Boring Square (Pillow Cover) by Nick Davis

Boring Square (Pillow Cover)

Knitting
June 2024
Sport (12 wpi) ?
23 stitches and 37 rows = 4 inches
in blocked stockinette, worked in the round
US 4 - 3.5 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm
480 - 500 yards (439 - 457 m)
One size fits 13” pillow; easy to customize!
English
This pattern is available for $6.00 USD buy it now

This is a very basic pillowslip for a square 13”/33cm pillow, intended to show off self-striping yarns or textured handspun, or make good use of vibrant scraps.

The construction is fairly easy, but does involve work in the round, seaming, and working optional YO buttonholes.

This .PDF is a little photo-heavy, because the charm of this project is in the finishing details—the actual knitting is pretty straightforward! It includes two finishing options include buttons or a removable crochet chain closure.

Technically, you can work this project at any gauge, but if you use the button option, you’ll need to adjust the button spacing. The .PDF includes details instructions for the gauge listed.

Materials:

2 skeins or 480-500 yards sport/ light dk handspun, Malabrigo Yarn Arroyo, or similar sport/dk weight yarn

  • 1 16-40” circular needle in US4-6/3.5-4.0mm, or size needed for gauge. (Work is in the round; multiple circular lengths may be useful.)
  • 1 set of 5 DPNs in size needed for gauge
  • 2.25mm crochet hook (for circular cast-on and optionally, for seaming)
  • Tapestry needle
  • 4 removable stitch markers
  • 10 ⅝“ buttons OR smooth yarn, such as 3/2 mercerized cotton
  • Sharp needle and thread, if needed, to attach buttons

Gauge:
Gauge is 23 sts and 37 rows over 4”/10cm of blocked stockinette, worked in the round. Please be sure to check your gaug!

Measurements:
After finishing, the folded and seamed square is about 13”/33cm on each side.

The blue and grey pillowcase in the background isn’t one! It’s actually the Oskar Cowl fitted over a smaller (9-10”) pillow form. I liked how it looked enough that it inspired this actual pillowcase. The diamond is centered, and the ends are simply folded in neatly. (Oskar is a long cowl.) So, it’s a cowl that also can be folded into a pillowslip.