Here Comes the Sunflower Pillow: Pattern Overview

Project introduction

This pattern overview introduces a bold home decor project: a crocheted sunflower pillow with layered golden petals set against a deep blue background dotted with crocheted sunflower seeds. The finished cushion measures 17 inches square, and the stated gauge is 4 rows to 2 inches. The skill level is listed as intermediate, so it suits crocheters who are comfortable reading pattern notes and handling simple color work. You can find the complete row-by-row version through the Original designer’s pattern and instructions, which this guide summarizes and points you toward.

Please note that this article is a pattern overview rather than a full tutorial, so it walks you through the project structure, supplies, and construction order instead of repeating every stitch. Keep the original designer link handy, since that is where the tested numbers live whenever you sit down to work.

Materials

The supply list calls for a chunky acrylic and nylon blend yarn in three shades, two hook sizes, and a few finishing tools. Gathering everything before you begin keeps the color work smooth, especially the bobbin sections on the pillow squares.

• Berroco Comfort Chunky (50% super fine acrylic, 50% super fine nylon; 150 yards [137 meters] per 100 grams): #5725 Dutch Teal (C1), 4 skeins
• #5743 Goldenrod (C2), 2 skeins
• #5741 Bittersweet (C3), 2 skeins
• US size J/10 (6.0 mm) hook and US size H/8 (5.0 mm) hook, or the sizes needed to obtain gauge
• Fairfield POLY-FIL Soft Touch 16 inch x 16 inch pillow insert
• Tapestry needle
• 15 yarn bobbins

Pattern Notes

Before starting, read the designer’s notes carefully, because several small conventions run through the whole project. Rounds are not joined at the end unless the instructions say otherwise, and a chain 2 at the beginning of a round counts as 1 half double crochet. The back loop means the loop farthest from you at the top of the indicated stitch, while the front loop is the closest one.

For the pillow’s color work, wrap each of the 15 yarn bobbins with a 4-foot length of C3, use one bobbin per stitch in Rows 5 and 9 of the pillow square, carry C3 loosely across the wrong side when it rests, and fasten it off at the end of the row.

Pillow (make 2)

You will make two identical pillow squares, and each one starts with the smaller hook and C1. The foundation is a chain of 70, worked in the back bar of the chains with single crochet in the second chain and each chain across, which gives 69 single crochets. The following rows alternate single crochet and chain 1 stitches to build an open mesh texture, with most rows ending at 35 single crochets.

Rows 5 and 9 bring in the Bittersweet color work: drop C1, work the seeded stitches with C3 from your prepared bobbins, then pick C1 back up and continue, while rows 6 through 8 and rows 10 through 12 return to the plain mesh repeat.

From there the source repeats the sequence of rows 5 through 12 seven times, covering rows 13 through 60, then repeats row 5 once more as row 61 and finishes with four plain mesh rows as rows 62 through 65. Do not turn after row 65, because that row forms the top edge of the pillow. The color work rows are offset from one another, which is what creates the scattered seed effect across the blue background.

Pillow Left Side Edge

After the last row, you work down the left side edge of the pillow without turning. Chain 1 to form the first corner, then work 69 single crochets evenly spaced into the ends of the rows until you reach the corner at the bottom edge. Chain 1 again for the second corner, join to the first chain of the beginning foundation chain, and fasten off.

Pillow Right Side Edge

For the right side edge, join C1 to the last chain at the opposite end of the bottom foundation chain and chain 1 to make the third corner. Working in the ends of the rows up the right side edge, place 69 single crochets evenly spaced to the corner at the top edge. Chain 1 for the fourth corner, work 69 single crochets evenly spaced along the top edge, and fasten off.

Sunflower

The sunflower motif begins at the center with the smaller hook and C3: chain 2, then work 6 single crochets in the second chain from the hook and join to the front loop of the first stitch. The next stage alternates loop-forming rounds with half double crochet rounds. Each loop round is worked into front loops only, and each half double crochet round folds those loops to the center and works behind them into the unworked back loops two rounds below, growing from 18 to 27, 36, and 45 half double crochets.

Goldenrod joins in round 11 for a round of single crochet with evenly spaced increases, then the larger hook takes over for the petal rounds. Petal loops are formed with chains and slip stitches, and each petal is built from a tall stitch cluster that includes double treble crochet. Further layers in C2 repeat the loop, petal, and increase cycle until the final round reaches 96 stitches, with the petal counts rising from 9 to 11, 12, 14, and finally 16.

Assembly

To assemble, hold the two pillow squares with their wrong sides together and use the smaller hook to single crochet join C2 through both layers, starting in any chain 1 corner space. Work single crochet in each stitch across to the next corner and single crochet in each corner chain 1 space, repeating around three sides. Slip the 16 inch pillow form inside before closing the final side, then join to the first single crochet. A second round forms a faux piping edge by working over the previous stitches, with 2 single crochets in each corner, and then fasten off.

Finishing

Center the completed sunflower on the front of the pillow and use C2 with the tapestry needle to sew it securely in place. Weave in all remaining ends to finish the piece cleanly. For more pillow inspiration, see Autumn Sunflower Pillow: Pattern Overview and Autumn Rhapsody Stitch Sampler Pillow: Pattern Overview.