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Ribbed texture crochet pillow cover for any room
Half double crochet (UK: half treble) ribbed pillow cover, worked in two flat panels. Both US and UK stitch names given.
- Skill
- Easy to Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Yarn weight
- Worsted (#4)
- Hook
- 5 mm
Easy to Intermediate
What the original write-up called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Worsted (#4)
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
4-6 hours
What the original page reckoned. Your own pace is the one that matters.
About this pattern
This is a rectangular crochet pillow cover made from two flat panels: a textured front worked in half double crochet (UK half treble) through the back loop, and a plain back panel with an opening for the insert. It needs roughly 700 yards of medium weight #4 yarn, a 5 mm hook, and fits an 18 inch pillow form. No shaping is involved, only steady rows and a gauge check.
This cover belongs to the half double crochet (UK: half treble) family, built almost entirely from that one stitch worked into the back loop only. The back-loop technique leaves the front loop of each stitch standing proud, so plain rows of half double crochet read as a series of fine horizontal ridges rather than a flat fabric. It is a texture pattern more than a shaping pattern, which keeps the stitch count steady from the first row to the last.
The cover is assembled from two flat rectangular panels rather than worked in the round. The front panel carries the ribbed texture throughout, while the back panel is worked smooth and left with a simple opening so a pillow insert can be slid in after joining. This panel method avoids any increase or decrease shaping, which is part of why the pattern suits confident beginners as well as intermediate makers.
Materials
- Medium weight #4 yarn in main color: approximately 700 yards (640 meters)
- 5 mm US H-8 crochet hook
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
- 18 inch (46 cm) pillow insert
- Stitch markers if desired
The list is the pattern's own wording.
Instructions
Every round is printed as the pattern wrote it, brackets and all. Open the key beside a round to see only the short forms that round uses.
Main Pattern
- Round 1
Ch 73. Hdc in the third ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (71 sts)
Key2
- hdc
- half double crochet
- ch
- chain
- Round 2
Ch 2, hdc in blo of each stitch across. Turn. (71 sts)Rows 3 to 54: Repeat Row 2 until the panel measures approximately 18 inches (46 cm). Fasten off.
Key3
- hdc
- half double crochet
- blo
- back loop only
- ch
- chain
Main Pattern
- Round 1
Ch 73. Hdc in the third ch from hook and across. Turn. (71 sts)
Key2
- hdc
- half double crochet
- ch
- chain
- Round 2
to 45: Ch 2, hdc across. Turn. (71 sts)
Key2
- hdc
- half double crochet
- ch
- chain
- Round 46
to 54: Continue in hdc, then fasten off.
Key1
- hdc
- half double crochet
Special Stitch
Ribbed Texture Stitch: Work half double crochet stitches into the back loop only. This creates a raised horizontal ridge effect while keeping the fabric flexible.
Optional Border
For a finished edge, attach yarn to any corner and work one round of single crochet around the pillow cover. Place 3 single crochets in each corner stitch to create smooth turns. Join with a slip stitch and fasten off.
Making up
- Step 1Light blocking helps the crochet stitches relax and creates a cleaner shape. Lay each panel flat, gently mist with water, and allow it to dry completely before assembly.
- Step 2For care, follow the yarn label recommendations. Most washable yarns can be gently cleaned and reshaped while damp. Avoid high heat drying because it may change the size and texture.
Notes from the pattern
- The 5 mm US H-8 hook sets the stated 71-stitch count against the 18 inch (46 cm) finished width; swapping hooks without checking gauge will shift that measurement.
- A stitch marker on the first stitch of each row is useful here because the back-loop ribbing looks similar from both sides, making it easy to lose track of which edge is the turning edge.
- Check gauge before committing to the full 700 yards of yarn, since the pattern repeats a single row type for dozens of rows and a tension mismatch compounds quickly over that length.
- The suggested neutral base with a warm accent colour applies to front versus back panels, not to colour changes within a row, so no carrying or weaving of a second colour mid-row is needed.
The essentials
- Rounds
- 5
- Parts
- 4
- Level
- Easy to Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Hook
- 5 mm
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4)
Stitches you will use
- Half double crochet worked into the back loop only Used for every row of the front panel to create the ribbed effect; missing the back loop on even one row breaks the ridge line.
- Row counting over a long repeat Rows 3 to 54 and rows 2 to 45 are identical repeats measured by length rather than stitch pattern changes, so losing count is the main risk on a plain repeat this long.
- Matching two separately worked panels Front and back panels are made flat and joined afterwards, so both must reach the same width and length before assembly for the seams to sit evenly.
Troubleshooting
The front panel comes out narrower or wider than 18 inches at the stated row count
This points to tension drifting from the gauge swatch; re-check gauge with the 5 mm hook and adjust hook size slightly rather than changing the stitch count.
The ridged texture looks faint or disappears in places
This usually means a row was worked into both loops instead of the back loop only; check each row by eye against the ridge pattern before continuing.
The joined cover feels tight or loose around the 18 inch insert
Panels were likely finished to a slightly different length from one another; block both pieces to the same measured length before seaming rather than adjusting after joining.
Substituting yarn
- Cotton blend, worsted weight
- Gives a firmer, less stretchy fabric that holds the ribbed texture crisply; stitch definition improves but the finished panel may need slightly more careful blocking to reach 18 inches.
- Acrylic blend, worsted weight
- Keeps the same 5 mm hook and stitch count workable, adds more drape and softness, and remains fully washable for a bedroom or sofa cushion.
- Chunky weight wool or wool blend
- Produces a bolder, more pronounced ridge with fewer rows needed to reach 18 inches, but requires a larger hook than 5 mm and a fresh gauge swatch, since the stated 71-stitch count no longer applies.
Washing and care
- Follow the washable yarn label: most medium weight cotton and acrylic blends can be hand washed or machine washed on a gentle cycle, then laid flat to dry rather than hung, to keep the panels from stretching out of shape.
- Reshape the ribbed texture by hand while the cover is still damp, smoothing the ridges back into straight horizontal lines, and store the finished cover flat or loosely folded to avoid flattening the raised stitches.
FAQs
Questions
Can this cover be made for a different pillow size?
Yes. The pattern notes that width changes mean altering the starting chain in multiples that match the stitch base, and length changes mean adding or removing rows of the back-loop repeat. Always re-check gauge after resizing to keep the fit accurate.
Do the front and back panels need to be the same stitch?
No. The front panel is worked in the back-loop ribbed texture for its ridged look, while the back panel is worked plain in half double crochet for a smooth finish. Only the final width and length need to match between the two.
Are stitch markers necessary for this pattern?
They are optional but genuinely helpful, since the ribbed texture can make the right and wrong side of a row look alike. A marker on the first stitch of each row keeps the turning edge clear over the long row repeat.
What happens if the gauge does not match before starting?
Since the panel width and 18 inch finished size both depend on the 71-stitch count at the stated gauge, an unchecked tension difference will carry through the entire project. A small swatch with the 5 mm hook before starting avoids reworking a full panel later.
How is the pillow insert actually enclosed once the panels are made?
The two flat panels are joined around the edges after blocking, with the back panel's simple opening left free so an 18 inch insert can be placed inside. No separate closure hardware is required by the pattern.
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.