Knitting pillow patterns are a great way to use your yarn stash, practice new stitches, and create unique accessories to match your décor. In this collection of modern knit pillow patterns, we’ve got everything from simple knit and purl patterns for beginners to advanced Intarsia, Fair Isle, and puff stitches.
Learn tips for choosing the right project for your skill level, what unique supplies you’ll need, and how to modify a knit cushion cover pattern to make it removable.
Supplies for Knitting Pillows
You’ll need the following materials for most of the free pillow knitting patterns below.
Yarn:
The weight of yarn needed will depend on your pattern. For knitted pillows, I recommend choosing a durable, soft and machine-washable yarn. The quantity of yarn you’ll need depends on the pattern and pillow size. Don’t be afraid to combine scraps from other projects to create a one-of-a-kind cozy cushion!
Knitting Needles:
Choose knitting needles that are compatible with the weight of your yarn and the pattern gauge. Straight needles will work well if the pillow is knit flat. Patterns that are knit in the round will need circular needles.
Pillow Insert:
You’ll need a pillow insert corresponding to your knitted cover’s size and shape. These are available from craft stores like Michaels, Joann’s and Hobby Lobby as well as on Amazon.
Pro Tip: I love to buy inexpensive down throw pillow inserts from IKEA because they tend to be high quality for the price.
Additional Tools
Depending on the pattern, you will also need:
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming cushion edges
Most cushion and pillow patterns are quite straightforward and can be made with basic knitting knowledge. Here are some tips to remember to ensure you’re happy with how your project turns out.
Be mindful of the gauge. Check your gauge against what’s listed in the pattern to ensure your pillow turns out the size you expect. Skipping this step could mean you need a different size pillow insert than the pattern suggests.
Make sure your stitches are tight. Similarly, make sure your stitches are tight enough there isn’t a lot of space between each one. If your knit fabric is too airy, the pillow insert or stuffing will show through.
Choose the right size cushion or insert. Throw pillows look best when the knit cover is about two inches smaller than the pillow insert. This will help your pillow look firm, cozy and luxurious.
Knitting Pillow Patterns To Make Instead of Buy
If, like me, you can’t resist the throw pillow aisle at every home goods store you enter, this collection of free patterns is for you! Add a pop of color or texture to your living or bedroom with one (or seven!) of these easy knitting patterns for cushion covers.
schachenmayr.com
Chevron Puff Stitch Pillow
Squishy waves of bobbles accent this minimalist, modern throw pillow pattern. Besides the standard stockinette stitch, you'll have a blast knitting the small, textured bobbles in worsted weight yarn.
If you’ve mastered the dishcloth or scarf and can knit and purl, this is for you. No fancy seams or confusing techniques here. This easy pillow pattern together in under an hour. Try revamping old throw pillows with a new handmade cover!
This modern crochet pattern features a simple variation on the seed stitch. I'd knit this pattern in a gorgeous mustard shade as pictured, but it would look luxerious in a cream color too.
This modern geometric design uses simple garter stitches to it’s ideal for beginner knitters. And there’s no need to stress about the gauge, because you just knit until the size feels right. This simple pattern uses medium-weight yarn like Lion Brand Feels Like Butta, which is incredibly soft and cozy.
This unique pillow begins as a long tube and is cleverly woven around itself to create a beautiful knot shape. Instead of a pillow insert, you’ll use fiberfill to stuff the tube before knotting it. Let your imagination run wild and enjoy the process of crafting this unique knit pillow pattern.
Learn some simple hand embroidery skills with this easy cushion cover pattern. Once you understand the basic technique, you can knit stockinette covers and embroidery all kinds of designs. Look at cross stitch and corner to corner crochet patterns for inspiration!
A delightful pillow is crafted using super bulky weight yarn, ensuring a quick and satisfying project. While I wouldn’t recommend this as a knitting pillow pattern for complete beginners, this intarsia pillow is a must-try for those looking to expand their knitting repertoire.
This striking design features bold diagonal stripes, playful colors, and oversized tassels for added attitude. With the beginner-friendly garter stitch, it’s extra squishy and irresistibly snuggly.
Customize it to match your home decor by choosing any three colors from the Hue + Me yarn collection. (One of my favorite yarns for big bulky knits!)
The timeless wicker stitch design adds classic charm this knit pillow pattern. If you know how to knit and purl, you can definitely take on this project. The basket weave stitch, also known as wicker stitch or criss-cross stitch, is best worked with large needles and loose stitches.
Put your needles down and try something a little different! The intricate lattice-work pattern may look complex, but it knits up quickly and easily. The combination of structure and softness is a charming juxtaposition. To add depth, match the linen fabric to the yarn, or get creative and explore different color combinations. Designed by Anne Weil of Flax & Twine.
Don’t be fooled by the look of intarsia, this pattern uses a shortcut called duplicate stitches to achieve a complex look with beginner skills. If you’re familiar with crafts like cross stitch or embroidery, you’ll have no problem mastering the duplicate stitch technique. Because it uses only knit stitches worked in the round, this is a mindless, relaxing project.
Bobbles are the star of this adorable project, creating a knobbly sheep pillow that’s irresistibly cute. Knit the body in the round, shaping it with simple increases and decreases. Then, pick up and knit the head, ears, and tail using a thinner contrast yarn. It’s a baa-utiful idea!
With clusters of bobble stitches and plumes of fringe, this might be one of the most richly textured pillows on this list. Make it in Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick for a fast, satisfying project.
This is simple and speedy project that’s good for beginners. This fun and easy pattern will bring a playful touch to your home or nursery decor. If you’re unsure about the “knit front back” (kfb) stitch, simply search for tutorials on YouTube—there are plenty available.
The beauty of this knitted pillow lies in its simplicity. Using mitered squares made with the garter stitch, you can achieve a complete colorwork look using basic techniques. Use super bulky yarn for a big, cozy pillow or opt for smaller needles for a more delicate size. Includes written instructions and a video tutorial.
An eye-catching Bubble Stitch texture truly stands out, especially when using two or more yarn colors. To create this pattern, start from the upper heart humps and knit top-down-up until you reach the lower point. This project is intermediate-level, suitable for knitters comfortable with increase and decrease stitches, as well as the knit 4 below drop stitch technique. Follow the video tutorial if you’re new to this concept!
Embrace the winter cozies with a chunky cable knit project that can be finished in a few hours. You’ll use a cable needle to create the series of cables that accent the pillow. The designer suggests using a sewing machine to join the knit squares, but of course, you can use a tapestry needle to seam or a crochet hook to slip stitch the pieces together.
Learn how to finger knit a circular cushion–no needles needed! This video tutorial walks you through how to hand knit a pillow step by step and stuff it with polyfil.
The rhythmic, repetitive stitches make this appropriate even if you’re new to fair isle knitting. Button closures make this a removable pillow cover. Choose machine washable yarn and you’ll be good to go!
Crafted with a soft alpaca wool blend, this project is an absolute must-make if you love minimalist Christmas decor. The cover features an opening that easily slips over your pillow, with a button fastening for a secure closure. Using the technique of Fair Isle knitting (or stranded knitting), you’ll work with two colors in the same row. Swap the red yarn for a taupe color for a pillow you can enjoy year round.
Being able to remove the pillow cover for washing will significantly extend the life of your stitches. Here are some general techniques you can use. Each of these will work better with certain pillow knitting patterns more than others.
Button Closure: Instead of making one square for the pillow back, create two overlapping rectangles. Add buttonholes in the edge of one rectangle and sew buttons to the opposite piece. Just like that, you’ve got a removable cover with some cool button details.
Envelope Style: In this method, the back of the pillow has two pieces that overlap like an envelope. This is very similar to the button closure, but an actual closure isn’t needed if the pieces overlap enough.
Zipper: While this option can be more challenging, a zipper can be a sturdy choice that keeps the pillow insert fully enclosed. I suggest pinning the zipper to the knit fabric very securely so it doesn’t slip around while hand or machine sewing.
Ties or Ribbons: An easier alternative is using ties or ribbons to close your pillowcase. This can add a cute and decorative detail to your pillow. Simply sew ribbons onto the inside edges of your pillow cover and tie them together to keep the cover closed.
How To Knit an Unusually Shaped Pillow Like a Star or Heart?
A basic square pillow form won’t work for every throw pillow pattern. So what’s a knitter to do when you want to make a heart, rainbow or star-shaped pillow? In these cases, I like to use fiberfill to stuff the pillow because it can take on the shape of the pillow.
Pro Tip: When using fiberfil, it becomes even more important that your stitches are dense and close together so the stuffing can’t pop through the gaps.
Don’t Stop at One Pillow!
Knit throw pillows are like the members of a choir. Each one’s great on its own, but when they get together, they really sing! Vary your knitted cushions’ colors, textures, and shapes to create harmony on your bed or living room sofa.
If you’re bi-crafty, try adding macrame and crochet pillows too!
Knitting needles that correspond to the yarn weight
Instructions
How to Knit a Pillow
Ready to start making your own pillows? Follow these basic steps:
Choose a pattern: Browse through the free knitting pillow patterns above and choose one that's a good fit for your style and skill level. Read the instructions, to make sure you understand the abbreviations, techniques, and charts used. If you're a beginner, select a simple square so you won’t need to increase or decrease.
Gather your materials: Assemble all necessary supplies for your pattern. Ensure you have enough yarn and correctly sized needles for your project. Do some quick searching online to make sure a pillow insert in the size you need is available. I’ve skipped this step only to find out later that the size I need is hard to find, which is a huge bummer.
Knit the Pieces: Follow the pattern instructions to knit the front and back pieces of your pillow cover. Some patterns may have you knit these two pieces separately, and others may be knitted in the round. Check your gauge and measurements to ensure a snug fit for your pillow insert.
Create the Cover: Once both cover pieces are knitted, weave in the ends, and block them to ensure they’re the same size. You can use a tapestry needle and the mattress stitch or whip stitch to seam the pieces together. If you’re a crocheter, slip stitching is an attractive way to seam. Don’t forget to leave an opening on one side to add the pillow form!
Insert the Pillow: Slide the pillow insert through the opening. Close the final opening by seaming or with buttons, ribbons or a zipper as described above.
Notes
These are the basic steps of knitting a pillow. Each pattern will provide more precise instructions for making the cushion.
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