Add a pop of vibrant color and texture to your home with the Sampled Stitches Pillow. Featuring a delightful mix of slip stitches, cables, increases, and decreases, this project is perfect for knitters looking to expand their skills. Worked in fresh, spring-inspired shades of plum and emerald, the pillow’s bold design brings energy and personality to any space.
Whether you’re experimenting with new techniques or simply seeking a cheerful accessory for your living room, this sampler pillow offers both a learning opportunity and a striking finished piece to brighten your home.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 14” square pillow cover
Gauge: Each square = 6” [15 cm] in pattern before blocking
Materials
Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Aran (100% superwash merino wool; 150 yards [137 meters]/100 grams): #1966 Italian Plum (CA, 1 ball), #1991 Emerald (CB, 1 ball)
Needles: US size 8 (5.0 mm) straight needles, US size 8 (5.0 mm) 34” circular needles
Notions: Cable needle, tapestry needle, 14” square pillow form
Abbreviations
Cn: Cable needle
C3B (3-st right-leaning cable): Sl 2 sts to cn, hold to back, k1, k2 from cn.
C3F (3-st left-leaning cable): Sl 1 st to cn, hold to front, k2, k1 from cn.
C4F (4-st left-leaning cable): Sl 2 sts to cn, hold to front, k2, k2 from cn.
C6B (6-st right-leaning cable): Sl 3 sts to cn, hold to back, k3, k3 from cn.
C6F (6-st left-leaning cable): Sl 3 sts to cn, hold to front, k3, k3 from cn.
Psso: pass slipped stitch over
Sk2p: Sl 1 pwyib, k2tog, psso
Sl 1 kwyib: Slip 1 knitwise with yarn in back
Sl 1 pwyib: Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back
Sl 1 pwyif: Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front
Pattern Notes
Row 1 is always RS.
Pattern
For each square, CO the required number of stitches with long tail cast on. Work the following border.
Border Row 1: Knit to last st, p1.
Border Row 2: Sl 1 kwyib, k to last st, p1.
Border Row 3: Rep Border Row 2.
Then work the stitch pattern for the square as written.
Double Woven Stitch
With CA, CO 27, work border.
Row 1: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, *k1, sl 1 pwyif; rep rom * across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
Row 2: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, sl 1 pwyib, *p1, sl 1 pwyib; rep from * across to last 3 sts, k2, p1.
Rep Rows 1-2 until square measures approximately 5.5”, (14 cm), ending after Row 2. Work Border Row 2 3 times, BO in pattern for Border Row 2. Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for seaming.
Crossed Stitch
With CA, CO 28, work border.
Row 1: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, *sl 1 pwyib, k1, yo, psso; rep from * across to last 3 sts, k2, p1.
Row 2: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, p to last 3 sts, k2, p1.
Rep Rows 1-2 until square measures approximately 5.5”, (14 cm), ending after Row 2. Work Border Row 2 3 times, BO in pattern for Border Row 2. Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for seaming.
Eyelet Mock Cables
With CA, CO 28, work border.
Row 1: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, p1, *sl 1 pwyib, k2, psso, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, p1, k3, p1. (24 sts)
Row 2: Sl 1 kwyib, k3, * k2, p1, yo, p1; rep from * to last 4 sts, k3, p1. (28 sts)
Row 3: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, p1, *k3, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, p1, k2, p1.
Row 4: Sl 1 kwyib, k3, *k2, p3; rep from * to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
Rep Rows 1-4 until square measures approximately 5.5 in (14 cm), ending after Row 2 or Row 4. Work Border Row 2 3 times, BO in pattern for Border Row 2. Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for seaming.
Grain Fields
With CA, CO 28, work border.
Row 1: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, *k1, sl 1 pwyib, k4, sl 1 pywib; rep from * across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
Row 2: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, p1, *sl 1 pwyif, p4, sl 1 pwyif, p1; rep from * across to last 3 sts, k2, p1.
Row 3: Rep Row 1.
Row 4: Rep Row 2.
Row 5: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, *k1, C3F, C3B; rep from * to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
Row 6: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, p to last 3 sts, k2, p1.
Rep Rows 1-6 until square measures approximately 5.5 in (14 cm), ending after Row 6. Work Border Row 2 3 times, BO in pattern for Border Row 2. Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for seaming.
Cables and Lace
With CB, CO 28, work border.
Row 1: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, *k4, p1, yo, sk2p, yo, p1; rep from * to last 7 sts, k6, p1.
Row 2: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, p4, *k1, p3, k1, p4; rep from * to last 3 sts, k2, p1.
Row 3: Rep Row 1.
Row 4: Rep Row 2.
Row 5: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, *C4F, p1, yo, sk2p, yo, p1; rep from * to last 7 sts, C4F, k2, p1.
Row 6: Rep Row 2.
Rep Rows 1-6 until square measures approximately 5.5 in (14 cm), ending after Row 6. Work Border Row 2 3 times, BO in pattern for Border Row 2. Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for seaming.
Crosshatch Stitch
With CB, CO 28, work border.
Row 1: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, *sl 1 pw wyib, k1, yo, psso; rep from * to last 3 sts, k2, p1.
Row 2: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, p to last 3 sts, k2, p1.
Row 3: Sl 1 kwyib, k3, *sl 1 pw wyib, k1, yo, psso; rep from * to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
Row 4: Rep Row 2.
Rep Rows 1-4 until square measures approximately 5.5 in (14 cm), ending after Row 2 or Row 4. Work Border Row 2 3 times, BO in pattern for Border Row 2. Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for seaming.
Mirrored Plaited Cables
With CB, CO 30, work border.
Row 1: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, (p2, k9) twice, p2, k2, p1.
Row 2: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, (k2, p9) twice, k4, p1.
Row 3: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, p2, k3, C6F, p2, C6B, k3, p2, k2, p1.
Row 4: Rep Row 2.
Row 5: Rep Row 1.
Row 6: Rep Row 2.
Row 7: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, p2, C6B, k3, p2, k3, C6F, p2, k2, p1.
Row 8: Rep Row 2.
Rep Rows 1-8 until square measures approximately 5.5 in (14 cm), ending after Row 2 or Row 6. Work Border Row 2 3 times, BO in pattern for Border Row 2. Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for seaming.
Grass Stitch
With CB, CO 26, work border.
Row 1: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, * k1, sl 1 pwyib, k1, yo, psso, k1; rep from * to last 3 sts, k2, p1.
Row 2: Sl 1 kwyib, k2, p to last 3 sts, k2, p1.
Rep Rows 1-2 until square measures approximately 5.5”, (14 cm), ending after Row 2. Work Border Row 2 3 times, BO in pattern for Border Row 2. Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for seaming.
Assemble Each Side
Following assembly diagrams, with right sides facing, whipstitch squares together. Weave in ends.
Side A
| Crosshatch Stitch | Grain Fields |
| Eyelet Mock Cables | Grass Stitch |
Side B
| Double Woven Stitch | Cables and Lace |
| Mirrored Plaited Cables | Crossed Stitch |
Borders
Side A
Using circular needles, with CB and RS facing, pick up 1 st in each st along top of Side A.
Row 1: K to last st, p1.
Rows 2-3: Rep Border Row 2.
BO loosely following pattern for Border Row 2.
Rep along bottom, then along sides. Fasten off with long tail for joining.
Side B
Repeat as for Side A, using CA and Side B.
Weave in short ends with tapestry needle. Spray block each side to 14” (36 cm) square.
Finishing
With tapestry needle and yarn tails, whip stitch pillow sides together on 3 edges with RS facing. Turn inside out. Insert 14” (36 cm) square pillow form. Whipstitch closed along top edge. Weave in remaining ends with tapestry needle.