Park Rapids Pillow Cover in Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok Jumbo -

Park Rapids Pillow Cover in Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok Jumbo

What Is Being Made

The Park Rapids Pillow Cover is a knitted home accent designed to fit a 12" x 18" pillow insert. This cushion cover features finished measurements of 30" circumference and 20" length, making it an ideal decorative piece for a comfy chair or couch. The pattern creates a cylindrical pillow cover that is knit in the round and seamed at both ends for a polished, finished look.

Knitting Techniques

This project uses fundamental circular knitting techniques suitable for advanced beginners. The pillow cover is knit in the round, which eliminates the need for seaming along the length of the piece and creates a seamless tubular fabric. The pattern begins with a cast-on of 26 stitches, joined carefully to work in the round while avoiding twisted stitches—a common concern when beginning circular knitting. A stitch marker is used to indicate the start of each round, helping you keep track of where each round begins and ends. Once the piece reaches the desired length of 20 inches, stitches are bound off loosely. The cover is then seamed at both ends using long tails left from the cast-on and bind-off rows, creating closed ends that hold the pillow insert securely in place.

Stitches Used

The Park Rapids Pillow Cover employs stockinette stitch throughout the entire project. Stockinette stitch, created by knitting every round, produces the classic smooth, flat fabric with a distinctive V-pattern on the right side. This straightforward stitch pattern makes the project accessible to knitters with basic skills while still creating a professional-looking finished product. The simplicity of using a single stitch throughout allows the focus to remain on the yarn texture and the satisfaction of completing a quick, functional project.

Materials and Gauge

The Park Rapids Pillow Cover is knitted using Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok Jumbo yarn, which is composed of 100% Highland Peruvian wool. The project requires 2 cones of Woolstok Jumbo, with each cone containing 500 grams and yielding 43 yards. This bulky-weight yarn creates a dense, warm fabric perfect for a cozy home accessory. Size 50 (25.0mm) needles are recommended, though you may adjust to a different size if needed to obtain the correct gauge. The pattern specifies a gauge of approximately 4 stitches and 5 rows measuring 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for ensuring your finished pillow cover fits the intended 12" x 18" pillow insert correctly. You will also need a stitch marker to track your rounds and two long tails (approximately 60 inches each) from your cast-on and bind-off for seaming the ends of the cover.

Finishing and Care

After knitting is complete, interior ends are woven in, and the piece is blocked as desired before seaming. The two end openings are carefully seamed using the long tails reserved during cast-on and bind-off, with the pillow insert placed between the seaming of the two ends. The finished pillow cover should be hand washed or dry cleaned. Care instructions recommend washing in tepid water using mild soap, avoiding twisting the piece, and shaping it to dry flat on a towel. When not in use, store the pillow cover neatly folded. With proper care, this knitted treasure may become a cherished family heirloom.