Crochet Neck Pillow: A U-Shaped Travel Pillow That Curves Itself
A stuffed U-shaped travel pillow worked as one tube: short stitches on the inner curve and tall ones on the outer curve make it bend into a U on its own. Soft, washable and made for car trips and flights.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Intermediate
- Yarn
- Bulky (#5) acrylic or chenille, about 170 yd
- Hook
- 6 mm (J-10)
- Time
- About 5 hours
- Finished size
- About 12 × 11 in, tube about 4 in thick (30 × 28 × 10 cm)
You'll need
- Bulky (#5) yarn — about 170 yd
- 6 mm (J-10) hook
- About 7 oz (200 g) fibrefill
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
In this post
The trick to a crochet neck pillow is to make the tube curve as you work. Each round has short single crochet stitches on the inner side and tall double crochet stitches on the outer side, with half doubles between them. The outer edge grows about twice as fast as the inner edge, so the stuffed tube bends into a U that fits around your neck. No sewing of separate pieces.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
First end
Join each round with a sl st; ch 1 doesn't count.
- Rnds 1–7: 6 sc in a magic ring and increase 6 per round up to (5 sc, inc) × 6. (42)
- Rnd 8: Ch 1, sc around, decreasing 2 sts evenly. (40)
Curved tube
- Mark: Place markers to divide the round: 14 inner sts, 3 transition, 20 outer, 3 transition.
- Every curved rnd: Ch 1, sc in the 14 inner sts, hdc in the next 3, dc in the 20 outer sts, hdc in the last 3. Join. (40)
- Repeat the curved round about 45 times, stuffing every 8 rounds. Stop when the inner curve is about 10 in long and the ends sit just in front of your shoulders.
Start each round at the same marker so the inner side stays in line. If the U is too tight, swap 4 outer dc for hdc; too open, swap 2 inner sc for sl st.
Second end
- Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc around, increasing 2 evenly. (42)
- Rnds 2–7: (5 sc, dec) × 6, then (4 sc, dec) × 6 and so on. Stuff firmly. (6)
- Close the hole and hide the tail inside.
Fit and comfort
| Goal | Change |
|---|---|
| Kids' pillow | 32 sts around (12 inner, 2, 16 outer, 2) and about 35 rounds |
| Extra support | Stuff very firmly, or use memory foam pieces |
| Washable | Make a cover for a store-bought travel pillow instead: same shaping, 4 sts larger, with a drawstring at the inner edge |
| Snap closure | Sew a fabric strap with a snap across the open ends so it can't slide off |
Road-trip set: steering wheel cover, car coasters and a key fob cover.
Common questions
How do you make a crochet tube curve?
Use short stitches on one side of each round and tall stitches on the other. The tall side grows faster, so the tube bends toward the short side.
What yarn is best for a neck pillow?
Soft bulky acrylic or chenille: it's squishy, washable and doesn't itch against the neck.
Can I wash a crochet travel pillow?
Yes, on a gentle cycle in a laundry bag if it's acrylic with polyester fibrefill. Dry it flat or on low.
Road trip or long-haul flight? ✈️
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