A fun, unusual technique forms the distinct pine needle edging on this cabin-inspired pillow. Beaded berry sprays and pine branches surround a dimensional Pinecone made with clusters of knit stitches to create the cozy design.
Do you crochet as well? Be sure to check out the crocheted version of this pillow in the October issue of I Like Crochet magazine.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Fits 16” x 16” pillow insert
Gauge: 16 sts and 22 rows = 4” [10 cm] using US size 9 (5.5 mm).
Gauge for other needles sizes is unimportant.
Materials
Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran (100% Acrylic; 201 yards [184 meters]/100 grams): #204 Stormy Grey (MC, 3 balls), #210 Coffee Bean (C1, 1 ball)
Paintbox Yarns Simply DK (100% Acrylic; 302 yards [276 meters]/100 grams): #127 Racing Green (C2, 1 ball)
DMC Petra Cotton Thread Size 5 (100% Cotton; 437 yards [400 meters]/100 grams): #5321 Red (C3, 5 yards)
Needles: US size 9 (5.5 mm) straight, US size 10½ (6.5 mm) straight, US size 3 (3.25 mm) set of 7” DPNs
Notions: Fairfield Poly-fil® Home Elegance™ 16” x 16” pillow insert, 14 transparent red 8mm acrylic multifaceted beads, tapestry needle, blocking supplies, safety pin
Abbreviations
wyif: with yarn in front
p2sso: pass two slipped stitches over last st made. (double decrease)
Kfb: Knit in front and back of same st
Special Stitches
Backwards Loop Cast On: Wrap yarn around thumb or index finger to form a loop, place loop on LH needle.
Pattern
Pillow
With MC and US size 9 (5.5 mm) needles, CO 60 sts.
Work in St st for 31”, ending on a p row.
BO all sts.
Pinecone (make 1)
With C1 and US size 10½ (6.5 mm) needles, CO 9 sts.
Row 1: K.
Row 2: K1, *(p1, yo, p1, yo, p1) in next st, k1; rep from * across.
Row 3: P.
Row 4: K1, *sl 2 wyif, p3tog, p2sso, k1; rep from * across. (4 pinecone scales made)
Row 5: Kfb in each of next 2 sts, k across to last 2 sts, kfb in each of next 2 sts. (13 sts)
Rows 6-8: Rep Rows 2-4. (6 scales)
Row 9: Rep Row 5. (17 sts)
Rows 10-12: Rep Rows 2-4. (8 scales)
Row 13: K2tog, k across to last 2 sts, k2tog. (15 sts)
Rows 14-16: Rep Rows 2-4. (7 scales)
Rows 17-32: Rep Rows 13-16, 4 times. (3 scales)
Row 33: (K2tog) twice, k across to last 4 sts, (k2tog) twice. (3 sts)
Rows 34-36: Rep Rows 2-4. (1 scale)
BO all sts.
Pine Needle Branch (make 1 branch each: 3” long, 7” long, and 10” long)
With DPNs and C2, CO 12 sts.
Row 1: BO 11 sts kwise. (first pine needle made, 1 st rem on needles)
Row 2: Using Backwards Loop Cast On method, CO 11 sts.
Row 3: BO 11 sts kwise. (2nd pine needle made, 1 st rem on needles)
Rep Rows 2-3 to indicated length.
Cut yarn leaving 18” tail. Thread yarn through last st and pull tight.
Pine Needle Edging
With DPNs and C2, CO 8 sts.
Row 1: BO 7 sts kwise to form first pine needle. (1 st rem on needles)
Row 2: Using Backwards Loop Cast On method, CO 7 sts.
Row 3: BO 7 sts kwise. (2nd pine needle made, 1 st rem on needles)
Rep Rows 2-3 for 64”.
Remove lp from needle and place on a safety pin.
Upper Berry Spray
Use tapestry needle to string 9 beads onto C3, with DPNs and using Backwards Loop Cast On method, CO 3 sts.
Row 1: Working with a tight tension, slide bead up thread very close to RH needle, BO 2 sts kwise.
Row 2: Using Backwards Loop Cast On method, CO 1 st, working with a tight tension, slide next bead up very close to RH needle, BO 1 st kwise.
Rep Row 2 until all beads are added.
Cut yarn, thread through last st and pull tight.
Lower Berry Spray
String 5 beads onto C3 and work as for Upper Berry Spray until all 5 beads are added.
Finishing
Block to 15.5” W x 31” L. (Pillow will easily stretch to fit pillow insert)
Fold pillow in half with WS together and use tapestry needle to sew side seams using the mattress stitch. Sew seam across bottom edges, inserting pillow before closing.
Position Pinecone onto pillow front using photo as a guide or where desired. Use C1 and tapestry needle to sew outer edges to Pillow.
Using photo as guide, place 10” Pine Needle Branch to top right of pinecone and downward along right side edge. Place the 7” Branch along upper left top edge of Pinecone and 3” Branch on lower left of Pinecone, use yarn tails to sew center of branches to Pillow with short back stitches. Do not sew pine needle ends down.
Use C2 to sew Pine Needle Edging over whip stitch Pillow seam in same manner as branches.
Ease edging around corners or where additional fullness is desired. If edging length is too long, remove lp from safety pin and unravel to desired length, fasten off and complete sewing. If more edging is desired, remove lp from safety pin, work more reps of Pine Needle Edging Row 2 to desired length, fasten off and complete sewing.
Place Berry Sprays where desired onto Pillow, use tapestry needle and thread tails to sew center of spray to Pillow, being sure to catch threads that go through center of bead to secure snugly into position.