Create a colourful statement pillow using one large floral crochet square surrounded by twenty small granny squares.
The Flower and Small Granny Squares Crochet Pillow Pattern combines the Large Crochet Flower Blanket Square – Sunrise Bloom Square with a border of small granny squares. The result is a richly textured crochet pillow featuring a large flower-inspired centre framed by colourful patchwork squares.
This design is a wonderful way to combine a larger crochet motif with smaller granny squares, giving you plenty of opportunities to play with colour while creating a coordinated finished piece.
The large centre square provides the focal point, while the twenty smaller granny squares form a colourful frame around it.
The Crochet Pillow Design
The pillow is built around one large Sunrise Bloom Square.
The large floral square becomes the centre of the pillow, creating a strong focal point. Around it, 20 small 3-round 3-dc granny squares are arranged to create a patchwork border.
Each small square can be made using different colour combinations, allowing you to coordinate the border with the colours used in the centre square.
The finished layout creates a layered effect: Large floral centre → small granny square border → crochet edging
This makes the pillow especially suitable for bold, colourful colour palettes.
Pattern Details
- Pattern Type : Crochet Pillow
- Difficulty : Intermediate
- Yarn Weight : Light or Medium Weight Yarn
- Crochet Hook : 3 mm
- UK / Canadian Hook : 11
- US Hook : 2.5–3.25 mm (C-2 to D-3)
- Terminology : US Crochet Terms
- Construction : Individual squares joined together
- Project Type : Decorative Pillow Cover
What Makes This Pillow Pattern Special?
This design combines two different scales of crochet motifs.
The large floral centre creates the main visual feature, while the small granny squares add colour, repetition and texture around the outside.
It is also a great project for crocheters who enjoy experimenting with colour.
You don't need every square to look exactly the same. In fact, changing the colour arrangement from square to square is part of what gives the finished pillow its patchwork character.
Explore more granny square blanket patterns for more ways to combine floral motifs and granny squares.
Yarn : Use Light or Medium Weight Yarn throughout the project.
The example pillow uses multiple colours to create a bright, colourful patchwork effect.
You can choose:
- Bright contrasting colours
- Jewel tones
- Soft pastel shades
- A limited colour palette
- Scrappy colours from your yarn stash
Crochet Hook : 3 mm crochet hook
This is approximately: UK / Canadian: Size 11
US: Approximately 2.5–3.25 mm, depending on the manufacturer's sizing
Other Materials
You will also need:
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Pillow insert
- Stitch markers, if desired
Choosing Your Yarn
- For the squares to join together neatly, it is important to keep your yarn weight and crochet hook consistent.
- Use the same yarn weight and the same hook throughout the project.
- Changing to a thicker or thinner yarn can result in squares that are different sizes, making them difficult to join.
Colour Ideas
The beauty of this crochet pillow is that the colour arrangement can be completely personalised.
For a look similar to the example, combine:
- Deep teal and turquoise
- Bright blue
- Soft aqua
- Leaf green
- Warm golden yellow
- Raspberry and deep pink
- Burgundy or wine
- Cream and neutral shades
You can make every granny square different, repeat selected colour combinations, or use the same colour sequence throughout the border.
For a coordinated look
Choose a dominant colour from your Sunrise Bloom Square and carry that colour through several of the smaller granny squares.
For a colourful patchwork look
Use a different combination for each small square while keeping one or two colours consistent throughout the entire pillow.
For a more modern look
Use a limited palette of three or four colours and alternate the colour placement between squares.
Estimate the yarn you'll need based on your project size, yarn weight, and stitch pattern.
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Skills Required
This is an Intermediate-level crochet pattern.
You should be comfortable with:
- Working crochet stitches in the round
- Working granny-style groups of stitches
- Creating and joining crochet motifs
- Changing yarn colours
- Working into chain spaces
- Keeping consistent tension
- Joining pieces neatly
- Fastening off and weaving in yarn ends
- Working a crochet border around a completed piece
You do not need to be an expert crocheter, but some experience with granny squares and colour changes will make the project easier.
Techniques Used
Working in the Round
- The flower motifs and squares are worked in rounds.
- At the end of each round, follow the instructions carefully for joining the round before beginning the next round.
- Pay particular attention to corner spaces, as these are used to create the square shape.
Changing Colours
The design uses several colours throughout the squares.
When changing colours:
- Complete the final stitch of the current colour as instructed.
- Join the new colour.
- Continue with the next round.
- Secure the previous colour.
- Weave in the loose end.
For a cleaner finish, avoid carrying long strands of yarn across the back of the work.
Gauge
Gauge is important for this project.
- Use the same yarn weight and crochet hook throughout the project so that your squares are consistent in size.
- If one square is significantly larger or smaller than another, the pieces will not line up correctly when joined.
Important
- Do not change your crochet hook size between squares unless you are deliberately adjusting your gauge.
- Your tension also affects the finished size of each square.
- If your squares are coming out too large, your tension may be too loose. If they are too small, your tension may be too tight.
Pattern Notes
- The pattern uses US crochet terminology.
- The project is rated Intermediate.
- Keep the same yarn weight and crochet hook throughout the squares.
- Consistent tension is important so that all squares match.
- Block squares before joining if necessary.
- Work in your yarn ends as you go to reduce finishing time.
- Colour placement can be changed to create your own unique pillow.
- The pillow can be made with a matching crochet back or a removable envelope-style back.
What You Will Make
The Flower and Squares Pillow combines several crochet elements into one colourful design.
The pillow front consists of:
- A large decorative central square
- Small granny squares surrounding the centre
- Carefully arranged colourful squares
- A crochet border around the completed panel
- A finished square pillow shape
The individual squares are made separately and then joined together to create the pillow front.
This makes the project especially enjoyable if you like working on small motifs rather than one large continuous piece.
Large Crochet Flower Centre
The centre of the pillow uses the Large Crochet Flower Blanket Square – Sunrise Bloom Square.
The Sunrise Bloom Square is worked from the centre outward, developing a large layered floral motif before becoming a square. It was originally designed as a large crochet blanket square, but its size and decorative structure also make it an excellent focal point for home décor projects.
For this pillow design, make 1 Sunrise Bloom Square.
Large Crochet Flower Blanket Square – Sunrise Bloom Square
Tip: The colour combinations used in the centre square can be repeated or echoed in the smaller granny squares to create a coordinated finished design.
Small Granny Square Border
The outer section of the pillow is made using 20 small 3-round, 3-dc granny squares.
These are simple granny-style squares worked in three rounds, making them considerably quicker to crochet than the large centre motif.
The small squares are arranged around the four sides of the large floral centre:
- 5 squares across the top
- 5 squares down the right side
- 5 squares across the bottom
- 5 squares up the left side
This creates a complete frame around the large centre square.
The small squares can be made in a variety of colour combinations rather than all being identical.
This is a great project for using coordinating yarn colours, leftover yarn or carefully selected contrast colours.
How the Pillow Front Is Constructed
The pillow front is assembled in three main stages.
1. Crochet the large centre
Make 1 Large Crochet Flower Blanket Square – Sunrise Bloom Square.
2. Crochet the small squares
Make 20 small 3-round 3-dc granny squares in your chosen colour combinations.
3. Assemble the border
Arrange the small granny squares around the four sides of the large centre square.
Once the layout is correct, join the squares to create the complete pillow front.
A decorative crochet border can then be worked around the outside edge to bring the colours together and give the pillow a finished appearance.
Small Granny Squares
The small granny squares are the decorative building blocks used around the central flower square.
Each small granny square is worked in rounds, creating a colorful motif in the centre before building the surrounding stitches and colors into a square shape.
Small 3-DC Granny-Style Square
The granny-style construction uses groups of 3 double crochet stitches.
The basic structure is:
- Corner: 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc
- Side group: 3 dc
- Between groups: ch 1
The square is increased in each round so that it grows evenly while maintaining four defined corners.
For the small square used in the pillow, the final round is worked to give 11 dc stitches per side, making the squares consistent for joining.
US Stitch Terminology : Abbreviations
-
2 Double Crochet - 2dc
-
3 Double Crochet - 3dc
-
Back Post Double Crochet - bpdc
-
Back Post Half Double Crochet - bphdc
-
Chain Stitch - ch
-
Double Crochet - dc
-
Front Post Double Crochet - fpdc
-
Front Post Half Double Crochet - fphdc
-
Magic Ring - MR
-
Next - nxt
-
Repeat from * - rep from *
-
Repeat Rows - rep rows
-
Single Crochet - sc
-
Treble Crochet - tr
-
Yarn Over - yo
All stitch instructions are available in both US Crochet Terminology and UK Crochet Terminology, making it easy to follow along using the terms you are most familiar with.
If you are new to any of the stitches used in this pattern, we recommend reviewing the relevant stitch guide before starting. Each guide includes step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and stitch terminology conversions where applicable.
Take your time, practice any unfamiliar stitches, and most importantly—enjoy the process of creating your blanket one row at a time.
UK : 2tr - 2 treble crochet
AFR : 2lb - 2 Langbeentjies in selfde steek
1. Work 1 dc into the stitch (complete as usual).
2. Work a second dc into the same stitch.
3. Both sts occupy the same base — small cluster.
Large Crochet Flower Blanket Square
Sunrise Bloom Square
Learn how to crochet the large floral centre used in this pillow design.
Read the Sunrise Bloom Square pattern
Small 3-Round 3-dc Granny Square
A simple little granny square that can be used for pillows, blankets, bags and other colourful patchwork crochet projects.
Read the Small 3-dc Granny Square pattern
Blocking Your Squares
Before joining the pillow, block the individual squares if necessary.
Blocking helps:
- Even out the square dimensions
- Straighten the edges
- Define the corners
- Make joining easier
- Give the finished pillow a more professional appearance
- Place each square into the same finished dimensions before assembling the pillow.
⚠️ This pattern is for personal use only. Please do not copy or redistribute.
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Pattern Copyright & Usage
This crochet pattern and all associated content are the original work of Stouto Crochet.
- ✔️ Personal use allowed
- ✔️ Sell finished handmade items (small-scale)
- ❌ Do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute
- ❌ Do not share or resell PDF patterns
AI & Content Use: This pattern may not be reproduced or used to train AI systems.
What skill level is this crochet pillow pattern?
The pattern is rated Intermediate. You should be comfortable working in the round, changing colours, making crochet squares and joining crochet pieces.
What crochet hook do I need?
The sample is made using a 3 mm crochet hook, approximately a UK/Canadian size 11.
What yarn should I use?
Use Light or Medium Weight Yarn. Most importantly, use the same yarn weight throughout the project so your squares remain consistent.
Can I use different colours?
Yes! This pattern is ideal for experimenting with colour. You can follow the sample colour arrangement or create your own palette.
Can I make a removable pillow cover?
Yes. The pattern includes an envelope-style removable back option, allowing you to remove the crochet cover for washing.
Can I make a matching crochet back?
Yes. Simply repeat the front panel and make a second panel to the same finished dimensions, then join the two panels together.
How many granny squares do I need for the pillow?
The design uses 1 large Sunrise Bloom Square and 20 small 3-round 3-dc granny squares.
What is the centre square?
The centre of the pillow uses the Large Crochet Flower Blanket Square – Sunrise Bloom Square.
Can I use different colours for the small granny squares?
Yes. The small squares are ideal for experimenting with colour. You can repeat colour combinations or make each square different.
Can I use leftover yarn?
Yes. The small granny squares are a good way to use smaller amounts of coordinating yarn, provided your yarn weight and tension remain consistent.
Is this a beginner crochet pillow pattern?
The individual granny squares are suitable for crocheters familiar with basic stitches, but the complete project is best suited to an intermediate crocheter because it involves a large centre motif, multiple colour changes and joining.
Can I use the Sunrise Bloom Square for a blanket?
Yes. The Sunrise Bloom Square was designed as a large crochet blanket square and can be used as a building block for blankets and other patchwork projects.
Can I make the pillow larger?
Yes. You can experiment with the arrangement of the smaller granny squares or add additional crochet borders. Keep the centre square and border squares proportional if you want to maintain the same overall appearance.
