Noro Zig Zag Pillow Homeware Knitting Pattern

Noro Zig Zag Pillow

Project Overview

The Noro Zig Zag Pillow is a knitted homeware project that creates a decorative 16 x 16 inch (40.5 x 40.5 cm) square pillow cover. This design combines color and texture through the use of a distinctive chevron stitch pattern, making it an accessible project suitable for knitters of intermediate skill level.

What Is Being Made

This project produces a single pillow cover designed to fit a 16 inch (40 cm) square pillow form. The finished pillow cover measures approximately 16 x 16 inches (40.5 x 40.5 cm) and features a striking zig zag or chevron pattern created through strategic increases and decreases in the knit structure.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction: The pillow cover is worked from the bottom edge upward, allowing the knitter to see the developing pattern as they progress.
• Worked flat: The piece is created on straight needles rather than in the round, producing flat fabric that is later seamed.
• Intarsia colorwork: Two contrasting colors of yarn are incorporated into the design, creating visual interest and depth within the chevron pattern.
• Seaming: The pillow cover is constructed as one piece and then seamed on three edges, with the fourth edge left open for inserting the pillow form.
• Striped pattern: The design incorporates stripes created through the alternation of the two yarn colors throughout the knitted fabric.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The primary stitch used in this pillow is the Chevron Stitch, which works over a multiple of 16 stitches plus 9 additional stitches. This stitch creates the distinctive zig zag visual effect through a combination of increases and decreases worked in a repeating pattern.

The Chevron Stitch pattern is constructed as follows:

• Row 1: Knit 1, make one (M1), knit 6, slip slip knit (S2KP—a centered double decrease), knit 6, make one, and repeat this sequence across the row, ending with knit 1, make one, knit 6, and knit 2 together (k2tog).
• Row 2: Purl across all stitches.

Key stitch techniques employed include:

• Make one (M1): An increase stitch that creates a new stitch without leaving a visible hole, used to shape the peaks of the chevron pattern.
• Slip slip knit (S2KP): A centered double decrease that slips two stitches knitwise one at a time to the right-hand needle, then inserts the left-hand needle through the fronts of these stitches from left to right and knits them together. This decrease creates the valleys of the chevron pattern.
• Knit 2 together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used at the end of pattern repeats.
• Purl: Used on alternating rows to create a smooth fabric surface.

Materials and Gauge

The pillow cover is constructed using Noro Kureyon yarn in two colorways:

• 2 x 50g skeins in colorway #188 (Color A)
• 2 x 50g skeins in colorway #343 (Color B)

The project requires one pair of US size 8 (5mm) needles or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge. The specified gauge is 18 stitches and 20 rows to 4 inches (10 cm) measured over the Chevron stitch pattern. Achieving this gauge is essential for the pillow cover to reach the intended finished measurements.

Additionally, a 16 inch (40 cm) square pillow form is needed to complete the project and provide structure for the finished pillow cover.