In Vivid Color Pillow in Caron Simply Soft and Simply Soft Brites - Downloadable PDF

In Vivid Color Pillow – Knitted Intarsia Colorwork Cushion in Caron Simply Soft

This intermediate-level knitting pattern produces a bold, eye-catching 18-inch square decorative pillow bursting with vivid color. Designed for knitters who want to move beyond solid-color projects, the In Vivid Color Pillow uses the classic intarsia colorwork technique to create a graphic, multi-colored design on the front panel. The finished cushion is a striking home décor piece that showcases confident color choices and clean colorwork execution. The pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a stuffed decorative throw pillow measuring approximately 18 inches [45.5 cm] square. It consists of two separate knitted panels — a colorwork Front featuring an intarsia chart design, and a solid-color Back worked in a single contrast shade. The two panels are seamed together on three sides, a pillow form is inserted, and the final side is sewn closed, creating a neat, professional finish.

Techniques Used

• Intarsia colorwork: The front panel is worked entirely in the intarsia method, which is the go-to technique for knitting distinct, isolated blocks of color into a flat fabric. Unlike stranded colorwork (Fair Isle), intarsia uses separate small balls or bobbins of yarn for each individual color section, preventing long floats across the back of the work. This keeps the fabric smooth, single-layered, and drape-friendly.
• Color joining: Where two colors meet, the yarns are twisted around each other on the wrong side to close any potential gaps or holes at the color boundaries — a fundamental intarsia skill that keeps the design crisp and seamless from the right side.
• Chart reading: The front is worked from a printed colorwork chart spanning 113 rows. Knit (right-side) rows are read from right to left and purl (wrong-side) rows from left to right, following standard flat-knitting chart conventions.
• Flat knitting: Both the front and back panels are worked flat (back and forth in rows), not in the round.
• Seaming and finishing: The front and back are sewn together along three sides using a mattress stitch or preferred seaming method, a pillow form is inserted, and the remaining side is closed by hand.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch): The entire pillow — both the colorwork front and the solid back — is worked in stocking stitch, alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. This creates the smooth, flat fabric surface that allows the intarsia color design to read clearly and cleanly.
• Cast on and cast off: A standard cast on of 89 stitches begins each panel, and a standard cast off closes each panel at the top.

Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this pattern to ensure the finished pillow matches the pillow form. The target gauge is 20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches [10 cm] in stocking stitch. A gauge swatch is strongly recommended before beginning.

Materials – Yarn

The pattern calls for Caron® Simply Soft™ yarn, a smooth, worsted/aran weight acrylic yarn that is widely available and beginner-friendly in terms of care and handling. Four contrast colors are used across the project:

• Contrast A – Pagoda (COL0014): 1 ball — used for the solid back panel and as a color in the front chart. From the Simply Soft Solids line (6 oz / 170.1 g; 315 yds / 288 m per ball).
• Contrast B – Watermelon (B9604): 1 ball — a vivid pop of color used in the intarsia chart design.
• Contrast C – Chartreuse (39771): 1 ball — a bold, bright green used as the base cast-on color for the front panel and throughout the chart.
• Contrast D – Charcoal Heather (H9