Granny Pillow in Caron Simply Soft & Simply Soft Paints - Downloadable PDF

Granny Pillow Crochet Pattern in Caron Simply Soft & Simply Soft Paints by Cari Clement

This free downloadable PDF crochet pattern by designer Cari Clement guides crafters through creating a classic granny square pillow measuring a finished 14 x 14 inches (35.5 x 35.5 cm). The design is rated beginner level, making it an ideal project for those who are just discovering the joy of crochet or who want a satisfying, low-stress make. The finished cushion is built from two matching granny square panels — a front and a back — that are worked separately and then joined, producing a sturdy, decorative pillow with timeless appeal.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a crocheted granny square pillow, a cushion cover constructed from two large, expanding granny squares. Each panel grows round by round from a central ring outward until it reaches the full 14 x 14 inch dimension. The granny square format gives the pillow its characteristic geometric, vintage-inspired look, with defined corner clusters and open chain spaces that create a lacy, textured surface. Once both panels are complete, they are assembled into a finished cushion cover.

Materials Used

• Caron Simply Soft — used for Contrast A and Contrast C colorways; this is a smooth, worsted/aran weight acrylic yarn known for its soft drape and wide color range
• Caron Simply Soft Paints — used for Contrast B in the colorway Sunset (0008); this yarn features a self-striping, variegated paint effect that adds visual interest and color movement without requiring multiple yarn changes; each skein is 113 g / 4 oz with approximately 190 m / 208 yards
• One skein of each contrast color (A, B, and C) is required
• A crochet hook in the appropriate size for worsted/aran weight yarn is needed, along with a yarn needle for weaving in ends
• A 14 x 14 inch pillow form is required to stuff the finished cover

Techniques Used

• Working in the round — both the pillow front and back are constructed entirely in continuous rounds, beginning from a central foundation chain ring
• Granny square construction — the foundational technique of this pattern, building outward from a central ring using clusters of double crochet stitches separated by chain spaces to form the classic granny square grid
• Color changing at round joins — the pattern uses a specific method for introducing a new color when joining a round: the hook is inserted into the first stitch, and the new color yarn is drawn through all loops on the hook to complete the join, after which the old color is fastened off; this produces clean, neat color transitions between rounds
• Corner construction — each round builds defined corners using a combination of double crochet clusters and chain-one spaces at the four corner positions, which is the hallmark of traditional granny square shaping
• Joining panels — the two finished granny square panels are seamed together to form the complete pillow cover

Stitches Used

• Chain (ch) — used to create the foundation ring and the chain spaces between stitch clusters throughout every round
• Slip stitch (sl st) — used to join rounds, to move the working yarn along to the correct position at the start of new rounds, and to form the initial foundation ring
• Double crochet (dc) — the primary structural stitch of the pattern, worked in clusters of three to form the body of each granny square round; the beginning chain-3 counts as the first double crochet throughout
• Single crochet (sc) — used in specific rounds to anchor chain spaces and define the corner and side structure of the expanding square

Pattern Structure and Construction Detail

The pillow back and front are each worked identically, beginning with a chain-5 foundation ring joined with a slip stitch. Round 1 establishes four groups of three double crochets separated by chain-one spaces, creating the initial cross shape at the