
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.
About 7 pages to print
Save to PinterestThe 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
- Deep purple 2749 stitches
- Cream 1018 stitches
- Silver 578 stitches
- Gray 276 stitches
- Black 115 stitches
Other sizes
| Your gauge | Front 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
- Row 1 (RS): 64 Deep purple
- Row 2 (WS): 64 Deep purple
- Row 3 (RS): 64 Deep purple
- Row 4 (WS): 34 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 3 Silver, 4 Gray, 21 Deep purple
- Row 5 (RS): 20 Deep purple, 3 Cream, 1 Silver, 4 Cream, 2 Silver, 2 Gray, 32 Deep purple
- Row 6 (WS): 30 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 2 Silver, 10 Cream, 1 Silver, 19 Deep purple
- Row 7 (RS): 19 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 11 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Gray, 29 Deep purple
- Row 8 (WS): 27 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Silver, 15 Cream, 1 Gray, 18 Deep purple
- Row 9 (RS): 18 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Cream, 2 Silver, 13 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 26 Deep purple
- Row 10 (WS): 25 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 12 Cream, 5 Silver, 1 Cream, 1 Gray, 18 Deep purple
- Row 11 (RS): 18 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 7 Silver, 12 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 23 Deep purple
- Row 12 (WS): 21 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Silver, 12 Cream, 10 Silver, 18 Deep purple
- Row 13 (RS): 17 Deep purple, 3 Silver, 5 Gray, 7 Silver, 2 Cream, 1 Silver, 6 Cream, 2 Silver, 21 Deep purple
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Row 49 (RS): 11 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 27 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 3 Silver, 1 Cream, 8 Silver, 11 Deep purple
- Row 50 (WS): 11 Deep purple, 7 Silver, 2 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Gray, 28 Cream, 1 Gray, 11 Deep purple
- Row 51 (RS): 11 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 28 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 3 Silver, 2 Cream, 6 Silver, 11 Deep purple
- Row 52 (WS): 11 Deep purple, 6 Silver, 2 Cream, 4 Silver, 29 Cream, 1 Gray, 11 Deep purple
- Row 53 (RS): 12 Deep purple, 17 Cream, 2 Silver, 11 Cream, 4 Silver, 1 Cream, 5 Silver, 1 Gray, 11 Deep purple
- 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
- Row 55 (RS): 12 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 30 Cream, 9 Silver, 12 Deep purple
- Row 56 (WS): 12 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 8 Silver, 30 Cream, 1 Gray, 12 Deep purple
- Row 57 (RS): 13 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 29 Cream, 8 Silver, 13 Deep purple
- Row 58 (WS): 13 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 8 Silver, 16 Cream, 1 Silver, 11 Cream, 1 Gray, 13 Deep purple
- Row 59 (RS): 14 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 31 Cream, 4 Silver, 14 Deep purple
- Row 60 (WS): 15 Deep purple, 4 Silver, 2 Cream, 3 Silver, 25 Cream, 1 Gray, 14 Deep purple
- Row 61 (RS): 15 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 24 Cream, 3 Silver, 2 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Gray, 15 Deep purple
- 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
- Row 63 (RS): 17 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 26 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 17 Deep purple
- Row 64 (WS): 18 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Silver, 3 Cream, 1 Silver, 20 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 17 Deep purple
- Row 65 (RS): 19 Deep purple, 1 Silver, 22 Cream, 2 Silver, 1 Gray, 19 Deep purple
- Row 66 (WS): 21 Deep purple, 2 Silver, 20 Cream, 1 Silver, 20 Deep purple
- Row 67 (RS): 21 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 17 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 22 Deep purple
- Row 68 (WS): 24 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 1 Silver, 13 Cream, 1 Silver, 1 Gray, 23 Deep purple
- Row 69 (RS): 26 Deep purple, 1 Gray, 2 Silver, 4 Cream, 3 Silver, 1 Gray, 27 Deep purple
- Row 70 (WS): 32 Deep purple, 2 Gray, 30 Deep purple
- Row 71 (RS): 64 Deep purple
- Row 72 (WS): 64 Deep purple
- Row 73 (RS): 64 Deep purple
- Row 74 (WS): 64 Deep purple
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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