If you love color as much as me you’ll love today’s free crochet pattern for the Rainbow Shells Pillow Cover.

Awhile back I made a rainbow baby blanket. It was one of those “just because” projects when you need something fun and mindless to do. (Baby blankets are my go-to when I need to get my crojo back.)

Anyhoo, when I shared the finished picture on social media a friend messaged me immediately and asked if I could make a pillow version. My friends inspire so many of my designs!

The Rainbow Shells Pillow Cover is a pretty quick and easy crochet pattern. Simple enough for an advanced beginner. If you can double crochet, you can make this pillow cover!

Rainbow Shells Crochet Pillow

Free Crochet Pattern - Rainbow Shells Pillow

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Skill Level
• Beginner

Materials
• 5 mm (H) hook
• Scissors
• Needle for weaving in ends
• 16 inch pillow form

Yarn (Caron Simply Soft)
• Red
• Persimmon (orange)
• Sunshine (yellow)
• Limelight (green)
• Blue mint (blue)
• Berry blue (purple)

I pulled these yarns from my personal stash so I cannot guarantee their availability but any ROYGBV colors will do.

Stitches and Abbreviations used

Magic Circle
st – stitch
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
v stitch
Shell
v stitch cluster

Stitch Guide

V Stitch:
(dc, ch 1, dc) in same stitch

V Stitch Cluster:
(v st, ch 3, v st) in same stitch

Shell:
7 dc in same stitch

Shell Cluster:
In v stitch cluster work, (shell in first v st, sc in ch-3 sp, shell in last v st

Note:
In the picture above the blue (blue mint) and purple (berry blue) rows look very similar in color. I found it difficult to capture their contrast on camera. See additional pictures after the pattern below. In person the contrast is more obvious.

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You can find the free pattern below or purchase the inexpensive, ad-free pdf on Etsy or Ravelry with the links at the bottom of this post.

Crochet Shells Pillow Pattern

Round 1: Beginning in magic circle; ch3, (dc, ch1) 7 times; sl st to 2^nd chain of starting ch-3 to join. (8 DC, 8 ch-1 sps)

Round 2: Ch1, sc in first ch-1 sp; *7 dc in next ch1 space (first shell made); sc in next ch1 space, repeat from * around 3 times; Sl st to first sc to join. (4 shells, 4 sc)

Change color.

Round 3: Ch4 (counts as dc, ch 1), in same stitch work (dc, ch3, dc, ch1, dc) (starting V stitch cluster made); *ch 5, sk next shell, in next sc work a V stitch cluster; repeat around from * around 3 times; ch 2, dc in 3^rd chain of starting ch-4 to join. (4 v st clusters, 4 ch-5 sps)

Round 4: *7 dc in next v st, sc in ch-3 space, 7 dc in next v st (corner shell cluster made); sc in the 4^th dc of the shell below (making sure to sc around the ch 5); repeat from * around 3 times; (4 corner shell clusters, 4 sc)

(Your work should resemble a four leaf clover at this point.)

Change color.

Round 5 (v stitch foundation row): Ch4, dc in same stitch (first V stitch made); *ch 5, V st cluster in sc in center of next corner shell cluster**; ch 5, v st in next sc; repeat from * 3 times stopping last repeat at **; ch 2, dc in 3rd chain of starting ch-4 to join. (4 v st clusters, 4 v sts)

Round 6: (shell row) *Shell in next v st, sc in 4th dc of shell below (working over ch), shell cluster in next corner V stitch cluster, sc in 4th dc of shell below; repeat from * around working shell clusters in each corner, and shells on each the side. (4 shell clusters, 4 shells)

Change color.

Rounds 7-17: Repeat pattern, alternating between V stitch foundation row and shell row (see rows 5 and 6), changing colors after each shell row. The V stitches/shells on the sides of the piece will increase with each row.

(After round 17 you will have 4 corner v stitch clusters and 7 v sts in between each cluster.)

Round 18: Ch 1, *{2sc in next v st; in next ch-5 sp work (2 sc, sc in 4^th dc of shell below, 2 sc)} 7 times; in corner v st cluster work (2 sc in v st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-3 sp, 2 sc in next v st); in next ch-5 sp work (2 sc, sc in 4^th dc of shell below, 2 sc); repeat from * 3 times, sl st to first sc to join.

Repeat process to make two square panels.

To Join

Lineup your two squares and starting in one corner, sl st together in each sc around until you’ve joined three sides. Insert pillow form. Sl st to join remaining side of pillow cover. Cut yarn and weave in ends.

Voila!

Additional photos to show color contrast:

I didn’t realize that my “purple” was technically blue until I finished the project. Depending on the lighting and in contrast to the “blue” I chose it looks very purple.