Chunky Jacquard Pillow Knitting Pattern

I knitted this Jacquard pillow a few months ago as a gift for my best friend, who has a carpet in his living room with a similar black and white pattern. Many people asked me how I made it, so I thought I would create an Instructable on how to knit this chunky jacquard pillow.

DESCRIPTION
Size 42cm x 40cm
Number of pieces to knit : 2
- front
- back
Both pieces are identical. Start by knitting one, then the other (repeat steps 2 to 7)
Colors
- yarn A (black)
- yarn B (white)
Gauge
10cm = 7 stitches
10 cm = 7 rows

To make your Jacquard pillow, you will need :

• 2 balls of yarn color A (200G/7 oz – 80m/87 Yds each)
• 2 yarn balls color B (200G/7 oz – 80m/87 Yds each)
• 1 pair of 15mm/US19 knitting needles
• a knitter’s sewing needle
• a pair of scissors
• a ruler or meter

To block your knitting, you will need :

• rustproof pins
• a clean towel
• a spray bottle filled with water

To stuff the pillow, you will need :

• pillow stuffing (half a kilo should be just right)

You can find the 100% natural Wool in white and black, and the 15mm wood needles on We Are Knitters

Cast-on 29 stitches with yarn color A
It's preferable to use the long tail cast on method in order to create an even and fairly elastic edging. To do so, you will need to measure out about 2 meters (80 inches) of tail yarn.
If you need more details on how to cast-on stitches, go to my How to cast-on stitches Instructable

Tip : Pull the yarn end from the center of the ball, it will keep it from rolling around as you knit.

Knitting color-work patterns can be intimidating at first but it's actually not as difficult as it seems. Here are a few tips before you start knitting.

• How to read the chart : start reading the chart from the bottom left to the top. Read odd numbered rows from right to left, and even-numbered rows from left to right.
• How to keep count : if you can, print the chart and cross the knitted stitches as you go, it will make keeping count much easier.
• Colors : in this chart, yarn A is in black, yarn B in white

KNITTING INSTRUCTIONS - the stockinette stitch

Rows 1 to 31
Knit 31 rows in jacquard stockinette stitch, changing color according to the chart above :

• Row 1 and all odd rows : Knit all stitches
• Row 2 and all even rows : Purl all stitches
  If you need more details on how to knit and purl stitches, go to my How to knit stitches Instructable and How to purl stitches Instructable

Go to next steps for further instructions on how to work jacquard on odd rows and even rows.

This example shows how to knit row 1 (see chart above). As it is an odd row, all stitches are knit. Start reading the chart from right to left.

When working odd rows, make sure both strands of yarn are placed in the back. Place the first yarn ball (A) to your right, and the second ball B to your left. This will determine how to pass the strand : the strand leading to the right (yarn A) will always pass over the hanging yarn B and the strand leading to the the left (yarn B) will always pass under the hanging yarn A. Only use one yarn at a time leaving the unused yarn hanging at the back. Keep an eye on the tension of the yarn when passing over stitches, make sure that it is neither too tight nor too loose.

KNITTING INSTRUCTIONS - row 1

• Knit the 2 first stitches with color A yarn (1-2)
• Drop strand A, (3) leaving it to hang to the back, and knit the 2 next stitches with yarn B (4-5)
• Drop strand B (6), and knit the 2 next stitches with yarn A. Pass yarn A over the 2 previous stitches (7). Make sure that the tension is neither too tight or too loose (8). As the yarn ball is placed to the right, yarn A naturally passes over the hanging yarn B
• Drop strand A, and knit the 3 next stitches with yarn B (9). As the yarn bal lis placed to the left, yarn B naturally passes under the hanging yarn A.(10)
• Keep going (11) until the end of the row.

This example shows how to knit row 2 (see chart above). As it is an even row, all stitches are purl stitches. Start reading the chart from left to right.

When working even rows, make sure both strands of yarn are placed in front. Only use one yarn at a time leaving the unused yarn hanging in front. Keep an eye on the tension of the yarn when passing over stitches, make sure that it is neither too tight nor too loose.

KNITTING INSTRUCTIONS - row 2

• Once you’ve finished knitting row 1, pass the right needle into your left hand, flipping your work clockwise so that the back is facing towards you (1-2). Yarn A should be to your right and yarn B to your left
• Purl the first stitch with color A yarn.(3)
• Drop strand A, leaving it to hang in front, and purl the 2 next stitches with yarn B(4-5)
• Drop strand B, and purl the 2 next stitches with yarn A. Pass yarn A over the 2 previous stitches. (6-7) As the yarn ball is placed to the right, yarn A naturally passes over the hanging yarn B (8) Make sure that the tension is neither too tight or too loose (9)
• Drop strand A, and purl the 2 next stitches with yarn B. As the yarn ball is placed to the left, yarn B naturally passes under the hanging yarn A.(10-11)
• Keep going until the end of the row.

KNITTING INSTRUCTIONS - rows 3 to 31
Keep knitting all rows in stockinette stitch, following the color chart.

Bind off all the stitches with yarn A
Once you've finished knitting all 31 rows, bind off (cast-off) all stitches and cut the yarn, leaving about 50cm of length for the sewing. As you are binding off after an odd row, you will have to purl all stitches.
If you need more details on how to bind off a knitting, go to my How to bind off stitches Instructable

Once you've bound off your knitting, it's important to block it in order to stretch out stitches, equalize the tension of the yarn, and give its final shape and dimensions to your work. Blocking can be done in several different ways, however I prefer the spritz blocking technique, which involves spraying the knitting with water, usually by using a spray bottle. It's easy, fast, and won't distort the knitting or damage the wool

HOW TO BLOCK YOUR KNIT

• Lay your knitting on a folded towel, or any other surface you can pin it to and on which it fits (a pillow, a mattress, an ironing board, cardboard...)
• Stretch it out gently and pin the edges of your knitting with rustproof pins, shaping your project as you go
• Spray it with water thoroughly and let it dry over night

To sew the pillow you'll need to use 2 different sewing techniques : one for the sides, one for the top and bottom. Always use yarn A for the seaming if you don't won't them to show.

SEW THE SIDES OF THE PILLOW - vertical seaming on stockinette stitch

Sew the 2 first sides together

• Place both pieces side by side, with the right side of the knitting facing towards you (1)
• Thread yarn A into a knitters sewing needle. Make sure you have enough length to sew the whole side.
• Insert the needle from back to front in the center of the first stitch, in the bottom corner of the piece placed to your right, and pull the yarn through (2-3)
• Insert the needle from back to front in the center of the first stitch of the other piece, placed to your left, and pull the yarn through. (4-5) Tighten to close the gap.
• Insert the needle in the center of the first stitch on the second row of the right piece, from front to back, and pull it through the center of the stitch right above (3rd row), from back to front. Pull the yarn through. (6-7)
• Insert the needle in the center of the first stitch on the second row of the left piece, from front to back, and pull it through the center of the stitch right above (3rd row), from back to front. Pull the yarn through. (8-9). Make sure to pull on the yarn to tighten the gap.
• Keep sewing from one side to the other, going up through stitches, till you've sewn the whole length (10)

Sew the 2 other sides together

• Flip your knitting and fold it to place the two other edges side by side. The right side of the knitting should be placed towards you (11)
• sew both sides together, following the same steps as above (12)

SEW THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP OF THE PILLOW - overcast decorative seam

To sew the bottom and top of the pillow, I chose to use the overcast technique. It's usually used to sew the insides of knittings, but it creates a decorative seam which works great on this project. In the photos, I used a blue thread for the sewing to make it more clear and easier to understand, but you should keep using yarn A

Sew the bottom of the pillow

• Lay the knitting flat, with one side facing towards you, the other one facing the ground, (or your working desk).
• Thread yarn A into a knitters sewing needle. Make sure you have enough yarn to sew the whole length,and start knitting the bottom of the pillow
• Insert the needle between the first and second stitch on the bottom of the piece facing towards you, from back to front, and pull the yarn through (1-2)
• Insert the needle between the first and second stitch of the piece facing down, and between the second and third stitch of the piece facing towards you, from back to front (3)
• Pull the yarn through (4)
• Keep sewing along the bottom of both pieces to create a decorative seem (5-6-7)
• When you reach the last stitch, make a knot and insert the needle inside the pillow (8)
• Pull it out through the side, cut the thread and hide it inside the pillow (9)

SEW HALF OF THE TOP OF THE PILLOW

Start by sewing the first half of the top of the pillow, using the same method as for the bottom :

• Insert the needle between the first and second stitch on the top of the piece facing down, from front to back, and pull the yarn through
• Insert the needle between the first and second stitch of the piece facing towards you, and between the second and third stitch of the piece facing down, from front to back, and pull the yarn through (1-2)
• Keep sewing along the top of both pieces until your halfway through

STUFF THE PILLOW
Once you've sewn half of the top length, stuff the pillow with the stuffing of your choice. Start by pushing the filling into the corners, then insert a few more handfuls, working your way to the opening (3) Fill it up to your convenience, and try to even out the filling to smoothen the shape (4)

SEW THE SECOND HALF OF THE TOP

• Sew the second half of the top of the pillow (5)
• When you reach the last stitch, make a knot and insert the needle inside the pillow
• Pull it out through the side, cut the thread and hide it inside the pillow