This ombre crochet pillow pattern uses the beautiful brioche stitch to create a rich, textured surface that catches the light beautifully — and the gradual ombre color shift gives it real depth and warmth. It’s the kind of pillow that looks far more advanced than it actually is to make. ✨

I made this pillow during some quiet downtime, and I fell in love with the brioche stitch instantly. The only problem? I couldn’t decide which color combination to commit to — so I made a double-sided pillow with one ombre on each side! You can absolutely do the same, or stick with one color story. Either way, the technique is the same.

The full free pattern is below, including additional photos to help you through the trickier rounds.

Why you’ll love this pattern

• Stunning textured stitch — the brioche stitch creates a beautifully ribbed, dimensional surface
• Customizable color story — use one ombre or two (one per side, like mine)
• Worked in rounds with the right side always facing you — no flipping, no wrong-side guesswork
• Looks far more advanced than it is — the stitch is actually a steady rhythm once you get the hang of it
• A standout home decor piece — perfect for living rooms, reading nooks, or as a thoughtful housewarming gift

Want the ad-free printable PDF?

If you’d rather work from a clean, printable PDF — the kind you can take with you on the couch (or to the yarn shop) — I have an ad-free version of this brioche stitch crochet pillow pattern in the SeeLoveShare Etsy shop.

Pattern details

• Skill Level: Intermediate
• Finished Size: 20″ × 20″
• Construction: Two panels worked in the round, joined with a single crochet seam around a pillow form
• Hook: 4.5 mm crochet hook
• Yarn Weight: Medium weight (worsted) 100% cotton

Materials

Medium weight, 100% cotton yarns in your chosen ombre palette. The original was made using cotton aran in the following color distributions:

Main Color (the lines that carry throughout the pattern):

• Side A: Light Pink — 1,000 yds
• Side B: White — 1,000 yds

Ombre Yarns:

• Side A: Light Grey, Medium Grey, Charcoal — 200 yds each
• Side B: Light Pink, Medium Pink, Dark Pink — 200 yds each

Other supplies:

• 4.5 mm crochet hook — crochet hook bundle here
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• 20″ × 20″ pillow insert (or polyester fiberfill stuffing)

Gauge

20 stitches × 24 rows = 4″ (10 cm) on a 4.5 mm crochet hook.

Pattern notes

Don’t be intimidated by the brioche stitch — it looks much more difficult than it actually is. This pattern is worked in rounds with the right side always facing you. It alternates between the Main Color (MC) and one of the ombre colors throughout. This is slightly different from the infinity brioche stitch (which has you turn to the wrong side for an additional cross-over pattern), but I love the simplicity of this version — especially if it’s your first time trying the stitch.

• Colors are changed on every round in the joining slip stitch (unless otherwise stated). Yarn is not cut after every round but is carried behind on the wrong side.
• Long stitches (front post and back post) are worked around stitches of the same color from two rounds below.
• All chain spaces (except ch2-sps in the corners) will be skipped and stay behind front post stitches.

Abbreviations

BEG: beginning · Ch(s): chain(s) · Ch-sp(s): chain space(s) · Ch2-sp: chain 2 space · Dc: double crochet · Tr: treble crochet · Rep: repeat · RS: right side · WS: wrong side · Sp(s): space(s) · Ss: slip stitch · St(s): stitch(es) · Yo: yarn over

Special stitches

BPdc — Back Post Double Crochet: Yarn over, insert hook from back to front to back to go around the post of the indicated st, work dc around this post.

FPdc — Front Post Double Crochet: Yarn over, insert hook from front to back to front to go around the post of the indicated st, work dc around this post.

FPtr — Front Post Treble Crochet: Yarn over twice, insert hook from front to back to front to go around the post of the indicated st, work tr around this post.

Brdc — Brioche Double Crochet: Yarn over, insert hook into the next space of the previous round AND into the stitch of the same color from two rounds directly below this space, work dc over chains.

Ombre crochet pillow pattern — written instructions

Make 2 panels.

Round 1: With Yarn A, make a magic ring. Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), 8 sc into ring, tighten ring, join with sl st in first sc. (8 sc)

Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as first dc and ch2-sp here and throughout), *dc in same st, ch 2, skip next st, dc in next st, ch 2; rep from * two more times, dc in same st, ch 2, join with sl st in first sp. Change to Yarn B. (8 dc, 8 ch2-sps)

Round 3: With Yarn B. Ch 1 (does not count as a st here and throughout), *ch 2, sc in same sp, ch 2, skip next dc, dc in skipped st of Round 1 directly below in front of chains, ch 2, skip next dc, sc in next sp; rep from * three more times, join with sl st in first sp. Change to Yarn A by grabbing it up behind work. (8 sc, 4 dc, 12 ch2-sps)

Round 4: With Yarn A. Ch 1, *ch 2, sc in same sp in the corner, [ch 2, skip next st, FPdc around st of same color below] until last st before corner, ch 2, skip next sc, sc in next sp in the corner; rep from * three more times, join with sl st in first sp. Change to Yarn B. (8 sc, 8 FPdc, 16 ch2-sps)

Round 5: With Yarn B. Work as Round 4. Change to Yarn A in joining sl st. (8 sc, 12 FPdc, 20 ch2-sps)

Round 6: With Yarn A. Ch 1, *ch 2, sc in same sp in the corner, ch 2, skip next st, FPdc around sc of same color below, ch 2, skip next st and FPdc of same color below, FPtr around next FPdc of same color below, ch 2, FPtr around skipped FPdc of same color below, ch 2, FPdc around next sc of same color below, ch 2, skip next st, sc in next sp in the corner; rep from * three more times, join with sl st in first sp. Change to Yarn B. (8 sc, 8 FPdc, 8 FPtr, 24 ch2-sps)

Round 7: With Yarn B. Ch 1, *ch 2, sc in same sp in the corner, [ch 2, skip next st, FPdc around next st of same color below] twice, ch 2, brdc inside next “V” below, [ch 2, skip next st, FPdc around next st of same color below] twice, ch 2, skip next st, sc in next sp in the corner; rep from * three more times, join with sl st in first sp. Change to Yarn A. (8 sc, 16 FPdc, 4 brdc, 28 ch2-sps)

Round 8: With Yarn A. Ch 1, *ch 2, sc in same sp in the corner, [ch 2, skip next st, FPdc around next st of same color below] until last sc before the corner, ch 2, skip next sc, sc in sp in the corner; rep from * three more times, join with sl st in first sp. Change to Yarn B. (8 sc, 24 FPdc, 32 ch2-sps)

At this point you have created a full cycle of the pattern repeat. You will continue working in rounds, adding stitches and increasing size along the way.

Continuing the pattern

Repeat Rounds 3–8 in sequence, changing Yarn B as often as your ombre pattern allows. I changed colors after about 3″ of accumulated length (approximately every 11–12 rounds). End with a Main Color round. Fasten off the last row and weave in ends.

Finishing

Align both panels with wrong sides facing each other. Using your Main Color (or a contrasting color of your choice if you’re making two different sides like I did), starting at a corner, sc through the last round of both panels. The right side should be facing outward.

Sc along the length of the side until you’re at the corner, place 3 sc in the ch-2 sp, and continue in sc along the sides. When you have 3 sides completed, place the pillow form into the pocket you’ve just created. You may need to adjust, pull, stretch, or fluff to get it to fit snugly — but it will! Continue in sc along the last side. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Enjoy! 💛

Tip: Brioche stitch projects benefit significantly from blocking — it evens out the texture and helps the ribbed pattern lay flat. If you’re new to blocking, my complete guide to blocking knit and crochet projects walks you through every method.

Want the ad-free printable PDF?

The full pattern is yours to use above — but if you’d like a clean, printable version you can take with you (no scrolling, no ads), I have it available as a PDF in the SeeLoveShare Etsy shop.

More crochet pillow & home decor patterns you’ll love

• Crochet Six Point Star — Brioche Stitch Ornament Pattern — another beautiful brioche stitch project, perfect for holiday decor
• Faux Crochet Cable Pillow Pattern (18×18) — a textured cable-look pillow with the same cozy home decor feel
• Dreidel Bobble Stitch Pillow — Free Crochet Pattern — a textured Hanukkah pillow with intarsia colorwork
• Menorah Bobble Stitch Pillow Pattern — a coordinating Hanukkah pillow design
• Browse all Crochet Home Decor Patterns on the SeeLoveShare blog

Made one? I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @seeloveshare or share your make in our free Facebook community. Happy stitching! 💛