Easy Knit Color Block Pillow Covers

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 4 skeins of Big Twist Ribbon yarn in desired colors, per pillow
• US 50 (25 mm) knitting needles (or size to obtain gauge)
• N 15 (10 mm) crochet hook (or similar size) OR darning needle
• 14" square pillow form
• 12"x16" pillow form
• Scissors & Measuring Tape

SUMMARY: This project will be knit as one long piece, folded over, and knit or stitched together. A crochet hook can be used to create a decorative border on the remaining edges or they can simply be seamed together. Continue to measure your work against the pillow base to make sure you are obtaining the correct gauge. Size up/down with your needles or adjust stitch count accordingly. The pillowcase can be slightly larger than the pillow form or the same size, but it shouldn't be smaller. Save all scraps to create a decorative fringe on the pillow - you may want to purchase an additional skein of yarn for the fringe.


TECHNIQUES USED: casting on, binding off, stockinette, knitting, purling, half single crochet OR seaming, fringe
GAUGE: 10 st x 13 rows = 11" x 11"
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: rectangle: 14"x17" square: 17"x17"


SQUARE PILLOW: _x000B_Beginning with Color A and with a 72" tail, cast on 13 st.
Row 1: K all st (right side).
Row 2: P all st (wrong side).
Repeat rows 1 and 2 (6) more times, or until length measures around 7".
Row 9: Switch to Color B - join to color A with a simple knot. Cut Color A for a 1.5" tail - short tails are okay since they will be hidden later. Continue in stockinette st for (8) more rows or until total piece measures 14". The front of the pillow case is complete.
Repeat Rows 1-16, switching to Color C and Color D as you work. The back of the pillowcase is now complete and should measure around 28" in total length unstretched. Cast off all st. You should still have 13 stitches on your needle. If you lost one along the way, or added one by accident, it's okay - just make sure you secure the extra or dropped st so the pillowcase doesn't unravel later.

Fold the pillowcase to shape so that the wrong sides are facing the inside together, and either use a half single crochet st and leftover yarn to bind the 3 open edges for a decorative border or use a needle and thread and seam together. Before seaming the 3rd edge, insert the pillow form. Make sure to tuck any knots from joining yarn or tails to the inside of the pillow.

The fringe will be attached on the horizontal “bars" between the K st where the pillowcase was folded over. Every st that looks like a “v" is a knit st, and between each K st there is a horizontal bar that connects each “v".

Cut (13) 12" lengths of leftover scrap yarn. Starting in the middle and working outward, select a horizontal bar on the fold line and run a 12" length of yarn under the bar - folding in half so both sides are even. Tie an overhand knot with the two pieces close to the pillow. Repeat with the remaining 12" lengths to line pillow. _x000B_
RECTANGLE PILLOW:_x000B_Beginning with Color A and a 60" tail, cast on 11 st.
Work each color for 9 rows. The finished piece should measure 32" unstretched. Bind off. Bind in same way as square pillow. Cut (11) 12" lengths of leftover yarn for fringe and apply in same way as square pillow.


ABBREVIATIONS:
k - knit
p - purl
ST - stitch