The last few weeks around my house have been pretty darn UGH. I got sick and just had a hard time doing anything. All I wanted to do was lay around and do absolutely nothing. Then my little kitty Marla started having some issues and now we know she’s been going blind. She’s always been the kind of cat that wants attention but now she needs pretty much constant reassurance. And it’s kind of hard to work with a cat always somewhere on your person :)

Marla has been adjusting really well and she’s still basically my constant shadow. She’ll sit off to the side and be content hearing my keyboard clacking or she’ll beg me to put her in the lightbox while I snap photos. But she isn’t crying for constant contact.

While she was having a really hard time it was really sad. But one of the crafts that I COULD do with a cat on my lap was crochet. And thinking of better times and happy thoughts I hooked up a crochet rainbow pillow. Because what’s happier than a rainbow? A crochet rainbow with tassels!

Quick FYI…

This pillow is not a perfect circle. In fact, the sides get a little edgy with, like, 12 kind of curved but kind of straight lines connected by a slight angle. And there are MUCH better ways to crochet a circle. Perhaps we’ll cover that soon BUT this is the only way I could work out my rainbow to m liking it’s what we’re going with. In the end I planned to block my front and back pieces but when my pillow form came in the mail I forgot and that went out the window. All in all, I don’t think the fact that mine isn’t perfectly round is all that noticeable. BUT I might still take it apart and block it some day.

If you decide to block your pillow pieces to be perfectly round, I love this blocking mat set.

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Round Rainbow Crochet Pillow Pattern

Need Help?

Supplies Needed to Make a Round Crochet Rainbow Pillow:

Worsted Weight Yarn (info below)
Crochet Hook, Size K
Yarn Needle <— these are the JAM!

The Yarn

For this project you will need 6 colors of yarn for your rainbow and a neutral color of yarn for the bulk of the pillow. You will also need 6 colors for your rainbow including a red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. All of my yarn is I Love This Cotton from Hobby Lobby. The colors you see in my pillow include: Ivory, Rosey II, Mango, banana, Apple Green, Stonewash, and Amethyst. (I also used these same colors to make a Rainbow Punch Needle Applique!)

This rainbow pillow crochet pattern is worked using 2 strands of 4-weight yarn at a time. Alternatively you can substitute one strand of a bulky weight yarn. If changing yarn sizes, I’d recommend hooking the side and front of the pillow BEFORE ordering a form to ensure you get the proper size.

The Hook

I’m currently obsessed with Furls Fiber Arts Hooks.

Looking for a fun, colorful, and fringed DIY addition to your decor? Get the free pattern and hook up this round crochet rainbow pillow!

The pillow form.

Maybe I’m just a ding-dong but I ordered a pillow form that was too small and had to purchase a second, correctly sized, pillow form later on. My finished pillow fronts and backs are 15″ in diameter and the side of my pillow is 3″. Initially I ordered a 15″ pillow because the front was 15″ but you have to account for the side piece as well. Once hooked measure the front and side and add those 2 numbers together to determine the size of pillow you should order. My 15″ front and 3″ side made a pillow cover that perfectly fit an 18″ pillow form.

These yarn finishing needles, y’all.

These days I’m having a harder time with my hands, in general. They shake and my grip is terrible and it can get frustrating. With this project you have a lot of ends to weave in on the front piece. Just in case, like me, you have trouble with a yarn needle with an eye, you should totally check out these Susan Bates Finishing Needles made of plastic. The entire middle of the needle is the eye and threading them is a BREEZE. This open center also works great when you accidentally cut a tail too short. I seriously LOVE these needles.

Crochet Rainbow Pillow Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked crocheting with two strands of 4 weight yarn at a time and a Size K crochet hook. Alternatively, you can substitute a single strand of a bulky weight yarn.
In order for your pillow not to be visible inside of your crochet pillow you’ll need nice, full stitches. If your work is too tight and you can clearly see gaps in between the stitches try a smaller
size crochet hook.
CHAINS at the beginning of the rounds DO COUNT AS THE FIRST STITCH.
When working this project do not turn your work. Continue to crochet in the same direction for every round.
Each round of the front and back pieces will increase by 12 stitches.
As you crochet you might notice that your rounds start to get a bit edgy and less rounded as you near the end of the front and back pieces. When these are connected with the side piece it will be more rounded. If you are concerned, you can block your circles before piecing the pillow together.

Round Crochet Rainbow Pillow Pattern

Back Piece [ivory]

Start:

Magic Ring

← Row 1:

CH 3. 11 DC in MR. SL to CH 3 to close. (12 ST)

← Row 2:

CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. * 2 DC in ever ST to end. SL to CH 3 to close. (24 ST)

← Row 3:

CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next ST. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next ST. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (36 ST)

← Row 4:

CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 2 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 2 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (48 ST)

← Row 5:

CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 3 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 3 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (60 ST)

← Row 6:

CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 4 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 4 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (72 ST)

← Row 7:

CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 5 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 5 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (84 ST)

← Row 8:

CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 6 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 6 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (96 ST)

← Row 9:

CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 7 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 7 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (108 ST)

← Row 10:

CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 8 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 8 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (120 ST)

← Row 11:

CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 9 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 9 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (132 ST)

← Row 12:

CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 10 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 10 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (144 ST)

Tie off and weave in ends.

Rainbow Front Piece [multiple colors]

Start:

[ivory] Magic Ring

← RND 1:

[ivory] CH 3. 11 DC in MR. SL to CH 3 to close. (12 ST)

← RND 2:

[ivory] CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. * 2 DC in ever ST to end. SL to CH 3 to close. (24 ST)

← RND 3:

[purple] CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next ST. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next ST. RPT from * 4x. [ivory] ** 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next ST. RPT from ** to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (36 ST)

← RND 4:

[blue] CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 2 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 2 STs. RPT from * 4x. [ivory] ** 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 2 STs. RPT from ** to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (48 ST)

← RND 5:

[green] CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 3 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 3 STs. RPT from * 4x. [ivory] ** 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 3 STs. RPT from ** to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (60 ST)

← RND 6:

[yellow] CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 4 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 4 STs. RPT from * 4x. [ivory] ** 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 4 STs. RPT from ** to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (72 ST)

← RND 7:

[orange] CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 5 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 5 STs. RPT from * 4x. [ivory] ** 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 5 STs. RPT from ** to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (84 ST)

← RND 8:

[red] CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 6 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 6 STs. RPT from * 4x. [ivory] ** 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 6 STs. RPT from ** to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (96 ST)

← RND 9:

[ivory] CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 7 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 7 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (108 ST)

← RND 10:

[ivory] CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 8 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 8 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (120 ST)

← RND 11:

[ivory] CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 9 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 9 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (132 ST)

← RND 12:

[ivory] CH 3. 1 DC in first ST. 1 DC in next 10 STs. * 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next 10 STs. RPT from * to end. SL to CH 3 to end RND. (144 ST)

Tie off and weave in ends.

Side Piece [ivory]

← RND 1:

FDC 144. SL to 1st ST to create RND. (144 ST)

← RND 2-5:

CH 3 (acts as 1st ST). DC in ever ST around. SL into first ST to end RND. (144 ST)

Tie off and weave in ends.

Stitch Abbreviations Used:

FDC: Foundation Double Crochet
CH: Chain
DC: Double Croch
RND: Round
RPT: Repeat
SL: Slip Stitch
ST: Stitch
[color]: Color Used/Color Changes

Crochet Rainbow Pillow Construction

Place the side/tube piece pretty side out on a work surface. Place the rainbow front piece on top of the tube. Run hook through 1 ST of both the front and side pieces. Yarn over and pull through, SC to join. Continue creating 1 SC through matching stitches of the 2 pieces, stitching them together, until you reach the end. SL into first SC to close. Tie off and weave in ends.
Lay an 18” round pillow form inside of the front and side pieces.
Place back side on top of the form and crochet front and sides. Run hook through 1 ST of both the front and side pieces. Yarn over and pull through, SC to join. Continue creating 1 SC through matching stitches of the 2 pieces, stitching them together, until you reach the end. SL into first SC to close. Tie off and weave in ends.
Cut 10 8-inch pieces of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple yarn.
Take 5 pieces of a single color of yarn and fold in half. Place your hook into the pillow’s face at the end of an arch of the same color. Grab the center of the folded cluster of yarn and pull through just enough to form a loop. Pull the ends of the yarn pieces through the loop. Pull to close the tassel. Repeat both ends of the arch for all colors.
Trim all tassels to same length across pillow.

Don’t you just LOVE this Crochet Rainbow Pillow?

Cook Time: 4

Total Time: 4

Equipment

Ingredients

Yarn (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and a neutral)

Instructions

Crochet front, back, and side pieces according to pattern directions.
Place the side/tube piece pretty side out on a work surface. Place the rainbow front piece on top of the tube. Run hook through 1 ST of both the front and side pieces. Yarn over and pull through, SC to join. Continue creating 1 SC through matching stitches of the 2 pieces, stitching them together, until you reach the end. SL into first SC to close. Tie off and weave in ends.
Lay an 18” round pillow form inside of the front and side pieces. Place back side on top of the form and crochet front and sides. Run hook through 1 ST of both the front and side pieces. Yarn over and pull through, SC to join. Continue creating 1 SC through matching stitches of the 2 pieces, stitching them together, until you reach the end. SL into first SC to close. Tie off and weave in ends.
Cut 10 8-inch pieces of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple yarn. Take 5 pieces of a single color of yarn and fold in half. Place your hook into the pillow’s face at the end of an arch of the same color. Grab the center of the folded cluster of yarn and pull through just enough to form a loop. Pull the ends of the yarn pieces through the loop. Pull to close the tassel. Repeat both ends of the arch for all colors. Trim all tassels to same length across pillow.