Removable C2C Bunny Pillow Case – Free Crochet Pattern
If you have been looking for a crochet project that is equal parts practical and adorable, you have landed in exactly the right place. This free crochet pattern walks you through making a removable corner-to-corner (C2C) bunny pillow case — a snuggly, washable pillow cover featuring a sweet bunny design worked in the classic C2C graphghan technique. Whether you are a seasoned crocheter looking for a satisfying weekend project or someone who has recently fallen in love with C2C and wants to try something beyond a simple blanket, this pattern is a wonderful fit.
The best part? Because this is a pillow case rather than a stuffed toy or a sewn cushion cover, it slips on and off your pillow insert easily, which means you can toss it in the wash whenever it needs freshening up — perfect for children’s rooms, nurseries, or anyone who likes their décor to stay clean and bright.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know: materials, gauge, the C2C technique, the bunny graph, construction, finishing, and plenty of tips along the way.
Why C2C Crochet for a Pillow Case?
Corner-to-corner crochet has become one of the most popular techniques for creating picture-based designs, also called graphghan patterns. Instead of working row by row across a flat piece, you build small stacked blocks diagonally, starting from one corner and expanding outward until you reach the widest point, then decreasing back down to the opposite corner. Each block represents one square on a color chart, so you can recreate almost any pixel-style image in yarn.
A pillow case is one of the most practical applications of this technique. The finished fabric is dense, structured, and holds its shape beautifully, which is exactly what you want in a pillow cover. Because you work two identical panels and join them, you get a clean, reversible look — and because the opening is left unfinished with a simple edging or button closure, the cover slides off the pillow insert in seconds.
The bunny design used in this pattern is simple enough to be achievable for a confident beginner and satisfying enough to keep an experienced crocheter engaged. The graphic features a classic white bunny silhouette — round body, long ears, little tail — set against a contrasting background color. You can make it in any palette you like, from soft pastels for a nursery to bold, modern tones for a teenager’s room or a living room accent pillow.
Materials You Will Need
Before you cast on your first block, gather everything on this list so you can work without interruption.
Yarn: You will need a medium-weight worsted yarn (Category 4) in two colors. The sample shown uses approximately 200 yards of the background color (Color A) and 100 yards of the bunny color (Color B). A crisp, light bunny on a dusty sage, lavender, or mustard background looks gorgeous, but a dark charcoal bunny on a creamy white background is equally striking. Choose 100% cotton or a cotton blend if you want maximum washability, or a soft acrylic blend if comfort and ease of care are your top priorities.
Hook: A 5.0mm (H/8) crochet hook works well with most worsted-weight yarns and gives a firm, tidy gauge for this project. If your blocks come out larger or smaller than the gauge below, adjust your hook size accordingly.
Pillow insert: This pattern is sized for a standard 18-inch square pillow insert, which is one of the most widely available sizes. If you would like to make a 16-inch or 20-inch pillow, the section on adjusting the pattern explains how to scale the graph.
Notions: A yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming, scissors, stitch markers (optional but helpful when joining panels), and either four buttons and a tapestry needle for a button closure, or a 16-inch zipper and basic sewing supplies if you prefer a zipper closure.
Gauge: 4 C2C blocks by 4 C2C blocks = approximately 4 inches by 4 inches using a 5.0mm hook and worsted-weight yarn. Check your gauge before starting and adjust as needed. Because this is a pillow case, exact sizing matters more than it does in a blanket, so taking five minutes to make a small swatch will save you frustration later.
Understanding the C2C Technique
If you are new to corner-to-corner crochet, here is a quick refresher before you start the pattern. Each C2C block is made from chain stitches and double crochet stitches grouped together. The standard C2C block works as follows:
To begin the very first block, chain 6. Double crochet into the 4th, 5th, and 6th chains from the hook. That completes your first block. To add a new block going upward and to the right, chain 6, turn, and double crochet into the 4th, 5th, and 6th chains from the hook, then slip stitch into the chain-3 space of the block below.
As you increase, each row adds one block. When you reach the halfway point of the graph, you begin decreasing: instead of adding a new block at the start of the row, you slip stitch across the top of the last block worked and into the chain-3 space, then continue building blocks across the row. Each decrease row removes one block from the total, bringing you back down toward a single block at the opposite corner.
Color changes happen at the beginning of a new block. When the graph calls for a color change, simply drop the current color at the end of the slip stitch joining the blocks, pick up the new color, and chain 6 in the new color to start the next block. Carry unused yarn loosely along the back of the work when switching colors frequently, or cut and rejoin if the color won’t be needed for several blocks — both methods work, and the right choice depends on how large the color sections are.
The Bunny Graph
The pillow case front panel is worked from a 30-by-30 block grid. This gives you a finished panel of approximately 18.5 inches square (before seaming), which fits snugly over an 18-inch insert.
The bunny graph is designed on a 30-column by 30-row pixel grid. Color A is your background color, and Color B is the bunny. Here is a written description of the design area:
Rows 1 through 5 and rows 26 through 30 are worked entirely in Color A. These form the top and bottom borders.
The bunny body occupies roughly the center of the grid. The body begins around row 6 and spans through row 24. The main oval body of the bunny is centered horizontally on the grid, spanning approximately 12 blocks wide at its widest point. The ears rise from the top of the body: two long, narrow rectangular ear shapes, each about 3 blocks wide and 7 blocks tall, separated by approximately 4 blocks of background color between them. A small circular tail appears at the lower right of the body, approximately 3 blocks in diameter.
Because written graph descriptions are harder to follow than a visual chart, this pattern includes a printable grid below. You can also recreate the graph easily in any free pixel art or crochet graphghan tool online — simply search for a C2C graph maker, set your grid to 30 by 30, and draw in the bunny shape using the description above as your guide.
Reading the Graph: Read the graph from bottom-right to top-left. Row 1 begins at the bottom-right corner. Odd-numbered rows travel from right to left, and even-numbered rows travel from left to right. Each square on the graph equals one C2C block.
Pattern Instructions
Front Panel
Using Color A and your 5.0mm hook, begin working the C2C increase section.
Row 1: 1 block in Color A. (1 block total)
Row 2: 2 blocks in Color A. (2 blocks total)
Row 3: 3 blocks in Color A. (3 blocks total)
Row 4: 4 blocks in Color A. (4 blocks total)
Row 5: 5 blocks in Color A. (5 blocks total)
Continue increasing in this manner, following the color chart for Color A and Color B placement, through Row 30. At Row 30, you will have 30 blocks across. This is the widest row.
Row 31 (begin decreasing): Slip stitch across the top of the first block, then work 29 blocks following the graph. (29 blocks total)
Continue decreasing in this manner, following the color chart for Color B and Color A placement, through Row 59. At Row 59, you will have 1 block remaining. Fasten off.
Back Panel
The back panel is worked identically to the front panel but entirely in Color A — no color changes, no bunny motif. This keeps the pillow case fully reversible and gives the back a clean, simple look.
Work the back panel exactly as the front, using only Color A throughout all 59 rows. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Joining the Panels
Block out both panels before joining. Wet blocking or steam blocking will even out your tension and make the seaming much easier. Pin each panel to your blocking mats to the same dimensions and allow to dry completely.
Place the front panel and back panel with wrong sides facing each other. This puts both right sides facing outward, which is the look you want for a pillow case. Align all four edges carefully.
Using Color A and your yarn needle, join the panels along three sides using a whip stitch or slip stitch seam. Work through the outermost loops of both panels as you go, keeping your tension consistent. Leave the fourth side (the bottom edge) open — this is where you will insert the pillow.
Closure Options
Button Closure: A button closure is the most beginner-friendly option and gives the pillow case a charming, handmade look. After seaming the three sides, work a single crochet border around the open edge of both the front and back panels separately. On the front panel’s open edge, work evenly spaced buttonholes by replacing three single crochets with a chain-3 space at regular intervals. Space four buttonholes evenly across the edge. Sew four corresponding buttons onto the back panel’s open edge. Button the case closed before slipping over your pillow insert.
Slip-Stitch Edge: For the simplest finish with no closure hardware, simply work a single crochet border around the entire open edge — both front and back together — leaving a wide enough opening at the center that the pillow insert can be tucked in. The yarn’s structure will hold the pillow in place, and you can tuck the fabric inward to keep things neat.
Zipper Closure: If you want the most polished, secure closure, hand-stitch an 18-inch zipper tape to the wrong side of the open edge using matching thread. This requires basic hand-sewing skills but results in a truly professional finish.
Finishing Touches
Once the pillow case is seamed and your closure is in place, weave in any remaining ends thoroughly — especially at color change points on the front panel. Use your yarn needle to bury the ends through several stitches in the matching color area so they are invisible from the right side.
If you notice any loose loops or uneven blocks on the front panel, a light steam with an iron held just above the surface (not pressing directly onto the yarn) will help everything lie flat and even.
Insert your pillow form, button or close the opening, and your bunny pillow case is complete.
Customization Ideas
One of the most enjoyable aspects of C2C graphghan patterns is how easily they adapt to different themes, colorways, and sizes. Here are some ideas to make this pattern entirely your own.
Change the colorway. A blush pink background with a white bunny feels soft and nursery-perfect. A deep navy background with a creamy off-white bunny looks sophisticated enough for a living room sofa. A bold yellow background with a gray bunny gives you a modern, graphic look. Because you are working with just two colors, swapping the palette is completely painless.
Add a second motif. If you want to make a matching set of pillows, you could use the same 30-by-30 grid to design a simple carrot, a flower, or a pair of bunny ears for companion pillows in the same colorway. A set of three coordinating pillows on a sofa or bed looks wonderfully cohesive.
Adjust the size. To make a 16-inch pillow case, reduce your grid to 26 by 26 blocks. For a 20-inch pillow case, increase to 33 by 33 blocks. Scale the bunny motif proportionally by centering it within the new grid and adjusting the ear and body widths by one or two blocks in each direction.
Add a border. After seaming and before the closure, you can work one or two rounds of single crochet around the entire pillow case in a contrasting color for a piped or framed look. A single round of single crochet in Color B — the bunny color — around the seamed edges gives the whole pillow a finished, boutique feel.
Make it seasonal. Swap out your bunny pillow case for different holidays and seasons by working the same construction with a pumpkin, snowflake, or heart motif using the same 30-by-30 grid. Because the cases are removable, you can build a whole collection and rotate them throughout the year.
Tips for Success
C2C pillow cases are very forgiving projects, but a few small habits will make your experience much smoother from start to finish.
Weave in ends as you go during the color change sections of the front panel. Waiting until the end means confronting dozens of yarn tails at once, which can feel overwhelming. Securing each tail after a color section is complete keeps the process tidy and manageable.
Use a printed or digital copy of the graph and mark off rows as you complete them. It is very easy to lose your place in a 59-row piece, especially near the center where the bunny motif is most detailed. A simple pencil tick next to each completed row takes two seconds and saves significant frustration.
Keep your tension consistent between the front and back panels. Because the back panel is all one color, it can feel faster and looser than the front. Try to maintain the same rhythm and hook grip for both panels so that they block out to exactly the same size.
When joining the panels, work slowly and check alignment frequently. It is much easier to un-do a few stitches of seaming than to discover at the end that one panel is shifted by a full block.
Skill Level and Time Estimate
This pattern is rated as easy to intermediate. If you are comfortable with standard C2C increases and decreases and have done at least one simple two-color C2C project before, you will find this very manageable. The color changes in the bunny section are straightforward — the motif has large, simple shapes with no complex shading or dithering.
Most crocheters complete both panels and the finishing in four to six hours of working time spread across a weekend. If you are new to C2C, allow a little extra time for the front panel as you get comfortable reading the graph.
Pattern Notes
This pattern is written for personal use and for small-scale gifting. Please do not sell the pattern itself, though items made from it may be sold in small quantities with credit to the original design. If you share your finished pillow on social media, tagging the pattern source helps other crocheters find it — and seeing your color choices and customizations is genuinely delightful.
All stitch counts are provided in parentheses at the end of each row description. If your count ever does not match, count your blocks again before continuing — it is always faster to find and fix an error one row back than ten rows back.
Wrapping Up
A removable C2C bunny pillow case is one of those projects that checks every box: it is practical, beautiful, customizable, and genuinely fun to make. The corner-to-corner technique moves quickly once you find your rhythm, the bunny motif is simple and sweet without being childish, and the removable construction means your finished piece will actually get used rather than sitting on a shelf.
Whether you are making this for a nursery, a child’s bedroom, a seasonal Easter display, or simply because you love bunnies and you love crochet, this pattern gives you a finished object you will be proud of every time it comes out of the wash looking as fresh and tidy as the day you made it. Pull out your yarn, print your graph, and enjoy every single diagonal row.
Happy crocheting!
