5 Cozy Knitted Body Pillow Patterns You’ll Want on Your Bed

There is something deeply satisfying about a body pillow. It holds you in place on restless nights, supports your lower back during long reading sessions, and makes a bed look intentionally layered and put together rather than simply slept in. Now imagine that same body pillow wrapped in a hand-knitted cover — one you made yourself from yarn you chose with care. The texture of the stitches, the softness of the fiber, the way the light catches a cable or a seed stitch pattern — these things transform a simple bedding accessory into something that feels genuinely personal.

Knitted body pillow covers are one of those projects that beginners often overlook because they assume the size is intimidating. In reality, the opposite is true. More surface area often means a more forgiving project. You have room to practice, room to find your rhythm, and room to show off a beautiful stitch pattern without squeezing it into the tight constraints of a small swatch. Whether you are picking up needles for the first time or you are an experienced knitter looking for a satisfying weekend project, a body pillow cover is a wonderful choice.

In this post, we are going to walk through five cozy knitted body pillow patterns that bring something different to the table. Some are simple enough for absolute beginners. Some feature classic techniques that intermediate knitters will love to sink into. Each one is designed to produce the kind of pillow you will actually want on your bed — not just because you made it, but because it looks and feels genuinely beautiful.

Before we jump in, a quick note on sizing. A standard body pillow is 20 inches by 54 inches. A king-size body pillow runs closer to 20 by 72 inches, and a pregnancy body pillow can vary widely. The patterns below are written with the standard size in mind, but we will include notes on how to adjust each one so you can customize as needed.

1. The Classic Stockinette Body Pillow Cover

If you have ever knitted anything at all, you know stockinette stitch. It is the one that gives you that smooth, classic “V” pattern on the right side and a bumpy texture on the wrong side. It is the default stitch of sweaters, hats, and socks, and it is also one of the most beautiful ways to showcase a gorgeous yarn.

For a body pillow, stockinette is an ideal starting point because the repetition is deeply meditative. Once you cast on and find your rhythm — knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side — you can let your mind wander while your hands do the work. This is the kind of knitting that fits perfectly into evenings on the couch with something good playing in the background.

What you will need: About 800 to 1,000 yards of a worsted weight yarn (look for something with a little bit of stretch and a soft hand, like a merino blend), US size 7 or 8 needles (or whichever size gives you a fabric you love), a tapestry needle for seaming, and either a zipper or buttons for your closure.

The basic approach: Cast on 90 stitches using a long-tail cast-on for a clean edge. Work in stockinette stitch until your piece measures 54 inches — or whatever the circumference of your pillow form is. You will knit two panels this size and seam them together on three sides, adding your closure along the fourth. Alternatively, you can knit a tube in the round by doubling your stitch count and working in the round, then grafting or seaming one end closed.

Tips for success: Stockinette has a tendency to curl at the edges, which can be frustrating during the knitting process but will flatten beautifully once you seam the cover and stuff it with the pillow form. If curling really bothers you while you work, you can add a two or three stitch garter border on each side. Choose a high-twist yarn for a crisper finish, or a low-twist, lofty yarn for something that feels like a cloud.

Yarn suggestions: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick works if you want to go up in needle size and finish faster. For a finer, more luxurious feel, Malabrigo Rios or Cascade 220 Superwash are wonderful choices.

2. The Chunky Seed Stitch Body Pillow

Seed stitch is one of those patterns that sounds almost too simple to be special, but the finished fabric tells a completely different story. By alternating knit and purl stitches across every row — and shifting the pattern on the return row so that you always knit into a purl and purl into a knit — you build up a beautifully bumpy, textured surface that lies completely flat and looks equally good on both sides.

For a body pillow, seed stitch in a chunky yarn creates something that looks like it belongs in a high-end home décor store. The texture catches the light in a way that stockinette does not, and the flat drape of the fabric means the finished pillow cover lays smoothly without puckering or pulling at the seams.

What you will need: Approximately 600 to 750 yards of a bulky weight yarn (something like a size 5 or 6 on the yarn weight scale), US size 10 or 10.5 needles, a tapestry needle, and your preferred closure.

The basic approach: Cast on an odd number of stitches — something around 60 to 65 depending on your gauge. Every row begins with a knit stitch, then you alternate knit and purl across. Because you are casting on an odd number, the stitch pattern will automatically reverse itself on each new row without you having to think about it. Work both panels to length, then seam and add your closure.

Tips for success: The most common mistake in seed stitch is accidentally working the stitch correctly the first time but then continuing the same pattern on the return row, which gives you ribbing rather than seed stitch. To avoid this, always look at the stitch below your needle before you work it. If it looks like a bump (a purl), you knit it. If it looks like a “V” (a knit), you purl it.

Seed stitch is also fantastic for yarn that has a heathered, tweed, or multi-tonal quality, because the texture adds visual depth without competing with the color variation.

Yarn suggestions: Wool of the Andes Bulky from Knit Picks is affordable and comes in a beautiful range of colors. Big Twist Value Bulky is a great budget-friendly option. For something truly special, try Rowan Big Wool or Brooklyn Tweed Loft held double.

3. The Simple Cable Body Pillow

Cables look complicated. They look like something a grandmother knitted after decades of practice, something that would take years to learn. And yet, once you understand the basic mechanics — slipping stitches onto a cable needle, knitting past them, then knitting the held stitches — you realize cables are just a trick. A beautiful, satisfying, deeply rewarding trick.

A simple four-stitch or six-stitch cable running down a body pillow creates something that looks genuinely impressive. You can place a single cable down the center of each panel for a classic, understated look, or you can fill the entire surface with repeating cables for something that looks like a traditional Aran knit.

What you will need: Approximately 900 to 1,100 yards of a worsted weight or aran weight yarn (cables compress the fabric, so you will use more yarn than you might expect), US size 7 or 8 needles, a cable needle, a tapestry needle, and your closure.

The basic approach for a centered cable panel: Cast on your base number of stitches. Work a few stitches of reverse stockinette or seed stitch on each side for a border, then establish your cable panel in the center. A simple six-stitch rope cable (C6F or C6B) is worked every sixth row — four rows of knitting the cable stitches as they appear, then one cable crossing row. The direction of the cross (front or back) determines whether the cable spirals to the left or to the right.

For a full cable surface, look for a repeating cable pattern — many free ones are available on Ravelry, LoveCrafts, and knitpicks.com — and simply cast on enough stitches to accommodate the pattern repeat across your full pillow width.

Tips for success: Keep a row counter handy and mark every cable crossing row. It is very easy to lose track of where you are in a cable sequence, especially when you step away from the project and come back. Use stitch markers to separate cable repeats so you can easily locate your place.

Blocking your finished cover will open up the cables beautifully. If you are using a wool or wool-blend yarn, a gentle wet block — soaking the cover, gently squeezing out excess water, and laying it flat to dry — will make a noticeable difference.

Yarn suggestions: Cascade 220 in any color is a knitter’s workhorse for cables. Paintbox Simply Aran is affordable and lovely. For a truly luxurious version, try Quince and Co. Lark or The Fibre Company Canopy Worsted.

4. The Ribbed Body Pillow Cover with a Modern Edge

Ribbing might seem too simple for a dedicated project — it is, after all, the stitch most knitters use for hat brims and sock cuffs. But a full body pillow cover worked in a wide rib, something like a 4×4 or even a 6×2, has a beautiful elasticity and visual rhythm that makes it look intentional, modern, and surprisingly sophisticated.

The key to making ribbing feel elevated rather than like a basic warm-up exercise is proportion. Wide ribs feel architectural. A 4×4 rib (four knit stitches, four purl stitches, repeated) creates bold columns that look almost woven. A 2×2 rib is classic and clean. You can also experiment with broken rib, which adds a horizontal line by purling every stitch on one row, creating a pattern that blends the structured quality of ribbing with something a little more relaxed.

What you will need: About 750 to 950 yards of a DK or worsted weight yarn — ribbing works beautifully at multiple gauges — US size 6 or 7 needles, a tapestry needle, and your closure.

The basic approach: Cast on a multiple of eight stitches (for 4×4 rib) or a multiple of four stitches (for 2×2 rib). Every right-side row: knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches. Every wrong-side row: the same. Unlike seed stitch, ribbing is all about consistency — you always work each stitch in the same way to build those clean vertical columns.

For a broken rib variation, work your rib pattern on all right-side rows. On wrong-side rows, purl all stitches across regardless of the established pattern. This creates a subtle horizontal texture break that makes the fabric feel a little more casual and tactile.

Tips for success: Ribbing draws in more than stockinette, which means you will need to cast on more stitches to achieve the same width. Swatch carefully and measure your ribbing while it is relaxed, not while you are stretching it to check. A stretchy pillow cover can actually be a wonderful thing — it hugs the pillow insert firmly and keeps its shape through washing.

Yarn suggestions: Lion Brand Pound of Love or Red Heart Soft are excellent for a washable everyday cover. For something more special, Madelinetosh Tosh DK or Kelbourne Woolens Scout in a rich, saturated color will make the rib columns really sing.

5. The Boho Textured Body Pillow with Moss Stitch and Stripes

This final pattern brings together a few simple elements — moss stitch, horizontal stripes, and a casual boho aesthetic — into something that feels relaxed, earthy, and genuinely beautiful. Moss stitch is similar to seed stitch but worked on a two-row repeat rather than a one-row repeat, which gives it a slightly more elongated texture. Pair it with simple color stripes and you have a pillow cover that looks like it came from an artisan market in a very good way.

This pattern is also a wonderful opportunity to use up yarn from your stash. Because the stripes can be any width you like, you can work with multiple partial skeins in complementary colors without committing to a precise yardage per color.

What you will need: A total of about 800 to 1,000 yards across two or three colors of worsted weight yarn, US size 7 or 8 needles, a tapestry needle, and your closure.

The basic approach: Moss stitch is worked over a multiple of two stitches on a four-row repeat. Row 1: knit one, purl one across. Row 2: knit one, purl one across (same as row 1). Row 3: purl one, knit one across. Row 4: purl one, knit one across (same as row 3). Then repeat from row 1. This creates a slightly staggered version of seed stitch with a lovely woven quality.

For the stripes, simply switch colors every 4, 6, or 8 rows — or whenever you feel like it. Carry the unused color loosely up the side of the work rather than cutting it every time, which will save you a lot of ends to weave in later.

Tips for success: Choose colors that feel cohesive without being too matchy. Natural tones — cream, oatmeal, warm tan, dusty sage, terracotta — work beautifully together and suit the boho aesthetic. Alternatively, two high-contrast colors like navy and natural white create a graphic, contemporary stripe that looks equally intentional.

When finishing your cover, take a few extra minutes to weave in your ends really securely. Stripe projects have more ends than single-color ones, and a few minutes of careful finishing will make your finished pillow look polished and professional.

Yarn suggestions: Paintbox Simply DK in multiple shades is a cost-effective way to collect a color palette. Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool has a natural, undyed quality that suits earthy colorways beautifully. For a luxury version, try Quince and Co. Osprey or Brooklyn Tweed Shelter.

Final Thoughts: Getting Your Body Pillow Cover from Project to Pillow

Finishing a body pillow cover is a genuinely satisfying experience. These projects take a bit of time — you are covering a lot of fabric — but the rhythm of knitting something this size has a way of becoming deeply enjoyable rather than tedious. You settle into the pattern, your hands learn the stitch, and what started as a goal becomes a practice.

A few closing tips that apply to all five of these patterns. Always wash and block your finished cover before putting it on the pillow form. Blocking evens out tension, relaxes the stitches, and often makes a significant difference in how professional the finished piece looks. Choose a closure you love — buttons are charming and easy to replace, zippers are sleek and keep the pillow insert firmly in place, and envelope closures (where the fabric overlaps at one end) require no hardware at all. And finally, do not be afraid to customize. Change the yarn weight, adjust the stitch count, add a contrasting border, or mix two of these patterns together. The best version of any of these pillows is the one you make your own.

Whether you are curled up with a single cable running down a creamy white cover or surrounded by earthy stripe textures in moss stitch, a hand-knitted body pillow brings something no store-bought version can match. It brings the evidence of your own hands, your own time, and your own care — and that makes all the difference.