Free Teacher Gift – Pencil Pillow Crochet Pattern

Looking for a way to say THANK YOU to a teacher? This Paper Pillow is the perfect teacher appreciation gift, back to school present, or home decor piece for your reading corner or homeschool station! Get the free pattern below or purchase the printable PDF with the accompanying chart and written instructions here.

I always have the hardest times thinking of gifts to give others. What’s most embarrassing is that is actually my love language – gifts! You think I would be better at it. Here’s hoping that this Back to School Pillow Set will make gift giving to teachers a bit easier for you.

DESCRIPTION

As I was thinking about crochet gifts I could make my kids’ teachers, I couldn’t find much that was practical or what I think they would really enjoy. That is how this Pencil Pillow was born!

Best part is that I was able to make it in less than one day! They whip up fast, which is good because I have four kids.

THE YARN

For this blanket, I used #4 worsted weight yarn. I chose I Love this Yarn from Hobby Lobby in the colors “white”, “black”, “yellow”, “light taupe”, “grey beard, and “rosy cheeks”. The pillow does not use much of the contrasting colors, so it is a great way to use up some of your scraps laying around!

If you happen to need to go buy some more yarn to make this, and you want to use the same yarn I bought at Hobby Lobby, make sure you go on a week that the yarn is 30% off. You cannot use 40% off coupons at Hobby Lobby anymore, which is a huge bummer!

DIFFICULTY

This pillow is made by using intarsia crochet techniques, so it is an experienced beginner pattern. For the most part, there aren’t too many complicated color changes.

The bobbins of color stay in color blocks, so this is a great introductory intarsia patten for those wanting to try it out for the first time!

If you want an explanation of how to change colors in intarsia crochet, view this post here!

To make the Paper Pillow, you will need-

MATERIALS

US G/4.00 mm crochet hook
400 yards – “I Love this Yarn” or similar weight 4 yarn in “White”
4 yards – “I Love this Yarn” or similar weight 4 yarn in “Light Taupe”
4 yards – “I Love this Yarn” or similar weight 4 yarn “Black”
45 yards – “I Love this Yarn” or similar weight 4 yarn “Yellow”
4 yards – “I Love this Yarn” or similar weight 4 yarn “Grey Beard”
8 yards – “I Love this Yarn” or similar weight 4 yarn “Rosy Cheeks”
20″ x 12″ pillow insert
Tapestry Needle
Scissors
Chart
Line-by-line written instructions

GAUGE

14 sc sts = 4″

18 rows = 4″

FINISHED SIZE

19.5 x 11.5 inches

TERMINOLOGY

US Crochet Terms Used

ch(s) – chain(s)
CC1 – contrasting color 1
CC2 – contrasting color 2
CC3 – contrasting color 3
CC4 – contrasting color 4
CC5 – contrasting color 5
MC – main color
rem – remaining
RS – right side
sc – single crochet
st/sts – stitch/Stitches
WS – wrong side

Crochet Your Pillow Much Faster!

I have found that the best way to follow an intarsia pattern is by using the chart with individual color squares for each single crochet. It is much easier to quickly skim to see when color changes will happen by looking at the chart. If you would like the chart, you can purchase the ad-free version, or you if you want the written instruction version that is free, you can view it below.

If you are interested in getting the accompanying easy-to-read written instructions for the Paper Pillow crochet pattern, you can purchase the ad-free, printable PDF for $5.00 here.

PATTERN

Front

Using MC sc, ch 68

Row 1: sc 1 in 2^nd ch from hook, sc across, turn (67 sts)

Rows 2-10: ch 1, MC sc 67, turn
Row 11: ch 1, MC sc 46, CC3 sc 4, CC1 sc 7, CC2 sc 7, MC sc 3, turn
Row 12: ch 1, MC sc 3, CC2 sc 7, CC1 sc 7, CC3 sc 6, MC sc 44, turn
Row 13: ch 1, MC sc 42, CC3 sc 8, CC1 sc 8, CC2 sc 5, MC sc 4, turn
Row 14: ch 1, MC sc 5, CC2 sc 3, CC1 sc 8, CC3 sc 11, MC sc 40, turn
Row 15: ch 1, MC sc 38, CC3 sc 13, CC1 sc 8, CC2 sc 2, MC sc 6, turn
Row 16: ch 1, MC sc 7, CC1 sc 8, CC3 sc 16, MC sc 36, turn
Row 17: ch 1, MC sc 35, CC3 sc 17, CC1 sc 7, MC sc 8, turn
Row 18: ch 1, MC sc 9, CC1 sc 6, CC3 sc 19, MC sc 33, turn
Row 19: ch 1, MC sc 31, CC3 sc 22, CC1 sc 4, MC sc 10, turn
Row 20: ch 1, MC sc 11, CC1 sc 3, CC3 sc 23, MC sc 30, turn
Row 21: ch 1, MC sc 28, CC3 sc 26, CC1 sc 1, MC sc 12, turn
Row 22: ch 1, MC sc 13, CC3 sc 28, MC sc 26, turn
Row 23: ch 1, MC sc 25, CC3 sc 28, MC sc 14, turn
Row 24: ch 1, MC sc 16, CC3 sc 28, MC sc 23, turn
Row 25: ch 1, MC sc 21, CC3 sc 28, MC sc 18, turn
Row 26: ch 1, MC sc 19, CC3 sc 28, MC sc 20, turn
Row 27: ch 1, MC sc 18, CC3 sc 28, MC sc 21, turn
Row 28: ch 1, MC sc 23, CC3 sc 28, MC sc 16, turn
Row 29: ch 1, MC sc 14, CC3 sc 28, MC sc 25, turn
Row 30: ch 1, MC sc 27, CC3 sc 27, MC sc 13, turn
Row 31: ch 1, MC sc 10, CC4 sc 3, CC3 sc 25, MC sc 29, turn
Row 32: ch 1, MC sc 30, CC3 sc 23, CC4 sc 5, CC5 sc 1, MC sc 8, turn
Row 33: ch 1, MC sc 6, CC5 sc 3, CC4 sc 5, CC3 sc 21, MC sc 32, turn
Row 34: ch 1, MC sc 34, CC3 sc 18, CC4 sc 5, CC5 sc 6, MC sc 4, turn
Row 35: ch 1, MC sc 3, CC5 sc 7, CC4 sc 5, CC3 sc 16, MC sc 36, turn
Row 36: ch 1, MC sc 38, CC3 sc 13, CC4 sc 5, CC5 sc 8, MC sc 3, turn
Row 37: ch 1, MC sc 4, CC5 sc 7, CC4 sc 5, CC3 sc 11, MC sc 40, turn
Row 38: ch 1, MC sc 41, CC3 sc 9, CC4 sc 5, CC5 sc 8, MC sc 4, turn
Row 39: ch 1, MC sc 5, CC5 sc 7, CC4 sc 5, CC3 sc 7, MC sc 43, turn
Row 40: ch 1, MC sc 45, CC3 sc 4, CC4 sc 5, CC5 sc 8, MC sc 5, turn
Row 41: ch 1, MC sc 6, CC5 sc 7, CC4 sc 5, CC3 sc 2, MC sc 47, turn
Row 42: ch 1, MC sc 48, CC4 sc 5, CC5 sc 8, MC sc 6, turn
Row 43: ch 1, MC sc 7, CC5 sc 7, CC4 sc 4, MC sc 49, turn
Row 44: ch 1, MC sc 50, CC4 sc 2, CC5 sc 8, MC sc 7, turn
Row 45: ch 1, MC sc 8, CC5 sc 7, MC sc 52, turn
Row 46: ch 1, MC sc 53, CC5 sc 5, MC sc 9, turn
Row 47: ch 1, MC sc 9, CC5 sc 3, MC sc 55, turn
Row 48: ch 1, MC sc 56, CC5 sc 1, MC sc 10, turn
Rows 49-51: ch 1, MC sc 67, turn
Row 52: ch 1, MC sc 67
Fasten off.

BACK
Using MC, ch 68

Row 1: sc 1 in 2^nd ch from hook, sc 1 in each ch across, turn (67 sts)

Rows 2-51: ch 1, sc across, turn

Row 52: ch 1, sc across

Fasten off.

ASSEMBLY

Step 1: Hold Front and Back with RS together. You may want to pin Front and Back together to match panels up.

Step 2: Sc around edges leaving bottom of the pillow open.

Step 3: Flip pillow RS out.

Step 4: Insert pillow.

Step 5: Whip st rem side closed. You may want to pin Front and Back together.

Fasten off. Weave in yarn ends.

I can’t wait to see what you Pencil Pillows! If you would like the accompanying FREE Paper Pillow, click here!

If you are interested you can purchase the ad-free printable PDF pattern in my shop, Etsy, or Ravelry.

Make sure that when you post to social media or another platform, please refer back to me as the designer. If you are on Instagram, tag @CozyNooksDesigns and use #PencilPillow for a chance to be featured!