Cedar Stitch Pillow: A Free Knitting Pattern for a Cozy, Textured Home Accent
There is something deeply satisfying about creating something with your own hands that you then get to live with every day. A pillow is one of those perfect knitting projects — it’s substantial enough to feel like an accomplishment, small enough to finish in a reasonable amount of time, and useful enough that you’ll see it every single day on your couch, bed, or favorite reading chair. This Cedar Stitch Pillow pattern brings together a beautifully textured stitch that mimics the layered, dimensional look of cedar bark, creating a piece that feels both rustic and refined at the same time.
Whether you’re a confident beginner ready to move beyond stockinette or an experienced knitter looking for a satisfying weekend project, this pattern is designed to be approachable, enjoyable, and genuinely lovely when finished. Let’s walk through everything you need to know to make your own Cedar Stitch Pillow from start to finish.
What Is the Cedar Stitch?
The Cedar Stitch is a textured knitting pattern built on a simple combination of knit and purl stitches worked in a specific offset sequence. The result is a raised, almost braided-looking texture that creates visual depth without requiring cables, special needles, or complicated stitch manipulations. It belongs to the family of moss, seed, and basket weave stitches — patterns that knitters have returned to for generations because they produce beautiful fabric with relatively simple instructions.
The name “Cedar” comes from the way the finished texture resembles the layered, ridged surface of cedar bark or rough-hewn cedar wood planks. It has a horizontal striped quality, but with enough variation in the pattern repeat to avoid looking flat or mechanical. When worked in a natural, earthy yarn, the resemblance to cedar wood becomes even more striking.
One of the best things about this stitch for a pillow project is that it lies flat. Unlike stockinette, which wants to curl at the edges, the Cedar Stitch produces a stable fabric that behaves beautifully without needing to be aggressively blocked or pinned down. That makes it ideal for knitting flat pieces that will be seamed together into a pillow cover.
Materials You Will Need
Before you cast on, gather everything you need so you can work through the project without interruption.
Yarn: Approximately 250–350 yards of worsted weight yarn (size 4). This pattern works best in a smooth or semi-smooth yarn that allows the stitch texture to show clearly. Avoid overly fuzzy or heavily textured yarns for your first time through, as they can obscure the Cedar Stitch pattern. A wool or wool-blend yarn is ideal because it has natural elasticity and blocks beautifully. Cotton and cotton blends also work well and produce a slightly crisper, more structured fabric. Earthy tones like warm tan, deep forest green, rust, or natural oatmeal really enhance the cedar bark aesthetic, but this pattern looks wonderful in any color you love.
Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm) straight or circular needles. If you prefer to knit in the round, you can adapt this pattern, but the instructions as written are for flat knitting.
Notions: A tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, scissors, a tape measure, and four locking stitch markers (optional but helpful for keeping track of your pattern repeat).
Pillow insert: A 16×16 inch pillow form. You can also use a 14×14 or 18×18 inch form by adjusting your cast-on number and length accordingly, which is explained in the sizing notes below.
Gauge: 18 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in the Cedar Stitch pattern after blocking. Always knit a gauge swatch before beginning. A gauge swatch for a pillow might seem unnecessary, but being off by even half a stitch per inch across 72 stitches can make the difference between a pillow cover that fits snugly and one that sags or puckers.
Sizing Notes
This pattern is written for a 16×16 inch pillow insert, which is one of the most common and widely available sizes. If you want to make a different size, here is a simple guide. For every inch of width you want to add or remove, add or subtract approximately 4.5 stitches (based on the gauge above) and round to the nearest even number that works with the 4-stitch pattern repeat. For length, every inch of length requires approximately 6.5 rows.
For a 14×14 inch pillow: cast on 64 stitches and work until each panel measures 14 inches.
For an 18×18 inch pillow: cast on 82 stitches and work until each panel measures 18 inches.
For a 20×20 inch pillow: cast on 90 stitches and work until each panel measures 20 inches.
Abbreviations
K — knit
P — purl
CO — cast on
BO — bind off
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
Rep — repeat
St(s) — stitch(es)
PM — place marker
SM — slip marker
The Cedar Stitch Pattern Explained
The Cedar Stitch is worked over a multiple of 4 stitches, plus 2 edge stitches (one on each side). This means your total stitch count should always be a multiple of 4 plus 2. For this pattern, you will cast on 74 stitches, which gives you 18 complete pattern repeats across plus the 2 edge stitches.
The stitch pattern is worked over 4 rows and creates the characteristic cedar bark texture.
Row 1 (RS): K1 (edge stitch), K2, P2, repeat from to across to last stitch, K1 (edge stitch).
Row 2 (WS): K1 (edge stitch), K2, P2, repeat from to across to last stitch, K1 (edge stitch).
Row 3 (RS): K1 (edge stitch), P2, K2, repeat from to across to last stitch, K1 (edge stitch).
Row 4 (WS): K1 (edge stitch), P2, K2, repeat from to across to last stitch, K1 (edge stitch).
These 4 rows form the complete Cedar Stitch repeat. You will repeat Rows 1 through 4 throughout the entire pattern.
A note on the edge stitches: keeping a single knit stitch on each edge of every row creates a clean, neat selvedge that makes seaming much easier and more attractive. It’s a small habit that makes a big difference in the finished project.
The Pattern: Cedar Stitch Pillow Front
Cast on 74 stitches using your preferred cast-on method. A long-tail cast on is recommended for its neat appearance and slight elasticity.
Work Rows 1–4 of the Cedar Stitch pattern as described above, repeating those 4 rows until the piece measures 16 inches from the cast-on edge. End after completing either Row 2 or Row 4 so that you finish on a wrong-side row.
Bind off all stitches loosely in pattern. To bind off in pattern means to knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as you bind them off, which maintains the structure and elasticity of the edge. A loose bind-off is important here — if you bind off too tightly, the edge will pull in and your pillow cover won’t lie flat.
Set aside the front panel.
The Pattern: Cedar Stitch Pillow Back
The back panel of this pillow is worked exactly the same way as the front. Cast on 74 stitches and work in the Cedar Stitch pattern until the back panel also measures 16 inches from the cast-on edge. Bind off loosely in pattern.
This gives you a simple envelope closure when seaming, or you can add a button band if you prefer a more finished look with easier insert removal. Instructions for both options are given below.
Optional Button Band Closure
If you want to be able to remove your pillow cover for washing — which is genuinely practical and worth the small extra effort — a simple button band is a lovely finishing touch.
When you are about 2 inches from the end of the back panel, work a row of evenly spaced buttonholes as follows. Decide how many buttons you want (3 buttons works well for a 16-inch pillow) and space them evenly across the width of the panel, placing one approximately 2 inches in from each side edge and one in the center.
Buttonhole Row (RS): Work in pattern to the first buttonhole position, BO 3 stitches, continue in pattern to the next buttonhole position, BO 3 stitches, continue in pattern to the third buttonhole position, BO 3 stitches, continue in pattern to the end of the row.
Next Row (WS): Work in pattern, casting on 3 stitches over each set of bound-off stitches using a backward loop cast-on to replace the buttonhole stitches.
Continue in pattern for 2 more rows, then bind off.
Once seamed, sew corresponding buttons to the front panel at matching positions. You can use decorative wooden buttons that lean into the cedar wood theme, which makes a beautiful finishing detail.
Finishing
Once both panels are complete, it is time to seam and finish your pillow.
Blocking: Before seaming, wet block both panels. Soak them in cool water for about 15 minutes until fully saturated, gently squeeze out excess water without wringing, and lay flat on a blocking mat or clean towel. Shape each piece to exactly 16×16 inches, pinning if necessary, and allow to dry completely. This step evens out your tension, opens up the stitch pattern so the Cedar Stitch really shines, and ensures both panels are the same size before you join them.
Seaming: Thread your tapestry needle with a length of the same yarn, about 36 inches long. Lay both panels with right sides facing out (or right sides together if you prefer invisible seaming — both approaches work). Use mattress stitch along three sides to join the panels, leaving the fourth side open to insert the pillow form.
Mattress stitch creates a nearly invisible seam when worked carefully. On the side edges, pick up the bar between the first and second stitches on one panel, then the corresponding bar on the other panel, alternating back and forth and drawing the yarn snug every few stitches. On the cast-on and bind-off edges, work between the edge stitch and the first pattern stitch, picking up both legs of each stitch in turn.
Once three sides are seamed, insert your pillow form. The cover should fit snugly — the pillow form should fill it completely, with no sagging or extra fabric. If the cover feels too loose, you can take in the seams slightly. If it feels too tight, the pillow insert will look lumpy and strained. If you blocked carefully to the correct dimensions, it should be a good fit.
Seam the fourth side closed, or fasten the buttons if you made a button band closure.
Weave in all ends thoroughly using your tapestry needle, weaving back and forth through the wrong side of the fabric for at least an inch in two different directions to secure them.
Tips for Success
A few things will make a real difference in how your finished pillow looks and how much you enjoy making it.
Read the entire pattern before you begin. This sounds obvious but it prevents surprises mid-project, especially if you decide to add the button band closure.
Keep consistent tension throughout. Because the Cedar Stitch is a ribbing-adjacent pattern, it tends to pull in slightly compared to stockinette. Don’t fight this; simply work at your natural tension and let the blocking even things out.
Use stitch markers to mark off each group of pattern repeats if you find it helpful. Placing a marker every 20 stitches, for example, gives you easy reference points and makes it simple to find your place if you put the work down mid-row.
Check your stitch count periodically. The Cedar Stitch pattern doesn’t have any increases or decreases, so your count should remain 74 stitches throughout. If you notice extra stitches creeping in, it’s usually because an edge stitch accidentally got worked twice or a purl stitch at the end of a row got dropped.
Work on a light-colored lap blanket or light surface if you’re using dark yarn so that dropped stitches are easy to spot.
Yarn Suggestions
The yarn you choose dramatically affects the character of the finished pillow. Here are a few options worth considering.
A rustic, single-ply wool like Cascade 220 in a warm brown or heather green creates a pillow with real texture and a slightly artisan feel. Wool’s natural stitch definition allows the Cedar Stitch pattern to look crisp and dimensional.
A soft merino wool like Malabrigo Rios makes the pillow incredibly cozy to the touch without sacrificing stitch definition. The slight color variation in semi-solid merino yarn adds visual depth to the Cedar Stitch without being distracting.
A cotton-acrylic blend like Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton is a practical choice if the pillow will be on a sofa that sees heavy use and needs to be washed frequently. Cotton is also a wonderful choice for a more relaxed, laid-back aesthetic.
A linen or linen-blend yarn produces a crisper, denser fabric that holds its shape extremely well over time and has beautiful drape. Linen pillows feel elegant and understated.
How to Style Your Cedar Stitch Pillow
Once your pillow is finished, it becomes one of those versatile home accessories that looks right in almost any setting. A pair of Cedar Stitch pillows in warm neutral tones looks beautiful on a natural linen sofa alongside faux fur throws and wooden bowls. A single pillow in a deep forest green or charcoal grey is a grounding accent on a light-colored bed in a Scandinavian-inspired bedroom.
Because the Cedar Stitch pattern has a strong horizontal quality, it plays well with both vertical striped fabrics and solid-color upholstery. Try it alongside woven throw blankets, chunky knit accessories, or macramé wall hangings for a cohesive natural-texture aesthetic.
The pillow also makes an excellent gift. It’s personal without being overly personalized, beautiful without being fussy, and practically useful — which is exactly what a handmade gift should be.
A Note on Making This Pattern Your Own
Knitting is a craft, but it’s also a creative practice, and this pattern is a starting point rather than a strict prescription. Once you’re comfortable with the Cedar Stitch, feel free to experiment. Try working the front in the Cedar Stitch and the back in a simple stockinette or reverse stockinette for a quick, no-fuss back panel. Add a striped color pattern by switching colors every two rows of the stitch pattern for a graphic, modern look. Work the stitch diagonally by offsetting your pattern repeat slightly on each row for a more dynamic texture.
You can also mix this pattern into a larger project. The Cedar Stitch makes a striking border on a knitted blanket, or an interesting texture panel on a tote bag. Once you know the 4-row repeat by heart, it’s easy to incorporate it wherever you want a touch of dimensional texture.
Final Thoughts
The Cedar Stitch Pillow is one of those projects that teaches you something genuinely useful while producing something genuinely beautiful. The stitch itself trains your eye to read your knitting and your hands to maintain an easy, flowing rhythm. The finished pillow rewards that work with a piece that looks far more complex than it actually is — which is, honestly, one of the best feelings in knitting.
Cast on, take your time, and enjoy the process. Your hands will know this stitch by heart long before you bind off the last row.
Happy knitting.
