Sleeping Fox pillow

Sleeping Fox Pillow Knitting Pattern by Sofia Caro

Project Overview

The Sleeping Fox pillow is an intermediate-level knitting project designed to create a cozy 14-inch square cushion cover featuring a charming fox motif. This downloadable knitting pattern from Comfy Stitch Shop combines colorwork techniques with classic knitting construction to produce a decorative pillow that works beautifully as home décor or a handmade gift.

What You'll Create

This pattern produces a finished 14-inch by 14-inch square pillow cover that fits a standard 14-inch pillow form. The design showcases a sleeping fox rendered in intarsia or colorwork knitting, with the fox as the focal point against a contrasting background. The pillow cover is knit flat and then seamed to create a finished cushion that can be stuffed with a 14-inch by 14-inch polyester pillow form.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate project employs several foundational and intermediate knitting techniques. The primary stitch used throughout is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for displaying colorwork designs. The pattern incorporates colorwork knitting to create the fox design, requiring knitters to manage multiple yarn colors within rows.

Key stitches and techniques include:

• Knit (K) – the fundamental stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl (P) – used to create texture variation and reverse stockinette sections
• Knit 2 together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease used for shaping
• Purl 2 together (P2tog) – a left-leaning decrease on the purl side
• Slip slip knit (SSK) – an alternative decrease technique for refined shaping
• Knit front and back (Kfb) – an increase method for adding stitches
• Stockinette stitch – the primary fabric construction combining knit and purl rows

The pattern uses both flat knitting on circular needles and double-pointed needles for specific sections, demonstrating versatility in needle choice and construction methods.

Materials Required

Yarn: This pattern calls for worsted weight yarn (#4) in four colors: Orange (Terracotta), White, Brown, and Black. The recommended yarns are Lion Brand Yarn's Vanna's Choice in Terracotta, White, and Black, or Heartland Sequoia or Vanna's Choice Chocolate for the brown tones. Yardage requirements are modest: approximately 2 balls of the main color (Terracotta), with less than 1 ball each of White, Black, and Brown.

Needles: The pattern requires U.S. size 8 (5mm) 16-inch circular knitting needles as the primary needle for the main fabric, and U.S. size 7 (4.5mm) double-pointed needles for specialized sections. Needle size can be adjusted to achieve the correct gauge.

Additional Materials: A 14-inch by 14-inch pillow form, polyester stuffing for optional additional padding, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming the pillow cover complete the project requirements.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 16 stitches over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the finished pillow to measure the intended 14-inch square and fit properly on the pillow form. Knitters should swatch before beginning the main project to ensure their gauge matches the pattern specifications.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern assumes knitters are comfortable with basic stitches and can manage increases, decreases, and colorwork techniques. The combination of stockinette stitch foundation with colorwork design and shaping makes it suitable for knitters who have completed several basic projects and are ready to expand their skills.