Looking for an easy way to change up the look of your décor? In the living room, family room, den, or bedroom, a big squishy pillow is always a good addition. Make these pillows up in colours to match or something very distinctly opposite of the colour scheme that you have going now. Think curl up on the couch with a movie and popcorn!
Worked in big yarn on big needles in the round, these pillows are a quick knit that adds a little pizzazz to your décor. They are designed to fit a bed pillow which makes them easy to adapt to any room. I used Bernat Blanket but any super chunky yarn will work. Pillow One has stripes on one end only and Pillow Two is striped right across.
Size: 51cm x 66cm or 20” x 26”
Materials: Bernat Baby Blanket, 2 x 300g (12oz) balls in main colour (MC); Bernat Blanket, 1 x 300g (12oz) ball in contrast colour (CC); 8mm (US 11), 80cm (32”) circular needle; one 8mm (US 11) straight needle or one 7mm (US K) crochet hook for three needle bind off; one stitch marker; two standard bed pillows.
Gauge: 16 stitches x 17 rows = 10cm x 10cm or 4” x 4”
Pattern Note: You must slip the first stitch of the second round after joining a new colour in order to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Pillow One:
With MC, loosely cast on 80 stitches, place marker and join for circular knitting being careful not to twist stitches.
Rnds 1 to 44: knit all stitches, slipping marker at the end of each round. Cut end, leaving enough to tie off to new yarn inside your work.
Rnds 45 to 54: join CC and knit 10 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Rnds 55 to 64: join MC and knit 10 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Rnds 65 to 72: join CC and knit 8 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Rnds 73 to 80: join MC and knit 8 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Rnds 81 to 86: join CC and knit 6 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Rnds 87 to 92: join MC and knit 6 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Rnds 93 to 96: join CC and knit 4 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Rnds 97 to 100: join MC and knit 4 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Rnds 101 to 103: join CC and knit 3 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Rnds 104 to 106: join MC and knit 3 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Rnds 107 to 108: join CC and knit 2 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Rnds 109 to 110: join MC and knit 2 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Three Needle Bind Off: Flip your work inside out so that you are working the purl side of the stitches. Divide your stitches so that you have 40 at each end of the needle and work a three needle bind off to close the end of your pillow cover. I like to use a crochet hook in a smaller size than the needles instead of a third needle; you are less likely to drop stitches with a hook.
Stuff your pillow into the cover evenly and close the end with mattress stitch or your favourite joining stitch.
Pillow Two:
With MC, loosely cast on 80 stitches, place marker and join for circular knitting being careful not to twist stitches.
Rnds 1 to 22: knit all stitches, slipping marker at the end of each round. Cut end, leaving enough to tie off to new yarn inside your work.
Rnds 23 to 44: join CC and knit 22 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes. Do not cut yarn as you will be using CC in two rounds.
Rnds 45 to 46: join MC and knit 2 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes. Do not cut your yarn as you will be picking it up in one round.
Rnd 47: pick up CC and knit 1 round, slipping marker at the end of the round. Cut your yarn now to join it later.
Rnds 48 to 63: join MC and knit 16 rounds, slipping the first stitch on the first round this time to prevent a jog in your stripes. Slip marker at the end of each round. Do not cut your yarn as you will be picking it up in one round.
Rnd 64: join CC and knit 1 round, slipping marker at the end of the round. Do not cut your yarn as you will be using CC in two rounds.
Rnds 65 to 66: join MC and knit 16 rounds, slipping the first stitch on the first round this time to prevent a jog in your stripes. Slip marker at the end of each round. Cut your yarn here to join it later.
Rnds 67 to 88: pick up CC and knit 22 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Rnds 89 to 112: join MC and knit 22 rounds, slipping marker at the end of each round and making sure that you slip the first stitch of the second round to prevent a jog in your stripes.
Three Needle Bind Off: Flip your work inside out so that you are working the purl side of the stitches. Divide your stitches so that you have 40 at each end of the needle and work a three needle bind off to close the end of your pillow cover. I like to use a crochet hook a size smaller than the needles instead of a third needle; you are less likely to drop stitches with a hook.
Stuff your pillow into the cover evenly and close the end with mattress stitch or your favourite joining stitch.