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A square green pillow with a pixel Santa face: a red hat with a cream pom-pom, rosy cheeks and a big cream beard.

Free Christmas pattern

Santa 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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About 6 pages to print

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Santa's face fills this Christmas pillow cover on a green background: a red hat with a cream pom-pom, a wide cream brim, rosy cheeks and a big cream beard. Silver shading under the brim, along the mustache and down one side of the beard keeps the cream shapes apart; check its few single stitches against the chart. It is a classic Christmas pillow that works up quickly, since the hat, the face and the beard are wide blocks of one color. Slow down at the eyes, each with a one-stitch cream highlight, and at the small dark smile under the mustache.

The chart

The Santa pillow chart: 64 stitches by 74 rows in 6 yarns, with row and stitch numbers
  • Green 2194 stitches
  • Cream 1271 stitches
  • Red 564 stitches
  • Peach 466 stitches
  • Silver 207 stitches
  • Graphite 34 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 Green
  2. Row 2 (WS): 31 Green, 2 Silver, 31 Green
  3. Row 3 (RS): 28 Green, 8 Silver, 28 Green
  4. Row 4 (WS): 27 Green, 2 Silver, 2 Cream, 6 Silver, 27 Green
  5. Row 5 (RS): 26 Green, 4 Silver, 8 Cream, 26 Green
  6. Row 6 (WS): 25 Green, 10 Cream, 4 Silver, 25 Green
  7. Row 7 (RS): 22 Green, 6 Silver, 12 Cream, 2 Silver, 22 Green
  8. Row 8 (WS): 20 Green, 3 Silver, 14 Cream, 7 Silver, 20 Green
  9. Row 9 (RS): 19 Green, 5 Silver, 20 Cream, 1 Silver, 19 Green
  10. Row 10 (WS): 18 Green, 24 Cream, 4 Silver, 18 Green
  11. Row 11 (RS): 17 Green, 4 Silver, 26 Cream, 17 Green
  12. Row 12 (WS): 16 Green, 28 Cream, 3 Silver, 17 Green
  13. Row 13 (RS): 16 Green, 3 Silver, 29 Cream, 16 Green
  14. Row 14 (WS): 15 Green, 30 Cream, 4 Silver, 15 Green
  15. Row 15 (RS): 15 Green, 3 Silver, 31 Cream, 15 Green
  16. Row 16 (WS): 14 Green, 33 Cream, 3 Silver, 14 Green
  17. Row 17 (RS): 14 Green, 3 Silver, 33 Cream, 14 Green
  18. Row 18 (WS): 14 Green, 34 Cream, 2 Silver, 14 Green
  19. Row 19 (RS): 13 Green, 3 Silver, 15 Cream, 2 Graphite, 18 Cream, 13 Green
  20. Row 20 (WS): 13 Green, 17 Cream, 1 Graphite, 2 Cream, 1 Graphite, 14 Cream, 3 Silver, 13 Green
  21. Row 21 (RS): 13 Green, 2 Silver, 5 Cream, 8 Silver, 8 Cream, 8 Silver, 7 Cream, 13 Green
  22. Row 22 (WS): 12 Green, 6 Cream, 4 Silver, 3 Cream, 5 Silver, 4 Cream, 4 Silver, 4 Cream, 4 Silver, 3 Cream, 3 Silver, 12 Green
  23. Row 23 (RS): 12 Green, 3 Silver, 2 Cream, 2 Silver, 10 Cream, 2 Silver, 2 Cream, 2 Silver, 10 Cream, 3 Silver, 4 Cream, 12 Green
  24. Row 24 (WS): 12 Green, 4 Cream, 1 Silver, 14 Cream, 2 Silver, 14 Cream, 1 Silver, 2 Cream, 2 Silver, 12 Green
  25. Row 25 (RS): 12 Green, 2 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 32 Cream, 1 Silver, 3 Cream, 12 Green
  26. Row 26 (WS): 12 Green, 19 Cream, 3 Silver, 16 Cream, 2 Silver, 12 Green
  27. Row 27 (RS): 11 Green, 18 Cream, 1 Silver, 4 Peach, 19 Cream, 11 Green
  28. Row 28 (WS): 11 Green, 18 Cream, 6 Peach, 1 Silver, 17 Cream, 11 Green
  29. Row 29 (RS): 11 Green, 17 Cream, 1 Silver, 6 Peach, 18 Cream, 11 Green
  30. Row 30 (WS): 11 Green, 17 Cream, 8 Peach, 17 Cream, 11 Green
  31. Row 31 (RS): 11 Green, 5 Cream, 4 Peach, 8 Cream, 8 Peach, 8 Cream, 4 Peach, 5 Cream, 11 Green
  32. Row 32 (WS): 11 Green, 5 Cream, 7 Peach, 3 Cream, 12 Peach, 3 Cream, 7 Peach, 5 Cream, 11 Green
  33. Row 33 (RS): 11 Green, 4 Cream, 34 Peach, 4 Cream, 11 Green
  34. Row 34 (WS): 11 Green, 4 Cream, 34 Peach, 4 Cream, 11 Green
  35. Row 35 (RS): 11 Green, 3 Cream, 36 Peach, 3 Cream, 11 Green
  36. Row 36 (WS): 11 Green, 3 Cream, 3 Peach, 3 Red, 24 Peach, 3 Red, 3 Peach, 3 Cream, 11 Green
  37. Row 37 (RS): 11 Green, 3 Cream, 3 Peach, 3 Red, 24 Peach, 3 Red, 3 Peach, 3 Cream, 11 Green
  38. Row 38 (WS): 11 Green, 2 Cream, 37 Peach, 3 Cream, 11 Green
  39. Row 39 (RS): 11 Green, 2 Cream, 11 Peach, 2 Graphite, 12 Peach, 2 Graphite, 11 Peach, 2 Cream, 11 Green
  40. Row 40 (WS): 11 Green, 2 Cream, 10 Peach, 4 Graphite, 10 Peach, 4 Graphite, 10 Peach, 2 Cream, 11 Green
  41. Row 41 (RS): 11 Green, 2 Cream, 10 Peach, 4 Graphite, 10 Peach, 4 Graphite, 10 Peach, 2 Cream, 11 Green
  42. Row 42 (WS): 11 Green, 2 Cream, 10 Peach, 1 Graphite, 1 Cream, 2 Graphite, 10 Peach, 1 Graphite, 1 Cream, 2 Graphite, 10 Peach, 2 Cream, 11 Green
  43. Row 43 (RS): 11 Green, 2 Cream, 11 Peach, 2 Graphite, 12 Peach, 2 Graphite, 12 Peach, 1 Cream, 11 Green
  44. Row 44 (WS): 11 Green, 1 Cream, 40 Peach, 12 Green
  45. Row 45 (RS): 11 Green, 41 Silver, 12 Green
  46. Row 46 (WS): 11 Green, 1 Silver, 40 Cream, 2 Silver, 10 Green
  47. Row 47 (RS): 10 Green, 1 Silver, 42 Cream, 11 Green
  48. Row 48 (WS): 10 Green, 44 Cream, 10 Green
  49. Row 49 (RS): 10 Green, 44 Cream, 10 Green
  50. Row 50 (WS): 10 Green, 44 Cream, 10 Green
  51. Row 51 (RS): 10 Green, 44 Cream, 10 Green
  52. Row 52 (WS): 10 Green, 43 Cream, 11 Green
  53. Row 53 (RS): 11 Green, 42 Cream, 11 Green
  54. Row 54 (WS): 12 Green, 40 Cream, 12 Green
  55. Row 55 (RS): 13 Green, 38 Red, 13 Green
  56. Row 56 (WS): 13 Green, 38 Red, 13 Green
  57. Row 57 (RS): 13 Green, 37 Red, 14 Green
  58. Row 58 (WS): 14 Green, 38 Red, 12 Green
  59. Row 59 (RS): 4 Green, 5 Silver, 1 Green, 40 Red, 14 Green
  60. Row 60 (WS): 14 Green, 40 Red, 1 Silver, 5 Cream, 1 Silver, 3 Green
  61. Row 61 (RS): 2 Green, 1 Silver, 7 Cream, 39 Red, 15 Green
  62. Row 62 (WS): 15 Green, 38 Red, 8 Cream, 1 Silver, 2 Green
  63. Row 63 (RS): 2 Green, 9 Cream, 37 Red, 16 Green
  64. Row 64 (WS): 16 Green, 37 Red, 9 Cream, 2 Green
  65. Row 65 (RS): 2 Green, 9 Cream, 36 Red, 17 Green
  66. Row 66 (WS): 18 Green, 31 Red, 2 Green, 2 Red, 9 Cream, 2 Green
  67. Row 67 (RS): 3 Green, 7 Cream, 2 Red, 4 Green, 29 Red, 19 Green
  68. Row 68 (WS): 21 Green, 26 Red, 8 Green, 5 Cream, 4 Green
  69. Row 69 (RS): 5 Green, 3 Cream, 11 Green, 23 Red, 22 Green
  70. Row 70 (WS): 25 Green, 17 Red, 22 Green
  71. Row 71 (RS): 29 Green, 4 Red, 31 Green
  72. Row 72 (WS): 64 Green
  73. Row 73 (RS): 64 Green
  74. Row 74 (WS): 64 Green

You are welcome to sell pillows you make from this pattern. Please share a link to the pattern's web page instead of the pattern itself.

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Free pattern

Santa 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.

The Santa pillow chart: 64 stitches by 74 rows in 6 yarns, with row and stitch numbers

You are welcome to sell pillows you make from this pattern. Please share a link to the pattern's web page instead of the pattern itself.

Rows 1 to 37, stitches 1 to 32 (bottom right)

The Santa pillow chart: 64 stitches by 74 rows in 6 yarns, with row and stitch numbers: rows 1 to 37, stitches 1 to 32

Rows 1 to 37, stitches 33 to 64 (bottom left)

The Santa pillow chart: 64 stitches by 74 rows in 6 yarns, with row and stitch numbers: rows 1 to 37, stitches 33 to 64

Rows 38 to 74, stitches 1 to 32 (top right)

The Santa pillow chart: 64 stitches by 74 rows in 6 yarns, with row and stitch numbers: rows 38 to 74, stitches 1 to 32

Rows 38 to 74, stitches 33 to 64 (top left)

The Santa pillow chart: 64 stitches by 74 rows in 6 yarns, with row and stitch numbers: rows 38 to 74, stitches 33 to 64

The rows written out

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

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