High Contrast pillow pattern

You may remember I released a throw blanket pattern earlier this year called High Contrast.

As a companion freebie, I've adjusted the pattern for a pillow.

Skill level: Intermediate (or beginner with gumption!)
Skills Needed: provisional cast on, stranded colorwork or intarsia, grafting cast off using kitchener stitch.
Finished Measurements: 18" x 18"

Materials:

• Caron One Pound yarn, 100% acrylic; 812 yards, 453.6 g; Black #0503, 1 skein (MC)
• Caron One Pound yarn, 100% acrylic; 812 yards, 453.6 g; White #0501, 1 skein (CC)
• Caron Simply Soft yarn, 100% acrylic; 315 yards, 170.1 g; Autumn Red, #9730, 1 skein (TC)
• A note on yarn: these were leftovers from my High Contrast blanket pattern, so you do not need even close to the whole pound for either black or white. Buy smaller skein if you are making only the pillow.
• US size 10 [6 mm] needles, either a long straight needles or a circular needle (at least 20" long)
• waste yarn
• tapestry needle
• 18" square pillow insert (or other pillow filling)

Gauge: 12 sts x 20 rows = 4"; use color chart for gauge and use the same colorwork method that you'll be using on the pillow.

Pattern:
Using waste yarn, CO 54 sts using a provisional cast on method. Using TC, complete 3 rows in st st.

Switching to MC and CC, complete color chart for 160 rows, or until you have reached desired length. You can use stranded colorwork or intarsia; the sample pillow was completed using intarsia.

Note on color chart: they are added below as jpegs. Start with bottom chart and work up, or print both out and cut/paste them together. Have trouble seeing them? Shoot me an email and I'll send you fresh copies. kateandtatum at gmail

Switch back to TC and complete 3 rows in st st.

Keep all active stitches on one needle and put provisional stitches onto 2nd needle. Cut TC yarn with enough length to complete graft and thread onto tapestry needle. Holding the two needles parallel, use kitchener stitch to graft the two ends together.

Weave in ends and block to size. Seam one side, add pillow insert or filling and seam second side.

And you're done!

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If you like this pillow, I hope you will consider the matching High Contrast lap blanket. You can buy the pattern on Ravelry and Etsy. They make a great pair.