Dragon at Sunset Pillow Sham

Dragon at Sunset Pillow Sham Crochet Pattern

Project Overview

The Dragon at Sunset Pillow Sham, designed by Lisa Ferrel, is an intermediate-level crochet project that creates a finished pillow measuring approximately 17 inches wide. This downloadable PDF pattern combines colorwork techniques with single crochet stitches to produce a decorative pillow featuring a dragon design set against a sunset backdrop. The project is ideal for crocheters with foundational skills who are ready to work with multiple yarn colors and follow a detailed chart.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a complete pillow sham suitable for display on beds, couches, or chairs. The design showcases a dragon motif rendered through color changes in the crochet work, with the sunset theme created by transitioning between warm color tones. The finished piece can be stuffed with fiberfill or paired with a standard 16x16 pillow form for a polished, decorative accent.

Techniques Used

• Colorwork with single crochet: The pattern employs color changes throughout rows to create the dragon and sunset imagery, requiring the crocheter to switch yarn colors strategically within each row
• Chart-based construction: Row-by-row directions correspond to a provided chart, guiding color placement and stitch positioning
• Double-strand technique: The initial chain is worked with a double strand of yarn for added structure and durability
• Safety eye application: A 12-mm green cat safety eye is incorporated into the design, likely forming the dragon's eye
• Seaming and assembly: The front panel is constructed first, with assembly required to complete the pillow form

Stitches Used

• Chain stitch (ch): Used to establish the foundation with 48 chains, creating the base width of the pillow front
• Single crochet (sc): The primary stitch throughout the entire pattern, worked in rows to build the fabric and create the colorwork design

Materials Required

This project uses worsted weight yarn in multiple colors totaling 890 yards:

• 600 yards in black (primary background color)
• 140 yards in burnt orange (sunset and dragon body tones)
• 90 yards in red (accent color for dragon details)
• 60 yards in gold (highlight and sunset accents)
• 2 yards in green (small details)

Additional materials include a Size J (5.0 mm) crochet hook, a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming, fiberfill stuffing or a 16x16 pillow form for finishing, and one 12-mm green cat safety eye for the dragon's facial feature.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern is designed for crocheters who have mastered basic stitches and are comfortable with color changes and following detailed row-by-row instructions. The colorwork aspect and chart reading add complexity beyond beginner projects, making this an excellent skill-building piece for advancing crafters.