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A square sky blue pillow with a smiling pixel gingerbread cookie outlined in cream icing, with a red bow tie and buttons.

Free Christmas pattern

Gingerbread tapestry crochet pillow

64 × 74 stitches, 6 yarns, single crochet. Fits a 16 in (40 cm) pillow insert when your gauge is 4 stitches per inch.

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A smiling gingerbread cookie stands on a sky blue background, with a red bow tie, three red buttons, rosy cheeks and a line of cream icing all the way around it. Zigzags of icing cross its wrists and ankles, and dark brown shading down one side gives the cookie some depth. The icing outline is only a stitch or two wide, so on most rows you change to cream briefly at each edge of the cookie, and the zigzag rows are among the busiest in this Christmas set, with up to 21 color changes. Take those rows slowly, and the rest goes quickly in wide blocks of brown and blue.

The chart

The gingerbread pillow chart: 64 stitches by 74 rows in 6 yarns, with row and stitch numbers
  • Sky Blue 2645 stitches
  • Brown 1556 stitches
  • Cream 334 stitches
  • Dark brown 115 stitches
  • Red 64 stitches
  • Graphite 22 stitches

Other sizes

Your gaugeFront panel size
14 stitches in 4 in (10 cm)18.3 × 18.4 in (46.4 × 46.7 cm)
16 stitches in 4 in (10 cm) (this pattern)16 × 16.1 in (40.6 × 40.9 cm)
18 stitches in 4 in (10 cm)14.2 × 14.3 in (36.1 × 36.3 cm)
20 stitches in 4 in (10 cm)12.8 × 12.9 in (32.5 × 32.7 cm)

Working at a different gauge? Enter it in the size calculator with 64 stitches and 74 rows.

How to make it

Yarn and hook

Start with worsted weight yarn (medium, 4) and a 4 mm (US G-6) or 4.5 mm (US 7) hook. A hook one or two sizes smaller than the yarn label suggests makes a denser fabric that hides the carried strands. Swatch in two colors and measure: if you get more than 4 stitches per inch, go up a hook size; if you get fewer, go down.

Reading the chart

Each box in the chart is one single crochet stitch. The boxes are drawn a little wider than they are tall, so the chart matches the pillow's proportions. For a 16-inch (40 cm) square, aim for 16 stitches and about 18.5 rows in 4 inches (10 cm).

  • Row 1 is at the bottom.
  • Read odd rows (right side) from right to left and even rows (wrong side) from left to right.
  • Row numbers sit on the side where that row starts; stitch numbers count from the right.
  • Left-handed? Read every row the other way, on the chart and in the rows written out, and the picture still comes out as charted.

New to charts? How to read a tapestry crochet chart shows which way each row goes on a small sailboat.

Chain 65 in the first color for row 1. Starting in the second chain from the hook, work row 1 for a total of 64 stitches. Chain 1 and turn between rows. In the rows written out, each row's colors are listed in the order you work them.

Carrying the colors

Lay the unused colors along the top of the row below and crochet over them, so they ride inside the stitches. Change color on the final pull-through of the stitch before the new color begins: with two loops on the hook, pull the new color through both. Keep the carried strands relaxed so the fabric does not pucker. When you will not use a color for several rows, cut it, leave a tail, and join it again where it next appears.

The back

Crochet a second panel of 64 stitches by 74 rows in one color, and check it against the front: plain single crochet can come out a different size, so change the hook or the number of rows until the two match. Or sew on a fabric back cut to the front's size plus seam allowance; for an envelope back, use two hemmed pieces that overlap.

Assembling the pillow

Weave in the tails, then gently block the front to 16 inches (40 cm) square, following the care instructions on the yarn label. Put the panels wrong sides together and join three sides with single crochet or whip stitch through both edges. Push in a 16-inch (40 cm) pillow insert (a cushion pad in the UK) and close the fourth side the same way.

The rows written out

Show all 74 rows
  1. Row 1 (RS): 64 Sky Blue
  2. Row 2 (WS): 64 Sky Blue
  3. Row 3 (RS): 17 Sky Blue, 7 Cream, 16 Sky Blue, 7 Cream, 17 Sky Blue
  4. Row 4 (WS): 16 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 7 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 14 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 7 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 16 Sky Blue
  5. Row 5 (RS): 15 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 3 Dark brown, 6 Brown, 1 Cream, 12 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 3 Dark brown, 6 Brown, 1 Cream, 15 Sky Blue
  6. Row 6 (WS): 15 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 7 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 12 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 7 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 15 Sky Blue
  7. Row 7 (RS): 14 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 2 Dark brown, 9 Brown, 1 Cream, 10 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 2 Dark brown, 9 Brown, 1 Cream, 14 Sky Blue
  8. Row 8 (WS): 14 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 9 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 10 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 9 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 14 Sky Blue
  9. Row 9 (RS): 14 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 10 Brown, 1 Cream, 10 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 10 Brown, 1 Cream, 14 Sky Blue
  10. Row 10 (WS): 14 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 2 Brown, 1 Cream, 3 Brown, 1 Cream, 3 Brown, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 8 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 4 Brown, 1 Cream, 3 Brown, 1 Cream, 2 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 14 Sky Blue
  11. Row 11 (RS): 14 Sky Blue, 2 Cream, 1 Brown, 3 Cream, 1 Brown, 3 Cream, 3 Brown, 1 Cream, 8 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 2 Cream, 1 Brown, 3 Cream, 1 Brown, 3 Cream, 1 Brown, 1 Cream, 14 Sky Blue
  12. Row 12 (WS): 14 Sky Blue, 3 Cream, 1 Brown, 3 Cream, 1 Brown, 3 Cream, 1 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 7 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 3 Brown, 2 Cream, 1 Brown, 3 Cream, 1 Brown, 4 Cream, 14 Sky Blue
  13. Row 13 (RS): 15 Sky Blue, 2 Cream, 3 Brown, 1 Cream, 3 Brown, 1 Cream, 3 Brown, 1 Cream, 6 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 2 Dark brown, 2 Brown, 1 Cream, 3 Brown, 1 Cream, 3 Brown, 1 Cream, 15 Sky Blue
  14. Row 14 (WS): 15 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 10 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 6 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 12 Brown, 1 Cream, 15 Sky Blue
  15. Row 15 (RS): 16 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 12 Brown, 6 Cream, 2 Dark brown, 11 Brown, 1 Cream, 15 Sky Blue
  16. Row 16 (WS): 16 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 10 Brown, 6 Dark brown, 14 Brown, 1 Cream, 16 Sky Blue
  17. Row 17 (RS): 16 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 30 Brown, 1 Cream, 16 Sky Blue
  18. Row 18 (WS): 17 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 28 Brown, 1 Cream, 17 Sky Blue
  19. Row 19 (RS): 17 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 28 Brown, 1 Cream, 17 Sky Blue
  20. Row 20 (WS): 17 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 13 Brown, 2 Red, 13 Brown, 1 Cream, 17 Sky Blue
  21. Row 21 (RS): 18 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 11 Brown, 4 Red, 11 Brown, 1 Cream, 18 Sky Blue
  22. Row 22 (WS): 18 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 11 Brown, 4 Red, 11 Brown, 1 Cream, 18 Sky Blue
  23. Row 23 (RS): 18 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 12 Brown, 2 Red, 12 Brown, 1 Cream, 18 Sky Blue
  24. Row 24 (WS): 19 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 24 Brown, 1 Cream, 19 Sky Blue
  25. Row 25 (RS): 19 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 24 Brown, 1 Cream, 19 Sky Blue
  26. Row 26 (WS): 7 Sky Blue, 3 Cream, 9 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 23 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 9 Sky Blue, 3 Cream, 7 Sky Blue
  27. Row 27 (RS): 5 Sky Blue, 2 Cream, 3 Dark brown, 2 Cream, 7 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 10 Brown, 2 Red, 11 Brown, 1 Cream, 7 Sky Blue, 2 Cream, 3 Dark brown, 2 Cream, 5 Sky Blue
  28. Row 28 (WS): 4 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 3 Brown, 4 Dark brown, 3 Cream, 4 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 10 Brown, 4 Red, 9 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 4 Sky Blue, 3 Cream, 3 Brown, 4 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 4 Sky Blue
  29. Row 29 (RS): 4 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 2 Dark brown, 4 Brown, 2 Cream, 2 Brown, 2 Cream, 2 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 9 Brown, 4 Red, 10 Brown, 1 Cream, 2 Sky Blue, 2 Cream, 2 Dark brown, 2 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 5 Brown, 1 Cream, 4 Sky Blue
  30. Row 30 (WS): 3 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 6 Brown, 3 Cream, 4 Dark brown, 2 Cream, 12 Brown, 2 Red, 10 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 2 Cream, 5 Brown, 2 Cream, 4 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 3 Sky Blue
  31. Row 31 (RS): 3 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 2 Dark brown, 5 Brown, 2 Cream, 6 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 26 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 2 Brown, 2 Cream, 7 Brown, 1 Cream, 3 Sky Blue
  32. Row 32 (WS): 3 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 8 Brown, 2 Cream, 36 Brown, 2 Cream, 7 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 3 Sky Blue
  33. Row 33 (RS): 3 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 6 Brown, 2 Cream, 38 Brown, 2 Cream, 7 Brown, 1 Cream, 3 Sky Blue
  34. Row 34 (WS): 3 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 6 Brown, 2 Cream, 19 Brown, 2 Red, 19 Brown, 2 Cream, 5 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 3 Sky Blue
  35. Row 35 (RS): 3 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 6 Brown, 2 Cream, 17 Brown, 4 Red, 17 Brown, 2 Cream, 7 Brown, 1 Cream, 3 Sky Blue
  36. Row 36 (WS): 4 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 7 Brown, 2 Cream, 16 Brown, 4 Red, 16 Brown, 2 Cream, 7 Brown, 1 Cream, 4 Sky Blue
  37. Row 37 (RS): 4 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 6 Brown, 2 Cream, 18 Brown, 2 Red, 18 Brown, 2 Cream, 6 Brown, 1 Cream, 4 Sky Blue
  38. Row 38 (WS): 5 Sky Blue, 2 Cream, 3 Brown, 2 Cream, 40 Brown, 2 Cream, 3 Brown, 2 Cream, 5 Sky Blue
  39. Row 39 (RS): 7 Sky Blue, 3 Cream, 44 Brown, 3 Cream, 7 Sky Blue
  40. Row 40 (WS): 10 Sky Blue, 2 Cream, 40 Brown, 2 Cream, 10 Sky Blue
  41. Row 41 (RS): 12 Sky Blue, 3 Cream, 34 Brown, 3 Cream, 12 Sky Blue
  42. Row 42 (WS): 15 Sky Blue, 3 Cream, 10 Brown, 3 Red, 2 Brown, 3 Red, 10 Brown, 3 Cream, 15 Sky Blue
  43. Row 43 (RS): 18 Sky Blue, 2 Cream, 8 Brown, 8 Red, 8 Brown, 2 Cream, 18 Sky Blue
  44. Row 44 (WS): 20 Sky Blue, 2 Cream, 6 Brown, 3 Red, 2 Brown, 3 Red, 6 Brown, 2 Cream, 20 Sky Blue
  45. Row 45 (RS): 22 Sky Blue, 2 Cream, 16 Brown, 2 Cream, 22 Sky Blue
  46. Row 46 (WS): 24 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 14 Brown, 1 Cream, 24 Sky Blue
  47. Row 47 (RS): 24 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 14 Brown, 1 Cream, 24 Sky Blue
  48. Row 48 (WS): 23 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 14 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 23 Sky Blue
  49. Row 49 (RS): 22 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 3 Dark brown, 15 Brown, 1 Cream, 22 Sky Blue
  50. Row 50 (WS): 21 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 17 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 22 Sky Blue
  51. Row 51 (RS): 21 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 2 Dark brown, 18 Brown, 1 Cream, 21 Sky Blue
  52. Row 52 (WS): 21 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 18 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 21 Sky Blue
  53. Row 53 (RS): 20 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 2 Dark brown, 7 Brown, 4 Cream, 9 Brown, 1 Cream, 20 Sky Blue
  54. Row 54 (WS): 20 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 8 Brown, 1 Cream, 4 Brown, 1 Cream, 6 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 20 Sky Blue
  55. Row 55 (RS): 20 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 2 Red, 4 Brown, 1 Cream, 6 Brown, 1 Cream, 4 Brown, 2 Red, 1 Brown, 1 Cream, 20 Sky Blue
  56. Row 56 (WS): 20 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Brown, 2 Red, 16 Brown, 2 Red, 1 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 20 Sky Blue
  57. Row 57 (RS): 20 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 22 Brown, 1 Cream, 19 Sky Blue
  58. Row 58 (WS): 19 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 6 Brown, 2 Graphite, 8 Brown, 2 Graphite, 4 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 20 Sky Blue
  59. Row 59 (RS): 20 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 3 Brown, 4 Graphite, 6 Brown, 4 Graphite, 4 Brown, 1 Cream, 20 Sky Blue
  60. Row 60 (WS): 20 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 4 Brown, 1 Graphite, 1 Cream, 2 Graphite, 6 Brown, 1 Graphite, 1 Cream, 2 Graphite, 3 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 20 Sky Blue
  61. Row 61 (RS): 20 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 4 Brown, 2 Graphite, 8 Brown, 2 Graphite, 5 Brown, 1 Cream, 20 Sky Blue
  62. Row 62 (WS): 20 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 21 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 1 Cream, 20 Sky Blue
  63. Row 63 (RS): 20 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 21 Brown, 1 Cream, 20 Sky Blue
  64. Row 64 (WS): 21 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 20 Brown, 1 Cream, 21 Sky Blue
  65. Row 65 (RS): 21 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 20 Brown, 1 Cream, 21 Sky Blue
  66. Row 66 (WS): 22 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 18 Brown, 1 Cream, 22 Sky Blue
  67. Row 67 (RS): 22 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 18 Brown, 1 Cream, 22 Sky Blue
  68. Row 68 (WS): 23 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 16 Brown, 1 Cream, 23 Sky Blue
  69. Row 69 (RS): 24 Sky Blue, 1 Cream, 14 Brown, 1 Cream, 24 Sky Blue
  70. Row 70 (WS): 25 Sky Blue, 2 Cream, 10 Brown, 2 Cream, 25 Sky Blue
  71. Row 71 (RS): 27 Sky Blue, 3 Cream, 4 Brown, 3 Cream, 27 Sky Blue
  72. Row 72 (WS): 30 Sky Blue, 4 Cream, 30 Sky Blue
  73. Row 73 (RS): 64 Sky Blue
  74. Row 74 (WS): 64 Sky Blue

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