585 Viola Plaid Pillow - Cushion Knitting Pattern for Home in Valley Yarns Southwick

585 Viola Plaid Pillow – Cushion Knitting Pattern by Kirsten Hipsky Using Valley Yarns Southwick

The 585 Viola Plaid Pillow, designed by Kirsten Hipsky, is a charming 12" x 12" decorative accent pillow knitted in the rich, vibrant colorway of Valley Yarns Southwick. This beginner-friendly cushion pattern creates a beautiful plaid effect through a clever combination of knitted stripes, simple surface crochet columns, and optional duplicate stitch accents. The result is a cozy yet stylish home accessory that showcases the cool, silky drape of cotton and bamboo fiber — described in the pattern itself as just perfect for napping.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single square decorative pillow cover measuring 12 inches by 12 inches. The cover features a plaid visual effect achieved through color striping in the knitted fabric, vertical color columns added via surface slip stitch crochet, and an optional pop of contrast color using duplicate stitch. A button flap closure is worked as part of the construction, adding a practical and tidy finishing detail.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat – The button flap section is worked back and forth in rows before joining in the round.
• Worked in the round – After the flap is established, stitches are cast on and joined so the main body of the pillow is knitted in the round, eliminating side seams on the body itself.
• Seamed construction – Finishing involves seaming to complete the pillow cover.
• Surface slip stitch crochet – A crochet hook is used to work slip stitch columns along pre-positioned purl stitch columns on the right side of the fabric, creating the vertical lines of the plaid pattern. Yarn is held to the wrong side while the hook draws loops through from the right side.
• Duplicate stitch – An optional embroidery technique worked on top of the finished knitted fabric using Color C (Yellow) to add small accent details and enhance the plaid effect.
• Marker placement and use – Stitch markers are placed and slipped throughout to keep the purl column positions consistent across every round.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch – Used for the button flap section, worked flat at the beginning of the pattern.
• Stockinette stitch (St st) – The primary stitch pattern for the main body of the pillow, worked in the round. Gauge is measured in stockinette: 5 stitches and 7 rows = 1 inch.
• Purl stitches – Single purl stitches are placed at regular intervals within the round to create the vertical columns that serve as guides for the surface crochet. These purled columns are a key structural element of the plaid design.
• Slip stitch crochet – Worked as surface embellishment using a crochet hook rather than knitting needles, this stitch creates the bold vertical color lines of the plaid.
• Duplicate stitch – An optional needle-worked stitch that mimics the V-shape of a knit stitch, applied on top of the finished fabric for the yellow accent color.

Materials

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Southwick (52% Pima Cotton / 48% Bamboo, 50g / 105 yards per skein), a DK weight yarn with a cool, silky hand. Three colorways are used:
  • Color A – African Violet: 3 skeins (main color)
  • Color B – Purple: 1 skein (surface crochet columns)
  • Color C – Yellow: 1 skein (optional duplicate stitch accents)
• Knitting Needles: US size 6 (4.00mm) needles, or size needed to achieve gauge.
• Crochet Hook: