Throw Pillow Cover Crochet Pattern Using One Skein of Red Heart Ombre Yarn

Oh, ombre yarn, how I love thee.  I love thee so much I will use thee to crochet a pillow cover out of thee. Tee hee!

Throw Pillow Cover Crochet Pattern

This throw pillow cover crochet pattern is a free pattern, uses less than one skein of Red Heart’s new ombre yarn, can be made in two different sizes, and looks oh-so-chic on your sofa! We will even add a zipper (optional, of course) so that we can take the pillow cover off and give it a good wash.  I’m also excited to finally have occasion to use my Edgit piercing crochet hook I ordered several years back.  Woot woot!

Materials:

1 skein of Red Heart Super Saver Ombre yarn
*pictured: Anthracite, Sea Coral, and Spearmint
Crochet Hook in size I/5.5mm
Pillow inserts (16″ x 16″ or 14″ x 20″)
14″ or longer Invisible Zipper (optional)
Edgit Piercing Crochet Hook (for adding zipper)

Make your pillow cover in one of two shapes: rectangle or square. I used the 16″ x 16″ square pillows like these and a 14″ x 20″ pillow like this. I wouldn’t venture too far from these dimensions lest your color changes get a little wonky. I chose to also include a zipper on mine so that they can be removed and washed. If you don’t want to do the zipper, that’s okay too – and certainly easier!

To get the beautiful ombre effect where the pillow starts with the darkest (or lightest) color and has the lightest (or darkest) color smack dab in the middle of the pillow you’ll want to find the darkest (or lightest) color to start.  Then work through the skein until you get back to the lightest (or darkest) color. Cool, right?

Gauge:

12 hdc in 10 rows = 4″ square

Square pillow cover crochet pattern:

Row 1: Leaving a tail about 24″ long, ch-90. Join to back bar of first st being careful not to twist the chain. (90)

Row 2: Hdc in back bar (the underside of the stitch) of each st around. Do not join, work in spiral throughout.

Rows 3 – 45: Hdc in third loop only (here’s how!), do not join.

Rectangular pillow cover crochet pattern: 

Row 1: Leaving a tail about 24″ long, ch-80. Join to back bar of first st being careful not to twist the chain. (80)

Row 2: Hdc in back bar of each st around. Do not join, work in spiral throughout.

Rows 3 – 55: Hdc in third loop only (here’s how!), do not join.

Finishing your pillow cover: 

If not adding a zipper…

Flatten the pillow cover with wrong side out and single crochet through both sides of the last row.  Flip pillow cover right ride out and insert the pillow. Then, using the long tail from the beginning, sew seam shut using the Mattress stitch. Fasten off and weave in all ends. Done!

If adding the zipper…

Sew up both sides of the last row for about an inch on each side.

Clip the working yarn leaving a super long tail. With right side facing out, feed the yarn through to the top left corner as pictured.

Using your Edgit piercing crochet hook, slip stitch through the zipper fabric and the corresponding stitches, spacing your stitches as evenly as possible (as wide as a regular half double crochet stitch). Follow the line going down the zipper fabric to keep the seam as straight as possible.

Slip stitch around the entire opening of the pillow going through both zipper and crocheted stitches.

When finished, weave in all ends and insert your pillow. Fluff it out to the corners, give it a good shake, then zip the pillow cover closed. Done!

I can’t decide which of the ombre colors I love the most. I thought it was the Anthracite but then I made the Sea Coral and fell in love, and then I made the Spearmint and I love that one too! I do so wish they had a nice, bright yellow.  (I’m lookin’ at you, Red Heart 😉 )

I hope you love this pillow cover crochet pattern! Here are more free patterns I think you’ll love:

Lonely Banana? How to Make a Fruit Hammock (free crochet pattern)
Bunny Beanie with Ears Free Crochet Pattern (Boy and Girl)
Straight Up EASY Vertical Stripes Sweater Free Crochet Pattern
Hair Towel with a Twist {FREE Crochet Pattern}