Full-Sized Free Crochet Bean Bag Pattern Part 1

Learn some new stitches while crocheting your own oversized pouf ottoman. This free crochet bean bag pattern is comprised of six simple squares and stuffed with inexpensive household items to create a high-end looking piece of DIY furniture. Get Part 1 of the free pattern below or purchase the full pattern in an ad-free PDF here. (And when you’re finished, find Part 2 here!)

This free crochet bean bag pattern is part of a collaboration with Lion Brand yarn. This post may contain affiliate links.

Making things with someone you love. Does it really get better than that? I have memories of being 3 or 4 years old and cutting up tissues alongside my mom as I pretended to cut sewing patterns like she was. My mom hasn’t stopped making and doing since then and neither have I, so the blog has presented an really fun opportunity to take our collaborative making to a whole new level. (A make & do CREW, one might say. 🙂 )

In the case of this free crochet bean bag pattern, my mom did all the hard work and I’m just riding her coattails across the internet. Ha. Really though, this pouf was super collaborative because my mom came up with the idea of making a crochet bean bag and chose the different crochet stitches she wanted to include on each side. (I recently gifted her this crochet stitch dictionary, which is where she found all the stitch ideas!) 

Then, being the crochet machine she is, my mom whipped up the six squares and passed them off to me for photography and assembly. (Pretty sweet deal for me, huh?!) I joined them together and stuffed the cube and then did some “quality testing” by letting my kids jump all over it for a few days.

I always love seeing new and interesting ways to incorporate crochet into my life and home, but I just know that I never personally will spend $300 on the yarn to make something I could buy for $150 at a store. Yes, there’s something much cooler about it being handmade, but I think there’s something even cooler about it being handmade AND affordable.

To that end, my mom and I decided to use Lion Brand Pound of Love yarn for this free crochet bean bag pattern and I’m thrilled with how this economical yarn worked out. At 1020 yards per skein, Pound of Love provides a serious load of creative potential for the price. To achieve the richly textured look of chunky yarn, we decided to hold three strands together throughout, and even doing that, this free crochet pouf pattern only requires five skeins of yarn!

(I actually used this exact same color of Pound of Love last year for the free “Granny Gives Back” hooded baby blanket pattern.)

In Part 2, I’ll be covering how to block your squares, join them together and stuff the pouf. For a great start-to-finish overview of this free crochet bean bag pattern though, check out the :50 second video below. Then scroll down for Part 1 of the free pattern. I’ll be sharing Part 2 of this sampler pouf pattern later this weekend.

Sampler Pouf
Free Crochet Bean Bag Pattern

Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF with parts 1 & 2 here.

Add this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here.

Pin it for later here.

Get Part 2 of the free pattern here.

Explanation:
This crochet pouf pattern lets you’ll build new skills while making your own functional furniture. Worked in six squares with six different stitches, this large show-stopper is a surprisingly portable project. This pouf makes a great seat or ottoman, or set a tray on it to make a texture-rich side table. Perfect crochet project for nurseries, living rooms or bedrooms.

Supplies:
• Lion Brand Pound of Love (Weight: 4/Medium – 1020 yds, 16 oz)
– Color: Oxford Grey (#150) – 5 skeins
• Tapestry needle
• Size K (6.5 mm) crochet hook
• Stitch markers or safety pins
• Pouf Filling. Some items to try:
– 6 inexpensive pillows ($3 at Target)
– Plastic grocery bags
– Foam scraps
– Fiber fill stuffing

Abbreviations (US Terms):
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
sp – space
dc – double crochet
tch – turning chain
sl st – slip stitch
st(s) – stitch(s)
sk – skip
cl – cluster
hdc – half double crochet
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
MC – main color

Measurements:
Each square measures 18” x 18”

Final pouf measurements will vary based on filling, but sample pictured is approx. 26” across and 23” tall, depending on how you fluff it.

Gauge:
Gauge varies per square. More important than meeting a specific gauge is making sure the fabric is tight enough to limit stretch and that each square is the same size.

Overall Pattern Notes:
• The pattern is written to create six 18” squares. To make a smaller or larger pouf, use the stitch multiples listed to crochet six squares that are all equal in size. Make a square in each stitch to create a sampler pouf or choose your favorite stitch to make a pouf with uniform texture.

• IMPORTANT: Pattern is worked with three strands of yarn held together throughout. Divide final skeins into multiple balls to create multiple working strands.

THE SQUARES

SQUARE #1: Alternate Spikes Stitch

Stitch Multiple: Any even number of stitches

Note: The spike stitches are created by inserting hook into the row below the working row when indicated. Take care to draw this loop up to the working row quite loosely to ensure a successful spike.

Foundation Row: Ch 40.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in each ch; turn. (39)

Row 2: Ch 1, *sc in next sc, sc in sp below next sc; rep from * to tch, sc in ch-1 tch; turn.

Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 18” square.

SQUARE #2: Uneven Berry

Stitch Multiple: Any even number of stitches

Berry Stitch: Yo and insert hook in next st, yo and draw loop through, yo and draw through first loop on hook, yo and insert hook into same st, yo and draw loop through, yo and draw through all 5 loops, ch 1 to secure.

Foundation Row: Ch 42.

Row 1: Sc in third ch from hook, sc in each ch; turn. (40)

Row 2: Ch 1 (counts as first sl st), sk first sc, *1 berry st in next sc, sl st in next sc; rep from * working final sl st in tch; turn.

Row 3: Ch 1 (counts as first sc), sk first st, *sl st in top of next berry st, sc in next sl st; rep from * to end; turn.

Row 4: Ch 1 (counts as 1 berry st), sl st in next sl st, *berry st in next sc, sl st in next sl st; from from * to last st, sl st in last st; turn.

Row 5: Ch 1, sk first st, *sc in next sl st, sl st in next berry st; rep from * to end; turn.

Repeat Rows 2-5 until piece measures 18” square.

SQUARE #3: Grit Stitch

Stitch Multiple: 2 + 1, plus 2 for the foundation chain (i.e. any odd number)

Foundation Row: Ch 39.

Row 1: Sk first 2 ch (counts as 1 sc), dc in next ch, *sk next ch, sc and dc in next ch; rep from * until 2 ch remain, sk next ch, sc in last ch; turn. (37)

Row 2: Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), dc in first st, *sk next dc, sc and dc in next sc; rep from * until 2 sts remain, sk next dc, sc in tch; turn.

Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 18” square.

SQUARE #4: Adjusted Honeycomb Stitch

Stitch Multiple: 3 sts, plus 1 for the foundation chain

Cluster stitch: [Yo, insert hook where directed, yo, pull loop through, yo, pull through 2 loops] 3 times in same place, yo, pull through first 3 loops on hook, yo pull through both loops on hook.

Foundation Row: Ch 46.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in each ch; turn. (45)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each of first 2 sc, *cluster in next sc, sc in each of next 2 sc; rep from * to last sc, cluster in last sc; turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, *sc in top of first cl, sc in each of next 2 sc, rep from * to end of row; turn.

Row 4: Ch 1, cluster in next sc, *sc in each of next 2 sc, cluster in next sc; rep from * to last 2 sc, sc in each of last 2 sc; turn.

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each of first 2 sc, *sc in top of first cl, sc in each of next 2 sc; rep from * to last cl, sc in top of last cl; turn.

Repeat Rows 2-5 until piece measures 18” square.

SQUARE #5: Herringbone Half Double

Stitch Multiple: Any number of sts, plus 1 for the foundation chain

Hbhdc (Herringbone Half Double Crochet): Yo, insert hook into next st, yo and pull through st  and first loop on the hook, yo and draw through both loops on hook.

Note: Work the final stitch into the top of the tch of each row to maintain a straight edge.

Foundation Row: Ch 41.

Row 1: Sk first 2 ch, hbhdc in next ch and each ch to end, turn. (40)

Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc), sk first st, hbhdc in next and every hbhdc to end of row, working last hbhadc in tch; turn.

Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 18” square.

SQUARE #6: Spot Stitch

Stitch Multiple: 4 sts + 2.

Bobble stitch: [Yo, insert hook where directed, yo, pull loop through, yo, pull through 2 loops] 3 times in same place, yo, pull through first 3 loops on hook, yo pull through both loops on hook.

Note: Work the sc that follows each bobble quite tightly so that the bobble visibly pops out.

Foundation Row: Ch 46.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in each ch; turn. (45)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each of next 2 sc, *bobble in next sc, sc in each of next 3 sc; rep from * until 3 sc remain, bobble in next sc, sc in each of next 2 sc; turn.

Rows 3-5: Ch 1, sc in each sc to end; turn.

Rep Rows 2-5 until piece measures 18” square.

Now it’s time for Part 2 of this free crochet bean bag pattern later where we cover how to block your squares, join them together and stuff your pouf. And if you’d like the pattern in one easily printable place, you can pick up the full pattern (Parts 1 and 2) in the ad-free, printable PDF here.

Here are a few more free crochet patterns from Make & Do Crew you might enjoy:

1. The Sedona Fringed Throw – free crochet blanket pattern

2. The Dwell Sweater – free easy crochet cardigan pattern + video tutorial

3. The Jaqueline Basket – free crochet pattern

4. Mudcloth Pillow – free crochet pattern