Behind the Scenes of the Sunflower Crochet Pillow Patterns

Hi! I crocheted a sunflower granny square pillow a few years ago and wrote up the pattern. As I have started selling pillows on Etsy this summer, I have been making a lot of large flower granny square pillows! I wanted to try to make a large granny square version of this sunflower square. I’ve added the pattern for it to the other sunflower pillow pattern, so I wanted to share all the details about them here!

When you purchase this pattern now, you will receive four pdfs! Two for each pattern- one in U.S. terms and one in UK. If you purchased it in the past, you should be able to download the updated pdfs in your pattern library. There is also a video tutorial for the small sunflower granny square on my YouTube channel.

The Small Sunflower Pillow

I made this small sunflower pillow because I like crocheting 3-dimensional flower granny squares. I added a stripe of pink to them because if I have one rule while crocheting, it is to always add a little pink!

Also, I like how this shade of cream yarn is closer to a light brown than to white. It makes the pillow look kind of vintage. Here’s all the background information!

Background Details

Materials

• 3.5 mm crochet hook
• Scissors and a tapestry needle- for weaving in ends
• 14 by 14 in (35 by 35 cm) square pillow insert
• 5 buttons (1.5 cm in diameter)
• DK weight yarn

Yarn I Used

Rowan Summerlite DK (100% cotton; 142 yd/ 50 g skeins)

• 1 nutkin (brown)
• 1 summer (mustard yellow)
• 1 linen (cream)
• 1 plaster (medium pink)
• 2 rouge (raspberry)

Yarn Substitution

I used Rowan Summerlite DK yarn for this pillow which is a dk weight yarn. If you would like your pillow to be the same size as mine and you are using a different yarn, compare the yd/g to see if it would be a good substitute. Otherwise, when you finish the front side of the pillow, measure it, and it will fit a pillow insert that is 1-2 in (2.5 – 5 cm) longer than it!

Gauge and Size

19 sts and 9 rows = 4 in (10 cm)

The gauge provided is measured with U.S. double crochet stitches (UK treble) worked in rows. 

Pillows should always be 1-2 inches (2.5 – 5 cm) smaller than the insert, so they are stretched over the insert. The sunflower squares are about 4.25 by 4.25 in (11 by 11 cm). Hence, the front side is about 12.5 by 12.5 in (32 by 32 cm) and the back side is about 12 by 12 in (30.5 by 30.5 cm). 

Large Sunflower Pillow

I actually made two of these pillows while writing up the pattern! That is because large flower granny squares are more difficult to make than small ones. The larger the flower is, the harder it is to ensure that the edges of the sides of the square are straight. I kept switching back and forth between the two until I managed to get the edges straight!

Background Details

Materials

• 4.00 mm crochet hook
• Scissors and a tapestry needle- for weaving in ends
• 18 by 18 inch (45 by 45 cm) square pillow insert
• 5 buttons (2 cm in diameter)
• Yarn

Yarn I Used

Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/8 (100% cotton; 82 yd (75 m) / 50 g (1.75 oz))

• 1 dark brown (brown)
• 2 curry (yellow)
• 2 beige (cream)
• 1 old rose (pink)
• 3 sage green (the color of the back of the pillow)

Note about Yarn Substitution

I used one of my favorite yarns for this pillow- Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/8. It is a light worsted, dk weight yarn. Some dk weight yarns are closer to a sport weight yarn and others are similar to medium weight yarn. This one is closer to a medium weight yarn. If you would like to use a different yarn and want your pillow to be the same size as mine, compare the yd/ g to see if it would be a good substitute. Otherwise, when you finish the front side, measure it, and it will fit a pillow insert that is 1-2 in (2.5 – 5 cm) longer than it! 

Gauge and Size

16 sts and 7 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)

The gauge provided is measured with U.S. double crochet stithces (UK treble) worked in rows. 

Pillows should always be 1-2 in (2.5 – 5 cm) smaller than the insert, so they are stretched over the insert. Hence, the front and the back of the pillow should both be about 16 by 16 in (41 by 41 cm).