Velvet yarn behaves differently enough that construction choices matter more than usual here: rectangular covers, a sewn circular pillow, waffle and basketweave textures, an X trellis front, and a round pleated version all show up across these seven.
Only the original KnotToYarn illustrations that match their linked pattern’s actual construction are kept below. A tapestry needle is worth having on hand for closing up the sewn versions and securing any zipper opening.
Velvet pillow patterns to explore
1. Velvet Crochet Pillow
Lindsey wrote this after reading The Little Book of Hygge, aiming for a cozy home. It comes with photos, materials, gauge and sizing, and gives two tips for velvet yarn: use a smaller hook than the yarn recommends (she uses H/5 mm, while the yarn says 6.5 mm) to tighten your stitches and prevent snagging, since snags in velvet are hard to fix, and feel your stitches as much as you look at them.
2. Velvet Circle Pillow
Maria’s Blue Crayon made this with Bernat Velvet from Michaels, in big 315 yard skeins, after passing over velvet yarn before. The pattern is a free PDF download, and it makes two double crochet circles joined by single crochet around an 18 inch pillow form.
3. Danny’s Velvety Dream Pillow
RaeLynn designed this pillow for her husband and rates it Level 1 Beginner. It is worked in a single stitch, single crochet, in bulky (5) velvet yarn (Yarn Bee Velvety Smooth), about 12.5 by 16.5 inches, with a gauge of 9 stitches and 10 rows in 4 inches.
4. Velvet Waffle Pillow
Bernat’s Velvet Waffle is rated Easy, in one size, in Bernat Velvet yarn on an I/9 (5.5 mm) hook. It is a free download with no sign-up, and the listing has one 5 star review. It uses front post and back post double crochet for the waffle texture.
5. Kiss Kiss Velvet Pillow
Bernat’s Kiss Kiss is rated Intermediate, in one size, in Bernat Velvet Plus yarn on a 9 mm (M/13) hook, and it is a free download with no sign-up. It has an X trellis front, made with front post stitches.
6. Pleated Pillow
The Pleated Pillow is a callback to a vintage design in Bernat Crushed Velvet: a zig-zag circle motif worked from the middle outward. It is rated Easy, in one size, and it is a free download with no sign-up.
7. Basketweave Pillow
Bernat’s Basketweave Pillow is rated Easy and worked in Bernat Crushed Velvet, with basketweave post stitches, and it finishes about 20 inches square. It is a free download with no sign-up, and a yarn kit is sold.
Working with velvet yarn
Velvet yarn is slippery and hard to see the stitches in, so pick an easy pattern for the first pillow. Danny’s Velvety Dream is a level one beginner project with one stitch, and Bernat’s Velvet Waffle is easy at 20 inches square. Check your pillow form first, since Lindsey’s covers 18 by 18, 16 by 16 and 12 by 20.