Crochet Reading Pillow Pattern – Free Crochet Along!

📚🧶 Welcome to the Crochet Reading Pillow Pattern CAL! 🧶📚

I’m so excited to kick off this free crochet along with you! The Reading Pillow was the top-voted project (by 50% more votes!), making it the perfect choice. This cozy and functional pillow is ideal for book lovers and makes a great Easter gift as an alternative to chocolate.

In this free crochet along, we’ll be making the crochet reading pillow pattern together, with each part released for free on the blog. You’ll have the option to follow the original pattern or try some new tweaks added just for this CAL:

✨ Envelope Back Option – Easily slide the pillow form in and out for washing (instead of encasing it).
✨ Zig-Zag Placement Variation – Keep the zig-zag section behind the pouch with a plain pouch, or stick with the original design!

I’ll be making the updated version along with you, posting photos of my progress and completed sections as we go!

💡 Can’t Wait? The original crochet reading pillow pattern is already available as a free pattern on the blog if you’d like to jump ahead and start right away!

Get the Original Free Pattern Here

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🛏️ How to Use Your Crochet Reading Pillow

This versatile pillow isn’t just for books! Here are some great ways to use it:

🎁 Gift it with a book – Perfect for birthdays, holidays, or as a thoughtful handmade gift for a book lover!
📺 Store eyeglasses & remotes – Keep all your essentials handy on the couch.
🧸 A safe place for a favorite teddy – A great way to keep little ones’ special stuffed animals close at bedtime.
🛏️ Use as a pajama case – The pouch is perfect for storing pajamas for kids!

No matter how you use it, this crochet reading pillow pattern is both functional and stylish!

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🧶 Materials & Yarn Requirements

You can use either #3 (DK) weight yarn or #4 (Aran) weight yarn for this project.

🔹 DK (#3) Weight Yarn:

• 437 yds main color
• 70 yds each in 3 contrasting colors (for the pocket)

🔹 Aran (#4) Weight Yarn:

• 400 yds main color
• 80 yds each in 2 contrasting colors

🛠 Other Supplies:
✔️ 4mm or 5mm hook
✔️ Stitch markers (optional)
✔️ Scissors ✂️
✔️ Tapestry needle 🪡
✔️ 16” pillow form (or 18” if slightly over gauge)

My Aran Version: I used Paintbox Simply Aran – Light Caramel (¼ skein), Pine Green (2.5 skeins), and Champagne White (⅓ skein).

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📅 Schedule of Release – Free Crochet Along

Each part of this crochet reading pillow pattern will be released for free on the blog on the following dates:

✅ Part 1 – Friday, March 14th – Back of the pillow (with optional envelope opening)
✅ Part 2 – Monday, March 17th – Front of the pillow (with optional zig-zag section)
✅ Part 3 – Thursday, March 20th – Pouch section (choose between zig-zag or plain)
✅ Part 4 – Saturday, March 21st – Assembly & finishing touches

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💬 Additional Help & Support

Need a little extra help or want to crochet along with others?

✨ Join our Facebook Community! ✨ Click the button below and answer 3 simple questions to join. Throughout this event, we’ll be:
✔️ Answering questions
✔️ Going live for help & chats
✔️ Sharing progress & tips

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I can’t wait to crochet this reading pillow pattern with you—let’s get started! 🎉🧵

The Free Reading Pillow Pattern:

** This is a free pattern on the blog. Please do not copy and paste any part of it or print this pattern out. Please bookmark this page and use the website to work up your pattern. This helps my small business greatly as it provides a little bit of ad revenue which will in turn will allow me to continue to create free content for you!**

Abbreviations:

• Ch(s)–chain(s)
• St(s)–stitch(es)
• FHDC – foundation half double crochet (right handed video tutorial is here at 14:23, and the left handed version is here at 14:23)
• YO – yarn over
• Sc – single crochet
• Hdc – half double crochet
• Dc – double crochet
• Tc – treble crochet
• Hhdc – herringbone half double crochet (right handed video tutorial is here, left handed video is here)
• Sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
• Sc3tog – single crochet 3 together
• Tc2tog – treble crochet 2 together
• Tc3tog – treble crochet 3 together

Pattern Notes:

• Written in US terms.
• Ch stitches at the beginning do not count as a st unless otherwise stated. 
• The stitch multiple is 6 +1
• Pattern is written for #3 weight (4 weight) where the stitch counts or instructions vary e.g. Ch81 (63).

Gauge:

If using #3 weight (DK) yarn – 18 herringbone hdc and 12 rows in 4”
If using #4 weight (Aran) yarn – 15 herringbone hdc and 11 rows in 4”

Special Stitches written instructions:

*Note: the video tutorials are also linked in the abbreviations section above.

Herringbone hdc: YO, insert hook into indicated st, YO and pull through, DO NOT YO, pull through the first loop on hook, YO and pull through both loops on hook. (Right handed video tutorial is here, left handed video is here)

Treble Crochet: YO twice, insert hook into indicated stitch, YO and pull through, *YO and pull through 2 loops on hook. Rep from * twice more.

Sc2Tog: Insert hook into indicated stitch, YO and pull through, insert hook into next st, YO and pull through, YO and pull through all 3 loops on hook.

Sc3Tog: Insert hook into indicated stitch, YO and pull through, *insert hook into next st, YO and pull through, Rep from * once more. YO and pull through all 4 loops on hook.

Tc2tog: YO twice, insert hook into indicated stitch, YO and pull through, *YO and pull through 2 loops on hook. Rep from * once more. YO twice, insert hook into next st, YO and pull through, *YO and pull through 2 loops on hook. Rep from * once more. YO and pull through all 3 loops on hook.

Tc3Tog: YO twice, insert hook into indicated stitch, YO and pull through, *YO and pull through 2 loops on hook. Rep from * once more. YO twice, insert hook into next st, YO and pull through, **YO and pull through 2 loops on hook. Rep from ** once more. YO twice, insert hook into next st, YO and pull through, ***YO and pull through 2 loops on hook. Rep from *** once more YO and pull through all 4 loops on hook.

Part 1: The Back Panel

Option 1: The original version

Note: video tutorials for the special stitches are linked in the abbreviations section above as each section is released.

Row 1:            FHDC 79 (61)      OR     Ch81 (63), hdc in third ch from hook and each ch across. (79/61)

Row 2:            Turn, CH1, hhdc in first and each st across. (79, 61)

Rows 3- on: Repeat row 2 until your panel is almost 16” square

Option 2: The Envelope Back

Note: video tutorials for the stitches are linked in the abbreviations section above. You will also need more yarn than for the original version above.

Row 1:            FHDC 79 (61)      OR     Ch81 (63), hdc in third ch from hook and each ch across. (79/61)

Row 2:            Turn, CH1, hhdc in first and each st across. (79, 61)

Rows 3- on: Repeat row 2 until your panel is almost 10” tall

Part 2: The Front Panel

Option 1: The original version

In my original version I had a plain front panel for the pillow insert. To make this version:

Row 1:            FHDC 79 (61)      OR     Ch81 (63), hdc in third ch from hook and each ch across. (79/61)

Row 2:            Turn, CH1, hhdc in first and each st across. (79, 61)

Rows 3- on: Repeat row 2 until your panel is almost 16” square

Option 2: The Zig Zag version

However, if you want to make the front panel with the zig zag texture that is completely do-able too! You can change colours at any point. To get an idea of how they look see the pic at the top of this post. For the pocket section in the pics above I changed color every 2 rows for the pink and yellow version. For the green version I changed colour at rows 3 and 5.

I have video tutorials for the bookmark version of this stitch combination on my YouTube Channel.

Right handed version is at https://youtu.be/Q66ku0qxT7U

Left handed version is at https://youtu.be/8_6mx9n1_HE

Row 1: FHDC 79 (61) OR Ch80 (63) , hdc in second ch from hook and each ch across. (79 / 61)

Row 2: Turn, Ch1, sc in first st, *hdc in next st, dc in next st, 3 tc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st. Rep from * to end. (105 / 81 sts)

Row 3: Turn, ch1, sc2tog over 1st and 2nd st of the row, sc in next 2 sts, *3 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, sc3tog over next 3 sts, sc in next 2 sts. Rep from * until you have 5 sts remaining. 3sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog over last 2 sts. (103 / 81)

Row 4: Turn, Rep row 3.

Row 5: Turn, Ch4, sk the first st tc in next st (counts as a tc2tog), *dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st**, tc3tog over next 3 sts, Rep from * across ending at ** where you will have 2 sts remaining. Tc2tog. (79 / 61)

Row 6: Turn, ch1, sc in first and every st across (79 / 61)

Row 7: Turn, Rep row 6

Rows 8 – on: Rep rows 2-7 until your panel is square Note: ensure you end with row 6 so you have a flat edge to your square!

FO and weave in ends.

Part 3: The Pocket

Option 1: The Original Version (Zig Zag)

Note: For the pocket section I changed color every 2 rows for the pink version. For the green version I changed colour at rounds 3 and 5.

Note 2: The videos above in part 2 will help you work this section.

Row 1: FHDC 79 (61) OR Ch80 (63) , hdc in second ch from hook and each ch across. (79 / 61)

Row 2: Turn, Ch1, sc in first st, *hdc in next st, dc in next st, 3 tc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st. Rep from * to end. (105 / 81 sts)

Row 3: Turn, ch1, sc2tog over 1st and 2nd st of the row, sc in next 2 sts, *3 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, sc3tog over next 3 sts, sc in next 2 sts. Rep from * until you have 5 sts remaining. 3sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog over last 2 sts. (103 / 81)

Row 4: Turn, Rep row 3.

Row 5: Turn, Ch4, sk the first st tc in next st (counts as a tc2tog), *dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st**, tc3tog over next 3 sts, Rep from * across ending at ** where you will have 2 sts remaining. Tc2tog. (79 / 61)

Row 6: Turn, ch1, sc in first and every st across (79 / 61)

Row 7: Turn, Rep row 6.

Rows 8 – 36 (30): Rep rows 2-7

Option 2: The plain version

If you have worked the zig zag version for the back panel you may want to work a plain version of the pocket to really make the zig zag’s pop.

Row 1:            FHDC 79 (61)      OR     Ch81 (63), hdc in third ch from hook and each ch across. (79/61)

Row 2:            Turn, CH1, hhdc in first and each st across. (79, 61)

Rows 3- on: Repeat row 2 until your panel is approximately 9″ tall.

Part 4: Assembly

This is essentially the same for both versions, except for where the photos indicate there is a difference.

Step 1:            Place front panel on top of back panel and then place the pocket panel on top of the front panel. 

Note: for the envelope back version you will have an overlap of 2″ in the centre of your pillow on the back. See photo below.

Step 2:            Place stitch markers evenly around to hold all of the panels together (use as many 

stitch markers as you prefer)

Step 3:            For a solid backed version: You will need to sew or crochet together three of the sides for a version with the original back panel as one piece. I find it is much easier to sew the three sides that the pocket is on. Note: Make sure to go through all three panels!

For the enveloped back version: You will need to sew or crochet together all 4 sides ensuring that you also go through both of the back panels where they overlap. Note: Make sure to go through all of the panels!

The enveloped back version is now completed. For the solid back version continue to step 4.

Step 4:             Insert pillow form between the front and back panels.

Step 5:            Continue to sew or crochet across the top of the pillow.

FO and weave in ends!