Rainbow Owl Granny Square Cushion Cover Free Crochet Pattern

Rainbow Owl Granny Square Cushion Cover — Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

This cushion cover is a cheerful mash-up of classic granny squares and four little owl faces, all stitched together in a bold rainbow with a dark charcoal frame. It's made for crocheters who know their basic stitches and want a project that stays interesting without ever getting complicated — every square is just four rounds. The finished cover is 16 x 16 in (40.5 x 40.5 cm), firm enough to hold its shape on a 16 in insert, and soft enough to curl up against. The charcoal border makes the bright colors pop, while the buttoned envelope back keeps it easy to slip on and off.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (CYC 4), 100% acrylic, approx. 420 yd total:
  • Charcoal (C): 180 yd
  • Red (R): 30 yd
  • Orange (O): 30 yd
  • Yellow (Y): 30 yd
  • Green (G): 30 yd
  • Blue (B): 30 yd
  • Purple (P): 30 yd
  • White (W): 20 yd
  • Black (K): 15 yd
• Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8)
• Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers, 7 buttons (0.75 in / 19 mm), 16 in (40.5 cm) cushion insert
• Finished size: 16 x 16 in (40.5 x 40.5 cm)

Abbreviations

• ch — chain
• sl st — slip stitch
• sc — single crochet
• hdc — half double crochet
• dc — double crochet
• MR — magic ring (adjustable loop)
• sp — space
• beg — beginning
• rep — repeat
• st(s) — stitch(es)

Gauge

One 4-round granny square = 4 x 4 in (10 x 10 cm); 4 dc = 1 in. Work one square and measure it flat before starting the full set — if it's larger, drop to a 4.5 mm hook; if smaller, go up to 5.5 mm.

Tips Before You Start

• Make all 12 rainbow squares first and lay them out before joining — it's much easier to balance the colors on the floor than to unpick a seam.
• Keep your ch2 corner spaces loose and even; tight corners make the squares pull in and the finished cover won't sit flat.
• When changing colors on the owl squares, change on the last pull-through of the final dc of the cluster so the new color starts cleanly.
• Leave 6 in tails on every small piece (eyes, pupils, beaks, tufts) — you'll use them to sew the pieces down, so don't trim them short.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Notes: 16 squares total (12 rainbow, 4 owl). Each square is 4 rounds. Ch3 at the start of a round counts as the first dc; join each round with a sl st to the top of the beg ch3. Fasten off after each square.

Rainbow Square (make 12: 3 each in R, O, Y, G; 2 in B; 1 in P)

Rnd 1: With color, MR, ch3, 2 dc, [ch2, 3 dc] x3, ch2, join (12 dc, 4 ch2 sps).

Rnd 2: Ch3, 2 dc in same sp, ch2, 3 dc in same sp, *[3 dc, ch2, 3 dc] in next ch2 sp; rep from * around, join (24 dc).

Rnd 3: Ch3, 2 dc in same sp, ch2, 3 dc in same sp, *3 dc in next sp, [3 dc, ch2, 3 dc] in next corner sp; rep from * around, join (36 dc).

Rnd 4: Change to C. Ch3, 2 dc in same sp, ch2, 3 dc in same sp, *3 dc in each of next 2 sps, [3 dc, ch2, 3 dc] in next corner sp; rep from * around, join (48 dc). Fasten off.

Owl Square (make 4)

Rnds 1–3: Work as Rainbow Square in C (36 dc).

Rnd 4: With C, ch3, 2 dc in same sp, ch2, 3 dc in same sp, 3 dc in next sp, change to W, 3 dc in next sp, change to C, [3 dc, ch2, 3 dc] in next corner sp, 3 dc in next sp, change to W, 3 dc in next sp, change to C, [3 dc, ch2, 3 dc] in next corner sp, 3 dc in next sp, change to W, 3 dc in next sp, change to C, [3 dc, ch2, 3 dc] in next corner sp, 3 dc in next sp, change to W, 3 dc in next sp, change to C, join (48 dc). Fasten off.

Eyes (make 8, W — 2 per owl)

Rnd 1: MR 6 sc, join, fasten off leaving a 6 in tail.

Pupils (make 8, K)

Rnd 1: MR 4 sc, join, fasten off leaving a 6 in tail.

Beak (make 4, O)

Row 1: Ch4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc, dc, fasten off leaving a 6 in tail.

Ear Tufts (make 8, C — 2 per owl)

Row 1: Ch5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc, hdc, dc, fasten off leaving a 6 in tail.

Back Panel

Work 1 large C granny square, 8 rounds, repeating the granny increase as above and working 3 dc in every sp between corners.

Rnds 1–4: Work as Rainbow Square in C (48 dc).

Rnds 5–7: Ch3, 2 dc in same sp, ch2, 3 dc in same sp, *3 dc in each sp to next corner sp, [3 dc, ch2, 3 dc] in corner sp; rep from * around, join (Rnd 5: 60 dc; Rnd 6: 72 dc; Rnd 7: 84 dc).

Rnd 8: Ch3, 2 dc in same sp, ch2, 3 dc in same sp, *3 dc in each sp to next corner sp, [3 dc, ch2, 3 dc] in corner sp; rep from * around, join (96 dc). Fasten off. Panel measures 16 in square.

Edging and Join

Join: Hold front and back wrong sides together. With C, sc evenly around 3 sides through both layers (approx. 64 sc per side, 3 sc in each corner), fasten off. Leave the 4th side open.

Opening Band (back panel only):

Row 1: With C, sc along the open edge of the back panel only (64 sc).

Row 2: Ch1, sc in each sc, ch1, turn (64 sc).

Row 3: Ch1, sc in each sc, ch1, turn (64 sc). Fasten off.

Button Loops (front panel open edge): With C, join at the front panel open edge, *ch8, skip 8 sc, sl st in next sc; rep from * 6 more times (7 loops). Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

Lay the 16 squares right side up in a 4x4 grid: Row 1 — R, O, Y, G; Row 2 — B, Owl, P, R; Row 3 — O, Y, Owl, G; Row 4 — B, Owl, P, Owl. Rotate the owl squares so the beaks face down. Whipstitch the squares together through the back loops with C, matching stitch counts (12 sts per side). Sew the eyes to each owl: place the two W circles side by side in the upper half of the square, 2 in apart, then center a K pupil on each W circle. Sew the O beak centered below the eyes, and sew 2 C ear tufts to the top edge of each owl square, 1.5 in apart. Sew 7 buttons to the back band opposite the loops. Weave in all ends, then block the cover lightly with a spritz of water and pin it to a 16 in square, letting it dry flat. Insert the 16 in cushion form and button the back closed.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Color swap: Use a single owl colorway (all charcoal and white) for a more muted, dark-academia look, or swap the rainbow for pastels.
• Bigger cushion: Add a round to every square and the back panel to make an 18–20 in cover — just add one more increase round and adjust the insert size.
• No-sew shortcut: Join the squares with a continuous sc join instead of whipstitch for a raised, textured grid that hides small tension differences.