Mud Cloth Crochet Pillow Pattern — Free Pattern!

This free crochet pillow pattern uses a mud-cloth-inspired design to make a modern piece of couch flair! Excellent pattern for beginners! Get the free pattern below or purchase the ad-free, printable PDF here. 

This free crochet mud cloth pillowcase pattern is a collaboration with my friends at Lion Brand Yarn. This post contains affiliate links.

When I recently asked on Instagram for your opinions on what color mud cloth pillow I should crochet, I was met with a few “What in the world is mud cloth?” inquires. So, first things first: Mud cloth is a type of fabric that is made in Mali by actually dying fabric with mud. The result is graphic, tribal fabrics that have really caught on in popularity with the wanna-be world traveler crowd like myself.

In fact, my designer friend Alexandra from Two of Wands just happened to be working on a crochet mud cloth pattern at the same time as me. Her designs are so stunning–I can’t wait to see what the finished pattern looks like!

Traditionally, mud cloth was dyed by female artisans. As a lady artist myself, I liked thinking about pillow I was stitching away on was my own work of “art,” even if my medium for creating it was far different than the women in Mali.

I chose Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton for this mud cloth crochet pillow pattern because it creates a gorgeous, organic-looking texture that, to me, resembles the look of woven mud cloth fabric. The tighter gauge works up in a lovely, thicker fabric that feels both modern and classic at the same time. (If you like this boho vibe as much as me, you’ll love these other free crochet patterns!)

And this crochet pillow pattern is really fun because it is made entirely of single crochet! While the tighter stitches that give the fabric some structure are slightly slower to create, this pattern is great for anyone who is just beginning to read crochet patterns. If you can single crochet and make a square, you can make this pillow!

I’ve included detailed instructions for how to re-create the same mud cloth embroidery designs on your pillow that I used on mine, but don’t by afraid to experiment! I tried many designs before I landed on something I loved. (See my favorite inspiration here and here.) The great thing is that it’s pretty easy to just snip your embroidery and start over if you don’t like where your pillow is headed.

Similarly, you can crochet your pillow case out of different colored yarn to achieve a totally different mud cloth effect. Pictured below are Kitchen Cotton in “Vanilla”, Vanna’s Choice in “Toffee” and Kitchen Cotton in “Licorice.“

If my job wasn’t to come up with NEW crochet patterns, I think I’d make a whole bed-full of these pillows! (Doesn’t the pillow look great reversed too? I love the basic, modern look of the back almost as much as I enjoy the front mud cloth look.)

Thanks to Lion Brand Yarn for sponsoring this post and enabling more free patterns on Make and Do Crew! Purchase a handy kit with all the yarn needed to make this pillow here!

Please do not publish or share this pattern as your own. You may make items to sell with this pattern. In exchange, please link back to this post. Do NOT use my photos as your own sales photos. ­­You can read my policies here. Now let’s make something awesome!

Mud Cloth Crochet Pillow Pattern — Free Pattern!

Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF with all instructional photos here. 

Add this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here.

Pin this pattern for later here.

Measurements:
Finished pillowcase: 18”x18”

Supplies:
So you can spend more time making pillows and less time shopping, this pattern contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you.
(Purchase a kit with all the yarn needed here.)
• Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton – 12 skeins (1888 yards) – color: Vanilla (MC)
• Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton – 1 skein (99 yards) – color: Licorice (AC)
• Tapestry needle
• Size J [6.0 mm] crochet hook
• Stitch markers or safety pins
• (3) 1.5” wooden buttons
• 18”x18” pillow insert (ideally with down or synthetic down filling)
• Sewing needle and thread to match buttons

Gauge:
• 12 st = 4”, 14 rows = slightly over 4” worked in single crochet

Abbreviations and Glossary:
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
sl st – slip stitch
ch – chain
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
MC – main color
AC – accent color
yo – yarn over

Overall Pattern Notes:
• Pillowcase is worked in three sections: a front panel and two back panels. The front panel is embroidered before all three panels are sewn together. Alternatively, you can simply crochet two front panels and sew them together if you don’t desire a removable pillowcase.

•Pattern is worked with two strands of yarn held together throughout.

• Work stitches tightly to achieve a dense, even fabric. Check gauge and use a smaller hook if your stitches are turning out too loose.

• To ensure you have the correct number of total rows in each panel, reference photo below for guidance on counting rows. Your panels should have 14 total “columns” (sets of 4 rows) plus 2 “border” rows for a total of 58 crochet rows.

FRONT PANEL

Foundation Row: With 2 strands of MC held together, ch 54.

Row 1: Sk first sc, sc in each ch. Place marker in front of last stitch to denote RS; turn. (53)

ADDING MUD CLOTH EMBROIDERY DESIGN

Notes:
• Keep this part fun! I’m providing a lot of detail for those who like it, but don’t be afraid to just check out the photos for general technique and then invent your own mud cloth designs!

• All embroidery designs are worked with one strand of AC yarn doubled over and a tapestry needle. Simply cut a long strand of yarn, embroider as much as you can, tie yarn off and begin with a new piece whenever necessary.

• Each embroidery design is worked over four crochet rows. In this pattern, we’ll refer to each set of four rows as one column. (See photo at top of pattern in “Overall Pattern Notes” section.)

• It’s important to pay attention to which is the wrong side and right side the pillow front so that the “columns” appear appropriately for the embroidery section. The RS of your pillow top should have 14 columns and one border crochet row on both the right and the left.

• To recreate the sample, work the vertical lines design in the first column (rows 2-5), then the arrow design in the next column (rows 6-9), then the horizontal lines design in the next column (rows 10-13). Repeat this sequence until the last column, ending with an arrow design in rows 54-57.

• To make sure embroidery is secure, double back in loop created by the yarn knot on the backside of the pillow. (See photo below.)

Vertical Lines Design

1. Skip first two stitches at beginning of column (regardless of if design is being worked from the top to bottom or bottom to top).
2. Embroider one vertical line over two crochet stitches. Repeat twice.
3. Skip two crochet stitches.

Arrows Design

1. Skip first two stitches at beginning of column (regardless of if design is being worked from the top to bottom or bottom to top).
2. Embroider one diagonal line over two crochet stitches and one row. Repeat with a second diagonal line, joining first line in the same hole.
3. Skip two crochet stitches between arrow entry points.
4. Repeat step 2 and 3 (24) more times. 

See photos below for additional detail on creating the arrow.

Horizontal Lines Design

1. Skip first two stitches at beginning of column (regardless of if design is being worked from the top to bottom or bottom to top).
2. Embroider one horizontal line over two crochet rows. Repeat twice.
3. Skip two crochet stitches.
4. Repeat step 2 and 3 (12) more times. 

SEWING PANELS TOGETHER

Notes:
• While the intent of the pillowcase is that it’s removable, you may choose to place the pillow insert in the case before you sew the last few inches of the final seam so as not to stretch the pillowcase while inserting the form.

• The two back panels will overlap by about 1.5”. 

Place pillow front and wider back panel together with wrong sides facing. Using a tapestry needle with one strand of MC yarn doubled, begin in one corner and sew the longer seam together using a basting stitch.

Take care to line up stitches to create a smooth seam. Continue sewing shorter seam from the corner toward the middle of the pillowcase. Fasten off. Reattach yarn at same corner you began in and work the second shorter seam from the corner toward the middle of the pillowcase

Place narrower back panel on pillow front with wrong sides facing. Seam as you did on the opposite side, beginning with the longer seam first and then working the two shorter seams from the corners to the middle of the pillowcase. You may choose to place the pillow form in the pillowcase before you sew the last few inches of the final seam.

ADDING BUTTONS + LOOPS

Using two strands of MC held together, tie a slip knot on hook. Insert hook in the sp between the 10^th and 11^th rows on narrower back panel, yo and pull yarn through slip knot on hook to attach yarn to pillowcase. Ch 5. Sl st to join in the sp between the 14^th and 15^th rows of narrower back panel. Fasten off and weave in both tails. 

Repeat to make a second button loop in the space between the 28^th and 29^th rows and the 32^nd and 33^rd rows.

Repeat to make a third button loop in the space between the 44^th and 45^th rows and the 48^th and 49^th rows.

If you haven’t inserted the pillow form yet, do so now. Sew wooden buttons to the wider back panel using a needle and sewing thread. 

Give your new mud cloth pillow a hug and take pride you just DIYed your own awesome piece of couch flair!

I love to see your finished projects! Use #MakeAndDoCrew and tag me Instagram (@MakeAndDoCrew) to show off your stitches and have a chance to be featured.

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