Get ready to be cozy with this crochet Valentine’s Day free crochet heart pillow pattern!
Crochet cushion covers are such a great project and one I don’t make nearly often enough. The base of this pillow is the same for the front and back panel then the heart panel will be made separately and attached after.
Whether you are a beginner or expert, you can make this crochet pillow pattern in the softest yarn you can find. blog post
Worked back and forth there is no right side or wrong sides as they are both the same and come together using just a row of single crochet.
Want a beautiful pink planket just like the one in the photo? Check it out here
This crochet pillow cover, however, is getting back to basics with all single crochet.
INSPIRATION
The inspiration for this Valentine’s cushion cover came from the yarn itself. Red Heart Hygge Fur (this has now been discontinued, see materials below for substitute) I could not resist making soft fluffy crochet pillows that everyone would want to snuggle up to.
The idea of adding the crochet heart came to me right away because the cream yarn was right beside the pink, reminding me of Valentine’s Day.
Originally I purchased both the pink and the cream to crochet the heart in the same yarn. My intention was to make a shape of a heart in the fur as well. However, it can be challenging to see stitches when working with this yarn, so I decided that a contrasting yarn would work well and be easier to work with.
In the end, I really like how it worked out with the different styles of yarn! Using a contrasting yarn is also great if you have a favourite yarn or colour you want to use.
Tips for Crocheting with Faux Fur Yarn
Before you start working with faux fur yarn, I want to share a few things I learned while making this cushion cover. It’s not difficult, but it does feel different than working with regular yarn, and a few small adjustments make it much easier.
- Faux fur is very forgiving.
Small inconsistencies disappear into the texture, which is honestly part of why I like working with - You won’t really be able to see your stitches.
That’s normal with faux fur yarn, even when you’re only using single crochet. - Use your fingers more than your eyes.
I found it easiest to gently squish each stitch between my thumb and index finger to feel where the opening is before inserting my hook. - Simple stitches work best.
Single crochet keeps the fabric sturdy and helps the fur do all the work visually. - Count your stitches every round.
When you’re working in the round, counting is important. Faux fur hides missed stitches really well, and it’s much easier to catch mistakes early. - Use stitch markers.
Marking the beginning of each round saves a lot of guesswork, especially once everything starts looking the same. - If it feels tight, try a slightly larger hook.
Faux fur can feel dense, and a bigger hook can make the stitches easier to work into. - Lighter colours are easier to start with.
Dark faux fur makes it harder to feel and track stitches, especially if you’re new to this yarn. - Good lighting helps more than you’d expect.
You still won’t see much, but it makes working a lot less tiring. - It might look a little odd while you’re working.
Once the piece is finished, the fur tends to even everything out on its own.
Notes
- Count your stitches as you work to make sure each round has the correct number of stitches.
- If you need to put your crochet cushion cover down partway through a round, quickly jot down how many stitches you’ve completed. This saves you from having to count again from the beginning.
- When counting stitches, use the same method you use while crocheting. Gently squish each stitch between your fingers to feel it rather than trying to count by sight.
- If you’re newer to crochet and feel intimidated by not being able to see your stitches, consider holding a regular yarn together with the faux fur.
- For this crochet cushion cover, I used two strands of Hygge Fur held together. You can easily add a third strand of worsted weight yarn to make stitches easier to see.
- Using a worsted weight yarn in the same colour will help with visibility without making the extra strand obvious in the finished project.
I jumped right in made my first one didn’t count didn’t measure and it turned out great! NOT!
I have to admit – I made this twice. I was so excited to get started. I never measured my cushion. I jumped right in, and every night in front of the tele, I hooked away. Then it was time! I slipped the cover over my cushion and VOILA! IT DIDN’T FIT. 😭 My own dang fault! But I am happy to say I am a person who learns from their mistakes! Most times…
So! Now that we know what not to do – you don’t need to make the same mistakes as me! 😃
Shall we get on with it?
How to Crochet a Custom Fit Cushion Cover with Picture Tutorial
I am going to show you in a few easy steps how to make a crochet cushion cover that fits perfectly.
Once you have chosen your favourite yarn and hook, you are ready to start, or use the same as me! Listed below.
Free Crochet Heart Valentine’s Pillow Cover
Size
14″ X 14″
Skill Level
Easy
Abbreviations
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
st – stitch
slst – slip stitch
Materials
8mm hook (for crochet cushion cover)
9mm hook (for crochet heart)
Tapestry Needle
Stitch Marker
2 Skeins Cotton Tail RED HEART Hygge Fur. This has since been discontinued but the Fable Fur by We Crochet is a perfect substitute.
1/2 Skien Super Bulky weight yarn Lion Brands WoolEase Thick N Quick in Pink
STEP 1:
Holding 2 strands of yarn together (one from each end of the skien) leave a tail long enough to sew your cushion closed before you do your slip stitch.
Then chain enough stitches so that it that wraps snuggly around your cushion, this will ensure a nice full crochet cushion cover.
If you make the chain too long the cover will be too big or your cushion may feel to small.
If you do not have a cushion chain the amount of stitches needed reach desired width in inches less 2 inches.
This cushion is 16″ so I will chain to 14″
STEP 2:
Once you have the perfect fit, COUNT your chains (and jot it somewhere if you are like me and tend to forget) and join the ends together with a slip stitch forming a circle, taking care not to twist the stitches.
PRO TIP Sometimes I find laying it on a flat surface can help to keep the stitches from twisting.
STEP 3:
Round 1: Sc in each chain around.
Continue to work continuous rounds of single crochet until cover measures 14″ or desired length. There is no need to join each round. However, I strongly recommend you count your stitches at each round and be sure to use a stitch marker to mark the end of your rounds. You are guaranteed a nicely shaped crochet cushion cover if you count!
When you feel you are getting close to the size you want, you need to measure your cover to confirm the length is correct (see handy hint below).
Handy Hint
If the crochet cover you are making is square, you can check the length by taking one corner and folding it diagonally towards the other. If it makes a perfect triangle, the crochet cushion cover is ready to be filled.
See the photo below. You can see here I still have about 4 inches to go on the cover before it becomes a perfect square.
TIME TO CROCHET THE HEART!
Time to stuff it? WAIT!!! If you are adding a heart or any appliqué you will want to do it now.
Be sure to scroll down for the easiest way to attach the applique.
OR scroll down past crochet heart pattern to finish the cover.
Use your 9mm hook along with any super bulky yarn. I used Lion Brands WoolEase Thick N Quick in Pink.
HOW TO CROCHET A HEART
Tips for beginner crocheters! Watch this video all the way through a few times so that you know what to expect. The heart in the video is made from worsted weight yarn but be sure to sub in the hook and yarn called for in this crochet heart pattern.
Large Crochet Heart Pattern Free! Scroll Down…
There was no need for me to design a new heart pattern for the cushion; this heart pattern worked perfectly for this. I chose a much thicker yarn and larger hook and was really pleased with the result. A perfect LARGE heart to decorate my crochet cushion cover! You can watch the video here or scroll down for written instructions.
Notes: This heart will be worked in rounds. The beginning round will be worked across the top of the beginning chain and then around the bottom – creating your 1st round.
Use stitch markers to mark the beginning of each round. This is a must for beginners!
Stitches in brackets eg (sc, ch 2, sc) are all worked in one stitch.
Using hook of your choice:
Ch 15 Be sure to keep stitches loose otherwise it will be difficult to work round 1.
Rnd 1
3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 5 ch, skip next 2 ch (place stitch marker to mark ch 2 space), sc in next 5 ch, 3 sc in last ch.
Turn work so that you are now working in the bottom loops of beginning chain.
Sc in 1st 5 sts, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch 2 space, sc in last 5 sts. (30)
Rnd 2
You will now be at the very first stitch of round 1 as indicated by your stitch marker.
2 sc in 1st 3 sts, sc in next 4 sts, skip next 2 sts. Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next 3 sts.
Sc in next 6 sts, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch 2 space. Sc in last 6 sts (36)
Rnd 3
2 sc in next 6 sts, sc next 3 sts, skip 2 sts. Sc next 3 sts, 2sc next 6 sts.
Sc next 7 sts, (sc, ch 2, sc) (Place stitch marker in ch 2 space) Sc last 7 sts. (48)
Rnd 4
Sc in 1st 6 sts, 2 sc in next 2 sts. Sc next 6 sts, skip next 2 sts. Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next 2 sts.
Sc in next 14 sts, (sc, ch 3, sc) in ch 2 space. Sc in last 9 sts. (53)
FAIL PROOF APPLIQUÉ ATTACHMENT
- Once your appliqué is ready to attach you will want to try it out in different areas on your project – in this case your cushion cover and pick your favourite spot.
- Then BEFORE sewing on I highly recommend using some Liquid Stitch or Speed Sew to secure your appliqué or crochet heart in the best position. This is my number one tip for anything being sewn to a crochet or knit project.
You will need to leave it to dry for an hour or so but it is totally worth it! There is nothing worse than stitching on your appliqué only to find that it has slid out of position.
- Once the appliqué or heart is secure you can sew around the outside for extra security and a beautiful finishing touch.
Okay now back to the crochet cushion cover – lets finish this baby up!
STEP 4:
When you are ready to stitch the cushion closed you have a few choices. You can slip stitch or single crochet the front and the back of cover together to close one end. Or, you can leave a yarn tail long enough to sew the crochet cushion cover closed. Which ever way you choose you will want to close one end at this point.
I found that the faux fur hid a lot of stitches so I closed mine by simply working a row of slip stitches between both the front and back of the cushion cover and it looked perfect.
STEP 5:
Insert pillow and stitch the other end of the cover closed.
Final Step – Get a nice warm drink and prepare to snuggle!
So did you enjoy this? Was it easier than you thought? Let me know – you can leave a comment right on this PIN and let other people know if you enjoyed it!
If you enjoyed this, try these next
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with this free crochet pattern for a heart-shaped pillow. Create a beautiful and soft back panel using the magic ring technique and follow the instructions for the crochet heart pillow pattern. The pattern includes basic stitches like double crochet and slip stitch, and it’s suitable for both beginners and experienced crocheters. Use the softest yarn in various colors to make these adorable heart pillows. The design features a front panel shaped like a heart, and you can customize it with different yarn colors to make candy heart pillows or giant pink pillows. The pattern includes a video tutorial, and you can find additional tips and tricks on the blog post. Make these cute face love birds with the provided instructions using medium weight yarn and a 5 mm crochet hook. The finished hearts can be used as charming decorations or thoughtful gifts for Valentine’s Day. Happy crocheting!