South America Map Pillow

South America Map Pillow Crochet Pattern

What Is Being Made

The South America Map Pillow is a decorative cushion cover designed by Pukapuka that features a map of South America worked in crochet. This 12" x 12" (30 x 30 cm) pillow is perfect for travel enthusiasts and serves both a functional and aesthetic purpose—ideal for supporting your elbow while reading travel literature or as a conversation piece displaying your favorite continent. The finished pillow accommodates a standard 12" x 12" pillow insert.

Crochet Techniques and Construction

This intermediate-level crochet project uses a straightforward construction method that makes it accessible to crafters with basic crochet experience. The primary technique employed is single crochet, which creates a dense, structured fabric perfect for displaying detailed map work. The pattern includes both written instructions and a graph chart, allowing you to follow either format based on your preference. The graph format is particularly useful for tracking the placement of different colored regions across the South America map design.

The pillow is worked flat and requires seaming and finishing to complete the cushion cover. This project is designed as a weekend craft, making it an efficient intermediate project that doesn't require extensive time commitment.

Stitches Used

• Single crochet (sc) – the foundation stitch used throughout the entire pattern to build the fabric and create the map design
• Chain (ch) – used for foundation chains and turning chains as needed in the pattern

Yarn and Materials

The South America Map Pillow pattern calls for Lion Brand Heartland yarn in two colors:

• Yarn A: Yellowstone (158) – 1 skein (approximately 158 yards/144 meters available, though you may use leftovers from the coordinating Vintage Africa Map Blanket project)
• Yarn B: Acadia (98) – 1 skein (approximately 98 yards/89 meters available, or remaining yarn from the Africa blanket project)

Lion Brand Heartland is a weight 4/medium (aran/worsted weight) yarn, providing good stitch definition for the map details while working up at a moderate pace. The yarn weight and fiber content create a fabric with appropriate drape and structure for a decorative pillow cover.

You will need a Size H (5 mm) crochet hook to work with this yarn weight. The pattern specifies a gauge of 7 single crochet stitches by 8 rows equals 2" x 2" (5 x 5 cm), which is important to achieve the correct finished dimensions of 12" x 12" (30 x 30 cm).

Additionally, you will need a 12" x 12" (30 x 30 cm) pillow insert to complete the finished cushion. The pattern is designed to work efficiently with yarn leftovers from making the Vintage Africa Map Blanket, making it an excellent stash-busting project for coordinated home décor.

Skill Level and Project Scope

Rated as an intermediate difficulty project, this pillow requires familiarity with basic crochet techniques but does not demand advanced skills. The single crochet stitch is fundamental, and the graph chart provides clear visual guidance for color changes and map placement. This makes it an ideal project for crocheters looking to expand their skills with tapestry crochet or graphical design work without overwhelming complexity.