I’m excited to share this simple, textured knit pillow pattern. The Diagonal Sand Stitch Pillow is knit on the bias so it’s easy to customize the size and you don’t have to worry much about gauge. It can be made in one color, in stripes, or in half-triangles, so there are lots of customization options.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Materials for this project were generously provided by Lion Brand and Fairfield World. Camera was generously provided by B&H Photo Video and Pro Audio.
There is something very comforting about pillows. Not only can a decorative pillow really change the look of a room, but they are cozy and comforting, too. When I started this design, I originally planned to combine the Lion Brand Crayola Cake yarn in Tickle Me Pink and the Lion Brand Jeans yarn in Faded on the same side, but the contrast was a bit too intense (even for me!). Instead, I decided to make one side in Tickle Me Pink…
… and the other side using two different shades of Lion Brand Jeans.
I really like the end result, and I hope you do, too. This pillow knits up surprisingly quickly because the pattern is fairly simple and easy to remember. Once you have one side finished, you can just measure the other side against it if you don’t want to pull out your tape measure again.
The base of this pattern is a variation on the classic Grandmother’s Favorite Dishcloth, but I added in the textured sand stitch. Since it is knit on the bias, the texture of the sand stitch is different than when working straight.
This pattern is part of KAL Corner’s Finishing Touches Knit Along. If you are just hearing about the KAL, you can get all the details here.
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Diagonal Sand Stitch Pillow
Knit Pillow Pattern by Underground Crafter
This gently textured stitch knit on the bias using a variation of the classic “grandmother’s favorite dishcloth” pattern creates a simple yet elegant pillow that can be customized for a perfect fit. This pattern is part of the Finishing Touches Knit Along with KAL Corner.
Finished Size
- Fits a 14” (35.5 cm) square pillow form.
Materials
- Lion Brand Crayola Cake yarn (100% acrylic, 3 oz/85 g, 177 yd/162 m) – 1 skein in 600 Tickle Me Pink (CA), or approximately 177 yd (162 m) in any medium weight yarn.
- Lion Brand Jeans yarn (100% acrylic, 3.5 oz/100 g, 246 yd/225 m) – 1 skein each in 105 Faded (CB) and 109 Stonewash (CC), or approximately 120 yd (110 m) in each of 2 colors in any medium weight yarn.
- US 8/5 mm knitting needles, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
- Fairfield World Crafter’s Choice 14” x 14” Pillow.
- Yarn needle.
Gauge
- Exact gauge is not critical for this project. Stitches should be snug so pillow form doesn’t show through.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- BO – bind off
- CA – Color A
- CB – Color B
- CC – Color C
- CO – cast on
- k – knit
- k2tog – knit 2 stitches together (decrease) – Lion Brand has a helpful k2tog tutorial here.
- p – purl
- p2tog – purl 2 stitches together (decrease) – Lion Brand has a helpful p2tog tutorial here.
- sl – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- yo – yarn over (increase) – Fiber Flux has a helpful yo tutorial here.
- [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.
Pattern Notes
- Slip stitches knitwise with the yarn in back.
- A helpful tutorial for seaming with the mattress stitch is available here.
Pattern Instructions
Front Piece
- With CA, CO 4 sts.
- Row 1: K3, p1. (4 sts)
- Row 2: (Right Side) Sl 1, k1, yo, k to last st, p1. (+1 st to an odd number of sts)
- Row 3: Sl 1, k1, yo, [k1, p1] across to last st, p1. (+1 st to an even number of sts)
- Repeat Rows 2-3 until side of piece not on the needles measures approximately 14” (35.5 cm) long, ending after Row 3.
- Row 4: Sl 1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k to last 2 sts, p2tog. (-2 st to an even number of sts)
- Row 5: Sl 1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, [k1, p1] across to last st, p1. (-1 st to an odd number of sts)
- Row 6: Sl 1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k to last st, p1. (-1 st to an even number of sts)
- Repeat Rows 5-6 until 6 sts remain.
- Row 7: Sl 1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p1. (5 sts)
- Row 8: Sl 1, k2tog, yo, p2tog. (4 sts)
- BO in the following pattern: sl 1, k2, p1. Fasten off CA with long yarn tail (approximately 30”/76 cm) for seaming.
Back Piece
- With CB, CO 4 sts.
- Row 1: K3, p1. (4 sts)
- Row 2: (Right Side) Sl 1, k1, yo, k to last st, p1. (+1 st to an odd number of sts)
- Row 3: Sl 1, k1, yo, [k1, p1] across to last st, p1. (+1 st to an even number of sts)
- Repeat Rows 2-3 until side of piece not on the needles measures approximately 14” (35.5 cm) long, ending after Row 3. Fasten off CB. With CC,
- Row 4: Sl 1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k to last 2 sts, p2tog. (-2 st to an even number of sts)
- Row 5: Sl 1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, [k1, p1] across to last st, p1. (-1 st to an odd number of sts)
- Row 6: Sl 1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k to last st, p1. (-1 st to an even number of sts)
- Repeat Rows 5-6 until 6 sts remain.
- Row 7: Sl 1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p1. (5 sts)
- Row 8: Sl 1, k2tog, yo, p2tog. (4 sts)
- BO in the following pattern: sl 1, k2, p1. Fasten off CC with long yarn tail (approximately 30”/76 cm) for seaming.
Finishing
- Thread yarn needle with long yarn tail from Front Piece. Line up edges of both Pieces with Wrong Sides facing together. With yarn needle, seam together Pieces on 3 sides with the mattress stitch (see Pattern Notes), changing to other color if necessary.
- Turn pillow Wrong Side out. Weave in ends from cast on edges and color changes on the wrong side.
- Turn Pillow Right Side out. Insert pillow form. Continue seaming fourth side closed with mattress stitch. Fasten off yarn.
- With yarn needle, weave in ends.
I may have to take up knitting again – love these pillows! Thank you for sharing!