Free Bernat Garter Stripe Duo Knit Pillows Pattern, Single Size

There is something deeply satisfying about knitting a project you can actually use every single day. Pillows fall into that perfect category of home décor items that are both functional and beautiful, and when you knit them yourself, they carry a warmth and personality that no store-bought cushion can replicate. This free Bernat Garter Stripe Duo Knit Pillows pattern for a single size is exactly the kind of project that fits seamlessly into any knitter’s life, whether you have been casting on for decades or you are still building your confidence with the basics.

Bernat yarn has long been a favorite among crafters for its affordability, wide range of colors, and reliable consistency. The Garter Stripe Duo variation brings together two complementary colors in a classic garter stitch arrangement that is visually striking without ever becoming complicated. The result is a pillow that looks professionally made, even if you completed it while watching television on a Sunday afternoon.

Before diving into the pattern itself, it helps to understand what makes this particular project so appealing to such a wide range of knitters.

Why This Pattern Works for Everyone

The garter stitch is the most fundamental stitch in knitting. You knit every row, which means there is no purling, no cabling, no complicated chart reading. For beginners, this is genuinely liberating. You cast on, you knit across, you turn your work, and you knit back. Over and over. It sounds repetitive, but the color striping gives you a visual rhythm that keeps the project interesting and makes it easy to track your progress.

For more experienced knitters, the garter stitch pillow offers something equally valuable: a mindless project. Experienced knitters often talk about wanting something they can work on during conversations, in waiting rooms, or during long car rides when they are in the passenger seat. Garter stitch striped pillows are exactly that. Your hands know what to do, and you can let your mind wander while still producing something beautiful.

The duo aspect of this pattern refers to the pairing of two colors, and Bernat offers such a wide selection that you can match any room in your home. Whether you gravitate toward neutral tones like cream and oatmeal, bold contrasts like navy and mustard, or soft pastels for a nursery, the yarn selection alone makes this pattern feel endlessly customizable.

Materials You Will Need

To complete this single-size Bernat Garter Stripe Duo Knit Pillow, gather the following materials before you begin:

Yarn: Bernat Blanket yarn, Bernat Softee Chunky, or Bernat Super Value work beautifully for this project. For a single-size pillow (approximately 18 inches by 18 inches), you will need roughly 200 to 250 yards of Color A and 150 to 200 yards of Color B, depending on your stripe sequence and gauge. Always buy a little extra to avoid running short.

Needles: For most Bernat Blanket yarn, size US 10 or US 11 (6mm to 8mm) straight needles or circular needles work well. Circular needles are especially helpful if you prefer to knit in the round or if you find them more comfortable to hold. For bulkier yarn options, go up to a US 13 (9mm).

Pillow form: An 18-inch square pillow insert is the most widely available and affordable option. You can find these at craft stores, home goods stores, or online. Some knitters prefer to stuff their pillows with polyfill batting, which gives you more control over the firmness.

Tapestry needle: You will need this to weave in your yarn ends and to seam the pillow pieces together.

Scissors

Stitch markers (optional): Helpful for keeping track of your stitch count if you find yourself losing your place.

Gauge

Gauge matters more than many beginner knitters realize, and it especially matters for a project like a pillow where you want the finished piece to fit snugly around your pillow insert. Before casting on your full project, knit a gauge swatch of at least 4 by 4 inches and measure it carefully.

For Bernat Blanket yarn on US 10 needles, a typical gauge is approximately 12 to 14 stitches and 16 to 20 rows over 4 inches in garter stitch. If your gauge is tighter (more stitches per inch), go up a needle size. If your gauge is looser (fewer stitches per inch), go down a needle size. This small investment of time at the beginning will save you from the frustration of knitting an entire pillow only to find it does not fit your insert.

The Pattern: Step-by-Step Instructions

This pattern creates two identical or mirrored squares that are seamed together along three sides, the pillow insert is slipped in, and the final side is seamed closed. Some knitters prefer to leave the final seam open and add a zipper or button closure for easier washing, which is a perfectly valid modification.

Abbreviations:

CO = Cast on
K = Knit
RS = Right side
WS = Wrong side
BO = Bind off

Casting On

Using Color A, cast on 54 stitches (or adjust based on your gauge to achieve an 18-inch width). A long-tail cast on works well here and gives you a neat, elastic edge.

Body of the Pillow Panel

Row 1 (RS): Knit across all stitches.
Row 2 (WS): Knit across all stitches.

Continue in garter stitch, changing colors every 4 to 6 rows to create your stripes. Here is a suggested stripe sequence, but feel free to adjust based on your color preferences:

Rows 1–6: Color A
Rows 7–10: Color B
Rows 11–16: Color A
Rows 17–20: Color B

Repeat this sequence until your panel measures approximately 18 inches from the cast-on edge, ending after completing a full stripe in whichever color you prefer to have at the top and bottom of your pillow.

When changing colors, you do not need to cut your yarn every time if your stripes are close enough together. Simply carry the unused color up the side of your work, catching it every few rows to keep it neat. If your stripes are longer, cutting the yarn and weaving in ends is tidier.

Binding Off

Bind off loosely in knit. A loose bind off is important here because a tight bind off can pucker the edge and make seaming more difficult. If you tend to bind off tightly, try going up one needle size just for the bind off row.

Make a Second Panel

Repeat all of the above instructions to create a second identical panel. Some knitters like to mirror the stripe sequence on the second panel so that when the two pieces are held together (right sides facing), the stripes align perfectly. This is a lovely detail that takes no extra effort, just some planning before you start.

Seaming Your Pillow

Lay your two finished panels on a flat surface with their right sides facing each other. Thread your tapestry needle with a length of your main color yarn, roughly 36 to 48 inches long.

Using mattress stitch or whipstitch along three sides of the pillow, joining the edges securely. Mattress stitch creates an almost invisible seam and is well worth learning if you have not tried it before. Work slowly and pull your tension evenly to keep the seam neat.

Turn the pillow right side out through the open fourth side. Insert your pillow form or stuff with polyfill. If you are using a pillow form, compress it slightly to get it through the opening, then let it expand inside the knitted cover. Once your insert is in place, seam the final side closed using the same stitch you used for the others.

Weave in all remaining yarn ends securely using your tapestry needle. Pull each end through several stitches in different directions to anchor it well, then trim the excess.

Customizing Your Duo Knit Pillow

One of the genuine pleasures of following a simple pattern is how much room it leaves for personalization. Here are a few ideas for making this pillow entirely your own.

Play with stripe widths. Thin stripes of two or three rows create a preppy, graphic look. Thick stripes of ten or twelve rows feel more relaxed and modern. A combination of wide and narrow stripes within the same pillow adds visual interest while still keeping the knitting simple.

Choose a high-contrast color pairing. Black and white, charcoal and cream, or deep teal and burnt orange will give the pillow a bold, contemporary look. These kinds of pillows work especially well on neutral-colored sofas and beds.

Choose a subtle, tonal pairing. Two shades of the same color, like a pale blue and a medium blue, create a sophisticated, understated effect. This is particularly beautiful with Bernat Blanket yarn because the slight texture variation between the colors reads as deliberate and elegant.

Add a pom-pom trim. Sewing pom-poms along the seam line of your finished pillow adds a playful, bohemian touch. You can make pom-poms from your project yarn using a pom-pom maker or cardboard circles, or purchase ready-made pom-pom trim at most craft stores.

Try a different closure. Instead of seaming the final side closed, work three or four large button loops along one edge and sew corresponding buttons to the other. This makes the cover removable for washing and adds a charming handmade detail.

Vary the size. The single size (18 by 18 inches) is the most versatile and the easiest to find inserts for, but you can easily adapt this pattern to make lumbar pillows (roughly 12 by 20 inches) or larger accent pillows (20 by 20 inches) by adjusting your cast-on number and panel length according to your gauge.

Tips for Knitting with Bernat Yarn

Bernat yarn is widely available, reasonably priced, and comes in an impressive range of colors across its different product lines. A few tips will help you get the best results from your yarn.

Store your yarn away from direct sunlight and pet hair while you are working on your project. Bernat Blanket yarn, in particular, can be a lint magnet, and keeping your project in a zip-top bag or project bag between sessions will keep it looking its best.

When joining a new ball of yarn, whether for a color change or simply because you have run out, try to join at the beginning of a row rather than in the middle. This makes weaving in ends much easier and keeps your seams cleaner.

Block your finished panels before seaming them together. Lay each piece flat on a towel, mist lightly with water, gently shape it to your intended measurements, and allow it to dry completely. Blocking helps even out any uneven tension in your stitches and gives the finished fabric a smoother, more professional appearance. For acrylic Bernat yarn, you can also use a steam iron held above the fabric, not directly on it, to achieve a similar effect.

Making Multiple Pillows as a Set

Once you have knitted your first Bernat Garter Stripe Duo pillow, it is very likely you will want to make more. The pattern is fast, satisfying, and the results are immediately impressive on any couch or bed. A coordinated set of two or three pillows using the same color palette but with different stripe widths and arrangements creates a collected, intentional look that feels both handmade and polished.

Consider making one pillow with thick stripes, one with thin stripes, and one with a mix of both. Use the same two colors throughout to keep the set cohesive, or introduce a neutral third color on one of the pillows to add depth. Arrange all three on a sofa and watch how the variation between them reads as artful rather than random.

If you are making pillows as gifts, this pattern has an additional benefit: you can tailor the colors specifically to the recipient’s home. Ask them about their sofa color, their décor style, their favorite colors. A handknit pillow made in colors chosen specifically for someone’s home is a profoundly personal and practical gift that will be used and appreciated for years.

A Note on Washing and Care

Most Bernat yarns are machine washable, which makes them ideal for home décor items like pillows. Always check the label of the specific yarn you are using for care instructions, as these can vary between product lines. Generally speaking, washing your knit pillow cover on a gentle cold cycle and laying it flat to dry will keep it looking its best for a long time.

If you have added decorative elements like buttons or pom-pom trim, check those items for washability as well before tossing the whole pillow in the machine. Buttons with a shank can sometimes snag yarn fibers, so consider removing the pillow cover and hand washing it if that is the case.

Getting Started Today

If you have been sitting on a stack of Bernat yarn waiting for the right project, this is it. The Bernat Garter Stripe Duo Knit Pillow in a single size is genuinely accessible, genuinely useful, and genuinely beautiful. It asks very little of you technically and rewards you generously with a finished object that improves any room it inhabits.

Cast on this week and you could easily have a finished pillow by the weekend. If knitting for yourself feels indulgent, think of someone whose home could use a little extra warmth and color. Think of a friend who just moved into a new apartment, a family member who is going through a rough time, or a neighbor who would be completely charmed by the fact that you made something with your own hands.

Knitting is, at its best, a form of care. And a handknit pillow, soft and warm and made with intention, is about as comforting a thing as you can put in someone’s hands. Start with this free pattern, work in your favorite Bernat color combination, and enjoy every single garter stitch row along the way.