Who doesn’t love to cozy up and enjoy a good night’s sleep or a relaxing afternoon on the couch? When you add these free knit pillow patterns to the mix, you are up for the most comfortable time of your life!

When it comes to knit pillow patterns, the possibilities are endless. You can choose from a variety of styles to suit your taste and decor. Square and rectangular pillows offer a timeless look and fit seamlessly into any style, whether it’s modern, rustic, or traditional. They’re versatile and can be easily mixed and matched with other pillows on your couch or bed. But you can think outside the square box too.

If you’re looking to add a touch of whimsy and playfulness to your home, consider knit pillow patterns that are round in shape. These charming cushions bring a sense of fun and uniqueness to any room. They work wonderfully in eclectic or bohemian styles, where a bit of quirkiness is celebrated. Picture yourself sinking into a plush round pillow while reading your favorite book or sipping a cup of tea. It’s pure bliss!

Of course, there is one other kind of knit pillow patterns that is even more playful and whimsical than the last. Novelty pillows in shapes like hearts and clouds work great in maximalist design schemes as well as nurseries and children’s bedrooms. Fun shaped pillows that you can’t often find at the store also make for excellent gifts for loved ones.

So, whether you prefer the classic elegance of square pillows, the whimsical charm of round ones, or the playful variety of novelty shapes, there are plenty of knit pillow patterns on this list just waiting to be crafted. Scroll down and see for yourself!

Retro Style Round Pillow

Let’s get a little retro with the first pillow design on our list. Fluffy chenille yarn works up quickly and it makes this gorgeous round pillow sinfully soft. It is much easier to make than it look and requires only knit stitches worked in the round. There’s no increasing or decreasing and no purl stitches either.

Designer: My Poppet
Yarn: Premier Yarns Bunny and Premier Yarns Parfait Chunky (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free cushy knit pillow pattern!
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Columns of Valhalla Pillow

One underappreciated aspect of knit pillow patterns is the ability to answer “I made it myself!” when someone compliments you on your superb taste in pillows. Show off your skills with this advanced design and watch their jaw drop. Bold 10 stitch cables alternate with little 3 stitch cables against a backdrop of garter stitch.

Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Nepal (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free pattern!
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Celtic Knot Pillow

Tackle the knot pillow trend with this amazing pillow pattern. This is one of those designs that looks complicated but is actually pretty easy. All you have to do is knit one long tube in stockinette stitch and then tie it in a knot. The yarn is held double stranded so it works up quickly and has a nice solid sturdiness to it.

Designer: Emily Ringelman for Knit Picks
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Head in the Clouds Pillow

These serene cloud pillows would like right at home in a nursery or a child’s bedroom. Heck I would even put these in my bedroom. You’ll be using knit stitches along with basic increases and decreases to create the organic shape of this design. The front and the back of the pillow are knit separately, sandwiched together, and then joined around the edges.

Designer: Julia Madill for Yarnspirations
Yarn: Bernat Pipsqueak (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Herringbone Pillow

Your house guests are sure to do a double take when they see this stunning throw pillow gracing your couch. It looks like a sweet home decor store find but it’s actually a DIY win! The distinctive herringbone stitch design uses knit, purl, and slip stitches.

Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Patons North America Alpaca Blend (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Winter Pillow

Bold navy and cool white are a match made in design heaven that go well with a variety of decor schemes. This attractive design would be a good choice for your first foray into stranded colorwork because there’s only 2 colors involved. The design is knit in the round using just knit stitches.

Designer: Stana D. Sortor
Yarn: Knit Picks Mighty Stitch (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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On the Bias Throw Pillow

Get a little wild with the bold split color design of this throw pillow, but not too wild because we’re still using neutral colors here. It’s a playful yet elegant design that is further accentuated by the addition of tassels on the corner. It’s made entirely in garter stitch so it’s actually pretty beginner friendly!

Designer: Two of Wands
Yarn: Lion Brand Hue + Me (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Easy Peasy Cushion Cover

Knit pillow patterns with removable covers are a practical option that make it easier to wash the cover and keep it looking brand new. Where other designs try to hide the seams, this one makes the closure the star of the show with 3 gorgeous wood buttons. It’s made entirely in garter stitch worked in rows.

Designer: Michaela Gester
Yarn: Viking of Norway Eco-Ull (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Sand Tracks Pillow

Maybe it’s the round shape and the light gray color but this throw pillow reminds me of a sand dollar. I bet that you could make it look like a snowflake or a star if you switched up the color scheme. No matter what color you decide to go with, it’s sure to turn out magical. Special stitches include slip knit pass overs and 6 stitch cables.

Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Puna (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Graphic Striped Pillow Cover

It can be easy to get carried away with all of the fantastic knit pillow patterns out there, but sometimes it’s nice to keep things simple. This stockinette stitch design with one row striping is sure to be a relaxing knit that’s perfect for working on while bingeing your favorite TV show or listening to a podcast.

Designer: Churchmouse Yarns and Teas
Yarn: Berroco Ultra® Alpaca Chunky (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Tropical Leaf Pillow

Whether you have a green thumb or a black one, you’re sure to appreciate a beautiful monstera plant that you can’t kill. I love the organic nature of this design and I think that it would look right at home in a wide variety of decor styles. The colorwork is a combination of intarsia and embroidery.

Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Bernat Super Value Solids (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Cable Pillow

Skip the classic cables and go with something a little more unusual to really make a statement with your next knitting project. This pillow pattern uses a combination of cable stitches and twisted stitches to create the playfully textured design. It’s sure to draw in even more attention since it’s made with such a cheerful shade of yellow.

Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Caron One Pound (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Rainbow Arch Cushion

Everyone’s favorite colorful weather phenomena gets a yarn makeover in the form of this rainbow arch cushion. The pillow is knit in stockinette stitch in the round using evenly spaced increases to create the arched shape. This is such a playful design and I think that it would make a superb gift.

Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Paris (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Moon Baby Pillow

The next one of our free knit pillow patterns might just be the cutest one on the list. These sleeping moons would look adorable in a nursery. Or you could skip the rosy cheeks and faces for a more sophisticated take that would look right at home in your own room. The pattern calls for knit and purl stitches along with basic shaping.

Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Bernat Baby Blanket (Super Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Tufted Circle Pillow

Say what you will about velvet yarn, but I love the luxurious vibes it is giving these gorgeous round throw pillows. I know that it can be a little tricky to work with, but the results are well worth it. The pattern calls for just knit and purl stitches. It involves some short row shaping.

Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Bernat Velvet Twist (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Big Donut Pillow

You might bite off more than you can chew with this supersized pillow pattern but a sweet treat will be waiting for you at the finish line! The donut shape is built up one wedge at a time using knit stitches and short row shaping.

Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Caron Big Donut O’Go (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Ara Striped Pillow

You can put a pack of mini yarn skeins to good use with this boldly striped throw pillow. The pattern is knit in stockinette stitch in the round. As far as free knit pillow patterns go, the rectangular shaped ones are a safe bet for maximum coziness.

Designer: Sys Fredens
Yarn: Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/8 Solid (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Mountain Ridge Pillow

Pay homage to the beauty of nature with this stunning throw pillow design. The subtle texture of the slip stitch and ribbed mountain range is separated from the smooth stockinette stitch backdrop with a delicate ridge of cable stitches. The big question is: tassels or no tassels? You decide!

Designer: Ksenia Naidyon for Knit Picks
Yarn: Knit Picks Woolen Cotton and Knit Picks Kindred DK Weight (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Mosaic Floral Pillow

Infuse your space with vintage vibes with this bright and cheerful orange and white design. The pretty flower motif is created with mosaic colorwork which uses slip stitches to make it so that you only have to work with one color per row. The colors are reversed on the opposite side of the pillow to even out the yarn usage.

Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Caron One Pound (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Swool Boho Cushion

The next one of our free knit pillow patterns is a feast for the senses. It’s certainly easy on the eyes and the textured stitchwork makes it fun to touch too. Bold pops of texture are created using popcorn stitches while you knit as well as larks head knot fringe added after the fact.

Designer: Swool Nordic Design
Yarn: Svarta Fåret Home Sweet Home and Create with Adlibris Merino Soft & Quick Solid (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Spring Blooms Pillow

Welcome the spring season with this stunning throw pillow design. The background of the pillow is knit in a single color using stockinette stitch for the front and garter stitch for the back. You’ll embroider the tree motif on top using duplicate stitch. Faux fur yarn is used to give the cherry blossoms extra texture.

Designer: Jessica Paz Creates for The Hook Nook Life
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Solids and Lion Brand Go for Faux (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Fizzy Flower Cushion

4 color stranded colorwork isn’t for the faint of heart, but wow is this pillow gorgeous. For the experienced knitter who is bold enough to try it, I’m sure it would be an absolute treat to knit. Just imagine this veritable work of art gracing the cushions of your living room couch. Talk about a centerpiece!

Designer: Paintbox Yarns
Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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The Pine Forest Pillow

Nature motifs add a calming presence to your home that meshes well with many a design style. The Pine Forest Pillow is knit in a single color using stockinette stitch in the round and then the trees are added on afterwards using duplicate stitch.

Designer: Meghan Makes Do
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Garter Stripe Pillow

I know that it can be tempting to take any excuse to dash to the craft store, but you can make many knit pillow patterns using whatever yarn you have in your stash. This garter stitch design is especially well suited to scrap yarn. The back of the pillow is smooth stockinette stitch with a decorative ribbed edging along the envelope style enclosure.

Designer: Red Heart Design Team
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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You’ll Also Love This Video Tutorial

Piper Pillow FREE Knitting Pattern Video Tutorial

Common Questions about Knit Pillows

Final Thoughts on Knit Pillow Patterns

There’s something a little bit magical about combining a pair of needles and some yarn to create a gorgeous throw pillow that you can appreciate every time you see it. I also love making a knit pillow cover pattern with a button closure instead of closing up a pillow. This way the throw pillow cover can go in the wash!

A knitted pillow is a perfect gift for a housewarming or for a college dorm. Match the yarn color to their decor or use different colors to match their university colors. Decorative pillows are a fun, inexpensive way to add a touch of color and they work well with many different decors, from modern to traditional.

Don’t forget, sharing is caring! Send this free knitting pattern round-up to all your knitting friends so they can join in on the fun too! Bookmark this page or save the link to your Pinterest board for amazing knitting patterns.

I’m off to curl up with a great knit pillow and drink a smoothie made with oats…

I’ll see you next week for another free knitting pattern round-up. Make sure to follow the blog so you never miss a post. <3

Happy Knitting!