Crochet Animal Pillow Pattern – Bear, Fox, Cat & Bunny Granny Square Cushions

Materials

• Worsted / Medium #4 yarn – warm brown 250-300 g
• Worsted yarn – rust / terracotta 250-300 g
• Worsted yarn – warm cream 250-300 g
• Worsted yarn – sage green 250-300 g
• Small amounts of peach, dusty pink, olive, beige and ivory yarn for granny squares
• Black yarn small amount
• Soft pink yarn small amount
• 4 mm crochet hook 1
• Polyester fiberfill approximately 250-350 g per pillow
• Yarn needle 1
• Scissors 1 pair
• Stitch markers 4
• Optional safety eyes 8

Abbreviations

Finished Size

• Bear: approximately 40 cm / 15.7 in tall
• Fox: approximately 39 cm / 15.4 in tall
• Cat: approximately 38 cm / 15 in tall
• Bunny: approximately 42 cm / 16.5 in including ears
• Width: approximately 25-29 cm / 10-11.5 in

Basic Pillow Construction

All four animals use the same basic rectangular pillow body. The ears, face, arms and granny-square colors are changed to create each animal.

Begin with the animal’s main color.

Ch 51.

Row 1: sc in second ch from hook and across. (50 sts)

Rows 2-55: ch 1, turn, sc across. (50 sts)

Make 2 panels for each pillow.

Granny Square Motif

Each animal uses four granny-square-inspired motifs across the lower front.

R1: With center color, MR, ch 3, work 2 dc, ch 2, *3 dc, ch 2* three times. Join.

R2: Change color. Sl st to corner. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner. In each remaining corner work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc). Join.

R3: Change color. Work 3 dc in each side space and (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in each corner.

R4: Using the animal’s main body color, repeat the granny-square pattern around.

FO and block square.

Joining the Granny Squares

Make 4 motifs per pillow.

Arrange them in a horizontal row across the lower portion of the front panel.

Whipstitch or mattress stitch the squares together.

Sew the complete strip securely onto the front pillow panel.

For an integrated patchwork look, use the animal’s body color to surface crochet around each square.

Bear – Granny Square Colors

• Center: warm cream
• Round 2: dusty peach
• Round 3: rust orange
• Round 4: brown

Alternate the color placement slightly between squares so the motifs look handmade rather than perfectly identical.

Bear Ears

Make 2 using brown yarn.

R1: MR, 6 sc.

R2: inc around. (12)

R3: *sc, inc* around. (18)

R4-R6: sc around.

Do not stuff heavily. Flatten each ear and sew to the upper corners of the bear’s head.

Bear Muzzle

Using tan yarn:

R1: MR, 6 sc.

R2: inc around. (12)

R3: *sc, inc* around. (18)

R4: *2 sc, inc* around. (24)

R5: sc around.

Lightly stuff and sew to the center of the face.

Embroider a small triangular black nose and one short vertical line beneath it.

Bear Arms

Make 2 in brown.

R1: MR, 6 sc.

R2: inc around. (12)

R3-R18: sc around.

Stuff very lightly.

Flatten the upper opening and sew one arm to each side of the body.

Fox – Granny Square Colors

• Center: sage
• Round 2: muted orange
• Round 3: cream
• Round 4: rust

Fox Ears

Make 2 using rust yarn.

Row 1: ch 13, sc across. (12)

Row 2: dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. (10)

Row 3: sc across.

Row 4: dec at both ends. (8)

Continue decreasing every second row until only 2 sts remain.

FO.

Make a smaller cream triangle for each inner ear and sew it to the rust ear.

Fox White Face Panels

The characteristic fox face is created with two cream triangular patches.

Make 2.

Ch 18.

Sc across, decreasing one stitch at each outer edge every row until the piece forms a long triangle.

Sew both triangles onto the lower half of the face so their inner edges meet beneath the nose.

Fox Face

Embroider two small black eyes approximately 7-8 stitches apart.

Make the nose with several horizontal satin stitches in black yarn.

Add a tiny vertical stitch beneath the nose if desired.

Fox Arms

Make 2 using rust yarn.

R1: MR, 6 sc.

R2: inc around. (12)

R3-R16: sc around.

Change to cream for the final 4 rounds.

Lightly stuff and sew to the body.

Cat – Granny Square Colors

• Center: dusty rose
• Round 2: sage
• Round 3: terracotta
• Round 4: cream

Cat Ears

Make 2 using cream yarn.

Row 1: ch 15, sc across. (14)

Decrease one stitch at both ends of every second row until a triangular ear is formed.

FO.

Sew each ear firmly to the upper corners of the head.

Cat Face

Embroider two small round black eyes.

Using soft pink yarn, embroider a tiny inverted triangle for the nose.

Using black yarn, stitch:

• one short vertical line beneath the nose
• three whiskers on the left
• three whiskers on the right

Cat Arms

Make 2 in cream.

R1: MR, 6 sc.

R2: inc around. (12)

R3-R17: sc around.

Stuff lightly, flatten the opening and sew to the sides.

Bunny – Granny Square Colors

• Center: cream
• Round 2: dusty pink
• Round 3: terracotta
• Round 4: sage green

Bunny Ears

Make 2 using sage yarn.

R1: ch 24.

Beginning in second ch:

sc 5, hdc 5, dc 8, hdc 3, 5 dc in final chain.

Continue along the opposite side of the foundation chain:

hdc 3, dc 8, hdc 5, sc 5.

Join with sl st.

R2: sc evenly around, working 2 sc into several stitches around the rounded tip.

FO leaving a long tail.

Bunny Face

Embroider two small black eyes.

Using pale pink yarn, stitch a tiny triangular nose.

Add a short vertical stitch underneath.

The simple face keeps the bunny soft and minimal.

Bunny Arms

Make 2 using sage yarn.

R1: MR, 6 sc.

R2: inc around. (12)

R3-R18: sc around.

Stuff lightly and sew to the sides.

Assembling Each Pillow

1. Complete all facial embroidery on the front panel.
2. Sew the granny-square strip onto the lower body.
3. Attach ears securely.
4. Place front and back panels together with wrong sides facing.
5. Sc evenly through both layers around the outer edge.
6. Leave approximately 12 cm open.
7. Add polyester fiberfill gradually.
8. Shape the corners while stuffing.
9. Do not overstuff.
10. Close the remaining opening with sc or mattress stitch.

Attaching the Arms

Position the arms slightly below the midpoint of each pillow.

Sew only the upper 3-4 cm of each arm to the body.

Leaving the lower portion loose creates the sweet dangling-arm appearance.

Recommended Color Palette

• Bear: cocoa brown, camel, rust, cream and dusty peach
• Fox: terracotta, cream, sage and muted orange
• Cat: ivory, dusty rose, muted sage and soft terracotta
• Bunny: sage, cream, blush and warm coral

Optional Removable Pillow Insert

Instead of permanently stuffing the crochet pillow, make a fabric insert approximately 2 cm smaller than the finished crochet cover.

Add buttons or a zipper along the lower edge of the crochet cover.

This makes washing easier, especially if the cushions are used in a child’s bedroom.

Finishing Checklist

1. Block all granny squares.
2. Join four motifs for each animal.
3. Attach the granny-square strip.
4. Complete facial details.
5. Attach ears.
6. Join front and back panels.
7. Stuff evenly.
8. Close the body.
9. Make and attach both arms.
10. Shape ears and corners.
11. Weave in every yarn end.
12. Gently steam-block if needed.