Crochet Backyard Bolster in Bernat Maker Outdoor Stripes - Downloadable PDF

Crochet Backyard Bolster in Bernat Maker Outdoor Stripes – Free Downloadable PDF Pattern

This free downloadable crochet pattern from Bernat, made in partnership with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, guides you through creating a stylish and durable crochet bolster cushion perfectly suited for outdoor living spaces. Whether you're dressing up a patio bench, a garden lounger, or a backyard sofa, this bolster brings both comfort and handmade charm to any exterior setting.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a cylindrical bolster pillow cover measuring approximately 8 inches [20.5 cm] in diameter and 24 inches [61 cm] in length. The cover is worked in the round and designed to fit snugly over a standard 8" x 24" bolster pillow form, which is inserted once the crocheted shell is complete. The result is a firm, fully shaped bolster that holds its structure beautifully outdoors.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Bernat Maker Outdoor in colorway Fresh Black Stripe (96004) – 2 balls (each ball is 8.8 oz / 250 g, 249 yds / 228 m). This is a chunky weight yarn specifically engineered for outdoor use, offering resistance to the elements while maintaining a soft, workable texture. The striped colorway adds visual interest without requiring any color changes.
• Hook: A U.S. size L/11 (8 mm) crochet hook, or whichever size is needed to achieve the correct gauge.
• Pillow form: A standard 8" x 24" [20.5 x 61 cm] bolster pillow insert to stuff the finished cover.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 9 single crochet stitches and 10 rows to equal 4 inches [10 cm]. Checking your gauge before beginning is always recommended, especially for a project like a bolster where dimensions need to match the pillow form precisely. Adjust your hook size up or down as needed to meet gauge.

Techniques and Construction Method

The bolster is constructed entirely in the round, beginning from a small foundation chain and expanding outward to form the circular end caps, then continuing along the body of the cylinder. This seamless, in-the-round approach creates a clean, professional finish with no visible seams on the exterior of the cushion.

• The project begins with a magic ring-style start – a short foundation chain of 2, with 8 single crochet stitches worked into the second chain from the hook to form the center of the circular end.
• Subsequent rounds involve increases (working 2 single crochet into each stitch) to expand the circle outward to the correct diameter.
• Decreases using the sc2tog technique (single crochet two together) are used to close the opposite end of the bolster neatly around the pillow form.
• Rounds are joined with a slip stitch at the end of each round, keeping the construction tidy and the join invisible.

Stitches Used

• Single crochet (sc) – the primary stitch used throughout the body and end caps, creating a dense, sturdy fabric ideal for outdoor cushions.
• Half double crochet (hdc) – referenced in the abbreviations, indicating it may appear in certain sections of the pattern.
• Slip stitch (sl st) – used to join rounds cleanly at the end of each completed round.
• Sc2tog (single crochet two together) – a standard decrease stitch used to shape the closing end of the bolster, worked by drawing up a loop in each of the next two stitches and pulling through all loops on the hook in one motion.
• Chain (ch) – used at the very beginning to start the project and at the beginning of rounds, though the pattern notes that the chain-2 at the beginning of rounds does not count as a stitch.