Penguin Pillow Free Crochet Pattern
A penguin pillow would be a sweet addition to your holiday decor. The penguin is so sweet that you might want to keep him around long after the holiday decorations have been put away.
Materials
Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice® worsted weight 100% acrylic yarn (3.5 oz/170yd/100g per ball):
White (#860-100)—1 ball- Aqua (#860-102)—1 ball
- Black (#860- 153)—1 ball
Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton worsted weight yarn (3.5 oz/186 yds/100g per ball):
- Goldenrod (#761-158 )—1 ball
Lion Brand Wool-Ease® Thick & Quick® super bulky weight 80% Acrylic, 20% wool yarn (6 oz/106yd/170g per ball):
- Cranberry (#640-138)—2 balls
Lion Brand Jiffy bulky (chunky) weight acrylic yarn (3 oz/135 yds/85g per ball):
- Silver Heather (#450-155)—1 ball
Polyfil Fiberfill (optional)—I chose to give the penguin’s body and beak some extra dimension.
Crochet Hooks
N/13/9 mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
G/6/4 mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
H/8/5 mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Tapestry needle
Darice® 9mm black solid eyes with plastic washers: 2
Scissors
How to Make Penguin Pillow Base
Rnd 1: With Cranberry using a 9mm hook, ch 2, work 6 sc into the second chain from hook. Join to first sc with slp st. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each sc around. Join to first sc with slip st. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, [sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (18 sc)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, [sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (24 sc)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, [sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (30 sc)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, [sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (36 sc)
Rnd 7: Ch 1, [sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (42 sc)
Rnd 8: Ch 1, [sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (48 sc)
Rnd 9: Ch 1, [sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (54 sc)
Rnd 10: Ch 1, [sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (60 sc)
Rnd 11: Ch 1, [sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (66 sc)
Rnd 12: Ch 1, [sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (78 sc)
Rnds 13-14: Ch 1, sc in each sc around. Join to first sc with slip st.
Start side two penguin pillow base.
Rnd 15: Ch 1 [sc in each of next 10sc, sc dec in next 2 sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (66 sc)
Rnd 16: Ch 1 [sc in each of next 9 sc, sc dec in next 2 sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (60 sc)
Rnd 17: Ch 1 [sc in each of next 8 sc, sc dec in next 2 sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (54 sc)
Rnd 18 Ch 1 [sc in each of next 7 sc, sc dec in next 2 sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (48 sc)
Insert pillow.
Rnd 19: Ch 1 [sc in each of next 6 sc, sc dec in next 2 sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (42 sc)
Rnd 20: Ch 1 [sc in each of next 5 sc, sc dec in next 2 sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (36 sc)
Rnd 21: Ch 1 [sc in each of next 4 sc, sc dec in next 2 sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (30 sc)
Rnd 22: Ch 1 [sc in each of next 3 sc, sc dec in next 2 sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (24 sc)
Rnd 23: Ch 1 [sc in each of next 2 sc, sc dec in next 2 sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (18 sc)
Rnd 24: Ch 1 [sc in each of next sc, sc dec in next 2 sc] around. Join to first sc with slip st. (12 sc)
Rnd 25 Ch 1, dec in each sc around. Join to first sc with slip st. (6 sc)
Rnd 26: Ch 1, dec in each sc. Join to first sc with slip st.
Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing closed. Sew closed, weave in yarn end and trim.
How to create the Penguin for the Penguin Pillow
Here is an overview on creating the penguin for the penguin pillow. First, you’ll start by using the white yarn to crochet the head. Second, you’ll change the yarn to silver heather to crochet the body. Third, you’ll join the black yarn to the top of the head and crochet the overlay . Forth, you’ll use goldenrod to crochet the beak and the feet. Fifth, you’ll use aqua to crochet the bow. Six, you’ll assemble by sewing to attach pieces and insert/attach eyes.
Head (base of head)
Row 1: Using 4mm hook with the white yarn ch 10. Sc in the second ch from the hook and 8 ch. (9 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc into first sc, sc in 7 sc, 2 sc into last sc. (11 sc)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc into first sc, sc in 9 sc, 2 sc into last sc. (13 sc)
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc into first sc, sc in 11 sc, 2 sc into last sc. (15 sc)
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc into first sc, sc in 13 sc, 2 sc into last sc. (17 sc)
Rows 6-11: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Body
Change yarn to Jiffy Silver Heather and 5mm hook
Row 12: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Row 13: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc into first sc, sc in 15 sc, 2 sc into last sc. (19 sc)
Row 14: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc into first sc, sc in 17 sc, 2 sc into last sc. (21 sc)
Rows 15-21: Ch 1, turn sc into each sc.
Row 22: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in 17 sc, sc2tog. (19 sc)
Row 23: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Row 24: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in 15 sc, sc2tog. (17 sc)
Row 25: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Row 26: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in 13 sc, sc2tog. (15 sc)
Row 27: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Row 28 Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in 11 sc, sc2tog. (13 sc)
Row 29: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Row 30: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in 11 sc, sc2tog. (11 sc)
Black overlay
- Start the overlay by joining the black yarn to the first row of the head (base).
- The side that faces you while you work the first row is the back.
- You will join the outside edges of the overlay to the head (base) with slip stitches into the corresponding row of the base.
Row 1: Join black yarn, ch 1, sc into the same st and the remaining 8 sc. (9 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc into first sc, sc in 7 sc, 2 sc into last sc. (11 sc)
Slip stitch into base
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, attach to corresponding stitch of white base using a slp stitch, 2 sc into first sc (of the black overlay), sc in 9 sc, 2 sc into last sc. (13 sc)
Connect the overlay to the head (base) with a slp sl to a corresponding stitch from the head base.
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc into first sc, sc in 11 sc, 2 sc into last sc. (15 sc)
Slip sl to a corresponding stitch from the white piece,
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc into first sc, sc in 13 sc, 2 sc into last sc. (17 sc)
Now fold over the black piece so that the stitches that join the two colors become a hidden inside seam.
4 sc along the edge
4 sc along the edge of white ch 1, turn, skip 1 sc and slip st into next, sc into next sc, hdc into next sc, dc into the next sc. You should have created a triangle flap, fold it over and use a slip st to join with the 3rd st from the end. Slp st in the next sc. (Do not break yarn.)
Triangle flap created
Create triangle flap on other side.
Join a new piece of yarn to the corresponding spot on the opposite and work 4 sc, ch 1, turn, skip sc slp st into next sc, hdc into next sc, dc into the space between. Weave in ends and trim.
Second triangle flap created
Bridge of beak (using yarn from first triangle flap)
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in 9 sc (9 sc)
Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in 5 sc, sc2tog. (7 sc)
Row 8: Ch 1, turn sc in each sc.
Row 9: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in 3 sc, sc2tog. (5 sc)
Row 10: Ch 1, turn sc in each sc.
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Bridge of beak completed
Beak
Rnd 1: Using 4mm hook with the goldenrod, ch 2, 6 sc in the second ch from the hook, join to first sc with slp st . (6 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 3 sc into first sc, sc in 2 sc, 3 sc next sc, sc in w2 sc. (10 sc)
Rnd 3: Sc in sc, 3 sc in sc, sc in 4 sc, 3 sc in sc, sc in 3 sc. (14 sc)
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Foot (make 2)
Row 1: Using 4mm hook with the Goldenrod, ch 4, sc in the second ch from the hook and the next 2 ch. (3 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn,, sc in each sc.
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first sc, sc in the second sc, 2 sc in the last sc. (5 sc)
Rows 4-5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in the next sc, sc2tog. (3 sc)
Rows 7-8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing. Sew sides of feet together.
Bow
You will make the bow in two parts. The first part is the band goes across. The second part is the decorative bow.
Band
Row 1: Using the 4 mm hook and the Aqua yarn, ch 5. Working sc into 2nd ch from hook, work sc into each ch. (4 sc)
Rows 2-25: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Bow Loops
The bow has five loops.
Loop One
Row 1: Using the 4 mm hook and the Aqua yarn, ch 4. Working sc into 2nd ch from hook, work sc into each ch. (3 sc)
Rows 2-4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in sc, sc in sc, 2 sc in sc. (5 sc)
Rows 6-8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Row 9: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in sc, sc2tog. (3 sc)
Rows 10-12: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Loop Two
Repeat rows two through ten.
Loop Three
Rows 13-16: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Row 17: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in sc, sc in sc, 2 sc in sc. (5 sc)
Rows 18-20: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Row 21: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in sc, sc2tog. (3 sc)
Rows 22-25: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc.
Loops Four and Five
Repeat rows two through ten.
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing. Transform wavy strip into bow. Sew the first and last row of each loop together and then sew all the loops together to create the bow.
Penguin Pillow Assemble
Finish Penguin
- Finish sewing the black overlay to the white head base.
- Beak—see note under materials. If you decided to give your penguin extra dimension, then lightly stuff prior to sewing into place.
- Eyes—use photo for reference and attach safety eyes.
- Feet—sew into place.
- Ribbon band—place by near neck and sew ends to the underside of the body.
- Bow—sew into place.
- Attach penguin to pillow base. Place penguin in the center of the pillow. Sew into place. If you chose to give the penguin’s body some extra depth, then lightly stuff prior to you finishing the sewing. Weave in yarn ends and trim.
- Create I-Cord Trim using white yarn. If you don’t know how to crochet an I-Cord, then click here to go to the tutorial. Create one that is long enough to go around your pillow. Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing. Sew into place and weave in yarn ends.