DIY: Crate and Barrel Inspired Simple Knit Pillow
The other day we went to the theater to see Gravity in 3D IMAX, which was so good! The entire thing down to their suits were CG and you would never know it because everything seemed so real. You actually feel like you are in outer space when you watch, its awesome and I highly recommend it. Before the movie started we browsed around Crate and Barrel for a little while.
I love all their stuff, but they are so expensive! A really cool thing I noticed while walking around the store was that a lot of the decorations had a homemade look or was even knitted or crocheted which is great because that means I can recreate things I see for a fraction of the price or even free.
One thing that caught my eye in particular were these knitted pillows, and they are fifty bucks each. I honestly couldn’t imagine spending that much on a throw pillow, but they sure are pretty. Good thing I have a perfectly good set of knitting needles, piles of yarn at home, and a couple free evenings, so the other night I came up with a simple pattern and finished my very own pillow for just $4! I already had the yarn and needles on hand so all I needed to buy was the pillow form. This project is super easy perfect if you are just starting to knit. If you know how to do the knit stitch then you’re good to go!
I am currently working on a couple more pillows now that look more like the ones from Crate and Barrel, which have a knitted front and canvas fabric back. These pillows will be even quicker to make up because only one side is knitted, so check back to see how they turn out.
Materials
1 skein Red Heart Super Saver in Pumpkin (worsted weight acrylic yarn)
US size 8 knitted needles
16 x 16 inch Pillow form ($7.99 for a pack of two at JoAnn’s on sale)
Yarn needle
US size I crochet hook (optional)
Cast on 60 stitches
Knit across all rows until fabric measures 23 1/2 inches from cast on edge. Bind off and secure loose ends. My finished piece measured 23 1/2 inches long by 14 inches wide.
Fold piece in half, with cast on side and bind off side touching. It really shouldn’t matter what side is the right or wrong side because garter stitch looks the same on the front and back, but if you have a side that looks better have it on the inside with the ugly side facing outward.
Stitch up the right side, secure yarn, and then stitch up the left side and secure yarn.
You can either stitch up the sides with a yarn needle or use a crochet hook and slip stitch the sides together, I prefer using the crochet hook because it gives a clean seam look. After sides are connected turn the cover right side out, and it should look like the photo below with the cast on and bind off edge open.
The knit cover will be a lot smaller than the pillow and thats okay because it stretches a lot. Stuff pillow into knitted cover, smoothing and filling out pillow corners. Use the crochet hook again to slip stitch the bottom sides of pillow together. This seam will be a little visible but thats okay because its at the bottom of the pillow and you cant really see it anyways.
This is the finished bottom seam.
Fluff up your pillow, karate chop the top center and place on your favorite chair!
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really good to knit
It seems to me you could just print the pattern without wasting 50 sheets of paper and that would do it .
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THIS IS HOW I COPIED YOUR PATTERN. Thanks so much. You’re so right about how expensive for good and pretty throw pillows can be. Thank you so much for the free pattern. I am just learning to knit and my stitches are starting to look pretty and more even..
BJD
I see a set of these in my future this weekend.
anyone know how many stitches for a 12 x 12 pillow?
Depends on your gauge. Knit up a swatch and then measure it out for your personal gauge (18 stitches and 22 rows = 4 inches with size 8 needles, I think?)
I love this! Thank you for sharing it. I've been dying to get back into knitting, and I need some new pillows for my apartment 🙂 This is perfect!
Definitely I am going to knit some of these pillows up…also a great way to use up leftover yarn !!!
Hi Pam, thats great to hear! It is a great stash busting project! Happy knitting!
How long should the first 60 stitches be?
According to the pattern info provided, the 60 stitches should make the pillow 14″ wide.
This is perfect. My son wanted me to make him a pillow. I love to knit, but I don’t like doing anything complicated since I knit at work. I hate counting stiches! This looks pefect. Going to try it to work with baby weight yarn. I have a bunch of that left over. Any tips to convert it with yarn that’s not worsted weight?
I’d like to do t he same thing using baby organic cotton, Could I just use two strands of the Egyptian cotton baby yarn? Thank you.
Yes, that would be lovely!
I’m slightly confused and wondering if I’m reading it right. If the pillow is 16″x16″ then shouldn’t the length measure to 32″ rather than 23.5″?
Hi Charlotte! The garter stitch fabric formed from this pattern gives you a lot of stretch, so 23.5 inches works well. If you prefer your pillow cover to be looser you can make your knitted piece longer.
Hi, I am looking forward to making this pillow. My goal is to add a knitted elephant face to the front of it as a gift. Do you have any suggestions to make this gift amazing?
I’d like to do t he same thing using baby organic cotton, Could I just use two strands of the Egyptian cotton baby yarn? Thank you.
Hi Brittany. What a perfect project for a beginner knitter! We’ve included your pattern in our latest craft inspiration roundup. https://craftylikegranny.com/makers-gonna-make-crafting-fun/ Cheers Jodie 🙂
Hi Jodie! Thanks so much, and thanks for the share! 🙂
Is there a way to put a zipper or buttons on this? fairly new knitter and wan to make for grandsons but would like to be able to take off cover to wash.
Hi Rita! Yes, could alter it by only closing up the sides and leaving the cast on/bind off edges open. You can then sew in a zipper, or sew on snaps (if age appropriate for the kiddos) to close the pillow and make it remove-able.
A good friend gifted me a whole bunch of beautiful yarn, and now I have so many ideas for it 😍 Thanks!