Snowman Crochet Pillow Pattern – Free

A Winter/Christmas Crochet Pillowcase

What’s great about this Christmas crochet pillowcase is that you can bring it out for Christmas but it doesn’t need to go away after Dec. 25. It’s a modern crochet pillowcase that you can leave out all winter.

About this Crochet Pillow Pattern

• This pattern creates a pillow cover that fits over a 16″ x 16″ pillow insert, or you can use pillow stuffing.
• The pattern includes step by step written instructions and a chart/graph for the front and back.
• It is written for right-handed crochet using standard US terminology. If you’re more familiar with UK terms, here’s my US to UK Conversion Chart. 

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Colorwork

For this pattern, you will attach separate balls/strands or “bobbins” of the different colors to different sections of the pattern. You will add/pick up and use the different colors only when working with them and drop them when not in use. You don’t carry the unused colors from end to end so the unused colors don’t show through the front. You don’t need to worry about “catching floats/trapping yarn” for this pattern. 

If you are new to colorwork, I recommend reading my guide or watching my video tutorial on How to Crochet with Two Colors.

Snowman Crochet Cushion Cover Pattern Details

Skill Level

Intermediate

Size

This pattern creates a pillow that is approx 16” x 16”.

Gauge

4” x 4” = 13 sc and 15 rows. Gauge is very important if using a pillow insert. Here’s a Guide to Gauge.

Materials

Yarn: Any Worsted Weight (Size 4), 100% Acrylic yarn. I used Impeccable by Loops and Threads which is 4.5 oz / 127.5 g. A skein is 285 yds / 260 m.  Amount needed of each color:

• White – 427 yds / 390 m  (one & a half skeins of Impeccable)
• Burgundy – 142 yds / 130 m  (half a skein of Impeccable)
• Black – 71 yds / 65 m  (a quarter skein of Impeccable)
• Cherry (Red) – 71 yds / 65 m  (a quarter skein of Impeccable)

Crochet Hook Size: H/8 (5.00 mm) (or size needed to obtain gauge). For the scarf fringe, a B/1 (2.25 mm) hook. 

Other Materials: scissors, yarn needle, measuring tape, pillow stuffing or one 16” x 16” pillow insert 

Preparing your Yarn

You will use the main skeins of each color as well as bobbins throughout this pattern. Prepare bobbins in advance of starting the pattern. 

How to Prepare Your Bobbins 

You can use any kind of bobbin or you can make your own with any object you can wrap your yarn around (i.e. a glue stick or an empty toilet paper roll). Here’s a tutorial on how to wrap your yarn around a paper towel roll.

To make a bobbin, wrap your yarn around your object 6 or so times. Then rotate your object 1/3 of the way away from you. Wrap the yarn around 6 times and rotate 1/3 of the way away from you. Keep repeating this. With the ball shape forming as you wrap, when you wrap at the top, put your yarn as close to your object as possible and same when pulling it towards you at the bottom. Rotate every 6 times around. When the yarn is completely in the ball, remove object.

Amount of Yarn Needed for Each Bobbin

• White Bobbin A – 30 yds / 27 m (used for the left white section)
• White Bobbin B – 22 yds / 20 m (used for the middle white section)

• Burgundy Bobbin C – 31 yds / 28 m (used for the Left Scarf)
• Burgundy Bobbin D – 20 yds / 18 m (used for the Right Scarf)

• Black Bobbin E – 23 yds / 21 m (used for the Left Scarf)
• Black Bobbin F – 16 yds / 14 m (used for the Right Scarf)

• Red Bobbin G – 21 yds / 19 m (used for the Left Scarf)
• Red Bobbin H – 15 yds / 14 m (for the Right Scarf)

Where You Will Attach Bobbins 

Note: this isn’t the actual pattern chart, it’s just to show you where you will be attaching the bobbins. The Written Instructions & The Pattern Chart also indicate where to attach each bobbin.

WHERE MAIN SKEINS ARE USED 

• White: The main skein of white is used for Rows 1 – 9 and for everything to the right of the scarf. You will fasten off for the full-width scarf section and attach the main skein of white again for the top (Rows 55 – 60). 
• All Colors: The main skeins of each color are used for the full-width scarf section (for both the front and back panels). 

Working with Two Colors

For this pattern, you will add/pick up and use the different colors only when working with them and drop them when not in use. The rows are worked from right to left and then left to right so the colors will be nearby when you need them again on the next row (sometimes they are 4 rows down). You simply pick them up from wherever they are hanging and start working with them again. 

How to Add/Switch Colors:

With the color you are currently working with, insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull through (you will have two loops on your hook) but instead of finishing the single crochet stitch, put the new color on hook and pull through new color, leaving the old color hanging (keep it attached to ball of yarn, don’t cut). On right side rows, the yarn will hang in the back, behind the work. For wrong side rows, the yarn will hang front of you. Give the previous color a slight tug to keep stitch tight. 

Now use the new color until the pattern says to switch back. To switch back, repeat the same steps.

Note: When you complete the color addition/switch, it counts as a stitch with the old color as you are setting up the next stitch with the new color. 

Where to Add/Switch Colors 

When following the chart: always add/switch colors in the second half of the single crochet stitch BEFORE the chart shows the new color.  

When following the written instructions: always add the new color on the second half of the last sc stitch of the current color BEFORE the written patterns says to use the new color. 

Pattern Notes

• Each row has 56 stitches. 
• Ch 1 and turn after each row. Ch 1 does not count as a stitch. 
• Always start in the 1st st (the st attached to the ch).
• Slightly stretch your pillow wide after each row.
• Ensure all strands are always kept on the wrong side of the work. 
• Add/switch colors when you have two loops of the old color on the sc stitch BEFORE the new color stitch. 
• Read the chart from right to left when working on right side rows and left to right when working on the wrong side. The chart is lightly shaded on wrong sides to help you remember. (The written instructions lists everything in the correct order).
• When attaching your main skeins to the full-width scarf section, there are specific times (indicated in the pattern and on the chart) when you need to leave a 30” tail as those tails will be used when assembling the pillow. 
• When weaving in ends, weave the color of the end into parts on the pillow of the same color (i.e. red into red). 

How to Follow the Pattern Chart

Abbreviations

ch = chain
st = stitch
sts = stitches 
sl st = slip stitch 
sc = single crochet
RS = Right Side: The front/outside
WS = Wrong Side: The back/inside

Pillow Instructions

Front Pillow Panel

(Pattern Chart is below)

If you crochet tightly, you may want to go up one hook size for the Foundation Row (only) so you can sc more easily into the back ridge loops on Row 1.

Foundation Row: With white yarn, ch 57.

Row 1 (RS): In the 2nd ch from hook, sc in the back ridge loop. 

Sc in each back ridge loop until the end of the row.

(Remember to ch 1 and turn after each row).

Work in both loops from now on.

Row 2 (WS): Sc in each st across.

After a slight tug, work should measure: 17”

Rows 3 – 8: Sc in each st across.

Measurements (after a slight tug): 

After Row 4: 17.25”, After Row 8: 17.5”

Row 9: Sc in the next 45 sts. In the next st, add White Bobbin A (leave the main white skein hanging). Using White Bobbin A, sc across the row. 

Note About Colorwork Instructions: 

In the next row, you will begin changing colors. Every stitch is a single crochet (sc). The pattern does not say to sc because it gets too jumbled. Instead it says something like: WHITE x 3, RED x 4, which means: using white yarn, single crochet for 3 stitches, add the red yarn on the last (the 3rd) stitch and now using the red yarn, single crochet for 4 stitches. 

Row 10 (WS): WHITE x 5 (add Burgundy Bobbin C on last st), BURGUNDY X 3 (add Black Bobbin E on last st), BLACK x 2, WHITE x 46.

Row 11 (RS): WHITE x 44, BURGUNDY x 4 (add Red Bobbin G on last st), RED x 3, WHITE x 5. 

Row 12 (WS): WHITE x 5, RED x 3, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 1, WHITE x 39.

Row 13 (RS): WHITE x 38, BURGUNDY x 2, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 3, WHITE x 5.

Row 14 (WS): WHITE x 5, RED x 3, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, WHITE x 36.

Row 15 (RS): WHITE x 32 (add White Bobbin B on last st – leave the main white skein hanging and use bobbin until left scarf), WHITE x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 3,  WHITE x 5.

Row 16 (WS): WHITE x 5, BURGUNDY x 3, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, WHITE x 3 (add Burgundy Bobbin D on last st), BURGUNDY x 1, WHITE x 32.

Row 17 (RS): WHITE x 30 (add Black Bobbin F on last st), BLACK x 2, BURGUNDY x 1, WHITE x 3, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 3, WHITE x 5.

Row 18 (WS): WHITE x 5, BURGUNDY x 3, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, WHITE x 3, BURGUNDY x 1, BACK x 3, WHITE x 29.

Row 19 (RS): WHITE x 28, BURGUNDY x 4 (add Red Bobbin H on last st), RED x 1, WHITE x 3, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 2, WHITE x 6.

Row 20 (WS): WHITE x 6, RED x 2, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, WHITE x 3, RED x 1, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 1, WHITE x 27.

Row 21 (RS): WHITE x 25, RED x 3, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 1, WHITE x 3, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 2, WHITE x 6.

Row 22 (WS): WHITE x 6, RED x 2, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 3, WHITE x 4, RED x 1, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 1, WHITE x 23.

Row 23 (RS): WHITE x 22, BLACK x 2, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 1, WHITE x 4, BLACK x 3, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 2, WHITE x 6.

Row 24 (WS): WHITE x 6, BURGUNDY x 2, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 3, WHITE x 4, BURGUNDY x 1, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 3, WHITE x 21.

Row 25 (RS): WHITE x 21, BLACK x 3, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 1, WHITE x 4, BLACK x 3, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK 4, BURGUNDY x 2, WHITE x 6.

Row 26 (WS): WHITE x 6, BURGUNDY x 2, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 3, WHITE x 4, BURGUNDY x 1, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 2, WHITE x 22.

Row 27 (RS): WHITE x 22, BURGUNDY x 2, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 1, WHITE x 4, BURGUNDY x 3, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 2, WHITE x 6.

Row 28 (WS): WHITE x 6, RED x 2, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 3, WHITE x 4, RED x 1, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 2, WHITE x 22.

Row 29 (RS): WHITE x 22, BURGUNDY x 2, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 1, WHITE x 4, BURGUNDY x 3, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 2, WHITE x 6.

Row 30 (WS): WHITE x 6, RED x 2, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 2, WHITE x 4, RED x 2, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 2, WHITE x 22.

Row 31 (RS): WHITE x 23, BLACK x 1, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 2, WHITE x 4, BLACK x 2, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 2, WHITE x 6.

Row 32 (WS): WHITE x 7, BURGUNDY x 1, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 2, WHITE x 4, BURGUNDY x 2, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 1, WHITE x 23.

Row 33 (RS): WHITE x 23, BLACK x 1, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 2, WHITE x 4, BLACK x 2, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 1, WHITE x 7.

Row 34 (WS): WHITE x 7, BURGUNDY x 1, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 2, WHITE x 3, BURGUNDY x 3, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 1, WHITE x 23.

Row 35 (RS): WHITE x 23, BURGUNDY x 1, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 3, WHITE x 3, BURGUNDY x 2, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 1, WHITE x 7.

Row 36 (WS): WHITE x 7, RED x 1, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 2, WHITE x 3, RED x 3, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 1, WHITE x 23.

Row 37 (RS): WHITE x 24, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 3, WHITE x 3, BURGUNDY x 2, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 1, WHITE x 7.

Row 38 (WS): WHITE x 7, RED x 1, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 2, WHITE x 3, RED x 3, BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4, WHITE x 24.

Row 39 (RS): WHITE x 24, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, WHITE x 2, BLACK x 2, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 1, WHITE x 7.

Row 40 (WS): WHITE x 7, BURGUNDY x 1, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 1, WHITE x 3, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 3, WHITE x 25.

Row 41 (RS): WHITE x 25, BURGUNDY x 3, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 1, WHITE x 2, BLACK x 1, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 1, WHITE x 7.

Row 42 (WS): WHITE x 7, BURGUNDY x 1, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 1, WHITE x 2, BLACK x 1, BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 3, WHITE x 25 (on last st, add main red skein, leaving a 30” red tail). 

Fasten off all bobbins and main white skein and weave in all loose ends (except the main red skein and the 30” red tail). 

FULL-WIDTH SCARF SECTION

Row 43 (RS): RED x 4 (add main burgundy skein on last st, leaving a 30” burgundy tail), BURGUNDY x 4. *RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 44 (WS): *BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 45 (RS): *RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 46 (WS): Repeat Row 44. At end of row, fasten off main red skein.

Row 47 (RS): BURGUNDY x 4 (add main black skein on last st), BLACK x 4. *BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 48 (WS): *BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 49 (RS): *BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 50 (WS): Repeat Row 48 (add main red skein on last st, leaving a 30” red tail). Fasten off main black skein.

Row 51 (RS): *RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 52 (WS): *BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 53 (RS): Repeat Row 51. 

Row 54 (WS): Repeat Row 52 (on the very last st of the row, add main white skein).  Fasten off main red and burgundy skeins. 

Rows 55 – 60: Using white yarn, sc in each st across. 

Fasten off. Do not weave in three 30” tails (two red tails and one burgundy tail). Weave in all other ends.

BACK PILLOW PANEL INSTRUCTIONS

(Pattern Chart is below)

Beginning – Row 8: Follow Front Pillow Panel Instructions from the beginning to end of Row 8. 

Rows 9 – 42: Sc in each st across (on the last st of Row 42, add main red skein). 

Row 43 (RS): RED x 4 (on last st, add main burgundy skein, leaving a 30” burgundy tail), BURGUNDY x 4. *RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 44 (WS): *BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 45 (RS): *RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4* repeat from * to * across.

Row 46 (WS): *BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4* repeat from * to * across. Fasten off main red skein. 

Row 47 (RS): BURGUNDY x 4 (on last st, add main black skein), BLACK x 4. *BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 48 (WS): *BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4* repeat from * to * across.

Row 49 (RS): *BURGUNDY x 4, BLACK x 4* repeat from * to * across.

Row 50 (WS): *BLACK x 4, BURGUNDY x 4* repeat from * to * across (on last black st of the row, fasten off main black skein, leaving a 30” black tail) (on the last burgundy st of the row, add main red skein). 

Row 51 (RS): *RED x 4, BURGUNDY x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 52 (WS): *BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4* repeat from * to * across. 

Row 53 (RS): Repeat Row 51. 

Row 54 (WS): *BURGUNDY x 4, RED x 4* repeat from * to * across (on last burgundy st of the row, fasten off main burgundy skein, leaving a 30” burgundy tail) (on the last red st of the row, add main white skein). Fasten off main red skein. 

Rows 55 – 60: Using white yarn, sc in each st across. 

Fasten off. Do not weave in three 30” tails (two burgundy tails and one black tail). Weave in all other ends.

Pattern Chart – Front

Pattern Chart – Back

Snowman Scarf Fringe

You will be attaching separate 6” strands of yarn to one loop at at a time along the colored sts at the very bottom of the scarf. 

Using a B/1 (2.25 mm) hook, insert hook into one loop  of any colored st along the bottom of the scarf. Place  a 6” strand of yarn (of the same color as the one loop you are working into) on hook so that the middle of the strand is on the hook. Pull middle of strand through loop about 1” (the strand makes a loop).

Remove hook. With fingers, coming from behind the loop, grab the two ends and pull them through the loop (this creates a knot). 

Push the knot down towards the stitch and adjust the ends so they are hanging down towards the bottom of the pillow. 

Repeat these instructions along every loop across the bottom of the scarf, until the bottom of the right and left scarf are covered in fringe. In addition to working across the very bottom coloured stitches, when white is showing, add fringe to the loops/stitches above to cover all white along the bottom. 

Ensure all ends are pointing down and straight. Cut in a diagonal line (to match the shape of the bottom of the scarf) 1.5” away from the bottom of the scarf.

Snowman Buttons

With black yarn and an H/8 (5.00mm) hook, make a magic ring/circle.

Round 1: Sc 6 times into magic ring. Pull tight. Sl st into 1st sc to join. Ch 1. Do not turn. (6 sc) 

Round 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sc). Sl st into 1st sc to join. Fasten off, leaving a 12” tail. Weave in 1st end. 

Make 3 buttons in total. 

Attach center of buttons on the front pillow panel on the 11th st from the right on Rows 10, 23 & 36 (counted from the bottom). Sew along the edge of the button to attach. Weave in loose ends. 

Pillow Assembly

Place the RS of the Back Pillow Panel facing down with the chain row at the bottom. Place the Front Pillow Panel exactly on top of the Back Pillow Panel, with the RS facing up and chain row at the bottom. Ensure that all the stitches are lined up exactly. 

Attach white yarn to bottom right corner (in the corner sts) of pillows with a sl st through both panels. Keeping the Front Pillow Panel facing you the entire time, work up the right side of the pillow and sc the two panels together (insert hook through lined-up stitches of both panels, pull loop through both pieces and sc). 

Note: When at the full-width scarf scarf section (on both sides), you will drop the white yarn and pick it back up after the section. Ensure that the white is in the inside of the pillow. 

When at the full-width scarf section, add the 30” red tail on the last white st. With red, sc for 4 sts. On the last st of red, add the 30” burgundy tail. With burgundy, sc for 4 sts. On the last st of burgundy, switch back to red. With red, sc for 4 sts. On the last st of red, pick up the white yarn and resume using white. 

Sc to the top of the pillow. At the corner, sc 3 times into the corner st. Sc across the top. At corner, sc 3 times into the corner st. Sc down.

When at the full-width scarf scarf section, add the 30” burgundy tail on the last white st.

With burgundy, sc for 4 sts. On the last st of burgundy, add the 30” black tail. With black, sc for 4 sts. On the last st of black, switch back to burgundy. With burgundy, sc for 4 sts. On the last st of burgundy, pick up the white yarn and resume using white. 

Weave in all loose ends (with the exception of the white you are currently using).

Sc down. At corner, sc 3 times into corner st. If using a pillow insert, insert your pillow insert and sc across the bottom. If using pillow stuffing, sc halfway across bottom, insert stuffing and sc the rest of the bottom. 

When at bottom corner st, sl st into 1st sc to join (do not make 3 sc into last corner). Fasten off and weave in loose ends. 

And now you have an adorable Snowman Pillow!