Checkered Crochet Pillow Pattern | Crochet Lumbar Pillow

This checkered crochet pillow is as soft as can be and adorable too! You could use earthy tones for a modern farmhouse look, or choose bright bursts of color to go for a more youthful pop culture style!

I decided to go with the bright color option myself. I chose two shades of pink, one very light (almost white) and one dark and moody. Besides two shades of the same color, you could contrast with one colorful shade and one neutral (white, black or grey). And if you really want to get fun, choose multiple colors to really make it playful!

Using Granny Squares to Create a Checker Design

When I first decided I wanted to make a checkered pillow, I was imagining crocheting in rows with color changes. I have used this method for most of my checkered patterns (see below). However, sometimes this method can be difficult to control tension because of the technique of carrying the yarn. It can also be hard to hide the color changes with certain kinds of yarn.

So, I decided to try a new method for creating the checkered pattern… making individual squares and sewing them together. This is more of a “quilting” method and I hadn’t ever tried it.

Personally, I loved how the final product turned out! This method created just the kind of lines I was hoping for. I will say I was not particularly a fan of the joining process though! It was a bit tedious, similar to weaving in ends! But sometimes the end product is worth it and I would consider this one of those projects!

The Yarn for This Checkered Crochet Pillow

I decided to use Yarnspirations Bernat Velvet yarn for this project. My decision was initially most influenced by colors. I really wanted to specifically use two shades of pink that went well together. Bernat Velvet was the only yarn I found in the store with just the right colors for this.

But beyond color choices I was very pleased with the squishy factor of this yarn. I am a big fan of pillows being soft and squishy! Pillows are meant to be more than looked at; they’re supposed to be cuddled! And there is nothing more cuddly than this Bernat Velvet yarn! I’m so happy with how this pillow feels!

And lastly, though I would have gone with any size yarn that fit my color needs, I was not disappointed that this yarn turned out to be a size 5. When you’re making the same square over and over again, a larger yarn certainly helps the project to move along more quickly!

The Pattern

If  you would like to purchase an inexpensive, ad-free printable pdf version of this checkered crochet pillow pattern, you can find it here at my Etsy shop.

Add this checkered crochet pillow pattern to your Ravelry favorites HERE.

Materials:

• Yarnspirations Bernat Velvet weight 5 bulky (100% polyester, 10.5oz/300g, 315yds/288m) 1 skein Blush Pink, 1 skein Pomegranate
• 7 yards any size 4 medium yarn in a similar color for seaming
• US K/ 6.5 mm Crochet Hook
• Yarn Needle
• Scissors
• 14” x 28” pillow insert

Gauge:

1 finished square is approximately 3.25” x 3.25”

Finished Size:

Finished cover will be approximately 12” x 25” without the pillow insert. It will fit tightly around the 14” x 28” pillow insert.

Abbreviation Key:

(ch) chain
(sl st) slip stitch
(sc) single crochet
(dc) double crochet
(tr) treble crochet
** or [ ] Repeat instructions between asterisks or brackets as many times as directed
( ) Work instructions within parentheses in the same stitch or space

Pattern Notes:

Beginning chain of each round DOES count as a stitch.

I tend to crochet tightly. So be sure to check your gauge and if you are crocheting more loosely you can move to a smaller hook (or larger if you crochet even more tightly). Some people find they even need to go down two hook sizes to meet my gauge.

Pattern:

Follow instructions below for the solid granny square to complete a total of 72 squares. Complete 36 in one color and 36 in another. Then follow instructions for sewing together.

How to Crochet the Solid Granny Square:

Chain 5. Join to with sl st to the first ch to make a circle.

Alternative: use the magic ring method

The next row you will be crocheting into the starting circle or magic ring. If you used the chain method, crochet around your tail so that you can use the tail to cinch the center of the circle tight.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as st). In the circle, place: 1 dc, tr, [3 dc, tr] three times, dc. Join with a sl st to the starting chain. <16> Pull tail to cinch the center of the circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2. (Counts as a stitch). Dc in next st. In tr, place (2 dc, tr, 2 dc). *Place 1 dc in each of next 3 st. In tr, place (2 dc, tr, 2 dc).* Repeat from * to *, two more times. Dc in last st. Join to the starting chain with a sl st. (32)

Finished square should be approximately 3.25” x 3.25”

Finish off and weave in your ends.

Construction:

For the first side, arrange your squares (right side up) in 4 rows of 9, alternating colors.

Cut a piece of size 4 yarn of a similar color, 1.5 times the length of your horizontal seams. Using a yarn needle, sew the bottom two rows together with a mattress stitch inserting into the back loops only of your stitches.

If you have never used the mattress stitch, here is a helpful tutorial.

Repeat for each row, moving up one row at a time.

Repeat for each vertical seam. When complete, weave in all your ends.

Repeat instructions for the second side.

Place both sides together with right sides facing out. Line up square colors so that they alternate.

Using your K hook and your darker color yarn, sc three sides together, inserting your hook through both loops of both sides. Start with a long edge, then the short edge and then complete the second long edge. Be careful to line up the color changes of the squares to each other as you go. Place 3 sc at each corner. Leave the last short edge open. Insert your pillow insert. It will take some shimmying since the insert is larger than the cover. Once it is inside, continue to sc the last edge shut. Finish off and weave in your ends.