Third Piece The Loopy Pillow Homeware Knitting Pattern

Third Piece The Loopy Pillow: Funky Chunky Knit Cushion Cover

Project Overview

The Loopy Pillow is an intermediate-level knitting project from The Eclectic Series by Third Piece, designed to create a decorative homeware cushion with distinctive textured loops. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for three finished sizes: Small (12" x 12"), Medium (18" x 18"), and Large (24" x 24"). The pillow features a modern, playful aesthetic achieved through the signature loopy stitch technique worked flat on straight needles and finished with seamed construction.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a complete pillow cover with a textured front panel and smooth knit back panel. The finished piece is designed to fit standard pillow forms in your chosen size. The front showcases the eye-catching loopy stitch pattern, while the back provides a clean, simple garter stitch surface. The two panels are seamed together on three sides, the pillow form is inserted, and the final side is closed using vertical seaming.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Funky Chunky by The Third Piece, a 100% super soft merino wool yarn. Yardage requirements vary by size: Small requires 2 balls (164 yards total), Medium requires 4 balls (328 yards total), and Large requires 6 balls (492 yards total). Each ball weighs 200g and contains 82 yards. Knitters will also need US #17 (12mm) needles for working the pattern. A pillow form in the corresponding finished size is required for assembly.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs seamed construction and is worked flat, meaning the pieces are created on straight needles rather than in the round. The pillow consists of two separate panels that are joined together using vertical seaming, a technique that creates neat, invisible seams along the edges. The long-tail cast-on is used to create adequate yarn tails (approximately 20 inches) for seaming purposes. The pattern utilizes basic knitting fundamentals combined with the specialty loopy stitch technique to create visual interest and texture.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch featured in this pattern is the loopy stitch, which creates dimensional loops that extend from the fabric surface. The loopy stitch is constructed through a five-step process: knitting one stitch without dropping it from the left needle, bringing yarn to the front between needle points, holding the yarn loop with your thumb, knitting the same stitch again, and passing the right stitch over the left stitch on the right needle. This creates a characteristic loop that sits atop the knit fabric.

The front panel alternates between loopy stitches and regular knit stitches in a structured pattern: Row 1 begins with knit 1, then repeats (knit 1, loopy stitch 1) across to the final stitch, ending with knit 1. Row 2 is worked entirely in knit stitches (garter stitch). Row 3 reverses the loopy stitch placement, beginning with knit 1, then repeating (loopy stitch 1, knit 1) across to the final stitch, ending with knit 1. Row 4 returns to all knit stitches. This four-row repeat creates an organized, offset pattern of loops across the pillow front.

The back panel is worked entirely in garter stitch, the simplest knit stitch pattern created by knitting every row. This provides a smooth, textured background that complements the loopy front.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 7.2 stitches and 10 rows equals 4 inches by 4 inches when measured in garter stitch. Cast-on numbers are adjusted for each size: Small begins with 21 stitches, Medium with 32 stitches, and Large with 43 stitches. The front panel is worked until it measures 11 inches (Small), 17 inches (Medium), or 23 inches (Large) before binding off. The back panel is worked to the same measurements, ensuring both panels are identical in dimensions for proper seaming and pillow form fit.

Construction and Finishing

Assembly begins by placing the two panels with wrong sides together, ensuring the textured loopy front faces outward. Vertical seaming is used to join three sides of the pillow cover, creating neat edges that blend seamlessly with the knit fabric. Once three sides are completely seamed, the pillow form is inserted through the opening. The final side is then seamed closed, completing the finished pillow. This method ensures the