Earlier this year I began thrifting for vintage and retro items with my mom and sister. I’ve always loved retro and vintage designs – especially the flower patterns. They are groovy, fun, and evoke a feeling of happiness whenever I see them. I have a set of vintage amber drinking glasses from the ’60s with those adorable flowers on them which inspired this crochet pattern.
You can purchase a downloadable .PDF version of this pattern here or continue below for the FREE pattern.
I created this throw pillow to add a fun touch to any room. I currently have mine in my living room but I think this would be super sweet in any kids’ room, too!
Materials:
- Super Bulky / Weight 6 Yarn. I used Bernat Blanket which can be found at Michaels Stores or yarncanada.ca. You’ll need 2 balls (440 yards) for the main color, and 1 small ball (108 yards) for the contrasting middle color.
- N/15-10.00mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle
- PolyFil/Stuffing
- Scissors
- Stitch Marker to mark the beginning/end of rounds
- Row Counter (optional)
Notes:
This pattern is crocheted in the round, essentially forming a ball, then stuffed. After it is sewn closed, the remaining tail is sewn around the outside to form the petals. The center piece is also crocheted in the round and sewn on at the end.
Gauge:
7 sts x 6 rows = 4” x 4”
Gauge was obtained by sc flat, row by row. Matching gauge is not entirely important for this pattern – I would suggest sizing your hook down if you crochet loosely as you do not want the stuffing to show through.
Abbreviations/Stitch Terms
ch chain
sc single crochet
2sc increase / single crochet 2 stitches in the next stitch
sc2tog decrease / single crochet the next 2 stitches together
st(s) stitch(es)
sl st slip stitch
pm place stitch marker
* – * crochet the stitch pattern within the * until you reach the number of stitches noted at the end of the row
Pattern
Petals (Using Main Color)
1. ch 2
2. 6 sc in 1st ch (6)
3. 2sc in each st (12)
4. sc 1, 2sc (18)
5. sc 2, 2sc (24)
6. sc 3, 2sc (30)
7. sc 4, 2sc (36)
8. sc 5, 2sc (42)
9. sc 6, 2sc (48)
10. sc 7, 2sc (54)
11. sc 8, 2sc (60)
12. sc 9, 2sc (66)
13. sc 10, 2sc (72)
14. sc 11, 2sc (78)
15. sc 12, 2sc (84)
16. sc 13, 2sc (90)
17. sc 14, 2sc (96)
18. sc 15, 2sc (102)
19.- 22. sc around (102)
23. sc 15, sc2tog (96)
24. sc 14. sc2tog (90)
25. sc 13, sc2tog (84)
26. sc 12, sc2tog (78)
27. sc 11, sc2tog (72)
28. sc 10, sc2tog (66)
29. sc 9, sc2tog (60)
30. sc 8, sc2tog (54)
31. sc 7, sc2tog (48)
32. sc 6, sc2tog (42)
33. sc 5, sc2tog (36)
34. sc 4, sc2tog (30)
35. sc 3, sc2tog (24)
Begin stuffing after row 35. I suggest creating a small hole in the center of the stuffing to make it easier when pulling the needle through the middle when we form the petals.
36. sc 2, sc2tog (18)
37. sc 1, sc2tog (12)
38. sc2tog (6)
Fasten off with a sl st, cut yarn leaving a 60” or longer tail. Wrap the tail around to the other side of the pillow, insert into the middle, pull tightly through to the other side and repeat until you’ve formed 6 even petals. Secure with a knot to finish.
Flower Center (Using Contrasting Color)
1. ch 2
2. 6 sc in 1st ch (6)
3. 2sc in each st (12)
4. sc 1, 2sc (18)
5. sc 2, 2sc (24)
6. sc 3, 2sc (30)
Fasten off with a sl st. Cut yarn leaving a long tail to sew the center piece onto the flower. You may wish to crochet two flower centers and sew one on to each side. After you have sewn the center(s) on, your throw pillow is complete!
I’d love to see your finished work. Find me on Instagram and use the hashtag #theretrothrowpillow so I can share your work, too! You may sell finished items made from this pattern, please credit me @kitzknitz or reference my website kitzknitz.com when posting or selling your work.
Great pattern! I can’t wait to try this pillow. So many colour options to make each one different.
Thank you for sharing this pattern!
Thank you! 🙂
Is this pattern free to make and sell?
Yes it is! I just ask that you credit me @kitzknitz when posting your finished product for sale or on social media 🙂
Same!
This is so cute! Thank you for sharing.
Do you have any idea what size it would be using bulky instead?
Hi Kate! Thank you :). I’m not 100% sure of the size, I would think it would maybe work out to being about 1/3 smaller? I think it would still be perfect for a chair. Would love to see it if you make one that size!
Nina
Merci très beau
Just made my pillow out of bulky chenille yarn & it turned out so cute! I plan on making more for Christmas presents!
That is wonderful to hear!
Isnt a size 10mm hook big?
I only have a size 6
Hi Julia,
With the suggested yarn the 10mm hook worked best for me. The gauge is provided so as long as you can meet gauge then it should be ok. If you like your stitches tighter than shown in the pictures you can certainly size down. I found when working with Bernat Blanket yarn that it was difficult for me to pull the yarn through with any hook smaller than a 10mm, but everyone’s experience will be different!
Hope that helps!
Nina
How long would you estimate this would take for a beginner to finish?
It really depends for each person! I like to take breaks when using the recommended yarn so my hands and wrists don’t hurt, but it works up fairly quickly. I’m sure this is a project that could be completed in a weekend 🙂
Hi! I love this design, I just had a question! When I crochet the petals, they always turn out significantly smaller. I have the same yarn and needle size. So I’m wondering if it’s just an error I’m making? I’m still fairly new so any advice would be helpful!
Hi Sofia,
That can certainly happen as everyone’s tension is a bit different. Did you match gauge? You could always try to substitute a thicker yarn or size up your needle if your stitches are too tight. You could also crochet additional increase rounds to make the pillow larger, just make sure to decrease the same amount of rounds. Hope that helps!
what do the parenthesis and the numbers within them mean ?
Hi Kelly,
The numbers in the parenthesis show the number of stitches you should have after completing each round. Hope that helps.
Nina
Hello! I love this crochet pattern but I just had one question. How would you do step 19? Thanks!
Hi Daisy!
Step 19 (19. – 22.) means that for round 19, 20, 21, and 22 you will just single crochet around – no increasing or decreasing! 102 sc stitches for each round. Hope that makes sense!
Nina
Hello! I love the way the pillow looks, it’s cute! I have one question, could you perhaps explain how I form the petals after I finish the ball? English isn’t my first language and I didn’t really understand it in the text. Thank you!
Hi Kristin,
I will try my best! When you finish your final stitch, you want to make sure you keep a long tail of yarn because we will be wrapping that yarn around the entire piece you just finished. After you’ve cut the yarn with a long length left, you can pull it through the last loop and sew up the remaining stitches. That is the Center of the flower. Take that long tail and wrap it around to the other side of the flower to the opposite Center and sew it through the middle and back out, pull it snug to form the indent of the petal. You will repeat that around leaving enough space between petals for 5 or 6 petals in total – your choice. I hope that helps. If you’ve made any pumpkins it is a similar process, too. If you need additional support you can email me and I can send you a video, too!
Hi there! I just began crocheting the pillow and am on row 14. I’ve been reading through the comments and see that it’s supposed to be a ball, but so far it appears as a cone shape. Am I doing something wrong or is it supposed to be like this? Thank you.
Hi Hana,
Mine had a slight cone shape as well, when you sew around for the petals and through the center it should take that away! If it is super cone-like (like a waffle ice cream cone) then maybe the stitch count is off? But if it just bulges a bit at that center part I wouldn’t worry too much! Hope that helps!
Nina
If it’s made in rounds, but looks like a waffle, do you connect each round with a slip stitch or turn at the end of each round and made in an arc? Thanks
It is crocheted continuously in the round, so placing a stitch marker where your round begins/ends might be helpful. You won’t join after the round ends, just simply keep crocheting around like a spiral. Hope that helps!
Nina
I would love to see this video to please. Karoloky@aol.com
I have a video on my Instagram page (@kitzknitz)
Hi there I’m newer to crocheting could I have completed 1-3. I’m having trouble understanding this pattern since it’s less detailed! I know the stitches and abbreviations. Could you explain steps 4 and 5? I should be able to figure it out from there.
Hi Tayler,
Since the pattern is crocheted in the round you will repeat the stitch pattern of doing 1 single crochet stitch, and 2 single crochet stitches in the same next stitch, until you crochet the total number of stitches in the parenthesis. Hope that clears it up a bit!
I am a beginner as well and I’m having a problem with reading the pattern. From these steps do I just repeat the same pattern as in 1 single crochet and then 2 single crochet. So then sc 5 would be just read as row 5?
Hello,
You will need to increase every round, so first you will single crochet 1, and then in the next stitch you put 2 single crochets, until you read the end of that round. On the next round you do 2 single crochets (1 in each of the next 2 stitches) and then increase by putting 2 single crochets into the next stitch, etc.
Hi I know somebody already asked this question but should it be more on the cone side or the ball shape side because mine looks like a hat😅
It may look a little cone like at first, once you stuff it and sew through the middle it takes on a round shape!
I just made this pillow and it turned out so cute! Thank you for the lovely pattern!
Yay! Love to hear that! 🙂
I’m on row 19 but I don’t have a ball it’s just a flat piece what am I doing wrong?
Hi Tammy,
If you’re crocheting continuously in the round then you should be ok. Round 19 is when you begin crocheting 4 rounds with no increases which helps build up the sides of the pillow, once you proceed after round 22 and begin decreasing it should start taking on the shape of a round ball. I hope that helps. Please feel free to email me with any questions if you need more clarification.
Nina
Hello. I love the pattern. This will be the first time I am going to try using a pattern as I have only used tutorials. Is there any way you could show me what you mean by the comments you left after row 35. I cannot visualise how you also use the long yarn at the end. Are you able to send me pics as I progress
It’s very similar to making crochet pumpkins and wrapping the yarn around the outside and in through the middle. I am hoping to film a tutorial for the whole pattern once I am settled in after moving 🙂
I am new to crochet and was wondering about this pattern. When I started it and got to the decreses, my petal was really big and didnt form like a petal at all. Is there something I am doing wrong? Did I miss any steps?
You will form the petals after you are finished decreasing by wrapping the yarn around the outside and back in through the middle, pulling tight to form the petals. I’m hoping to film a tutorial soon!
I love this pattern and can’t wait to make it! What are the names of the colors you used for the pink pillow? Thanks so much! 🙂
I believe the pink was called “Tan Pink” and I can’t quite remember the yellow name!
I just made my first of this pattern! SO cute and easy to follow instructions. I have FIVE little granddaughters and I’m continuing with one for each of them! Thank you for sharing this darling project!
Awe I love that! I hope they like the pillows!
Love this pattern! I was a little confused at first about how to wrap the yarn to make the petals, but once I looked closely at the picture I understood, and I love how it turned out. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hello,
I’m making this pillow right now but I am absolutely clueless on how to proceed after step 38. I was wondering if you maybe would have pictures of the process or have made a video? I really want to be able to make this pillow since it’s so cute!!!
Hello! There is a video on my Instagram page showing how I made a smaller version. Search KitzKnitz on Instagram.
Hello, love the pattern! The number in the parenthesis, is that how many stitches there should be overall or how many stitches you need to add to the previous row? Additionally, do you skip over the same amount of stitches as you single crochet? Thank you!
The number in the brackets is the amount of stitches you should have at the end of the round, it increases or decreases by 6 stitches each round (unless you are crocheting the middle part that adds some height).
I have a question, I’m at row 6 and I was wondering if the pattern was supposed to be in a magic ring kind of shape? Or did I do it wrong? I’ve only been crocheting for months
Yes it is in a circle/the round. There is a video on my Instagram page that shows a mini version of this pattern!
How do you sew the middle of the flower on? I’ve done the petals and whenever I try and sew it on it lays flat and doesn’t look the best or like the picture.
Hi Carla,
I usually use the mattress stitch technique to hide my stitches. Weaving in and out of the sc stitches!
Hello! Firstly thank you so much for this pattern! I’ve just started crocheting at it’s great to be able to follow a pattern confidently. May I ask roughly how much polyfill/stuffing is required? I’m hoping to source some recycled stuffing and unsure of how much I will need to order. Thanks!
I an to the point where here you start decreasing. It’s seems a little small. If you want it bigger what can I do.what is the final size. I know mine may be a little smaller because of the. Needle size. Can you help me with making it larger.
You can definitely size up with hook, if you’d like it bigger then just continue to increase each round until it’s the size you like. Each round increases by 6 stitches.
I just wanted to say thanks for the lovely free pattern and the detailed responses to other comments!!!