This knitted pillow cover is a weekend project for a new knitter. You knit one flat square in a chunky checkerboard stitch, then sew it onto the front of a plain store-bought cover. Kristabel shows the whole make on her YouTube channel, Kristabel. She skips knitting the back on purpose, because an all-knit cushion tends to sag. The fabric back keeps it firm.
The front is 32 stitches and about 40 rows of double moss stitch. That is two knits and two purls, swapped every two rows, so you get little raised squares. It only uses the knit and purl stitches, a cast on and a bind off. If you know seed stitch, this is its bigger cousin.
Yarn weight and needle size
Kristabel used one 100 g ball of chunky yarn on 12 mm needles, which is US size 17. In US shops, look for yarn labeled 6 super bulky, or a thick 5 bulky. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick is an easy match. Buy two balls. Running short with ten rows to go is no fun.
Have a yarn in your stash? Check the label. If it asks for needles around 9 to 12 mm, it will work. A thinner yarn needs more stitches to cover the same width.
Pillow form size
Her cover is 40 x 40 cm, close to 16 x 16 inches, the most common US pillow form. A form an inch bigger than the cover, a 17 or 18 inch one, makes the cushion look plump. Hold your panel against the cover as you go. Stop when it reaches the top edge, even if that is 38 rows or 44.
Does gauge matter?
A little. Gauge means how many stitches fit in an inch. Here you want about 2 stitches per inch, so 32 stitches give you 16 inches. Knit a few rows and measure. Too wide? Drop 4 stitches. Too narrow? Add 4. Keep the count a multiple of 4 so the checks line up.
How long it takes
Kristabel finished hers in a couple of hours. A beginner should plan on two or three evenings. Chunky yarn grows fast, so you see progress every row.
Closing and caring for your cushion cover
The knitted panel does not close anything. It is sewn on all four sides to the front, and the store cover keeps its own zip or envelope back, so the form still slides in and out. Use a cover with a zip at the bottom or on the back, never one with a zip on the front edges you plan to stitch.
Wool and wool blends want a hand wash in cool water and a flat dry. Acrylic can go in a mesh bag on a gentle cycle. Either way, unpick the panel or wash the whole cover by hand. Lay it flat to dry and pat it square.
Variations
- Stripes. Change colour every eight rows.
- A bigger cushion. Cast on 40 stitches for a 20 inch form.
- A gift set. Make two in different colours for a sofa.
Prefer a hook? Try the crochet granny stripe pillow cover.
Troubleshooting
- The checks look like ribbing. You forgot to swap after two rows.
- Tight cast on. Cast on with a needle one size bigger, then switch back.
- Curling edges. Pat the panel damp and flat. Once sewn down, it stays put.
