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A square deep purple pillow with a shaded skull in cream, silver and gray, turned a little to one side.

Free Halloween pattern

Skull tapestry crochet pillow

64 × 74 stitches, 5 yarns, single crochet. Fits a 16 in (40 cm) pillow insert when your gauge is 4 stitches per inch.

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About 7 pages to print

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The skull in this pattern comes from a photo of a skull decoration. Its face is turned slightly to one side, with deep eye sockets, a dark nose and a row of teeth above a strong jaw. Stitches in three similar shades, cream, silver and gray, give the skull its rounded shape, so follow the rows written out for the shading and count especially carefully around the teeth. The deep purple background around it gives you wide stretches of one color.

The chart

The skull pillow chart: 64 stitches by 74 rows in 5 yarns, with row and stitch numbers
  • Deep purple 2749 stitches
  • Cream 1018 stitches
  • Silver 578 stitches
  • Gray 276 stitches
  • Black 115 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 Deep purple
  2. Row 2 (WS): 64 Deep purple
  3. Row 3 (RS): 64 Deep purple
  4. Row 4 (WS): 34 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 3 Silver, 4 Gray, 21 Deep purple
  5. Row 5 (RS): 20 Deep purple, 3 Cream, 1 Silver, 4 Cream, 2 Silver, 2 Gray, 32 Deep purple
  6. Row 6 (WS): 30 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 2 Silver, 10 Cream, 1 Silver, 19 Deep purple
  7. Row 7 (RS): 19 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 11 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Gray, 29 Deep purple
  8. Row 8 (WS): 27 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Silver, 15 Cream, 1 Gray, 18 Deep purple
  9. Row 9 (RS): 18 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Cream, 2 Silver, 13 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 26 Deep purple
  10. Row 10 (WS): 25 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 12 Cream, 5 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Gray, 18 Deep purple
  11. Row 11 (RS): 18 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 7 Silver, 12 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 23 Deep purple
  12. Row 12 (WS): 21 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Silver, 12 Cream, 10 Silver, 18 Deep purple
  13. Row 13 (RS): 17 Deep purple, 3 Silver, 5 Gray, 7 Silver, 2 Cream, 1 Silver, 6 Cream, 2 Silver, 21 Deep purple
  14. Row 14 (WS): 21 Deep purple, 2 Silver, 5 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 2 Gray, 1 Silver, 4 Gray, 1 Silver, 1 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Deep purple, 3 Gray, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 17 Deep purple
  15. Row 15 (RS): 17 Deep purple, 2 Silver, 2 Gray, 1 Silver, 2 Gray, 1 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 1 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 1 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 4 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 21 Deep purple
  16. Row 16 (WS): 21 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 2 Cream, 4 Silver, 1 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Black, 1 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 1 Black, 3 Gray, 4 Silver, 3 Cream, 2 Silver, 17 Deep purple
  17. Row 17 (RS): 17 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Gray, 1 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 5 Deep purple, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 21 Deep purple
  18. Row 18 (WS): 21 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 3 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 2 Black, 1 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 1 Cream, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 4 Silver, 1 Gray, 3 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 17 Deep purple
  19. Row 19 (RS): 17 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 4 Silver, 2 Gray, 1 Silver, 2 Gray, 1 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 1 Deep purple, 1 Black, 1 Deep purple, 2 Silver, 1 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 21 Deep purple
  20. Row 20 (WS): 21 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 2 Black, 6 Gray, 2 Silver, 9 Cream, 1 Gray, 17 Deep purple
  21. Row 21 (RS): 17 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 12 Cream, 3 Gray, 2 Deep purple, 2 Black, 1 Deep purple, 4 Silver, 1 Gray, 21 Deep purple
  22. Row 22 (WS): 21 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 4 Black, 2 Gray, 2 Silver, 12 Cream, 1 Gray, 17 Deep purple
  23. Row 23 (RS): 17 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 12 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 1 Deep purple, 4 Black, 3 Gray, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 21 Deep purple
  24. Row 24 (WS): 21 Deep purple, 5 Gray, 4 Black, 1 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 9 Cream, 1 Silver, 3 Cream, 1 Silver, 17 Deep purple
  25. Row 25 (RS): 16 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 2 Cream, 3 Silver, 8 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 5 Black, 1 Deep purple, 5 Gray, 20 Deep purple
  26. Row 26 (WS): 20 Deep purple, 5 Gray, 1 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 1 Silver, 2 Gray, 1 Silver, 6 Cream, 3 Silver, 2 Gray, 1 Silver, 2 Cream, 1 Silver, 4 Gray, 13 Deep purple
  27. Row 27 (RS): 12 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Cream, 2 Silver, 3 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Cream, 4 Silver, 9 Cream, 1 Silver, 6 Gray, 20 Deep purple
  28. Row 28 (WS): 20 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 9 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 4 Gray, 1 Silver, 7 Cream, 12 Deep purple
  29. Row 29 (RS): 11 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 7 Cream, 1 Silver, 4 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Cream, 1 Silver, 2 Cream, 6 Silver, 3 Cream, 3 Silver, 3 Gray, 19 Deep purple
  30. Row 30 (WS): 18 Deep purple, 3 Gray, 1 Silver, 7 Cream, 6 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 2 Cream, 1 Deep purple, 1 Black, 1 Deep purple, 1 Black, 1 Deep purple, 2 Silver, 3 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 11 Deep purple
  31. Row 31 (RS): 10 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Cream, 2 Silver, 2 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Gray, 3 Black, 1 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 3 Cream, 5 Silver, 7 Cream, 3 Silver, 2 Gray, 1 Silver, 17 Deep purple
  32. Row 32 (WS): 17 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 4 Silver, 7 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 4 Silver, 4 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Deep purple, 3 Black, 1 Gray, 1 Cream, 6 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 10 Deep purple
  33. Row 33 (RS): 10 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 3 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Deep purple, 2 Black, 1 Gray, 5 Cream, 2 Silver, 3 Cream, 2 Silver, 5 Cream, 4 Silver, 1 Gray, 18 Deep purple
  34. Row 34 (WS): 18 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 3 Silver, 4 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 6 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 3 Cream, 1 Gray, 2 Black, 1 Gray, 4 Cream, 1 Silver, 4 Cream, 11 Deep purple
  35. Row 35 (RS): 11 Deep purple, 2 Cream, 6 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Gray, 2 Black, 1 Silver, 4 Cream, 5 Silver, 2 Gray, 3 Silver, 3 Cream, 3 Silver, 3 Gray, 17 Deep purple
  36. Row 36 (WS): 17 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 4 Silver, 3 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 1 Deep purple, 5 Gray, 2 Silver, 1 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Gray, 1 Black, 1 Silver, 4 Gray, 3 Silver, 2 Cream, 11 Deep purple
  37. Row 37 (RS): 11 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 4 Gray, 3 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 3 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 5 Gray, 4 Deep purple, 3 Silver, 2 Cream, 1 Gray, 4 Silver, 2 Gray, 16 Deep purple
  38. Row 38 (WS): 16 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 5 Silver, 1 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Gray, 6 Deep purple, 4 Gray, 1 Cream, 2 Silver, 2 Cream, 1 Gray, 3 Black, 1 Deep purple, 3 Gray, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 11 Deep purple
  39. Row 39 (RS): 11 Deep purple, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 2 Deep purple, 5 Black, 2 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Gray, 8 Deep purple, 1 Black, 1 Deep purple, 10 Silver, 2 Gray, 15 Deep purple
  40. Row 40 (WS): 15 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 10 Silver, 2 Black, 1 Gray, 1 Deep purple, 4 Black, 2 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Silver, 2 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Black, 1 Deep purple, 5 Black, 1 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 11 Deep purple
  41. Row 41 (RS): 11 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 1 Deep purple, 6 Black, 1 Gray, 1 Black, 1 Gray, 2 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 1 Deep purple, 8 Black, 1 Gray, 2 Silver, 1 Cream, 8 Silver, 2 Gray, 14 Deep purple
  42. Row 42 (WS): 13 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 4 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 6 Silver, 1 Gray, 8 Black, 1 Gray, 3 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 8 Black, 1 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 11 Deep purple
  43. Row 43 (RS): 11 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 6 Black, 1 Gray, 2 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 2 Gray, 1 Deep purple, 7 Black, 1 Gray, 3 Cream, 3 Silver, 5 Cream, 3 Silver, 2 Gray, 13 Deep purple
  44. Row 44 (WS): 12 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 5 Silver, 4 Cream, 4 Silver, 4 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Deep purple, 5 Black, 1 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 4 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 4 Black, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 11 Deep purple
  45. Row 45 (RS): 11 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 2 Cream, 4 Silver, 8 Cream, 1 Silver, 3 Gray, 1 Silver, 6 Cream, 6 Silver, 4 Cream, 4 Silver, 1 Gray, 12 Deep purple
  46. Row 46 (WS): 11 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 7 Silver, 1 Cream, 5 Silver, 1 Gray, 9 Cream, 2 Silver, 15 Cream, 1 Gray, 11 Deep purple
  47. Row 47 (RS): 11 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 26 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 4 Silver, 1 Cream, 7 Silver, 1 Gray, 11 Deep purple
  48. Row 48 (WS): 11 Deep purple, 3 Silver, 1 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 3 Silver, 2 Gray, 27 Cream, 1 Gray, 11 Deep purple
  49. Row 49 (RS): 11 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 27 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 3 Silver, 1 Cream, 8 Silver, 11 Deep purple
  50. Row 50 (WS): 11 Deep purple, 7 Silver, 2 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Gray, 28 Cream, 1 Gray, 11 Deep purple
  51. Row 51 (RS): 11 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 28 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 3 Silver, 2 Cream, 6 Silver, 11 Deep purple
  52. Row 52 (WS): 11 Deep purple, 6 Silver, 2 Cream, 4 Silver, 29 Cream, 1 Gray, 11 Deep purple
  53. Row 53 (RS): 12 Deep purple, 17 Cream, 2 Silver, 11 Cream, 4 Silver, 1 Cream, 5 Silver, 1 Gray, 11 Deep purple
  54. Row 54 (WS): 11 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 4 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 2 Silver, 30 Cream, 1 Silver, 12 Deep purple
  55. Row 55 (RS): 12 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 30 Cream, 9 Silver, 12 Deep purple
  56. Row 56 (WS): 12 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 8 Silver, 30 Cream, 1 Gray, 12 Deep purple
  57. Row 57 (RS): 13 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 29 Cream, 8 Silver, 13 Deep purple
  58. Row 58 (WS): 13 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 8 Silver, 16 Cream, 1 Silver, 11 Cream, 1 Gray, 13 Deep purple
  59. Row 59 (RS): 14 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 31 Cream, 4 Silver, 14 Deep purple
  60. Row 60 (WS): 15 Deep purple, 4 Silver, 2 Cream, 3 Silver, 25 Cream, 1 Gray, 14 Deep purple
  61. Row 61 (RS): 15 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 24 Cream, 3 Silver, 2 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Gray, 15 Deep purple
  62. Row 62 (WS): 16 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Cream, 2 Silver, 23 Cream, 1 Silver, 16 Deep purple
  63. Row 63 (RS): 17 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 26 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 17 Deep purple
  64. Row 64 (WS): 18 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Silver, 3 Cream, 1 Silver, 20 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 17 Deep purple
  65. Row 65 (RS): 19 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 22 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 19 Deep purple
  66. Row 66 (WS): 21 Deep purple, 2 Silver, 20 Cream, 1 Silver, 20 Deep purple
  67. Row 67 (RS): 21 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 17 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 22 Deep purple
  68. Row 68 (WS): 24 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 13 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 23 Deep purple
  69. Row 69 (RS): 26 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Silver, 4 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Gray, 27 Deep purple
  70. Row 70 (WS): 32 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 30 Deep purple
  71. Row 71 (RS): 64 Deep purple
  72. Row 72 (WS): 64 Deep purple
  73. Row 73 (RS): 64 Deep purple
  74. Row 74 (WS): 64 Deep purple

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