermediate and looks like a knitted Aran sweater.
Granny square, boho and round pillows
Granny's 4-Square Pillow — Juniper and Oakes. Two panels of four granny squares each, in worsted yarn on a J/6mm hook, to fit a 12-inch insert. Rated beginner. A great way to use up scraps.
Granny Circle in a Square Pillow — Annie Design Crochet. A circle-in-a-square front in four colors of DK cotton on a 4mm hook, 16 inches square, attached to a ready-made pillow. Bright, cheerful and quick.
Boho Pillow — Annie Design Crochet. A colorful front post treble crochet panel in five DK colors on a 4mm hook, about 17 inches square, again finished over a store-bought cushion. Pick earthy tones for a boho living room.
Peacock Tail Mandala Pillow — LillaBjörn's Crochet World. A round mandala about 24 inches across, in five colors of Aran yarn on a 4.5mm hook, with every round written out. It's a showpiece that takes patience, but the result is stunning.
Cake Shoppe Cushions — Kirsten Holloway Designs. Round cluster-stitch pillow fronts in worsted yarn on a 6.5mm hook, for a 16-inch round form, with four styles to choose from. Sweet for a nursery or a reading nook.
Christmas and winter pillows
Christmas Pillow — Jo to the World Creations. A removable cover that looks like Santa's belt, in red, black and gold worsted on an H/5mm hook, about 17 inches square for a 16-inch insert. Rated easy, and fun to make.
Holly Jolly Christmas Pillow — The Stitchin Mommy. A half double crochet pillow with holly leaf and berry appliqués, about 19 inches square, in worsted yarn on an I/5.5mm hook. Rated easy.
Christmas Tree Pillow — Sigoni Macaroni. A stuffed tree-shaped pillow made from two half double crochet triangles, in alpaca-blend yarn on a 9mm hook. No insert is needed, and it's quick enough to make several for the couch.
Filet Crochet Snowflake Pillow — Nicki's Homemade Crafts. A snowflake in filet crochet (double crochet and chain spaces), in sport-weight yarn on a 3.5mm hook, 18 inches square. Put a contrasting pillow behind it so the snowflake shows through all winter.
Santa Pillow — Maria's Blue Crayon. A Santa-suit colorwork pillow, 14 inches square, in worsted acrylic on a J/6mm hook, with a black belt and a gold buckle across the middle.
Gingerbread Pillow — Maria's Blue Crayon. A 14-inch pillow in brown, white and red worsted on a 6mm hook, with buttons and white "icing" details. It pairs with the Santa pillow above.
Chunky floor cushions and poufs
Crocheted Floor Cushions — Delia Creates. Round double crochet floor cushions in super bulky yarn on a P/11.5mm hook, worked over a simple sewn foam insert. Written so a beginner can follow it. Handy as extra seats for kids at the coffee table.
The Foolproof Floor Pouf — The Snugglery. Linked double crochet in super bulky cotton tube yarn on an 11.5mm hook, about 18 inches across and 10 inches tall. It works as a footrest or an extra seat.
Jumbo Crochet Floor Pouf — Evelyn and Peter Crochet. Jumbo tube yarn on a 30mm hook (or worked by hand), about 16 inches wide and 11 inches tall. The fastest pouf in the list.
Chic Floor Pouf — Knit and Crochet Ever After. Half double crochet in the round in super bulky yarn on an 8mm hook, about 13 inches tall, with a video to follow. A neat, structured pouf for a living room.
Tips for crocheting a pillow that looks store-bought
- Make the cover a little smaller than the insert. A cover 1 to 2 inches smaller than the pillow form looks plump instead of saggy. For a 16-inch cover, use an 18-inch insert.
- Use an envelope or button closure. It makes the cover easy to take off for washing, which matters for pillows on the couch.
- Choose the right yarn. Cotton and cotton blends hold their shape and stitch definition. Acrylic is cheap and washable. Bulky wool feels the coziest but can pill.
- Block the panels. Pin each side to size and steam or spritz it before you join them. Squares come out square, and textures relax.
- Join with single crochet on the outside if you want a neat raised border, or whipstitch on the inside for an invisible seam.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest crochet pillow for a beginner?
An envelope cover in plain rows, like the Winding Road Crochet beginner cover or the 5 Little Monsters striped cover. You only need one stitch, there's no shaping, and folding the rectangle into an envelope means no zipper.
How much yarn do I need for a crochet pillow?
A 16-inch pillow usually takes about 300 to 450 yards of worsted yarn for both sides, or about 150 to 250 yards of super bulky yarn. Textured stitches like bobbles and cables use up to a third more yarn than plain rows.
What size pillow insert should I use?
Use an insert 1 to 2 inches larger than your finished cover. Crochet stretches, so a snug insert fills out the corners and keeps the cover from looking floppy.
Can I wash a crochet pillow cover?
Yes, if you use a washable yarn. Take the cover off the insert, put it in a mesh laundry bag, wash it on a gentle cycle, and lay it flat to dry so it keeps its shape.
More cozy home crochet
A new pillow looks even better with a matching throw from our fall and winter crochet blanket patterns. For the rest of the room, try the winter home decor patterns and crochet baskets to hold everything, and add a soft crochet rug underfoot. Decorating for the holidays? The Christmas pillows pair well with a Christmas tree skirt, poinsettias and the gingerbread patterns. Planning a Hanukkah sofa? See the menorah and dreidel pillows in our free crochet Hanukkah patterns. A pillow also makes a thoughtful weekend gift.
