The Morning Crafter

If you’re craving a crochet project that feels fresh, bright, and a little bit joyful, this Lemon Colorwork Pillow delivers. With clean single crochet stitches and simple color changes, this pattern creates a bold citrus motif that instantly livens up any space. For more free crochet patterns, check here.

This pattern is written for advanced beginners who are comfortable with single crochet and ready to try colorwork using a chart. The design is forgiving, customizable, and a great way to dip your toes into color changes without getting overwhelmed.

Supplies

• Yarn (Medium Weight):
  Color A – background (2 skeins)
  Color B – leaves (at least 100 yards)
  Color C – lemon (at least 100 yards)
• Hook:
  Size H (5.0 mm)
• Other:
  Pillow stuffing (poly-fil)
  Yarn needle
  Scissors

Pattern details

Skill level

Advanced Beginner

Finished size

15″ x 12″

Abbreviations

• ch = chain stitch
• st = stitch
• sc = single crochet

Stitch guide

Single crochet (sc)

Insert hook into stitch, pull through 1 loop (leaving 2 loops on the hook), yarn over, pull through both loops.

Color changing

As you’re moving through a single crochet stitch, when you are left with the 2 loops on the hook, do not complete the stitch with your current color. Drop Color A, grab Color B (or C), pull it through the 2 loops on your hook, and continue to the next stitch with the new color. This creates a seamless transition with no knots.

Pattern notes

• This pattern is worked in a front panel and a back panel, which are joined after the panels are complete.
• You will be working from top to bottom.
• It’s very important to reference the chart while stitching to ensure the lemon and leaves line up correctly.
• If you accidentally add or subtract a stitch, the chart helps keep the image aligned.
• This pillow is forgiving — extra stitches can often be hidden when the panels are joined.
• This pattern uses US terms and is written for right-handed crocheters.
• Left-handed crocheters: Work the pattern rows backward so the image faces the correct direction.

Instructions

Front panel

Begin: Chain 76

Row 1: Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in every stitch across in A, ch 1, turn (75)

Rows 2–7: sc in every stitch across in A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 8: sc 55 A, sc 3 B, sc 17 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 9: sc 16 A, sc 6 B, sc 12 A, sc 7 B, sc 34 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 10: sc 33 A, sc 11 B, sc 7 A, sc 6 B, sc 18 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 11: sc 21 A, sc 5 B, sc 2 A, sc 17 B, sc 30 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 12: sc 30 A, sc 22 B, sc 23 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 13: sc 24 A, sc 9 B, sc 10 C, sc 5 B, sc 27 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 14: sc 28 A, sc 1 B, sc 16 C, sc 5 B, sc 25 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 15: sc 22 A, sc 5 B, sc 21 C, sc 27 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 16: sc 25 A, sc 23 C, sc 7 B, sc 20 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 17: sc 19 A, sc 8 B, sc 24 C, sc 24 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 18: sc 23 A, sc 25 C, sc 8 B, sc 19 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 19: sc 18 A, sc 10 B, sc 25 C, sc 22 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 20: sc 21 A, sc 26 C, sc 10 B, sc 18 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 21: sc 17 A, sc 10 B, sc 28 C, sc 20 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 22: sc 19 A, sc 29 C, sc 10 B, sc 17 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 23: sc 17 A, sc 10 B, sc 29 C, sc 19 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 24: sc 18 A, sc 30 C, sc 10 B, sc 17 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 25: sc 17 A, sc 10 B, sc 30 C, sc 18 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 26: sc 18 A, sc 31 C, sc 9 B, sc 17 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 27: sc 17 A, sc 9 B, sc 32 C, sc 17 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 28: sc 17 A, sc 33 C, sc 8 B, sc 17 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 29: sc 17 A, sc 8 B, sc 33 C, sc 17 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 30: sc 17 A, sc 34 C, sc 6 B, sc 18 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 31: sc 18 A, sc 5 B, sc 36 C, sc 16 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 32: sc 16 A, sc 37 C, sc 4 B, sc 18 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 33: sc 18 A, sc 4 B, sc 1 A, sc 36 C, sc 16 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 34: sc 16 A, sc 35 C, sc 3 A, sc 3 B, sc 18 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 35: sc 18 A, sc 3 B, sc 3 A, sc 35 C, sc 16 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 36: sc 16 A, sc 34 C, sc 5 A, sc 2 B, sc 18 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 37: sc 25 A, sc 34 C, sc 16 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 38: sc 17 A, sc 32 C, sc 26 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 39: sc 26 A, sc 32 C, sc 17 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 40: sc 17 A, sc 31 C, sc 27 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 41: sc 28 A, sc 30 C, sc 17 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 42: sc 18 A, sc 28 C, sc 29 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 43: sc 30 A, sc 27 C, sc 18 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 44: sc 18 A, sc 26 C, sc 31 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 45: sc 33 A, sc 24 C, sc 18 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 46: sc 18 A, sc 22 C, sc 35 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 47: sc 37 A, sc 19 C, sc 19 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Row 48: sc 28 A, sc 5 C, sc 42 A, ch 1, turn (75)

Rows 49–56: sc in every stitch across in A, ch 1, turn (75)

At the end of Row 56, tie off.

Back panel

Begin: Chain 76

Row 1: Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in every stitch across in A, ch 1, turn (75)

Rows 2–56: sc in every stitch across in A, ch 1, turn (75)

At the end of Row 56, do NOT tie off.

Join the pieces

Using the last stitch of your back panel, line it up with the bottom corner of your front panel. Join the corner by stitching 4 single crochets into the last stitch of the back panel and the corner stitch of the front panel.

Continue working up the side of the pillow, single crocheting through both panels (56 rows). In the corner, work 4 single crochets, then continue across the top. Work 4 single crochets in the next corner and continue down the other side.

Work 4 single crochets in the final corner and stitch about ¾ of the way down the last side. Stuff the pillow with poly-fil to your desired firmness, then finish stitching the side closed.

Tie off and weave in all loose ends.

FAQ