Crazy Cat Lady Pillow: Free Crochet Pattern
It’s been a little awhile, since the Crazy Yarn Lady and Crazy Plant Lady pillows were released. It’s definitely time for our next pillow pattern of the series. This week I’m sharing the Crazy Cat Lady Pillow!
If you would like to purchase the ad-free PDF pattern, please visit my Etsy shop or Ravelry shop. The PDF version includes both the graph and the written version.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you shop through one of these links, I may receive a small commission. This is a great way to get your supplies and also support my business. And help me to keep the free patterns coming!
The Inspiration
The Crazy Cat Lady pillow was more of a tribute than an inspiration project. I have to admit, I’m not a cat person. And it doesn’t help that I’m allergic, as well. But I know many of you adore your furry friends, so I made this modification for you guys! If cat’s aren’t really your thing either, don’t worry because the Crazy Dog Lady Pillow is on its way! Also be sure to check out the Crazy Plant Lady Pillow and the Crazy Yarn Lady Pillow.
If you follow me on Instagram or found me here, you probably know I really enjoy color work. If you’re curious about some of my other work projects, check out the Luxe Leopard Beanie or the Summer Nights Ruana.
About the Pillows
The Crazy Cat Lady Pillow is made in the same style and to the same dimensions as the other pillows in the series. So here’s what you need to know…
Size
These pillows are designed to be 18″ x 18″ square. If you decide to use a pillow form versus using Polyfil, I suggest a 20″ x 20″. I like to get a pillow-form that is slightly larger than my pillow size. This gives the pillow a nice-full look. I do want to note that my gauge was a little tight. So most of my testers pillow came out just a tad bit larger. Or they went down a hook size to meet gauge. Ultimately, if your gauge is a little larger than mine, your pillow will just be a bit larger. Just be mindful of the size, when you are picking your filling method.
Fun Variations
I added some different options for the back of this tapestry crochet pillow. You could do your standard solid crochet backing. My tester for this pillow in particular had some fun making stripes on the back! You could also add some coordinating fabric instead of crochet. I think my favorites, were my testers’ that did their single crochet border with an accent color! It might also be fun to add a bobble edging or tassels to liven it up.
Another fun thing that you can do with this pattern is to turn it into a wall-hanging. Just make the front panel, add little bit of fringe on the bottom, then wrap it on a dowel. Ta-dah! This tapestry crochet pillow will easily transform into a wall tapestry! You can check out my Ocean’s Breath Wall-Hanging for tips on adding a dowel.
Special Crochet Techniques
As you know, you’ll be doing some color work. While you can do any sort of tapestry technique you’d like, I recommend fair isle crochet. This technique will give you the cleanest lines with the least ends. Ain’t nobody got time for ends!
Fair Isle Crochet
When doing fair isle crochet, you will carry your yarn behind the work instead of inside of the stitches. These strands or “floats” will run behind the work. Every 5-7 stitches you will want to catch these floats along the back by carrying it in a stitch. If you’re not familiar with this technique, I highly recommend watching this video.
Reading a Graph
I have provided the written instructions in this post, but a lot of people like to use a graph for color work. Since this graph was so large, it was difficult to read on a blog page. So, I have included the graphs as a free printable download. To access these, simply subscribe to the newsletter and for access. (Psst…If you’re already a subscriber, just fill out the form to be redirected to the download.)
If you are working from a graph, you will need to be familiar with how to read one. Each square represents a single crochet stitch. White squares represent your main color and black squares represent your contrasting color. You will start at the bottom right corner and work across to the left. Then you will move up to the next row and follow the graph across from the left to the right. You will continue working back and forth for the entire front panel.
For a video on reading a graph, click here. (Note: this video shows “carrying yarn”, this technique will work for this project as well)
Pin it for Later!
Materials Needed
2 Colors of Worsted Weight yarn
-250 yds of Main Color (500 yds if crocheting back panel)
-80 yds of Contrasting Color
Size H (5.0mm) crochet hook
Polyfil or 20×20 Pillow-form
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Fabric for backing (optional)
Sewing machine (optional)
Needle and thread (optional)
Stitches Used
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Ch – Chain
SC – Single Crochet
Invisible Stitch (for fabric backing)
Skill Level
Intermediate
Gauge
(With H hook) SC 18 stitches x 22 rows = 4” square
Notes
- Chains at the beginning of the rows do not count as stitches throughout this pattern.
- There are several approaches to crochet colorwork. For this design, I used fair isle style. However, other styles will work.
- Main Color is noted as MC, Contrasting Color is noted as CC.
- Shorthand elements are used in this pattern. Each row consists of 80 single crochet stitches, while MC and CC will tell how many of each color per row. Ex: MC x 40, CC x 40 means you will single crochet 40 stitches in Main Color and then 40 stitches in Contrasting Color.
Pattern
Front Panel
With 5.0mm hook and MC, ch 81, then begin working Row 1 in second ch from hook. Single crochet throughout and chain 1 and turn and the beginning of each new row. MC for main color and CC for contrasting color.
“Lady” Section
← Row 1 [RS]: (MC) x 80
→ Row 2 [WS]: (MC) x 80
← Row 3 [RS]: (MC) x 80
→ Row 4 [WS]: (MC) x 54, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 24
← Row 5 [RS]: (MC) x 23, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 54
→ Row 6 [WS]: (MC) x 54, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 23
← Row 7 [RS]: (MC) x 22, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 55
→ Row 8 [WS]: (MC) x 55, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 21
← Row 9 [RS]: (MC) x 20, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 56
→ Row 10 [WS]: (MC) x 57, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 19
← Row 11 [RS]: (MC) x 18, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 29, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 24
→ Row 12 [WS]: (MC) x 15, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 9, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 17
← Row 13 [RS]: (MC) x 16, (CC) x 3, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 20, (MC) x 15
→ Row 14 [WS]: (MC) x 16, (CC) x 20, MC, (CC) x 9, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 9, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 15
← Row 15 [RS]: (MC) x 14, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 8, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 11, (MC) x 16
→ Row 16 [WS]: (MC) x 17, (CC) x 7, (MC) x 7, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 14
← Row 17 [RS]: (MC) x 19, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 9, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 18
→ Row 18 [WS]: (MC) x 19, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 10, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 19
← Row 19 [RS]: (MC) x 18, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 10, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 20
→ Row 20 [WS]: (MC) x 21, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 10, (CC) x 4, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 4, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 17
← Row 21 [RS]: (MC) x 17, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 5, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 22
→ Row 22 [WS]: (MC) x 22, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, CC, (MC) x 17
← Row 23 [RS]: (MC) x 22, CC, (MC) x 5, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 9, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 8, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 23
→ Row 24 [WS]: (MC) x 23, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 21, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 27
← Row 25 [RS]: (MC) x 27, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 20, (CC) x 3, MC, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 24
→ Row 26 [WS]: (MC) x 25, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 20, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 26
← Row 27 [RS]: (MC) x 26, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 21, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 26
→ Row 28 [WS]: (MC) x 26, (CC) x 3, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 20, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 25
← Row 29 [RS]: (MC) x 25, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 21, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 27
→ Row 30 [WS]: (MC) x 28, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 48
← Row 31 [RS]: (MC) x 48, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 28
→ Row 32 [WS]: (MC) x 30, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 48
← Row 33 [RS]: (MC) x 80
“Cat” Section
→ Row 34 [WS]: (MC) x 80
← Row 35 [RS]: (MC) x 80
→ Row 36 [WS]: (MC) x 24, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 11, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 10, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 20
← Row 37 [RS]: (MC) x 19, (CC) x 7, (MC) x 7, (CC) x 8, (MC) x 8, (CC) x 9, (MC) x 22
→ Row 38 [WS]: (MC) x 21, (CC) x 11, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 7, (MC) x 19
← Row 39 [RS]: (MC) x 19, (CC) x 7, (MC) x 5, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 8, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 13, (MC) x 20
→ Row 40 [WS]: (MC) x 19, (CC) x 14, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 10, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 5, MC, CC, (MC) x 19
← Row 41 [RS]: (MC) x 22, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 10, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 19
→ Row 42 [WS]: (MC) x 18, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 4, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 6, CC, (MC) x 5, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 22
← Row 43 [RS]: (MC) x 22, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 3, MC, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 18
→ Row 44 [WS]: (MC) x 18, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 7, (CC) x 4, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 12, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 22
← Row 45 [RS]: (MC) x 22, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 12, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 18
→ Row 46 [WS]: (MC) x 18, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 12, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 22
← Row 47 [RS]: (MC) x 19, (CC) x 9, MC, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 10, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 12, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 18
→ Row 48 [WS]: (MC) x 18, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 12, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 12, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 9, (MC) x 19
← Row 49 [RS]: (MC) x 19, (CC) x 9, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 12, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 18
→ Row 50 [WS]: (MC) x 18, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 4, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 9, (MC) x 19
← Row 51 [RS]: (MC) x 19, (CC) x 9, (MC) x 2, CC, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 2, MC, CC, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 5, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 18
→ Row 52 [WS]: (MC) x 19, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 8, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 22
← Row 53 [RS]: (MC) x 22, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 5, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 8, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 14, (MC) x 19
→ Row 54 [WS]: (MC) x 20, (CC) x 13, (MC) x 4, CC, (MC) x 10, CC, (MC) x 5, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 22
← Row 55 [RS]: (MC) x 22, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 23, (CC) x 12, (MC) x 20
→ Row 56 [WS]: (MC) x 22, (CC) x 9, (MC) x 26, CC, (MC) x 22
← Row 57 [RS]: (MC) x 51, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 24
→ Row 58 [WS]: (MC) x 80
“Crazy” Section
← Row 59 [RS]: (MC) x 80
→ Row 60 [WS]: (MC) x 45, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 8, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 22
← Row 61 [RS]: (MC) x 21, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 7, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 45
→ Row 62 [WS]: (MC) x 45, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 20
← Row 63 [RS]: (MC) x 20, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 45
→ Row 64 [WS]: (MC) x 16, (CC) x 7, (MC) x 23, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 5, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 19
← Row 65 [RS]: (MC) x 18, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 23, (CC) x 9, (MC) x 15
→ Row 66 [WS]: (MC) x 15, (CC) x 5, MC, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 23, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 17
← Row 67 [RS]: (MC) x 16, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 22, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 5, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 15
→ Row 68 [WS]: (MC) x 15, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 16, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 6, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 15
← Row 69 [RS]: (MC) x 14, (CC) x 3, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 5, MC, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 7, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 15
→ Row 70 [WS]: (MC) x 15, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 8, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 10, MC, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 5, MC, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 13
← Row 71 [RS]: (MC) x 12, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 8, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, MC, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 4, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 9, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 15
→ Row 72 [WS]: (MC) x 15, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 9, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 12
← Row 73 [RS]: (MC) x 17, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 10, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 15
→ Row 74 [WS]: (MC) x 16, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 16
← Row 75 [RS]: (MC) x 15, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 16
→ Row 76 [WS]: (MC) x 17, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 7, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 4, MC, (CC) x 3, MC, (CC) x 7, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 15
← Row 77 [RS]: (MC) x 15, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, MC, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 7, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 17
→ Row 78 [WS]: (MC) x 18, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 5, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, CC, (MC) x 15
← Row 79 [RS]: (MC) x 33, (CC) x 4, (MC) x 10, CC, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 5, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 18
→ Row 80 [WS]: (MC) x 19, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 5, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 51
← Row 81 [RS]: (MC) x 50, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 20
→ Row 82 [WS]: (MC) x 21, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 5, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 50
← Row 83 [RS]: (MC) x 49, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 21
→ Row 84 [WS]: (MC) x 22, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 4, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 49
← Row 85 [RS]: (MC) x 49, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 3, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 23
→ Row 86 [WS]: (MC) x 24, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 2, (CC) x 2, (MC) x 49
← Row 87 [RS]: (MC) x 49, (CC) x 6, (MC) x 25
→ Row 88 [WS]: (MC) x 27, (CC) x 3, (MC) x 50
← Row 89 [RS]: (MC) x 80
→ Row 90 [WS]: (MC) x 80
← Row 91 [RS]: (MC) x 80
→ Row 92 [WS]: (MC) x 80
← Row 93 [RS]: (MC) x 80
→ Row 94 [WS]: (MC) x 80
Whiskers
Optional: Using the contrasting color yarn, hand stitch 3 whiskers on each side of the cats nose.
Back Panel
Yarn Option
Row 1: Using MC (or color you want the backing), Ch 81. SC in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across. (80)
Row 2-94: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in each stitch across. (80)
1) With right sides of both pieces facing outward, attach yarn and single crochet around the edge of both pieces. When you reach a corner, work two single crochets into each corner. Leave a 4” gap open. (Note: if you are using a pillow form, single crochet only 3 sides)
2) Either stuff with polyfil or insert pillow form.
3) Single crochet the remaining area closed. Weave in ends.
Fabric Option
1) Measure the front of your pillow and cut out a piece of fabric that is 1” wider and 1” taller than your front panel.
2) Iron a 1/2” hem around each edge.
3) With right sides of both pieces facing inward, pin the pieces together.
4) Either hand stitch or use a sewing machine (1/4″ or 3/8” seam allowance) to sew all four sides closed, leaving a 4” gap open. (Note: if you are using a pillow form, sew only 3 sides.)
5) Turn pillow right side out, and either stuff with polyfil or insert pillow form.
6) Hand stitch the remaining area closed using the invisible stitch.
Final Thoughts
There you have it: the Crazy Cat Lady Pillow! I hope all you cat-lovers out there enjoy the pattern. Be sure to tag me on Instagram @craftingforweeks and use the hashtag #crazyladypillow so I can see! I love seeing all your finished makes from my patterns.
I’ve got one more patter in this series to release, and its on the way. If you’re furry friend is of the canine variety, you’re gonna love this last one. Until next time, Happy Crafting!
