Muted earth tones and southwest-inspired and geometric shapes come together in a set of pillows that’s sure to evoke a sense of canyon adventures and desert heat.
Time: Two Weeks Project
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 18” [45.7 cm] square.
Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Earthy Pillows pattern after wet blocking.
Materials
Yarn: Knitpicks Yarns Kindred (68% baby alpaca, 32% Peruvian Pima cotton; 115 yards [105 meters]/50 grams):
Pillow I: #28684 Driftwood (MC, 4 skeins), #28680 Goldenrod (C1, 1 skein), #28679 Spice (C2, 1 skein).
Pillow II: #28684 Driftwood (MC, 3 skeins), #28680 Goldenrod (C1, 1 skein), # 28679 Spice (C2, 1 skein).
Needle: US size 6 (4 mm) 36” long circular needles or size to obtain gauge
Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker, two zippers 18” long, two square pillow inserts 18”.
Special Stitches
Earthy Pillow I Pattern (20-st rep)
Rnds 1 – 4: K in MC.
Rnd 5: *P5, k5 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 6: K in MC.
Rnd 7: *P5, k5 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 8: K in MC.
Rnd 9: *K5, p5 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 10: K in MC.
Rnd 11: *K5, p5 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 12: K in MC.
Rnd 13: *P5, k5 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 14: K in MC.
Rnd 15: *P5, k5 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnds 16 – 19: K in MC. Attach C1.
Rnd 20: *K1 in C1, k1 in MC, k1 in C1, k3 in MC, k3 in C1, k1 in MC, k3 in C1, k3 in MC, [k1 in C1, k1 in MC] twice; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 21: *K1 in MC, k1 in C1, k3 in MC, k3 in C1, k3 in MC, k3 in C1, k3 in MC, k1 in C1, k1 in MC, k1 in C1; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 22: *K1 in C1, k3 in MC, k3 in C1, k5 in MC, k3 in C1, k3 in MC, k1 in C1, k1 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 23: *K3 in MC, k3 in C1, k1 in MC, k1 in C1, k3 in MC, k1 in C1, k1 in MC, k3 in C1, k3 in MC, k1 in C1; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 24: *K2 in MC, k3 in C1, k3 in MC, k1 in C1, k1 in MC, k1 in C1, k3 in MC, k3 in C1, k3 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 25: *K1 in MC, k3 in C1, k5 in MC, k1 in C1, k5 in MC, k3 in C1, k2 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd. Cut off C1. Attach C2.
Rnd 26: *K1 in MC, k3 in C2, k5 in MC, k1 in C2, k5 in MC, k3 in C2, k2 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 27: *K2 in MC, k3 in C2, k3 in MC, k1 in C2, k1 in MC, k1 in C2, k3 in MC, k3 in C2, k3 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 28: *K3 in MC, k3 in C2, k1 in MC, k1 in C2, k3 in MC, k1 in C2, k1 in MC, k3 in C2, k3 in MC, k1 in C2; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 29: *K1 in C2, k3 in MC, k3 in C2, k5 in MC, k3 in C2, k3 in MC, k1 in C2, k1 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 30: *K1 in MC, k1 in C2, k3 in MC, k3 in C2, k3 in MC, k3 in C2, k3 in MC, k1 in C2, k1 in MC, k1 in C2; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 31: *K1 in C2, k1 in MC, k1 in C2, k3 in MC, k3 in C2, k1 in MC, k3 in C2, k3 in MC, [k1 in C2, k1 in MC] twice; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rep Rnds 1-31 for patt.
Earthy Pillow II Pattern (15-st rep)
Rnds 1 – 4: K in MC. Attach C2.
Rnds 5 – 11: K in C2.
Rnds 12 – 15: K in MC. Attach C1.
Rnd 16: K in C1.
Rnd 17: K in MC.
Rnd 18: K in C1.
Rnds 19 – 22: K in MC.
Rnd 23: K in C2.
Rnd 24: K in MC.
Rnd 25: K in C2.
Rnds 26 – 29: K in MC.
Rnds 30 – 36: K in C1.
Rnds 37 – 41: K in MC.
Rnd 42: *K7 in MC, k1 in C1, k7 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 43: *K6 in MC, k3 in C1, k6 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 44: *k5 in MC, k5 in C1, k5 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 45: *K4 in MC, k3 in C1, k1 in MC, k3 in C1, k4 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 46: *[K3 in MC, k3 in C1] twice, k3 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 47: *K2 in MC, k3 in C2, k5 in MC, k3 in C2, k2 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 48: *[K3 in MC, k3 in C2] twice, k3 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 49: *K4 in MC, k3 in C2, k1 in MC, k3 in C2, k4 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 50: *K5 in MC, k5 in C2, k5 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 51: *K6 in MC, k3 in C2, k6 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 52: *K7 in MC, k1 in C2, k7 in MC; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 53: K in MC.
Rep Rnds 1-53 for pattern.
Pattern Notes
These Earthy Pillows are knit in the round, starting at the bottom. Both pillows are finished off by turning the pillow WS out and using the 3-Needle BO. Zipper is sewn to the CO edge.
Pillow I: Textured section is worked in MC, then Fair Isle section in C1 & C2, repeating twice more and ending with textured section in MC. The chart is followed from bottom to top, working each round from right to left, 9 times across the round.
Pillow II: Work stripe section in MC. C1 and C2, finishing with a diamond shape stranded colorwork in C1 and C2, repeating the pattern once more. The chart is followed from bottom to top, working each round from right to left, 12 times across the round.
* Pictured Pillow II sample uses C2 as C1 and C1 as C2.
Pattern
Pillow I
Using MC, CO 180 sts, pm, join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts.
Attach C1 and C2 when needed.
Rnds 1–31: Work in Earthy Pillow I Pattern, using written instructions or chart, 9 times around.
Rnds 32–93: Rep Rnds 1-31 of the Earthy Pillow I Pattern 2 times.
Rnds 94–110: Rep Rnds 1-17 of the Earthy Pillow I Pattern.
Turn the work inside out. BO using the 3-Needle Bind-off.
Pillow II
Using MC, CO 180 sts, pm, join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts.
Attach C1 and C2 when needed.
Rnds 1–53: Work in Earthy Pillow II Pattern, using written instructions or chart, 12 times around.
Rnds 54–106: Rep Rnds 1-53 of the Earthy Pillow II Pattern once.
Rnds 107–110: Rep Rnds 1-4 of the Earthy Pillow II Pattern.
Turn the work inside out. BO using the 3-Needle Bind-off.
Finishing
Weave in ends. Wash and block to measurements. Attach the zipper to the CO edge and sew in place.