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Granny Throw Pillows

April 6, 2015 4 Comments

A free crochet pattern & tutorial for granny square throw pillows!
With unlimited design possibilities, ways of seaming squares together, and how easy they are to make, I don’t think crocheted granny squares will ever disappear from the yarn craft world. I wanted to incorporate more knitting and crochet into my home decor this year, so in addition to the bulky knit rug I shared a couple weeks ago, I recently whipped up this pair of granny throw pillows to add some color, texture and classic kitsch to my living room.

A free crochet pattern & tutorial for granny square throw pillows!
While I followed the same repeating color pattern for both of these pillows (ABCB), I used lavender for color B in the first pillow and dark purple for color B in the second. It was really fascinating how much making that small change impacted the look of each pillow. For me, that’s the biggest reason granny square projects are, and will probably always be, popular crochet projects – they’re so easy to customize!

A free crochet pattern & tutorial for granny square throw pillows!

Granny Throw Pillows Pattern

Abbreviations

ch – chain
dc – double crochet
sl – slip
rnd – round
clr – color
sp – space

Supplies

1 skein each Patons Classic Wool Roving yarn in Plum, Frosted Plum & Aran (3 total skeins)
two 15″ square pillow forms with shams
size J crochet hook
sewing needle
coordinating sewing thread

Cushion front
Begin by forming a magic ring.
Rnd 1. Clr A: ch 3, dc 2, ch 3, (dc 3, ch 3), rep from ( to ) twice more, sl st into original ch 3 to join.
Rnd 2. Clr B: ch 3, dc 2, ch 3, dc 3, ch 3, (dc 3, ch 3, dc 3, ch 2), rep from ( to ) twice more, sl st into original ch 3 to join.
Rnd 3. Clr C: ch 3, dc 2, ch 3, dc 3, ch 2, dc 3, ch 2, (dc 3, ch 3, dc 3, ch 2, dc 3, ch 2), rep from ( to ) twice more, sl st into original ch 3 to join.
Rnds 4 – 10* – (alternating colors in the following pattern: ABCB)
first corner: ch 3, dc 2, ch 3, dc 3, ch 2, dc 3, ch 2
subsequent corners: dc 3, ch3, dc 3, ch2
non-corner gaps: dc 3, ch 2 in each gap along the sides
At the end of each round, sl to join.

*You may include more or fewer repeats if you’re working with a different size pillow and/or yarn than what’s listed in the supplies.

When your square reaches 15 by 15 inches, or the size of the front of your throw pillow, break the yarn, draw tail through, and weave in all ends to finish.

Attaching the square to the pillow
Using a sewing needle and coordinating thread, sew your square to your throw pillow/pillow sham using a running stitch. As you work, try your best to conceal your stitches as you work for a clean finished pillow.

A free crochet pattern & tutorial for granny square throw pillows!
A free crochet pattern & tutorial for granny square throw pillows!

Filed Under: Crochet, Free Patterns, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: crochet pattern, crochet pillow, free crochet pattern, granny square pattern, granny square throw pillow, how to crochet a throw pillow

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Donna

    April 7, 2015 at 2:35 am

    Beautiful

    Reply
  2. Kathy

    May 19, 2015 at 12:06 am

    Nice throw pillows Heidi! When my kids were teens I made them each a 12 inch granny square pillow. They took them on car rides, camping, and sleepovers. I used variegated yarn (no need to switch colors!) in worsted weight. The pattern I made had hdc 3, ch 1. That was 20+ years ago. They still use them today. Granny squares are indeed timeless classics!

    Reply
  3. Linda

    December 11, 2017 at 7:00 pm

    I have always loved these pillows and would like to know if you have a knit pattern for those of us that don’t crochet. I would love to make a set for my son’s new home and my own. Look forward to your response.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      December 14, 2017 at 11:09 am

      I don’t yet have one, but I’d love to do a knit throw pillow soon on the blog. :) I’ll add it to my to-do list!

      Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
🧶 Really into intarsia
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop the latest patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the S Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️ If you love this pattern & didn’t know already, we are going to be doing a knit along (KAL) from October 1-29 featuring this spooky sweater vest & lots of tutorials, especially for the intarsia part. 
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Later today my newsletter will be coming out with additional Knit Along details, so if you’re not already signed up, now is a great time - the 🔗 is in my b1o. 
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Pictured: My Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern from the new Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book by @tanisknits. Model is wearing size 1 with 2” of positive ease, knit in @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted. Vest images via @insighteditions 
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#spiralhillsweatervest #handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
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I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
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Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
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#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
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As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
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P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
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#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
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HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! T It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! This go around, get to know two new sister yarns from @manosyarnsusa, Marla and Sami, and enter to win a skein of each to try for yourself. 
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What makes these yarns sisters is that, while dyed differently, they’re the same weight and come in intentionally coordinating color palettes. For my review, I opted for a sky-inspired combo of Sami in Natural and Marla in Nube. 🌧️ 
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Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
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#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
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