Tapestry Crochet Cushion Cover — Dark Motifs (Skulls, Butterflies, Flowers)
Use your pink, purple and black worsted/aran (4) acrylic yarns together in a single-panel tapestry crochet cushion cover that reads bold and dark without stripes. This pattern uses a 3x3 grid of 17x17-stitch motifs (51 stitches wide x 51 rows high) so you can place skulls, butterflies and flowers in a mosaic layout that always uses all three colors at once: black for the background, and pink + purple for motif pixels.
Finished size
Approx 18in / 46cm square (adjustable — see "To change size" section).
Yarn (recommended)
- Worsted/Aran weight (Category 4) acrylic — typical skein: 100g = approx 200–220 yards (183–201 m). Use the same weight for all three colors: Black (main background), Pink (motif), Purple (motif).
- Estimated yardage for an 18in / 46cm cushion cover: Black ~200 yards (183 m); Pink ~100 yards (91 m); Purple ~100 yards (91 m). If you want larger/denser fabric, add 10–20%.
Needles & Hooks
Crochet (recommended for tapestry): use the hook that gives fabric you like; tapestry works best with a firm, even gauge.
- Suggested crochet hooks: US H/8 (5.0 mm) / UK 6 / 5.0 mm — or US I/9 (5.5 mm) / UK 5 / 5.5 mm if you prefer looser fabric. Test gauge and use the smaller size if you want cleaner color definition.
- Knitting option (intarsia/stranded colorwork): needles US 8 (5.0 mm) / UK 6 and US 9 (5.5 mm) / UK 5 recommended.
Abbreviations
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet (US)
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- sp = space
- RS = right side, WS = wrong side
- B = black (background), P = pink, U = purple
Gauge (tapestry single crochet)
11 sc x 11 rows = 4 in / 10 cm (using 5.0 mm hook). Your gauge will change with tension; if you have fewer stitches per inch, the finished cushion will be larger.
Panel geometry
Each motif = 17 stitches wide x 17 rows high. Grid = 3 motifs across x 3 motifs down = 51 stitches wide x 51 rows high. Chain 52 for foundation (51 + 1 turning).
Charts & reading
Below are three 17x17 sample motif charts. Each character represents one sc in tapestry technique. Read the chart left-to-right for every row (we recommend working in continuous rounds/rows without turning chains that change placement — but standard sc rows are fine). Row 1 is the bottom of the motif.
Skull (17w x 17h):
KKKKKUUUUUKKKKKKK
KKKKUUUUUUUUKKKKK
KKKUUUUUUUUUUKKKK
KKUUUUPUUUUPUUUKK
KKUUUUPUUUUPUUUKK
K KUUUUPUUUUPUUUKK
KKUUUUUUUUUUUUUKK
KKUUUUPKPUUPPUUUKK
KKUUUUPKPUUPPUUUKK
KKKUUUUUUUUUUKKKK
KKKKUUUUUUUUKKKKK
KKKKKUUUUUKKKKKKK
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
Butterfly (17w x 17h):
KKKKKKPUPKKPUPKKK
KKKKKPPUPPUPPPKKK
KKKKPPUUUPPUUUPKK
KKKKPUPUUUUUPUPKK
KKKPPUUPUUUUUPPPK
KKKPPUUUPUPUUUPPK
KKKPPPUPPUUPPPPPK
KKKKKPPPPPPPPKKKK
KKKKKPPPPPPPPKKKK
KKKPPPUPPUUPPPPPK
KKKPPUUUPUPUUUPPK
KKKPPUUPUUUUUPPPK
KKKKPUPUUUUUPUPKK
KKKKPPUUUPPUUUPKK
KKKKKPPUPPUPPPKKK
KKKKKKPUPKKPUPKKK
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
Flower (17w x 17h):
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
KKKKKPPPPPPKKKKKK
KKKKPPPUUUPPPKKKK
KKKPPPUUUUUUPPPKK
KKKPPPUUUUUUPPPKK
KKKPPPUUUPUUPPPKK
KKKKPPPUUUPPPKKKK
KKKKKPPPPPPKKKKKK
KKKKKKKPUKKKKKKKK
KKKKKPPPPPPKKKKKK
KKKKPPPUUUPPPKKKK
KKKPPPUUUUUUPPPKK
KKKPPPUUUUUUPPPKK
KKKPPPUUUPUUPPPKK
KKKKPPPUUUPPPKKKK
KKKKKPPPPPPKKKKKK
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
Legend: K = Black (background), P = Pink, U = Purple. These are template motifs to inspire placement — adjust pixel-by-pixel if you want a different silhouette or more detail using graph paper or photo-to-pixel tools.
How to work tapestry single crochet (quick overview)
- Chain 52. Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across — this establishes the first row of 51 sc. Use black (B) where chart shows K; carry/float the other colors along the top of the previous row or carry them inside the stitch if you prefer to trap them.
- Color change: work to the last yarn-over before the stitch that should be a new color; pull new color through on final yarn-over so the new sc is worked entirely in the new color (standard tapestry color change). Keep floats on the WS and catch them every 4–6 sts by crocheting over them with the working yarn if you want tidy back-of-work.
- Work every row in sc, following the chart symbols for each stitch color. Because we have three colors, you can either carry two non-working strands behind the work (kept loose) or use short bobbins for each color region. For small motifs a bobbin per motif region is ideal.
- Always keep tension even so floats don’t pull and motifs stay square. If floats cross many stitches, tie off and rejoin that color as a bobbin to avoid constriction.
Row-by-row for this panel (high-level)
- Make foundation: ch 52.
- Row 1 (RS): sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (51 sc). Follow the bottom row of the full 51x51 mosaic chart (constructed as 3 motif charts across).
- Rows 2–51: Work sc across, changing color per the mosaic chart. Each block of 17 stitches across is the motif; after 17 sts move to the next motif on the same row. Continue until you have 51 rows total.
- Fasten off after final row and weave in ends, then block lightly to square up if needed.
Joining & finishing into a cushion cover
- Option A — Single panel back: Make a plain black panel of same stitch count (51 x 51) for the back. Join three sides with slip stitch or mattress stitch, insert pillow form (16–18 in/40–46 cm), then close last side with invisible seam.
- Option B — Envelope back: Make two back panels each 51 x 26 rows. Overlap for envelope and seam the sides. This makes insert removal easier.
- Edging: With black, sc evenly around all edges with 1 sc per row end and 1 sc per stitch across; 2 sc in corners. For a neater frame, work 2–3 rounds of sc plus a final round of crab stitch (reverse sc) if you like.
Tips for using all 3 colors together
- Always carry black as the background across the row where there are gaps; catch floats every 4–6 sts. Let the motif colors float behind until they are needed if the float length is short.
- Use bobbins for the two motif colors per motif region to avoid long floats. Label bobbins P and U for speed.
- If a long stretch of background separates two motif pixels of the same color, break that color and rejoin later rather than carrying a long float.
- Create visual variety by swapping which motifs use pink vs purple as primary/secondary; e.g., skull body in purple with pink eye highlights, butterfly wings half pink/half purple, flower petals pink with purple center.
To change size
Change number of motifs across/down: each 17-stitch motif block is independent. For a larger throw, expand to a 5x4 grid, multiply yarn estimates accordingly. To shrink, make a 2x2 or 2x3 grid. Always recalculate chain foundation: (motif width * number across) + 1 turning chain.
Yarn usage and substitutions
If you have specific skein counts, check skein yardage. For the 3x3 motif 18in cushion: ~400 yds total (approx. 366 m) — adjust if you make larger or tighter gauge.
Care
Machine wash gentle (acrylic). Dry flat recommended to keep shape.
Extras & customisation ideas
- Add a narrow purple or pink border stripe (single round) after finishing in black for a pop — not a full stripe, just a 1–2 round frame.
- Embroider small accents (e.g., bead eyes on skull) into the finished work with duplicate stitch using leftover yarn.
- Swap the placement of motifs so skulls sit in corners and butterflies/flowers in centers for a different vibe.
Troubleshooting
- If motifs look stretched, check gauge and switch hook size down until the pixels are more square.
- Loose floats = catch them more often or use bobbins; tight floats = work looser or use a larger hook.
If you want, I can convert these 17x17 templates into a full 51x51 mosaic chart (pixel map) with exact row-by-row color sequences for the crochet panel — send me whether you want skulls concentrated, mirrored butterflies, or a randomized mosaic and I will produce the exact chart.