How to Crochet a cute Gift Pillow – Free Pattern

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This free crochet pattern is for a Present Pillow that has a large bow in the front. The pattern uses soft Bernat Blanket yarn to make it very snuggly.

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It was last Christmas when my hubby and I were sitting in the family room relaxing and watching Christmas Vacation with our kids. Right in that moment when Aunt Bethany, in the movie, hands over her gift with her cat inside, my hubby remembered we still needed a gift for a birthday party, that was tomorrow which I totally forgot about.

My kids joked and said, “Wrap up the cat and give it as a present.” Of course, we would never do that, but I needed to come up with an idea.

To top it all off, we also ran out of wrapping paper. So, my hubby laughed and said, “I wished we had a present that does not need to be wrapped!”

That’s when I came up with the idea to create a pillow that also is a gift – a Present Pillow with a huge bow in the front (just like in Christmas Vacation lol).

I had plenty of yarn. So I got to work right away. Of course, at the time I did not write down the pattern which meant I had to remake it later. I remembered the Present Pillow again in Summer and started remaking it and believe it or not, I got distracted and did not get it finished until just now, a year after I originally had the idea.

It’s as funny as Christmas Vacation. I don’t know anyone who does not love that movie!

Anyways, the Present Pillow is made with Bernat Blanket yarn which is not only super soft, but also nice and bulky so the project itself works up within a few hours. Trust me, I write down the time, how much it takes me to make a pattern. 

Don’t judge me. I know it took way too long to write down the pattern. I am laughing while writing this, cause it is such an irony that I needed a quick present for a friend, but it took me forever to write up the pattern.

Let me not hold you up anymore. Let’s get to the pattern. 🙂

Now, before I show you the materials and the actual free crochet pattern, please also be sure to add this pattern to your Ravelry Favorites by clicking the button below as that allows my pattern being shown to more people who might want to see it and also want to make it.

If you add this pattern to you Ravelry Favorites and share it on social media as a link, I will be able to share a lot more free crochet patterns for you all.

In addition, I created a downloadable pdf for you all, that has all the pictures separated from the pattern. So you can choose whether you want to print them or not. That can save you a lot of ink in the long run.

You can get the crochet pattern for the Gift Pillow on Ravelry, Etsy, LoveCrafts, or my new membership The Crochet Club. The Crochet Club has so much more to offer than just PDF patterns! You get tutorials, references and the complete VIP treatment as well.

If you pay just twice the amount as this pattern costs and you have a month’s worth of The Crochet Club Membership with a lot more patterns! It’s well worth it.

If you do not want to join The Crochet Club, you can also purchase the ad-free, printer-friendly PDF pattern at the links below. But IF you join the All-Access Membership you will automatically get this pattern.

How to crochet the Present Pillow with Bow

Materials:

• Bernat Blanket yarn in the colors
  • Vintage White (2 skeins)
  • Purple Plum (1-2 skeins depending on your tension) 
• 9 mm hook
• scissors
• tapestry needle
• Pillow Cushion 18×18 inches, hypoallergenic

Stitches used (US terms):

Click HERE to learn these basic stitches

• ch = chain
• hdc = half double crochet

Gauge:

1 row x 2 sts = 1 square inch

Final Size:

18 x 18 inches

Instructions:

Pillow cover

Make a chain of 36 in vintage white

(you’re going in continues rounds)

R1: crochet in the back bump: starting from the 2nd ch from the hook, 1 hdc in each ch, now do not turn, just tilt, and continue the round on the opposite side: 1 hdc in each st (70 sts)

R2-11: 1 hdc in each st (70 sts)

Change color to purple plum

R12-14: 1 hdc in each st (70 sts)

Cut color and change back to vintage white

R15-22: 1 hdc in each st (70 sts)

Now, insert your pillow into the cover and sew up the opening using the whip stitch.

Ribbon

Using Purple Plum, ch 6

R1: starting from the 2nd ch from the hook, 1 hdc in each ch (5 sts)

R2-43: 1 hdc in each st, turn

Fasten off and use the ends to connect the ends and sew them together to make a loop. Now attach the loop the Pillow so it makes an “X” with the ribbon part that was already crocheted. You can sew the ribbon to the pillow if you like, but if you do wait till you’ve added the bow.

Bow

Using Purple Plum, ch 71

R1: starting from the 2nd ch from the hook, 1 hdc in each ch (70 sts)

R2-6: 1 hdc in each st, turn

Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Now make the little flap that goes over the bow to hold it all together.

Using Purple Plum, ch 16

R1: starting from the 2nd ch from the hook, 1 hdc in each ch (15 sts)

R2: 1 hdc in each st. Keep a long tail to use for sewing.

Fasten off and use your ends to sew up the ends when making the bow. In order to make the bow, fold the large rectangle piece such that ends fold over. Now squish the middle together and lay the small flap over and sew the ends together.

Now sew the bow (where you just sewed the flap together) to the ribbon on the pillow. At this point, if you wish, you can also sew the ribbon to the pillow.

The Break-Through Moment: What to do with the Present Pillow?

Now, that you made the Present Pillow, you can do a lot of things with it. You can simply use it for yourself. It is so cuddly, I’m glad I made a second one for just me and my family. 

Of course, you can also gift it to a special someone. And yes you can wrap it, even though it already looks like a present. lol

And in my opinion, it also makes a great craft showpiece which you can sell (do not sell the pattern). I’m pretty sure many people will love it.

I hope you love this pattern as much as I do. If you love this pattern and technique, please use the social media share buttons above or below and share this pattern link with the world and your friends. That way you will find it easily again when you need it and you also provide the world and your friends with the ability to gain extra crochet knowledge as well. And to top it off, you help me as it allows me to create more content that you love already and want to see more of – free crochet patterns and tutorials. So, thank you for sharing.

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