A Crochet Christmas Star Throw Pillow Pattern brings together a festive star motif, warm aran fleck texture, and rich holiday colors in one cozy home décor project. The design includes a coordinating throw and pillow, making it easy to create a matching seasonal set for a sofa, reading chair, guest room, or holiday display. Crocheters who enjoy colorwork, Afghan stitch, and modular construction will appreciate the structured process. For more handmade seasonal inspiration, explore these all-in-one crochet bouquet patterns and build a wider collection of giftable décor.
Why You’ll Love This Crochet Project
- It creates a coordinated set. The pattern includes both a throw made from 20 blocks and a matching 16-inch pillow.
- The star design feels distinctly seasonal. Aran Fleck provides a neutral foundation, while burgundy and sage shades add a traditional Christmas palette.
- It practices Afghan stitch. The project offers repeated practice with the stitch through both the throw blocks and pillow sections.
- It develops color-handling skills. Separate yarn balls for large color areas help you manage charted blocks and contrasting borders.
- It makes a thoughtful handmade gift. The finished pillow can complement a holiday throw, while either piece can be displayed as seasonal home décor.
My Crochet Flower Tip: Keep each completed block flat as you work. Consistent tension and careful finishing will make the joining process much neater.
How This Crochet Project Comes Together
The pattern has two related projects:
- Throw: Make 20 Afghan-stitch blocks, each beginning with a chain of 31. Add a border around every block, arrange the blocks 4 wide by 5 long, join them, and finish with a seven-round border.
- Pillow: Make a back section and a charted front section using chains of 51. Add the specified border around the front and repeat the border around the pillow block before joining the sections around a 16-inch pillow form.
The pattern uses the Afghan stitch as referenced in the gauge and in the Row 1 construction of the blocks. The chart is essential for the color placement in Throw Block Rows 2–29 and the pillow front. The chart shows 31 stitches across its width, with B representing a red square, C a green square, and D a dark green square.
Useful Abbreviations
- ch: chain
- dc: double crochet
- sc: single crochet
- sl st: slip stitch
- st: stitch
- yo: yarn over
Materials You’ll Need
Yarn
Use RED HEART® “Super Saver®”:
- 7 skeins 4313 Aran Fleck (A)
- 2 balls 376 Burgandy (B)
- 2 balls 633 Dark Sage (C)
- 1 ball 631 Light Sage (D)
Hook and Tools
- Afghan crochet hook: 6 mm [US J-10]
- Yarn needle
- Pillow form: 16-inch pillow form
Use a separate ball of yarn for each large block of color. When changing colors, pick up the new yarn from under the old yarn to twist the strands and help prevent holes.
Complete Crochet Instructions
Throw Block Make 20
Starting Chain
With Afghan hook and A, ch 31.
Row 1
First half: Insert hook in 2nd ch from hook, yo, draw yarn through st. *Insert hook in next ch, yo, draw yarn through st; repeat from * across 31 loops on hook.
Second half: Yo, draw yarn through first loop on hook, *yo, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook; repeat from * across until 1 loop remains on hook, **counts as first loop of next row.
Rows 2–29
Beginning with Row 2, follow Chart through Row 29.
Row 30
Slip st in each vertical st across. Fasten off.
Throw Block Border
With right side facing and crochet hook, join A in upper right-hand corner st.
Round 1
Ch 3, counts as dc. Dc in corner st, dc in next 2 sts, [skip next st, dc in next 3 sts] across to 3 sts from corner, skip next st, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, turn.
Work along side edge: 2 dc in edge of first row, dc in edge of each row to last row, 2 dc in last row, ch 2, turn.
Work along opposite edge of foundation ch: dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, [skip next st, dc in next 3 sts] across to 3 sts before next corner, skip next st, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, turn.
Work along side edge: 2 dc in edge of first row, dc in edge of each row to last row, 2 dc in last row, ch 2, turn. Slip st in top of beginning ch. Fasten off.
Joining the Throw Blocks
Arrange the blocks 4 blocks wide by 5 blocks long.
Holding wrong sides together, join A in one block with crochet hook. Working through the stitches of two blocks, slip stitch the blocks together. Repeat until all blocks are joined.
Throw Border
Border Round 1
With right side facing, join A in upper right-hand corner dc. Ch 3, counts as first dc, dc in each dc and ch-space around, working (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner ch-2 space. Join with slip st to top of beginning ch.
Border Round 2
Ch 1, sc in each dc around, working (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in each corner ch-2 space. Join with slip st to first sc.
Border Round 3
Ch 3, counts as first dc, dc in each sc around, working (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner ch-2 space. Join with slip st to top of beginning ch 3.
Border Round 4
Ch 1, sc in each dc around, working 4 sc in each corner ch-2 space. Join with slip st to first sc.
Border Round 5
Ch 3 with B, [dc with D in next sc, dc with B in next sc] around, end with D. Join with slip st in top of beginning ch. Cut B.
Border Round 6
With D only, ch 3, counts as first dc, dc in same st, ch 1, skip next dc, [dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc] 56 times, [2 dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc] 4 times.
Turn to work along side edge: [dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc] 85 times, [2 dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc] 4 times.
Turn to work along next edge: [dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc] 57 times.
Turn to work along side edge: [dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc] 85 times, [2 dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc] 3 times.
Join with slip st to top of beginning ch 3. Fasten off.
Border Round 7
Join B in top of beginning ch 3, ch 1, sc in same space.
- [Sc in next dc, dc in next dc 2 rounds below, pulling dc up to current level of work] across to first set of 2 dc of next corner, [sc in next 2 dc, dc in next dc 2 rounds below, pulling dc up to current level of work] 4 times; repeat from * around to last side.
[Sc in next dc, dc in next dc 2 rounds below, pulling dc up to current level of work] across to first set of 2 dc of next corner, [sc in next 2 dc, dc in next dc 2 rounds below, pulling dc up to current level of work] 3 times.
Join with slip st to first sc. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Pillow Instructions
Pillow Sections
The pillow includes:
- A back worked in Afghan stitch only, with no chart
- A front that includes the chart
- A block border around the front, then repeated around the pillow block
- A finishing step that joins the back blocks to the front blocks, inserts the form, and closes the opening
Pillow Back
Starting Chain
With Afghan hook and A, ch 51.
Row 1
Work the same structure as Throw Block Row 1, but across 51 loops.
First half: Insert hook in 2nd ch from hook, yo, draw yarn through st; *insert hook in next ch, yo, draw yarn through st; repeat from * across 51 loops on hook.
Second half: Yo, draw yarn through first loop on hook, *yo, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook; repeat from * across until 1 loop remains on hook. This counts as the first loop of the next row.
Back Rows
Repeat Row 1 until 41 rows have been worked.
Last row: Slip st in each vertical st across. Fasten off.
Pillow Front
Starting Chain
With Afghan hook and A, ch 51.
Row 1
Work Row 1 exactly as for the back: complete the first half across 51 loops on hook, then complete the second half. The remaining loop counts as the first loop of the next row.
Rows Before the Chart
Repeat Row 1 until 8 rows have been worked.
Begin Chart
On the next row, work 5 sts, beginning with Row 3, work the Chart across 31 sts, then work 5 sts.
Continue to work the Chart as established until 29 rows have been worked.
Repeat Row 1 for 6 rows.
Final Row
Slip st in each vertical st across. Fasten off.
Pillow Block Border
With right side of Front facing, join D in upper right-hand corner st.
Ch 3, counts as first dc, 2 dc in corner st, ch 1, [skip next st, dc in next st] across to last st, 3 dc in last st.
Turn to work along side edge: 2 dc in edge of row, [ch 1, skip next row, dc in next row] across to last 2 rows, ch 1, skip next row, 2 dc in last row.
Turn to work along opposite edge of foundation ch: 3 dc in first st, ch 1, [skip next st, dc in next st] across to last st, 3 dc in last st.
Turn to work along side edge: 2 dc in edge of row, [ch 1, skip next row, dc in next row] across to last 2 rows, ch 1, skip next row, 2 dc in last row, ch 1.
Join with slip st to top of beginning ch 3. Fasten off.
Pillow Border Round 2
Join B in top of beginning ch, ch 1, sc in first 3 dc.
- [Dc in next dc 2 rounds below, pulling dc up to current level of work, sc in next dc] across to first dc of corner 5-dc, **sc in next 5 dc; repeat from * around to last side.
[Dc in next dc 2 rounds below, pulling dc up to current level of work, sc in next dc] across to last 2 dc, sc in next 2 dc. Join with slip st in first sc.
Pillow Border Round 3
Ch 1, sc in first 3 sts.
- [Skip next st, sc in next 3 sts] 12 times, sc in next 48 sts; repeat from * around to last side.
[Skip next st, sc in next 3 sts] to last 2 sts, sc in next 2 sc. Join with slip st in first sc.
Repeat the border around the Pillow Block.
Pillow Finishing
Holding wrong sides together, join B in one Block with crochet hook. Work through the stitches of two blocks, ch 1, sc in each st around 3 sides.
Turn to work along the last side, sc in each st across on only 1 piece. Fasten off.
Insert pillow form. Whipstitch the opening closed. Weave in ends.
Ways to Display Your Finished Crochet
- Place the finished pillow on a sofa or armchair with the throw folded over the back.
- Use the complete set as a seasonal guest-room accent.
- Fold the throw in a basket near a fireplace or reading area.
- Display the pillow as part of a Christmas seating arrangement.
- Give the pillow as a handmade holiday gift, especially when paired with coordinating décor.
- Use the contrasting border as inspiration for additional accessories in burgundy, sage, and aran tones.
For a smaller coordinated handmade display, a floral accent such as a crochet rose for wine glasses can complement the same warm holiday palette without altering this pattern.
Caring for Your Crochet Project
Follow the yarn manufacturer’s care instructions for the RED HEART® “Super Saver®” yarn used in the project. Because the throw and pillow contain joined sections, charted colorwork, and decorative borders, handle them gently during cleaning.
- Dust the throw and pillow regularly with a soft brush or gentle vacuum attachment.
- Spot-clean small marks carefully rather than scrubbing the surface.
- Avoid excessive heat, which can affect the shape and texture of the crochet.
- Reshape the pieces flat after any approved cleaning.
- Store the throw folded loosely in a clean, dry location.
- Store the pillow away from prolonged direct sunlight to help preserve the contrasting colors.
- Make sure the pillow is completely dry before storing it.
Tips for Better Results
- Keep color balls organized. Use a separate ball of yarn for each large block of color, as specified.
- Twist color changes correctly. Pick up the new yarn from under the old yarn to help prevent holes.
- Track Afghan stitch loops carefully. Row 1 establishes the loop structure used by the following rows, so check that the required number of loops is on the hook.
- Use the chart for all charted sections. The throw blocks follow the Chart through Row 29, and the pillow front uses the chart across 31 stitches.
- Mark the right side. A removable stitch marker can help you identify the correct side before adding borders.
- Count border repeats. The longer sequences in Throw Border Rounds 6 and 7 are easier to manage when each completed section is marked.
- Join with the wrong sides together. This is required for both the throw-block assembly and pillow finishing.
- Weave in ends as sections are completed. Finishing individual blocks before assembly reduces the number of loose strands to manage later.
Color and Styling Variations
The approved pattern uses aran fleck, burgundy, dark sage, and light sage for a traditional seasonal appearance. Optional changes can personalize the finished set:
- Replace burgundy with a deep cranberry or muted red for a brighter holiday look.
- Use cream or soft gray in place of the sage shades for a more neutral winter palette.
- Try coordinated colors from the same yarn line, keeping A as the primary background shade.
- Use the pillow alone as a smaller seasonal project if you do not need the throw.
- Make the throw and pillow in different color arrangements while retaining the same construction.
Changing yarn or hook size may affect gauge, dimensions, stitch definition, texture, and yarn requirements. If you substitute yarn, make a small test section before committing to all 20 throw blocks or the pillow sections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many throw blocks does this pattern require?
Make 20 blocks. Arrange them 4 blocks wide by 5 blocks long before joining.
What hook size is used?
Use a 6 mm [US J-10] Afghan crochet hook.
What yarn colors are specified?
The pattern uses 4313 Aran Fleck as A, 376 Burgandy as B, 633 Dark Sage as C, and 631 Light Sage as D in RED HEART® “Super Saver®.”
Does the pillow include a charted section?
Yes. The pillow back is worked in Afghan stitch only, while the front includes a chart worked across 31 stitches with 5 stitches at each side.
What size pillow form is required?
Use a 16-inch pillow form.
How are the throw blocks joined?
Hold the wrong sides together and use A to slip stitch through the corresponding stitches of two blocks.
How are the pillow sections closed?
After joining the sections around three sides, insert the pillow form, whipstitch the opening closed, and weave in the ends.
Can the colors be changed?
Yes, color changes are optional. Keep the color labels and chart placement organized, and remember that a different yarn may affect the project’s dimensions and texture.
Conclusion
This Crochet Christmas Star Throw Pillow Pattern combines modular Afghan-stitch blocks, charted colorwork, and layered borders for a coordinated holiday set. The throw adds warmth and seasonal color, while the 16-inch pillow offers a smaller project or matching accent. For another version of this festive design, compare the Red Heart Christmas Star Throw and Pillow crochet pattern before choosing your materials and color plan.
