Christmas Pillow – Free Crochet Pattern

Crochet Christmas Pillow

This Christmas Pillow is made using just two simple stitches — single crochet and double crochet — but alternating them creates a beautiful, modern texture that looks stunning on any couch or cozy holiday corner. It works up surprisingly quickly, making it an enjoy-ho-ho-able Christmas crochet project you can finish in no time.

The pillow cover is fully removable, so you can easily switch it out after the holidays or wash it if a little eggnog happens to spill. Whether you’re decorating your own home or making a handmade gift, this festive crochet pillow adds the perfect touch of cozy Christmas charm.

Use the Table of Contents below to jump to any section of this pattern or keep scrolling down for all the details and the written instructions. 

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Pattern Details

Skill Level

Easy

Size

This pattern creates a removable pillow cover that is approx 17” x 17” and fits over a 16” x 16” pillow insert.

Materials

Yarn: Any Worsted Weight / Medium (4), 100% Acrylic yarn. I used Impeccable by Loops and Threads, Solid in “Cherry” (red), “Sunny Day” (gold) and “Black.” The size is 4.5 oz / 127.5 g. A skein is 285 yd./260m. 

Amount of yarn required: 

• Red: approx 710 yds / 650 m (2.5 skeins of Impeccable)
• Black: approx 70 yds / 65 m (1/4 of a skein of Impeccable)
• Gold: approx 20 yds / 38 m (less than 1/4 of a skein of Impeccable) 

Crochet Hook: H/8 (5.00 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge and an F/5 (3.75mm) for the belt buckle. 

Other Materials: yarn needle, scissors, measuring tape, and one 16” x 16” pillow insert. Optional: 4 x 19mm (3/4”) buttons, sewing needle and thread. 

Gauge

4” x 4” = 13 sts and 12 rows following the pattern.

Abbreviations

ch = chain
st = stitch
sts = stitches 
sl st = slip stitch 
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet

Terminology

This pattern is written in English for right-handed crochet using standard US terminology.

Pattern Notes

• The panels are made from the bottom up.
• Always start a row in the first stitch (the stitch attached to the chain).
• Chain 1 does not count as a stitch. 
• All rows have the same number of stitches (56). 
• You can tell which side is the right side (RS) by where the starting tail is. With your work facing you, if the starting tail is on the left, you are looking at the right side. If the starting tail is on the right, you are looking at the wrong side. 

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Pattern Instructions

Piece A: Front Pillow Panel

Foundation/Chain Row: With red yarn, ch 57. (Continue using red until instructed to switch on Row 23).

Row 1 (RS): In the 2nd ch from hook, sc. In the next ch, dc. *In the next ch, sc. In the next ch, dc.* Repeat from * to * across entire row (56 sts).

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1 and turn. Sc into the 1st st (the top of the last dc you completed). Dc into the next stitch (the top of the sc from the previous row). *Sc into the next st. Dc into the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * across entire row (56 sts). 

After Row 2, pillow panel should measure approx 16.5” wide (the width should grow to 17” after Row 8). 

Row 3 – 22: Repeat Row 2. 

Row 23: Attach black yarn. Fasten off red yarn. With black, repeat Row 2. 

Rows 24 – 28: With black, repeat Row 2. 

Row 29: Attach red yarn. Fasten off black yarn. 

With red, repeat Row 2. 

Rows 30 – 50: With red, repeat Row 2. 

After Row 50, pillow panel should measure approx 17” wide x 17” high. 

Fasten off and weave in all loose ends. 

Piece B: Bottom Back Pillow Panel

Follow the same instructions as for Piece A: Front Pillow Panel from the start to the end of Row 29. 

Rows 30 – 44: With red, repeat Row 2.

After Row 44, pillow panel should measure approx 17” wide x 14.5” high. 

Fasten off and weave in all loose ends.

Piece C: Top Back Pillow Panel

Foundation/Chain Row: With red, ch 57 (continue using red for all of Piece C). 

Row 1 (RS): In the 2nd ch from hook, sc. Sc in each ch across (56 sts).

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1 and turn. Dc in each st across (56 sts).

Row 3: Ch 1 and turn. Sc into the 1st st. Dc into the next stitch. *Sc into the next st. Dc into the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * across entire row (56 sts). 

Row 4: Ch 1 and turn. Sc into the 1st st (the top of the last dc you completed). Dc into the next stitch (the top of the sc from the previous row). *Sc into the next st. Dc into the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * across entire row (56 sts).

Rows 5 – 16: Repeat Row 4. 

After completing Row 16, fasten off and weave in loose ends. 

After Row 16, pillow panel should measure approx. 17” wide x 5” high.

Belt Buckle

Foundation/Chain Round: With an F/5 (3.75mm) hook and yellow/gold yarn, leave a 12” starting tail and ch 46. 

For Round 1 (only), work into the back ridge loops.

Round 1 (RS): In the 2nd ch from hook, sc. 1 sc in next 3 chains. In the next ch (the corner), 3 sc into the same ch. 1 sc in the next 13 chains. In the next ch (the corner), 3 sc into the same ch. 1 sc in the next 8 chains. In the next ch (the corner), 3 sc into the same ch. 1 sc in the next 13 chains. In the next ch (the corner), 3 sc into the same ch. 1 sc in the next 3 chains. Sl st into the 1st sc to join. (53 sts).

Round 2 (RS): Ch 1. Do not turn. 1 dc in the next 5 sts. In the next st (the corner), 5 dc into the same st. 1 dc in the next 15 sts. In the next st (the corner), 5 dc into the same st. 1 dc in the next 10 sts. In the next st (the corner), 5 dc into the same st. 1 dc in the next 15 sts. In the next st (the corner), 5 dc into the same st. 1 dc in the next 4 sts. Sl st into the top of the 1st dc to join. (69 sts). 

Fasten off leaving a 36” tail. 

Using the 12” starting tail and a yarn needle, sew the Foundation/Chain round’s start and end together. Try to line them up so it looks like a continuous piece. 

PLACEMENT OF BELT BUCKLE

The belt buckle should be placed on the right side of Piece A: Front Pillow Panel. Ensure front pillow panel’s row of starting chains is at the bottom. The belt buckle should be centered, with the rows of black in the middle. 

ATTACHING THE BELT BUCKLE

Using the 36” end tail and a yarn needle, weave the yarn in and out of the top of the dc sts all the way around. Then weave the yarn in and out of the chain sts all the way around. Fasten off and weave in all loose ends. 

Buttons for Back (Optional)

Sew on four 19mm (3/4)” buttons to Piece B: Bottom Back Pillow Panel. Attach buttons, spaced evenly approximately 8 rows from top of panel (line up your panels to ensure placement of buttons will go into the row of double crochet stitches on Piece C: Top Back Pillow Panel). 

Pillow Assembly

Place Piece A (the front) wrong side up, with the belt buckle facing down. Place Piece B (bottom of back) wrong side down directly over Piece A, with the ch row at the bottom. Place Piece C wrong side down directly over Piece A, with the row of dc sts at the bottom. 

Note: Piece C will slightly overlap Piece B.

Ensure that all the stitches are lined up exactly (especially the black belt sections) and pin the three pieces in place. Turn everything over so the belt buckle is facing you. 

You will be single crocheting the panels together. Always work into both or all panels (insert hook through lined-up stitches of both/all panels, pull loop through both/all pieces and sc).

Using an H/8 (5.00mm) hook, attach red yarn to bottom left corner (in the corner sts) with a sl st. Make 2 sc into the same st. Keeping the right side of the front pillow panel (and belt buckle) facing you the entire time, sc across the bottom. At corner, make 3 sc into same corner st. Sc evenly up the right side until you arrive at the belt buckle section. 

During your last stitch before the belt buckle section, when you have two loops of red on your hook, attach the black yarn by placing it on your hook and pulling it through. Drop the red yarn (you can leave it hanging as long as it’s on the inside of the pillow). With black yarn, sc until the end of the belt buckle section. During your last stitch of the belt buckle section, when you have two loops of black yarn on your hook, attach the red yarn by placing it on your hook and pulling it through. Fasten off black yarn and weave in black loose ends. With red, sc for the remainder of the side. 

At the corner, make 3 sc into same corner st. Sc across the top, make 3 sc into the corner st. Sc evenly down the side until you arrive at the belt buckle section. Repeat instructions for arriving at belt buckle section for other side.

When arriving back where you started, sl st into the 1st sc to join. Fasten off and weave in all loose ends.

Put your pillow insert inside and now you have a very festive new pillow cover! 

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