Crochet Pillow Patterns

Sunset Ombre Axolotl Bolster: Free Crochet Pattern

ModelSpecsHub: Gauge Guides, Pattern Specs & Sizing Essentials • October 29, 2026

Introduction

Meet the Sunset Ombre Axolotl Bolster — a long, squishy cylinder cushion that looks like a smiling axolotl basking in a 1970s sunset. It's written for beginners: if you can make a magic ring and single crochet in the round, you can make this pillow. The chunky chenille yarn makes it soft and plush, and the mirrored peach-to-deep-pink stripes glow like an evening sky. Six long fringe gill tufts and two little black eyes give it that quirky, vintage-craft-fair charm.

Materials Needed

Yarn: Worsted weight acrylic chenille, approximately 500 yards total — Color A (peach) 100 yds, Color B (coral) 100 yds, Color C (orange) 100 yds, Color D (pink) 100 yds, Color E (deep pink) 100 yds, plus a small amount of black for the eyes.
Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook.
Notions: Stitch marker, yarn needle, scissors, polyester fiberfill stuffing.
Finished size: Approximately 18 inches (46 cm) long and 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter.

Abbreviations

MR — magic ring: a loop of yarn you work the first stitches into, then pull closed.
sc — single crochet.
inc — increase: work 2 single crochet into the same stitch.
dec — decrease: work 2 stitches together into 1 single crochet.
ch — chain.
sts — stitches.
[ ] x6 — repeat everything in the brackets six times.

Gauge

14 stitches and 16 rounds = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet. Work a small flat swatch in single crochet and measure the middle of it; if you have more stitches than 14 per 4 inches, go up a hook size, and if fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

Chenille yarn sheds and is hard to unravel, so count your stitches every round and use a stitch marker in the first stitch.
Stuff the bolster firmly but gradually as you work the second rounded end, so the tube stays evenly round.
Keep your single crochet tension relaxed — tight chenille stitches are stiff and make the pillow lumpy.
Wind each color into its own small ball before you begin so the color changes are quick and tidy.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body (worked in rounds)

Rnd 1: With A, MR 6 sc (6 sts).
Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts).
Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).
Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).
Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts).
Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x6 (36 sts).
Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42 sts).
Rnd 8: [6 sc, inc] x6 (48 sts).
Rnd 9: [7 sc, inc] x6 (54 sts).
Rnd 10: [8 sc, inc] x6 (60 sts).
Rnd 11: [9 sc, inc] x6 (66 sts).
Rnd 12: [10 sc, inc] x6 (72 sts).
Rnds 13-20: sc (72 sts). Change to B.
Rnds 21-28: sc (72 sts). Change to C.
Rnds 29-36: sc (72 sts). Change to D.
Rnds 37-44: sc (72 sts). Change to E.
Rnds 45-52: sc (72 sts). Change to D.
Rnds 53-60: sc (72 sts). Change to C.
Rnds 61-68: sc (72 sts). Change to B.
Rnds 69-76: sc (72 sts). Change to A.
Rnds 77-84: sc (72 sts).
Rnd 85: [10 sc, dec] x6 (66 sts).
Rnd 86: [9 sc, dec] x6 (60 sts).
Rnd 87: [8 sc, dec] x6 (54 sts).
Rnd 88: [7 sc, dec] x6 (48 sts).
Rnd 89: [6 sc, dec] x6 (42 sts).
Rnd 90: [5 sc, dec] x6 (36 sts).
Rnd 91: [4 sc, dec] x6 (30 sts).
Rnd 92: [3 sc, dec] x6 (24 sts).
Rnd 93: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18 sts).
Rnd 94: [1 sc, dec] x6 (12 sts).
Rnd 95: dec x6 (6 sts). Fasten off, weave tail through remaining stitches and pull tight.

Gills (make 6, 3 on each side)

With E, ch 30, leaving a 10-inch tail.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (29 sts). Fasten off, leaving a 10-inch tail.

Eyes (make 2)

With black, MR 6 sc (6 sts). Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Edging

With A, join yarn at one end of the bolster and sc evenly around the opening (about 72 sts). Fasten off. Repeat on the other end.

Assembly and Finishing

Stuff the body firmly through the open end before closing it, then pull the final 6 stitches tight. Sew the gills evenly spaced along the sides of the body (three per side), using the long tails to create fringe: insert the hook through the body, pull a tail through, and tie a knot; repeat for each gill. Trim the fringe to about 4 inches. Sew the eyes to the front of the body about 2 inches apart and 1 inch above the gills. Weave in all ends and check that the gills and eyes are firmly attached. Lightly steam-block the pillow to smooth the stripes, but do not press the chenille flat.