Holiday Pillow Knit Set [FREE Knitting Pattern]

There is something deeply satisfying about handmade holiday décor. When you knit something with your own hands and then display it in your home during the most festive time of year, the result carries a warmth that no store-bought item can replicate. This free knitting pattern for a Holiday Pillow Knit Set is designed to bring that feeling into your living room, bedroom, or wherever you love to nestle in with a cup of something warm and a good book during the winter season.

This pattern is written for knitters with some basic experience — think confident beginner to intermediate level. If you know how to cast on, knit, purl, and work a few simple increases and decreases, you have everything you need to complete this set. The finished pillows are cozy, stylish, and make incredible gifts. You could easily knit a pair for yourself and a pair for a friend who deserves something beautiful this holiday season.

Let’s get started.

About This Pattern

The Holiday Pillow Knit Set includes two coordinating pillow covers. The first features a classic Fair Isle-inspired snowflake motif worked in two colors, giving it that timeless Nordic holiday feel. The second is a simpler textured design using a seed stitch panel and ribbed borders, which pairs beautifully with the colorwork pillow and adds visual interest without requiring advanced colorwork skills.

Both covers are knitted flat on straight needles and seamed, which makes them an approachable project even if you have never tried colorwork before. The covers are designed to fit a standard 18×18 inch pillow insert, which you can find at most craft stores or even repurpose from existing throw pillows.

This is a completely free knitting pattern, so bookmark this page, print it out, or save it however works best for you. If you make this set, we would love to see your finished work — share a photo in the comments or tag us on social media.

Materials You Will Need

Before you cast on a single stitch, gather your supplies. Having everything ready before you start makes the process so much smoother and more enjoyable.

Yarn: You will need a worsted weight yarn in three colors. For the purposes of this pattern, we will call them Color A (main), Color B (contrast), and Color C (accent). A yarn with good stitch definition works best for colorwork, so look for something that is 100% wool or a wool blend. Approximately 300 yards of Color A, 150 yards of Color B, and 50 yards of Color C should be more than enough for both pillow covers. Good options include Cascade 220, Paintbox Simply DK held double, or any comparable worsted weight you love.

Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm) straight needles or circular needles used flat. You may need to size up or down to match gauge.

Notions: Two 18×18 inch pillow inserts, a tapestry needle for seaming, scissors, stitch markers, and a row counter if you like to use one. You will also need six buttons, approximately 3/4 inch in diameter, for each pillow cover closure — twelve buttons total. Choose something that suits your holiday aesthetic: classic wooden buttons, pearl buttons, or even small decorative holiday-themed buttons all work beautifully here.

Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Always swatch before beginning. Gauge matters for pillows just as much as it does for garments, because you want your pillow cover to fit snugly over the insert without puckering or stretching.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

CO — cast on
BO — bind off
k — knit
p — purl
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
st(s) — stitch(es)
rep — repeat
pm — place marker
sm — slip marker
k2tog — knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
ssk — slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
MC — main color (Color A)
CC — contrast color (Color B)

Pillow One: Snowflake Fair Isle Cover

This pillow cover is worked entirely in stockinette stitch with a colorwork chart. The snowflake motif repeats across the center panel, and the border is worked in a simple two-row stripe to frame the design. A button band at the back makes it easy to remove the cover for washing.

Front Panel

Using Color A, CO 90 stitches.

Rows 1–6 (Border): Work in 2×2 rib as follows: k2, p2 across, ending k2. This creates the bottom border.

Row 7 (RS): Knit across.

Row 8 (WS): Purl across.

Repeat Rows 7 and 8 for 6 more rows (8 rows of stockinette total).

Begin Colorwork Chart: Starting on the next RS row, work the snowflake chart across the center 70 stitches, keeping 10 stitches on each edge in Color A only. The chart is 24 rows tall and 10 stitches wide per repeat, and you will work it 7 times across those center 70 stitches. Carry the unused color loosely across the back, being careful not to pull too tightly — this keeps the fabric from puckering.

Continue working the chart for all 24 rows, then repeat once more for a full 48 rows of colorwork.

End Colorwork: Cut Color B and work 8 rows in stockinette with Color A only.

Top Border: Work 6 rows of 2×2 rib. BO in pattern.

Snowflake Chart (written out row by row, 10-stitch repeat)

The following is a simplified version of the snowflake chart using written instructions. When you see “A,” work that stitch in Color A. When you see “B,” work in Color B.

Row 1 (RS): A, A, A, A, B, A, A, A, A, A
Row 2 (WS): A, A, A, B, B, B, A, A, A, A
Row 3: A, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, A, A
Row 4: A, B, A, A, B, A, A, B, A, A
Row 5: B, A, A, A, B, A, A, A, B, A
Row 6: A, B, A, A, B, A, A, B, A, A
Row 7: A, A, B, B, B, B, B, A, A, A
Row 8: B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, A
Row 9: A, A, B, B, B, B, B, A, A, A
Row 10: A, B, A, A, B, A, A, B, A, A
Row 11: B, A, A, A, B, A, A, A, B, A
Row 12: A, B, A, A, B, A, A, B, A, A
Row 13: A, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, A, A
Row 14: A, A, A, B, B, B, A, A, A, A
Row 15: A, A, A, A, B, A, A, A, A, A
Row 16: A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A

Repeat Rows 1–16 to complete the full 48-row colorwork section (work the 16-row sequence three times).

Back Panel (Two Pieces)

The back is made in two overlapping pieces that button together, making it easy to stuff the pillow insert.

Back Piece 1 (Bottom): Using Color A, CO 90 stitches. Work 6 rows of 2×2 rib, then work in stockinette until the piece measures 11 inches from the cast-on edge, ending on a WS row. Work 6 rows of 2×2 rib. BO in pattern.

Back Piece 2 (Top): Using Color A, CO 90 stitches. Work 6 rows of 2×2 rib, then work in stockinette until this piece measures 9 inches from the cast-on edge. Work 6 rows of 2×2 rib.

Buttonhole Row: On the last rib row of Piece 2, work the buttonhole row as follows: rib 13, BO 2 sts, rib 13 and repeat until you have worked 6 evenly spaced buttonholes across the row. On the next row, CO 2 sts over each bound-off section to complete the buttonholes. BO in pattern.

Assembly

Block all three pieces to the same dimensions. Once dry, lay the front panel face down. Lay Back Piece 1 on top, aligning at the bottom edge. Lay Back Piece 2 on top, aligning at the top edge. The two back pieces will overlap by several inches in the center, creating the button envelope closure. Pin in place and seam all four edges using your preferred seaming method — mattress stitch gives the neatest result. Sew six buttons onto Back Piece 1, aligning them with the buttonholes on Back Piece 2. Weave in all ends. Insert your pillow form and button closed.

Pillow Two: Textured Seed Stitch Cover

The second pillow in this set takes a different approach. Rather than colorwork, this cover uses texture to create visual interest. Alternating panels of seed stitch and stockinette create a subtle plaid-like effect when worked together, and the whole thing is knitted in a single color — or you can use your Color A and Color C together for a rich, heathered look if you are working with thinner yarn.

This pillow is arguably even easier than the first, making it perfect to cast on when you want to relax rather than count color changes.

Front Panel

Using Color A (or held together with Color C if desired), CO 92 stitches.

Setup Row (WS): P4, k4, p4 across.

Row 1 (RS): K4, p4, k4 across.
Row 2 (WS): P4, k4, p4 across.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 10 rows total. This creates the ribbed border.

Begin Textured Body:

Row 1 (RS): K10, pm, work seed stitch over center 72 sts as follows — k1, p1 across, pm, k10.
Row 2 (WS): P10, sm, p1, k1 across to marker, sm, p10.

Repeat these two rows, keeping the 10-stitch edges in stockinette and the center panel in seed stitch, until the piece measures 15 inches from the cast-on edge, ending on a WS row.

End Border: Work 10 rows of the rib pattern established at the beginning. BO in pattern.

Adding a Stripe Detail

To give the second pillow a holiday accent, you can work a simple stripe in Color B or Color C. After the bottom border and every 20 rows of the body, work 2 rows in your accent color before returning to Color A. This creates a subtle horizontal stripe that plays nicely against the seed stitch texture and ties the pillow visually to the colorwork snowflake cover.

Back Panel

Work the back panel the same way as Pillow One, using the same two-piece overlapping button closure method. Use Color A throughout, or continue the stripe detail for consistency.

Assembly

Block, seam, and button as described for Pillow One. Weave in all ends. The second pillow should be finished and ready to style alongside the first.

Tips for Knitting Holiday Pillows

Choose colors that work with your home. The classic combination of cream and red with a forest green accent will always feel holiday-ready, but do not be afraid to try navy and gold, burgundy and blush, or a moody charcoal and silver pairing for a more modern aesthetic. Think about the other textiles in your living space and let those guide your color choices.

Block your pieces before seaming. This is the step that takes a finished-but-rough knitted piece and transforms it into something that looks truly professional. Wet blocking evens out stitches, opens up the fabric, and makes seaming dramatically easier. Pin your pieces to a blocking board or a towel laid flat, use rust-proof pins, and allow everything to dry completely before you assemble.

Carry yarn loosely in colorwork. One of the most common colorwork mistakes is pulling the non-working yarn too tightly across the back of the work. This draws your stitches together, distorts your colorwork pattern, and can leave you with a finished piece that measures several inches smaller than intended. Practice spreading your stitches out on the right needle before carrying the yarn across to keep things loose and even.

Use stitch markers generously. Especially in the seed stitch panel, it is easy to lose track of where you are. Place markers at regular intervals across the row so that if you make a mistake, you only have to rip back to the nearest marker rather than the beginning of the row.

Make it a set of three. Once you have finished these two pillows, consider making a third in a coordinating size — perhaps 20×20 or even a lumbar size — using the same yarns and motifs. A set of three makes a beautifully cohesive holiday display and would also make a spectacular gift for a host family or a knitter friend who would appreciate the artistry behind handmade décor.

Caring for Your Knitted Pillow Covers

If you have worked this set in a wool or wool-blend yarn, you will want to hand wash the covers in cool water with a gentle wool wash, pressing out the water rather than wringing or twisting the fabric. Lay flat to dry. Avoid hanging them while wet, as this can cause the covers to stretch out of shape.

If you substituted a machine-washable yarn like superwash wool or an acrylic blend, you may be able to machine wash on a gentle cycle in a mesh laundry bag. Always check your specific yarn’s care instructions before washing.

Store your knitted pillow covers in a cool, dry place during the off-season, ideally in a breathable cotton bag. This protects them from dust and moths and keeps them looking fresh year after year.

Pattern Notes for Customization

This pattern is flexible by design. The stitch counts given here are based on the gauge listed, but if you are working at a different gauge or using a different needle size, simply adjust accordingly. The key measurement to hit is a front panel that measures 18 inches wide and 18 inches tall, because this will ensure a clean, snug fit over your pillow insert.

You can also change the colorwork motif entirely. Reindeer, Christmas trees, geometric diamonds, or even simple stripes would all work beautifully in place of the snowflake chart. If you are working from a chart from another source, just make sure it repeats evenly over your stitch count and you will be fine.

The button closure can be replaced with a zipper closure if you prefer, or you can simply sew the back seam shut and stuff the insert in before seaming the final side. Each method has its advantages, but the button closure is my personal favorite for its combination of practicality and charm.

A Note on Gift Giving

A handmade pillow cover is one of the most generous and thoughtful gifts a knitter can offer. It represents hours of careful work and deep consideration for the recipient. If you are making this set as a gift, consider writing out the care instructions on a pretty card to tuck inside the package. This small gesture ensures your gift stays beautiful for years to come and shows just how much thought you have put into every detail.

Knit one set in the recipient’s favorite colors. Add a monogrammed button or a special decorative closure. Wrap them in tissue paper in a woven basket or a beautiful box. You will have created something truly memorable.

We hope you enjoy knitting this Holiday Pillow Knit Set as much as we loved designing it. Whether you are decorating your own home or gifting these to someone you love, the hours spent with your needles and yarn during the holiday season are some of the coziest and most rewarding of the year. Happy knitting, and happy holidays.