Stained glass has a unique kind of charm and wonder, and now you can incorporate that beauty into your home with more ease than you would think! To create a work of art for your living room, this Easy Stained Glass Crochet Pillow Cover uses the stunning, black “lead” lines with bright and colorful, jewel-toned yarn.
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Geometric grids are made using spike stitches (or long single crochets). Our free crochet pattern is great for beginners that are feeling confident. The variety of colours in the finished pillow cover may make it feel complicated, but you never have to do complicated colour work, or carry any yarn across the back. You only work with one colour at a time! It will be done in no time, and is a squishy, modern addition to your home.
Quick Stats:
- Skill Level: Easy
- Finished Size: 16 × 16 inches
- Yarn: Worsted weight, approx 500 yards total
- Hook: US H/8 (5.0 mm)
Continue scrolling to find the entire free pattern with stitch counts for each row!
What You’ll Need
- Yarn: Worsted (Weight 4) yarn in 5 colors — approximately 500 yards total
- Main Color (Black): 300 yards
- Contrast Color 1 (Ruby Red): 50 yards
- Contrast Color 2 (Sapphire Blue): 50 yards
- Contrast Color 3 (Emerald Green): 50 yards
- Contrast Color 4 (Amethyst Purple): 50 yards
Hook: US H/8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook
Notions include a yarn needle, scissors, and stitch markers.
Insert: pillow form (16×16 inches)
Gauge: 14 sts and 16 rows = 4″ in single crochet
Tips Before You Start
- Gauge check: Because this pattern is designed to fit a standard 16×16 inch pillow insert, checking your gauge is important. If your square is coming out too small, go up a hook size!
- The Spike Stitch: Don’t pull your spike stitches too tight! When you pull the yarn up from two rows below, ensure the loop is loose enough to reach the top of your current working row without puckering the fabric.
- Color Management: Since you change colors every two rows, you can choose to carry the black yarn loosely up the side of the work to save on weaving in ends, but you should cut the brightly colored yarns after their two-row sections.
Pattern Instructions
Special Stitches
Spike Single Crochet (SPsc): In the stitch indicated, insert your hook 2 rows beneath the row you’re currently working on. Yarn over and pull up a long loop to match the height of the current working row. Yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook. This forms the vertical lead lines of the stained glass.
Notes
- The pillow cover is made in three panels: one stained glass front panel and two solid black back panels that overlap to create an envelope closure.
- Ch 1 at the beginning of a row does NOT count as a stitch.
- When changing colors, complete the last step of the final stitch of the row with the new color.
- Stitch counts are given in bold at the end of each row.
Front Panel
Foundation: With CC1 (Ruby), ch 57.
Row 1 (RS): Work a single crochet in the second chain from your hook and in each chain all the way across. (56 sts)
Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc in each st across. Change to MC (Black) on the last step of the last st. (56 sts)
Row 3 (RS): With MC, ch 1, turn. *Sc in next 5 sts, SPsc in next st 2 rows below; rep from * 8 more times, sc in last 2 sts. (56 sts)
Row 4 (WS): Ch 1. Sc in each st across. Change to CC2 (Sapphire) in the last step of the final st. (56 sts)
Row 5 (RS): Using CC2, chain 1 and turn. Make a single crochet in each stitch across. (Total of 56 stitches)
Row 6 (WS): Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. Change to MC in the last stitch of the final st. (56 sts)
Row 7 (RS): With MC, ch 1, turn. Sc in next 2 sts, SPsc in next st 2 rows below, *sc in next 5 sts, SPsc in next st 2 rows below; rep from * 7 more times, sc in last 5 sts. (56 sts)
Row 8 (WS): Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. Change to CC3 (Emerald) in the last step of the final st. (56 sts)
Rows 9-10: Using CC3, ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across for 2 rows. Switch to MC at the end of Row 10. (56 sts)
Rows 11 – 12: With MC, repeat Rows 3 – 4. Change to CC4 (Amethyst) at the end of Row 12. (56 sts)
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Rows 13-14: Using CC4, ch 1, turn. Work an sc in each st across for 2 rows. Change to MC at the end of Row 14. (56 sts)
In MC, repeat Rows 7-8 once more. Switch to CC1 at the end of Row 16. (56 sts)
Rows 17-64: Do the same as Rows 1-16, three more times and finish with a repeat of Row 16. Tie off all colors. (56 sts)
Back Panel – Bottom
Foundation: With MC, ch 57.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. (56 sts)
For Rows 2 to 40: Chapter 1, then turn your work. Do a single crochet in every stitch across. You will secure your work once you complete Row 40. The total stitch count is 56.
Back Panel – Top
Foundation: With MC, ch 57.
Row 1 (RS): Starting with the 2nd chain from the hook, sc (single crochet) in that chain and in every chain until the end of the row. This will result in 56 stitches.
Rows 2-32: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. Fasten off after Row 32. (56 sts)
Finishing & Assembly
- Weave in all ends on all three panels.
- Block panels to measurements: Front should be 16×16 inches. Bottom Back should be 16×10 inches. Top Back should be 16×8 inches.
- Assembly: Place the Front Panel face down on your workspace. Place the Top Back Panel face up on top of the Front Panel, aligning the top and side edges. Place the Bottom Back Panel face up, aligning the bottom and side edges. The two back panels will overlap by about 2 inches in the center.
- Pin the layers together securely around all four sides.
- Border/Seaming Round: Join MC in any corner, working through all thicknesses. Ch 1, sc evenly around the entire perimeter, working 3 sc in each corner to turn. Sl st to the first sc to join. Fasten off. (232 sts)
- Weave in final ends, turn right side out through the envelope opening, and insert your pillow form.
Make It Your Own
- Color variations: Instead of jewel tones, try a monochromatic ombre effect (light blue to dark blue) separated by crisp white lines instead of black!
- Size adjustments: To make a larger pillow, increase your foundation chain by a multiple of 6. Every 6 stitches adds about 1.7 inches to the width.
- Scrap buster: Use a different scrap yarn color for every single 2-row color block to create a true mosaic glass look.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much yarn will I need for my pillow cover?
You’ll need around 300 yards of black, as it will be used for the grid and the entire back of the pillow, while about 50 yards of each of the 4 contrast colors will suffice.
What size crochet hook should you use?
This pattern is designed to be worked using a US H/8 (5.0 mm) hook. You can adjust the hook size to achieve the gauge of 14 single crochet stitches per 4 inches.
Can I use a different yarn weight?
Yes! If you decide to use a thinner yarn like DK weight, your pillow will end up being smaller. You will have to recalculate your starting chain (in multiples of 6 + 3) to get to 16 inches.
Would a beginner be able to complete this pattern?
The spike stitch is a single crochet worked a little lower in the fabric so as long as you can single crochet and change colors you can make this pillow!
Share Your Makes!
I can’t wait to see your completed stained glass pillows! Tag me on Instagram or post in our Facebook group.
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© 2024 Crochet Concupiscence. This pattern is free for personal use. Do not copy the pattern, or sell the pattern. You may sell items made from this pattern, but please credit Crochet Concupiscence.