Knit Pillow Cover Pattern | Free Knitting Pattern

Knit a bohemian styled pillow with this free knit pillow cover pattern! The pillow cover knits up quickly with chunky yarn. Bobbles and fringes add wonderful texture to the pillow cover. Knit your own today!

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Materials and Specifications

Tools: (Circular) knitting needles 8.0 mm* (pick the right needle size).

Yarns:
-Adlibris Merino Soft & Quick (discontinued) in color Oatmeal (~300 g, might have to buy 3 balls).
-1 skein of Svarta Fåret Home Sweet Home in color Oblekt (natural white) or Lion Brand Mac-Re-Me yarn*.

Substitute yarns:
–Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick* in color Oatmeal, (~340 g, might have to buy 3 balls)
–Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick* in color Wheat, (~340 g, might have to buy 3 balls)
–Lion Brand Hometown Yarn* in color Aspen Tweed, (~426 g, 3 balls).

Size: The finished knit pillow cover measures approx. 47 cm x 40 cm but it fits around a 45 cm x 45 cm pillow.

Knit Pillow Cover Pattern

The bobbles on the knit pillow cover are called popcorn stitches. It is easier to learn the stitch by watching a video tutorial as written instructions aren’t always that clear. So here’s a great popcorn stitch knitting tutorial by @Bromefields. Note: I made a bigger bobble by picking the total of 6 loops on the right needle (instead of 4 loops as seen in this video).

Pillow Cover Front Panel

Cast on 35 stitches. Knitting starts from the purl side.

Row 1: Lift the 1st stitch purlwise. *Knit (K) 1, purl (P) 1*. Repeat * to the end of the row.

Row 2: Lift the 1st stitch knitwise. Knit 34.

Rows 3 and 5: Repeat the row 1.

Rows 4 and 6: Repeat the row 2.

Rows 7, 9 and 11: Lift the 1st stitch purlwise. Purl 34.

Rows 8 and 10: Repeat the row 2.

Row 12: This is a popcorn stitch row. Lift the 1st stitch knitwise. K8, 1 popcorn, K1, 1 popcorn, K11, 1 popcorn, K1, 1 popcorn, K9. (You should always have 35 stitches on your needle after finishing a row).

Row 13: Lift the 1st stitch purlwise. P34.

Row 14: This is a popcorn stitch row. Lift the 1st stitch knitwise. K7, 1 popcorn, K1, 1 popcorn, K1, 1 popcorn, K9, 1 popcorn, K1, 1 popcorn, K1, 1 popcorn, K8.

Row 15: Repeat the row 13.

Row 16: Repeat the row 12.

Rows 17, 19 and 21: Repeat the row 13.

Rows 18 and 20: Repeat the row 2.

Row 22: This is a popcorn stitch row. Lift the 1st stitch knitwise. K15, 1 popcorn, K1, 1 popcorn, K16.

Row 23: Repeat the row 13.

Row 24: This is a popcorn stitch row. Lift the 1st stitch knitwise. K14, 1 popcorn, K1, 1 popcorn, K1, 1 popcorn, K15.

Row 25: Repeat the row 13.

Row 26: Repeat the row 22.

Rows 27, 29 and 31: Repeat the row 13.

Rows 28 and 30: Repeat the row 2.

Rows 32-36: Repeat the rows 12-16.

Rows 37, 39 and 41: Repeat the row 13.

Rows 38, 40 and 42: Repeat the row 2.

Rows 43, 45 and 47: Repeat the row 1.

Rows 44 and 46: Repeat the row 2.

Row 48: Bind off.

Now, make the fringe parts to both sides of the popcorn pattern in the middle. Cut a total of 44 yarn threads à 20 cm each (“Home Sweet Home yarn”). Take two threads and make a “Larks head knot” to one stitch. Place two other fringes in the same row next with each other. Skip one row and then place a new row of fringes (5 fringes) . Skip one row again and place 3 fringes next with each other. (One fringe pattern consists of 11 fringes: 3 in the upper row, 5 in the middle row and 3 in the bottom row.) The outermost fringe is four stitches away from the edge so it is placed to the 5th stitch from the edge. Find a photo of the fringes below.

Pillow Cover Back Panel

The back side is plain and knitted without bobbles. Knit the back side exactly the same way but skip the popcorn stitches and fringes.

Weave in ends. Place the front and back sides on top of each other and seam 3 edges together. Place a pillow inside and seam the last edge.

FINISHED!

Use #swoolbohocushion so I can see your creations! 🙂