Peachy Keen Candy Bolster Pillow Free Crochet Pattern

I have a serious soft spot for home decor that makes people smile, and these candy-shaped bolster pillows do exactly that! They give you all the whimsy of a giant wrapped sweet with none of the sugar, and they are basically just striped tubes with ruffled ends, so the wow factor is far bigger than the effort involved.

We will work almost entirely in single crochet in the round, with simple colour changes for the stripes and chain loops for those lovely twisted wrapper ends. I will show you the large bolster step by step, then the simple changes for the smaller size, so you can make a matching set.

The peachy coral tones are perfect for a cozy bedroom, playroom or nursery, and a well-stuffed bolster is just so satisfying to hug. Let us get started!

Materials

• Worsted weight (medium #4) yarn in Color A coral/salmon, approximately 200 yards for large, 100 yards for small
• Color B light peach, approximately 150 yards for large, 75 yards for small
• Color C cream/off-white, approximately 150 yards for large, 75 yards for small
• Color D dusty rose/deep coral, approximately 150 yards for large, 75 yards for small
• Color E peach for the ruffle ends, approximately 100 yards for large, 50 yards for small
• 5.0mm (H/8) crochet hook for the main body
• 4.5mm (G/6) crochet hook for tighter end closures (optional)
• Polyester fiberfill stuffing, approximately 16 oz for large, 8 oz for small
• Yarn needle for weaving ends
• Stitch marker
• Scissors
• Measuring tape

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• inc: increase, 2 sc in the same stitch
• dec: decrease, invisible decrease preferred
• FLO: front loop only
• BLO: back loop only
• st/sts: stitch / stitches
• rnd/rnds: round / rounds

Gauge & Size

• Gauge: 14 sc and 16 rows = 4 inches in single crochet worked in the round
• Finished size: large bolster approximately 16 inches long (body only) and 6 inches in diameter; small bolster approximately 10 inches long and 4 inches in diameter; the ruffle ends add approximately 3 to 4 inches on each side
• Construction: worked in continuous rounds, do not join at the end of each round unless instructed, and use a stitch marker to track the beginning of each round
• Skill level: Beginner to Easy Intermediate

Large Bolster Starting End

We begin with Color A and grow a flat circle that forms one end of the candy shape.

Rnd 1: With Color A, create a magic ring. Work 6 sc into the ring. Pull tight. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: (Sc 1, inc) repeat around. (18 sts)

Rnd 4: (Sc 2, inc) repeat around. (24 sts)

Rnd 5: (Sc 3, inc) repeat around. (30 sts)

Rnd 6: (Sc 4, inc) repeat around. (36 sts)

Rnd 7: (Sc 5, inc) repeat around. (42 sts)

Rnd 8: (Sc 6, inc) repeat around. (48 sts)

Rnd 9: (Sc 7, inc) repeat around. (54 sts)

Rnd 10: (Sc 8, inc) repeat around. (60 sts)

You now have a flat circle approximately 5.5 to 6 inches in diameter. If your circle is cupping or ruffling, check your tension, because a flat circle should lay completely flat.

Body Stripes

Now we work even rounds with no increases to build the tube, changing colours for the stripes. To change colour cleanly, work the last stitch of the old colour until you have 2 loops on your hook, then yarn over with the new colour and pull through both loops.

Rnds 11 to 18: Continue with Color A. Sc in each st around. (60 sts, 8 rounds total)

Rnds 19 to 26: Change to Color B. Sc in each st around. (60 sts, 8 rounds total)

Rnds 27 to 34: Change to Color C. Sc in each st around. (60 sts, 8 rounds total)

Rnds 35 to 42: Change to Color D. Sc in each st around. (60 sts, 8 rounds total)

Rnds 43 to 50: Change to Color B. Sc in each st around. (60 sts, 8 rounds total)

Rnds 51 to 58: Change to Color A. Sc in each st around. (60 sts, 8 rounds total)

Your tube should measure approximately 12 to 14 inches long at this point.

Closing End

Rnd 59: (Sc 8, dec) repeat around. (54 sts)

Rnd 60: (Sc 7, dec) repeat around. (48 sts)

Rnd 61: (Sc 6, dec) repeat around. (42 sts)

Rnd 62: (Sc 5, dec) repeat around. (36 sts)

Rnd 63: (Sc 4, dec) repeat around. (30 sts)

Pause here to stuff your pillow. Add fiberfill firmly, but not so tight that the stitches stretch. You want a nice plump cylinder.

Rnd 64: (Sc 3, dec) repeat around. (24 sts)

Rnd 65: (Sc 2, dec) repeat around. (18 sts)

Add more stuffing as needed before the opening gets too small.

Rnd 66: (Sc 1, dec) repeat around. (12 sts)

Rnd 67: Dec 6 times around. (6 sts)

Fasten off and close the hole. Thread your yarn tail through the remaining 6 stitches, pull tight, and weave in securely.

Ruffle Wrapper Ends (Make 2)

This is where the magic happens! The ruffles transform a simple tube into an adorable wrapped candy. Work both ends the same way with Color E.

Rnd 1: Join Color E to the edge of either end of your bolster. Working into the edge stitches around the flat circle portion, sc evenly around the circumference. You should have approximately 60 sts. Join with sl st to first sc. (60 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 3, (skip 1 st, sc in next st, ch 3) repeat around. Join with sl st. This creates the first layer of loops.

Rnd 3: Working into the skipped stitches from Rnd 2, (ch 4, sc) repeat around. Join with sl st.

Rnd 4: (Ch 5, sl st in next ch space) repeat around. Join and fasten off.

The chains naturally curl and twist, creating that perfect crinkled candy wrapper effect. To gather the ruffle, thread a length of matching yarn through the base of the ruffle, pull gently to gather it slightly for that pinched wrapper look, and tie off securely. Repeat for the other end of your bolster.

Small Bolster Variation

For the smaller version, follow the same construction with these modifications: stop increasing at Rnd 7 (42 sts instead of 60), work the body stripes for 6 rounds each instead of 8, and adjust the ruffle chain lengths to ch 2, ch 3, and ch 4 respectively.

Finishing & Assembly

Weave in all ends carefully, weaving each tail through several stitches in different directions before trimming. Shape your ruffles by gently pulling and arranging the chain loops so they fan out naturally. If your ruffle ends feel too floppy, you can lightly spray them with fabric stiffener, but that is entirely personal preference.

Tips

Try to maintain the same tension throughout the body of your pillow. Uneven tension will create a lumpy cylinder.

Do not understuff! A well-stuffed bolster looks professional, while a limp one looks sad, so err on the side of more stuffing.

The colour placement is flexible. I love this gradient peachy palette, but bright rainbow stripes or monochromatic neutrals would be just as sweet.

These make incredible gifts for baby showers, housewarmings, and birthdays for the candy lover in your life. The presentation factor is off the charts for the effort involved!