Celtic Shamrock Pillow

The Celtic Shamrock Pillow is an easy and fun project made with cotton yarn and simple stitches. It’s a great pattern to try if this is your first attempt at one of my Celtic Knot designs because the stitches are beginner-friendly and the knot is easy to weave. Plus, this crochet pillow is the project for our 2026 Crochet-a-long! Yay!

This CAL will begin Friday, April 4th, 2026!

This CAL ends May 1st, 2026 – but you can start and end at any time!

(This post includes affiliate links. To read our full disclosure policy, click here)

Crochet-a-Long and How It Works

What is a Crochet-a-long? A Crochet-a-long or CAL is a designated amount of time that crocheters work on a project at the same time. This can be done in a variety of ways usually with the help of the internet.  For our CAL of the Celtic Shamrock Pillow we will be working on parts of the pattern each week. I will post each part of the pattern on Fridays over the next month right here on this page. If you receive my weekly newsletter on Fridays, you will get the reminders and updates that way. (If you aren’t on our mailing list, then scroll down below to the “Get Access” section and sign up – it’s FREE and I’d love to have you become a part of our community!) I will also include a video tutorial on my YouTube Channel for each section of the project. I am hoping that with all of these resources, you will be set up for success and enjoy the process of making your own Celtic Shamrock Pillow!

Get Access:

Did you know that subscribers to our newsletter get notified of new patterns each week and get access to our Crochet Resource Library full of FREE pattern PDF’s, diagrams and other useful printables? Click the image below to get access and become part of our community – it’s FREE!

Celtic Shamrock Pillow CAL Schedule

Week 1 – Friday 4/4:

Supplies and Crocheting the Cords

Week 2 – Friday 4/10:

Weave the Celtic Knot

Week 3 – Friday 4/17:

Crochet 2 Squares (Pillow base)

Week 4 – Friday 4/24:

Put All Pieces Together and Complete the Pillow!

Bonus: Week 5 – Friday 5/1

Share photos of completed projects – Yay!

What You Need to Do to Participate in this CAL:

Anyone is welcome to participate in this CAL. If you can join us on April 4, 2026, that would be great! But if you are finding out about this CAL after that date, no worries – you can join at any time and work through the pattern at your own pace. It is best to sign up for my weekly newsletter so you can hear about how things are going and get all of the reminders & links. (see Get Access above)

You’ll want to gather the supplies so you are ready to start crocheting. For Week 1 you only need the yarn, 3.75 mm (F) hook and the stitch markers. I will be giving out some prizes as we go and giving some special discount coupons for my Etsy Shop. I hope to share some pictures of your progress as we go, too! And, as always, if you have any questions about the CAL or the pattern, you may email me at any time – I am happy to help!

Skill Level: Easy

Measurements:

Approximately 10″ x 10″

Celtic Knot Motif approx. 8″ x 8″

Supplies for the Celtic Knot Shamrock Pillow:

Click on the supply name to purchase

(Please note this post contains affiliate links which earns this blog a small commission at no extra cost to you – it’s a win-win! Thank you for your support so I can continue to offer free patterns like this one)

Supplies with the pink highlight are needed for Week 1 (all supplies are explained in the first video tutorial of the CAL as well)

Just click on the name of the supply to see photos and more info

Size 3 cotton yarn in 3 colors: 2 contrasting/complimentary colors for the shamrock (1 skein each) and 1 color for the pillow base (2 skeins for a total of approx. 400 yds)

(I used Sinfonia in shades of green for the shamrock (# 839 lighter green & #819 darker green) and ivory for the base)
 Other yarn options:
I Love This Cotton by Hobby Lobby
24/7 Cotton by LionBrand

**You can use medium weight acrylic yarn or dishcloth cotton yarn but your project will turn out bigger**

3.75mm hook
4.5mm hook

Stitch markers 
Yarn needle

Pillow form (10″ x 10″) or 1/2 yd coordinating fabric and fiberfil stuffing
Fabric glue, hot glue or sewing thread and needle

Supplies for weaving the knot:

Celtic Knot Diagram printed out in color – Click here to download the Right Hander Diagram

Click here to download the Left Hander Diagram
Corkboard square (or blocking board, cardboard, foam core board)
Straight sewing pins (20-30)

(Tips will be given on how to adjust the size of the pillow or to use the shamrock on a different base (bag, square, blanket, store-bought item, etc)

Optional:

Wonder Clips by Clover

Ad-Free Pattern PDF Now Available!

Now that our CAL is over, an ad-free pattern PDF is available for purchase here! These instructions include several color photos, links to ALL of the video tutorials, the complete instructions without ads in a large-print easy-to-read format and color-coded Celtic Knot diagrams for both Right and Left Handers. Plus, there are bonus diagrams included if you want to make the Celtic Shamrock Motif in different sizes! You can use the Celtic Shamrock motif to decorate other projects and I include photos of some project ideas for you, too!

Notes:

First 3 cords are crocheted

Then the Celtic Shamrock Motif is woven with the help of a diagram (that can be downloaded from this page for both Right and Lerft Handers)

Next 2 squares are crocheted in a textured stitch

Lastly, all parts are put together and an edging is added to the pillow base

Special Stitches and Abbreviations for the Celtic Shamrock Pillow:

Back bar of the Chain = When looking at the right side of a chain, you see many “V’s” and the chain looks like a braid. Turn the chain over and you see a series of bumps – it is in these bumps that you will work across the chain to produce a cord with even edges along both sides

Click here to watch a short video tutorial on this technique

Sc (single crochet) = Insert hook into stitch, YO, draw up a loop; YO, pull through 2 loops on hook

Back Loop Only = Insert hk only into the back lp at the top of the stitch

Click here to watch a short video tutorial of this technique

Sl st (slip stitch) = Insert hook into stitch, YO, pull through stitch and loop on hook

Join with sc (join with single crochet) = With slip knot on hook, insert hook into stitch; YO, draw up a loop; YO, pull through 2 loops on hook

Click here to watch a short video tutorial on this technique

Trinity Stitch = insert hook into stitch just worked, YO, draw up a loop; Insert hook into next stitch, YO, draw up a loop; Insert hook into next stitch, YO, draw up a loop; (4 loops on hook); YO, pull through all 4 loops on hook, chain 1

Ch-3 picot = ch 3, sl st in back bar of 1st ch

Mini-shamrock st = sc in next st; (ch-3 picot) 3 times; sl st in 1st sl st of 1st ch-3 picot

YO (yarn over)

Hk (hook)

Lp (loop)

Ch (chain)

St (stitch)

Sp (space)

Instructions for the Celtic Shamrock Pillow by Jennifer E Ryan:

Special stitches are written in bold and italicized text and defined above

Week 1 – April 4th

I decided to make my Trinity Cord all one color – the darker green (cord and edging) which is the color of the edging for the 2 other cords

Trinity Knot Cord:

Approx. 17 1/2″ long x 1/2″ wide

Stitches you will mark with a stitch marker are highlighted in blue

If you want to have your Trinity Cord look like the others, then you can still do the colors listed below and your cord would look like this (lighter green for the main color and darker green for the edging)

With lighter green ch 87

Working in the back bar of the chain, sc in 2^nd ch from hk and in each of next 15 chs;

*(sc, ch 1, sl st in back bar of ch-1, sc) in next ch; Mark ch-1 sp with a stitch marker

Sc in each of next 28 chs; *

Repeat * to * one more time;

(sc, ch 1, sl st in back bar of ch-1, sc) in next ch; Mark ch-1 sp with a stitch marker

Sc in each of next 11 chs. Fasten off.

This is the Trinity cord without edging – you can see the stitch markers marking each ch-1 sp:

Edging:

With darker green and working in the back loop only, sl st in each st across outside edge of cord

At each ch-1 marked with a stitch marker: sl st, ch 1; Fasten off.

Step-by-Step Video Tutorial Available on my YouTube Channel for Week 1:

Click here to watch or on the image below:

Shamrock Cord:

Approx. 41″ long x 1/2″ wide

With lighter green ch 216

Working in the back bar of the chain, sc in 2^nd ch from hk and in each of next 35 chs;

(sc, ch 1, sl st in back bar of ch-1, sc) in next ch; Mark ch-1 sp with a stitch marker

Sc in each of next 27 chs;

Sl st in each of next 6 chs;

Sk next 2 chs;

Sl st in each of next 6 chs;

Sc in each of next 29 chs;

(sc, ch 1, sl st in back bar of ch-1, sc) in next ch; Mark ch-1 sp with a stitch marker

Sc in each of next 30 chs;

Sl st in each of next 6 chs;

Sk next 2 chs;

Sl st in each of next 6 chs;

Sc in each of next 27 chs;

(sc, ch 1, sl st in back bar of ch-1, sc) in next ch; Mark ch-1 sp with a stitch marker

Sc in each of next 35 chs. Fasten off.

Edging:

Work as for Trinity Knot cord edging with one more special part:

When get to the area where you have 2 sets of 6 sl sts separated by a “sk 2 sts” (that creates a point on the other side of the cord), simply sk 1 st between the 2 sets of 6 sl sts (which would be on the inside of the point) – this happens twice along the cord

Stem Cord:

Approx. 6″ long x 1/2″ wide

With lighter green ch 30

Working in the back bar of the chain, sc in 2nd ch from hk and in each of next 10 chs;

(sc, ch 1, sl st in back bar of ch, sc) in next ch; Mark ch-1 with stitch marker

sc in each of next 5 chs;

(sc, ch 1, sl st in back bar of ch, sc) in next ch; Mark ch-1 with stitch marker

sc in each of next 11 chs. Fasten off.

Edging:

Work as for edging of Trinity cord

Completed Cords for the Celtic Shamrock Pillow:

Week 2 – April 10th

Here you can see the weaving supplies: diagram, straight pins, corkboard and cords

Weaving the Celtic Knot

1. Print out Celtic Knot diagram in color  – the cord paths are made in different colors to help you weave it

(You can download the FREE diagram from this page! (see the supply list above)

There is one for Right Handers and one for Left Handers – make sure to print out the correct one!)

Left-Handers – You can use the following steps but just note that your cords will look opposite and start in opposite places – they will match up with the Left-Hander Diagrams

**You may want to print out an extra diagram to place beside your weaving board to help you see the design of the knot as the cords fill in the main diagram**

2. Pin Celtic Knot diagram to corkboard

You will be working with all Right Sides of the cords facing

3.  Place the beginning of the Trinity Cord on the black asterisk on the diagram

4.  Follow the arrow and lay the cord along the orange path pinning in place as you go – the points you crocheted into the cord should match up with Points 1, 2 & 3 on the diagram

5. Make sure to pass correctly either over or under the other sections of the cord

Step-by-Step Video Tutorial Now Available for Week 2 of the Celtic Shamrock Pillow Pattern:

This is an easy knot to weave but I recommend watching this video tutorial here (or click on the image below) especially if this is the first time you are making one of my Celtic Knot designs. Inside the video I give you a bunch of tips on weaving the knot and securing the crossings as well.

And Left-Handers! I made a video for you, too – you can check that out here so you don’t have to try to do everything backwards from the Right Hander video! 🙂

6.  Place the beginning of the Shamrock Cord on the black circle on the diagram

7.  Follow the arrow and lay the cord along the green path pinning in place as you go – the points you crocheted into the cord should match up with Points 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 on the diagram

8.  Make sure to pass correctly either over or under the Trinity Cord and the other sections of the Shamrock Cord

9.  Place the end of the Stem Cord (this is the end with 3 yarn tails) on the black square on the diagram

10.  Follow the arrow and lay the cord along the white path pinning in place as you go – the points you crocheted into the cord should match up with the bottom points of the stem shown on the diagram

11. Make sure to tuck the end of the cord under the beginning of the cord as shown

12.  Adjust the cords so all spaces and points look even and you like the look of the Trinity Knot and Shamrock with Stem

Securing All the Crossings:

**Remember, this step is also included in the step-by-step video tutorial here**

There are 3 different ways you can secure all the crossings which will keep your knot design in place

Option 1:

Pin all the crossings across

Use yarn needle and yarn tails to secure all crossings on the Wrong side of the knot

Make sure to not let stitching show on Right Side of project

**You can also use matching sewing thread and needle to do this**

Option 2:

Leave the knot on the board and keep pins in place

Secure all crossings with a small dab of hot glue

*This method is very fast and effective but not great if you plan on being able to wash your pillow (you can spot clean when using hot glue but not fully immerse the project in water)

Option 3:

Leave the knot on the board and keep pins in place

Secure all crossing with some clear fabric glue

Remove pins and place heavy book on top

Let dry like this overnight

Check that all crossings are secure – add more glue where not secure and repeat drying process

*This method looks very professional and is washable;  Your project might dry in less than 8 hours*

That’s it for Week 2!

Week 3 – April 17th:

Making the Pillow Base:

Square: (Make 2)

To make the squares you will be working the Trinity Stitch – it is explained in the section above named, “Special Stitches and Abbreviations”. You can also see it demonstrated in the video tutorial here (or click on the image below).

With off-white yarn and larger hook ch 42

Row 1:

*Make sure to insert hk under 2 loops of each chain*

Sc in 2^nd ch from hk;

Trinity St across;

For last Trinity Stitch, do not ch 1 but work a sc in last st instead. Turn.

Row 2:

Ch 1, sc in 1^st st;

Trinity st across;

For last Trinity Stitch, do not ch 1 but work a sc in last st instead. Turn.

Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 10” long. Do not fasten off.

Edging:

Now working down side along edge of rows, work hdc evenly to next corner and around entire square making sure to work 2 hdc at each corner; join with sl st to 1^st hdc of round. Fasten off.

**You will want to make sure that the number of sts along both sides of the square are the same and the number of sts along the top and bottom are the same. Since we are joining the squares together you also want these numbers to be the same for both squares. You might want to put matching stitch markers on the top and bottom edges so you can keep track of them**

That’s it for Week 3! I love the texture of the Trinity Stitch and thought it was a fitting one to go with our Trinity Knot. 🙂

Week 4 – April 24th: Putting it all Together

Congratulation on making it to Week 4 of our 2026 Crochet-a-long! I’m so glad you are here making this project with us!

Now we’re ready to put all the pieces together to complete our project – yay!

Finishing & Assembly:

Video Tutorial Showing How to Put it ALL together!

Here’s the Week 4 Video Tutorial for the Celtic Shamrock Pillow project! In this video I show you the 3 options for attaching your motif to one of the squares, how to make your own pillow form, how to join the squares and how to add the cutsie edging. And, as a bonus, I show you 4 other projects you can make using this same pattern! Click here (or the image below) to watch the tutorial.

Attach Celtic Shamrock to Square

It is easier to attach the Celtic motif to one of the squares before we join the 2 squares into the pillow form

There are 3 ways you can do this (similar to how we secured the crossings in the Celtic Knot)

I recommend pinning the motif in place for all options while you do the securing

Option 1:

Using sewing thread and needle or matching yarn (& yarn tails) and yarn needle, sew motif to center of 1 square

A good place to sew the cords is in the slight “channel” that is created between the sc stitches and the sl st edging along all the cords

Option 2:

Use a hot glue gun and glue sticks – this is the quickest option but will not be washable (You will be able to spot clean the pillow but not immerse in water)

Option 3:

Use a clear washable (waterproof) fabric glue – I like to use this one here:

Fabric Glue

This gives you a very professional look and is faster than sewing

Once the motif has been glued down, place a heavy book on top and let dry overnight – the pressure from the heavy book will ensure it adheres

Once dry check the motif and add glue where you may have some gaps

Make Pillow Form:

You can purchase a pillow form here  – this is definitely very quick!

But if you want, you can make your own pillow form – it’s easy!

(I show you how I did this in the video tutorial here)

Simply cut 2 squares of fabric approximately 11” x 11” and with Right Sides facing, sew along 3 sides leaving one side open;

Turn right side out

Add polyester fiberfil inside and then sew up remaining side – tada!

Join the Squares together:

Place squares together with Wrong Sides facing and clip in place

(I like to use Wonder Clips for this step)

Making sure to insert hook through both loops of both layers, join with sc in center of bottom side of pillow; sc in each st to the next corner and along the next 2 sides;

Insert pillow form through open side and continue to sc across last side; sc in remaining sts along last side and join with sl st to 1^st sc.

Edging:

**This edging consists of simple mini-shamrock embellishments that are separated by 3 scs – you may want to adjust the number of sc in-between each of the mini-shamrocks so that you have a mini-shamrock placed nicely at each corner – see the video tutorial here to watch a demonstration of the stitch and this technique**

Ch-3 picot = ch 3, sl st in back bar of 1st ch

Mini-shamrock st = sc in next st; (ch-3 picot) 3 times; sl st in 1st sl st of 1st ch-3 picot

Ch 1, sc in same st and in each of the next 2 sts;

(Mini-shamrock st, sc in each of the next 3 sts) around; mini-shamrock st in 1st sc of round; sl st in same st. Fasten off.

Wet Block Edging:

This step is optional but makes a big difference in how nice your mini-shamrocks will look

Simply wet only the mini-shamrocks with cool water and press out excess water with a towel

Then lay pillow on blocking board and pin mini-shamrocks into shape you like

Let dry overnight

And that’s it for Week 4 – You’ve completed the Celtic Shamrock Pillow!!

Remember, if you have any questions you can leave a comment below or send me an email – I am always happy to help!

Your Celtic Shamrock Pillow is Complete!

I hope you enjoyed making the Celtic Shamrock Pillow during our 2026 Crochet-a-long! I hope you realized that it can be easy and fun to make a Celtic Knot project using simple stitches and a small amount of yarn from your stash. 🙂

And since I love this Celtic Knot design so much, I created 4 other projects using this same pattern! You can see those projects in the video tutorial here.

Thank you for stopping by and crocheting with us!

To see more of my Celtic Knot patterns and designs, please click here.

Don’t forget to pin the long image below so you remember where you found this pillow project!

Happy crocheting!

Jennifer

Copyright – Jennifer E Ryan- www.celticknotcrochet.com- all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.

If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern, please see our About page for details.