Knit a Simple Basketweave Pillow to Cozy Up Your Home
There is something deeply satisfying about transforming a skein of yarn into something you actually live with. Not a garment that needs to fit just right, not a delicate lace project that demands perfect lighting and absolute silence — just a sturdy, beautiful pillow that sits on your couch and makes your living room feel warmer every single day. The basketweave pattern is one of knitting’s oldest textures, and it earns its enduring popularity. It looks complicated, it feels luxurious, and once you understand the rhythm of the stitches, it practically knits itself.
This tutorial will walk you through everything you need to know to knit a simple basketweave pillow from start to finish. Whether you are a confident beginner who has mastered knit and purl stitches or an experienced knitter looking for a satisfying weekend project, this pattern is designed to be approachable, forgiving, and genuinely enjoyable. By the end, you will have a handmade pillow cover that looks like it came from a boutique home decor shop — because handmade always looks that way when it is done with care.
What Is a Basketweave Knit Pattern?
Before you cast on a single stitch, it helps to understand what you are actually creating. The basketweave pattern is a textured stitch that alternates blocks of knit stitches and purl stitches to mimic the woven appearance of a wicker basket. When you knit a section of stitches over several rows and then switch where the knit and purl blocks fall, the fabric develops a three-dimensional, interlocking texture that is both visually striking and wonderfully tactile.
Unlike cables, basketweave requires no cable needle and no complicated twisting of stitches. It is built entirely on knits and purls, which means if you know those two fundamental stitches, you already have every technical skill this project requires. The pattern repeat is easy to memorize after just one or two pattern sections, and the regular rhythm makes it a great project for knitting while watching television or winding down at the end of the day.
The resulting fabric is thick and squishy, which makes it ideal for a throw pillow. It has enough visual interest to be a focal point in a room without overwhelming your decor, and it looks equally at home in a farmhouse living room, a modern apartment, or a cozy bedroom reading nook.
Materials You Will Need
Getting your materials right before you start will save you frustration down the road, so take a few minutes to gather everything before casting on.
Yarn: You will want a medium weight yarn, commonly labeled as worsted weight or a number 4 on the yarn weight scale. Worsted weight gives you enough thickness to make the basketweave texture pop without taking forever to knit. For a standard 18-inch square pillow insert, you will need approximately 400 to 500 yards of yarn. If you are going with a bulkier yarn or a larger pillow, add yardage accordingly. Choose a yarn with some wool content if you can — wool holds its shape beautifully and gives the texture dimension. That said, an acrylic or cotton blend works perfectly well, especially if you want a machine-washable pillow cover.
Needles: For worsted weight yarn, US size 7 or 8 (4.5 to 5 mm) needles are a good starting point. Always check your gauge before committing to a needle size. Straight needles work fine for this project since you will be knitting flat panels.
A pillow insert: An 18-inch square pillow insert is a classic choice and easy to find at craft stores or online. You can also use a 16-inch or 20-inch insert — just adjust your stitch count accordingly. Pillow inserts that are one to two inches larger than your finished cover will give it a plump, full look.
A tapestry needle: You will need this for seaming your panels together and for weaving in yarn ends.
Stitch markers (optional): These can help you keep track of your pattern repeats, especially when you are first learning the rhythm.
Scissors: Obviously.
Understanding Gauge
Gauge is the number of stitches and rows that fit within a set measurement — typically four inches by four inches. Gauge matters enormously for garments, but for a pillow, you have a little more flexibility. Still, it is worth doing a quick swatch before you dive in.
To check your gauge, cast on 20 stitches and work in the basketweave pattern for about 20 rows. Bind off, block your swatch by gently wetting it and laying it flat to dry, and then measure it. If you are getting roughly 18 to 20 stitches over four inches with worsted weight yarn on size 7 or 8 needles, you are in good shape.
If your swatch is smaller than expected (meaning your stitches are tight), go up a needle size. If your swatch is larger than expected (meaning your stitches are loose), go down a needle size. Adjust until you feel comfortable with the fabric your needles and yarn are making together. The texture should feel squishy and pliable, not stiff, and not so loose that it looks floppy.
The Pattern
This pattern creates two identical panels that you will seam together on three sides, insert your pillow form, and seam the last side closed. It is a simple envelope-style construction that even beginners can manage confidently.
Finished size: Approximately 18 inches square, to fit an 18-inch pillow insert.
Cast on: 66 stitches.
Note on the basketweave repeat: This pattern uses an 8-stitch, 8-row repeat. The blocks alternate every four rows, and the stitch columns shift every four stitches. You will knit two panels exactly the same way.
Setting Up Your Stitch Count
The stitch count of 66 gives you a generous border stitch on each side (the first and last stitch of every row are worked as knit stitches to create a clean selvedge edge) and eight full repeats of the basketweave pattern within.
If you want a different size, you can adjust by using multiples of 8 stitches plus 2 additional stitches for your selvedge edges. For a 16-inch pillow, try 56 stitches. For a 20-inch pillow, try 82 stitches.
Row-by-Row Instructions
Rows 1–4 (First half of basketweave block set A):
Row 1 (right side): K1 (selvedge), K4, P4, repeat from to across until last stitch, K1 (selvedge).
Row 2 (wrong side): K1 (selvedge), K4, P4, repeat from to across until last stitch, K1 (selvedge).
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Rows 5–8 (Second half of basketweave block set B):
Row 5 (right side): K1 (selvedge), P4, K4, repeat from to across until last stitch, K1 (selvedge).
Row 6 (wrong side): K1 (selvedge), P4, K4, repeat from to across until last stitch, K1 (selvedge).
Row 7: Repeat Row 5.
Row 8: Repeat Row 6.
These eight rows form one complete basketweave block. Repeat Rows 1 through 8 until your panel measures approximately 18 inches from the cast-on edge. Bind off all stitches.
Knit a second panel identical to the first.
A Note on Reading This Pattern
If you have not worked much with textured stitch patterns before, here is something that helps: when you are working on the wrong side of the fabric (even-numbered rows), the stitch that looks like a knit on the right side is actually worked as a purl on the wrong side, and vice versa. The instructions above account for this already — just follow each row exactly as written and the basketweave blocks will emerge naturally on the right side of your work.
If at any point the texture seems to be going sideways or your blocks look striped rather than woven, double-check that you are shifting the position of your knit and purl groups correctly at rows 5 and 9. That shift is the entire secret of the basketweave pattern.
Finishing Your Pillow
Once you have two identical panels, it is time to put your pillow together. This is where a little care and patience pays off enormously — a well-seamed pillow looks polished and professional.
Blocking your panels: Before seaming, block both panels. For wool yarn, wet blocking works beautifully. Soak your panels in cool water for about 20 minutes, gently press out the water (do not wring), and lay them flat on a clean towel or blocking mat. Pin them gently to your target dimensions — 18 by 18 inches — and let them dry completely. Blocking evens out your stitches and opens up the texture so the basketweave really shines. For acrylic yarn, you can steam block by holding a steam iron a few inches above the fabric without touching it.
Seaming: Lay your two panels together with the right sides facing each other. Thread your tapestry needle with a length of yarn about 24 inches long. Use a mattress stitch or a simple whipstitch to seam three sides of the pillow together. The mattress stitch creates a nearly invisible seam when done correctly and is worth learning if you do not already know it.
Once three sides are seamed, turn the pillow cover right side out. The texture should be facing outward on both sides now, and the corners should be neat and full.
Inserting the pillow form: Stuff your pillow insert into the open side. A slightly overstuffed look is better than an underfilled one — do not be shy. Once the insert is in, seam the final side closed using the same stitch you used for the other three sides.
Weaving in ends: Use your tapestry needle to weave all yarn ends securely into the seams or through the purl bumps on the wrong side of the fabric. Trim any excess yarn close to the fabric.
Tips for Making Your Basketweave Pillow Even Better
Choose your color intentionally. The basketweave texture does most of the visual work here, so the color you choose shapes the entire mood of the finished piece. Deep jewel tones like forest green, burgundy, or navy blue create a cozy, traditional feel. Neutral oatmeal, cream, or warm gray give the pillow an effortless, contemporary look. A bold mustard yellow or dusty rose adds personality and warmth. Because you are only using one color, you have the freedom to pick something you truly love.
Use a high-quality yarn. Since the pillow is sitting on your couch and being touched regularly, you want a yarn that feels good against skin and holds its shape over time. Avoid anything with too much acrylic if you want the pillow to have a natural drape, but do not overlook a good superwash wool or a wool-acrylic blend that combines softness with durability and easy care.
Add a button closure if you want the cover to be removable. Instead of seaming the fourth side completely closed, you can pick up stitches along the opening and work a few rows of ribbing with evenly spaced buttonholes. Sew corresponding buttons on the other side of the opening. This turns your pillow into a removable cover that you can wash as often as needed, which is a practical and tidy detail.
Make more than one. A single basketweave pillow is lovely. Three of them in coordinating colors arranged on a couch is a whole mood. Once you have worked through the pattern once, you will find the second and third pillows go faster and you can enjoy the process without consulting the instructions at every row.
Caring for Your Handknit Pillow
The care instructions depend on your yarn. If you used a washable wool or acrylic yarn, the cover can usually be machine washed on a gentle cycle in cold water and laid flat to dry. Avoid putting knitted items in the dryer unless the yarn label specifically says it is safe — heat can cause natural fibers to shrink and distort.
For non-washable wool, hand washing is the safest option. Use a small amount of gentle wool wash or baby shampoo in cool water, soak for about 10 minutes without agitating, gently press out the water, and reshape the cover on a flat surface to dry.
With proper care, a well-made knitted pillow cover can last for years and even decades. Handknits tend to soften and improve with gentle washing over time, so your pillow will only get more comfortable as it settles into your home.
Why Handmade Home Decor Is Worth Your Time
It is easy to order a pillow online or pick one up at a home goods store, and there is nothing wrong with that. But there is a particular kind of satisfaction in looking at a corner of your home and thinking: I made that. The basketweave pillow you knit yourself is not just a decorative object — it carries the hours you spent with it, the evenings when you picked it up while a podcast played in the background, the small meditative focus of counting stitches and watching a texture build row by row.
Handmade objects also have a quality of attention that mass-produced items rarely match. You chose the yarn, you checked the gauge, you blocked the panels and seamed the seams with care. The finished pillow reflects that investment, and people will notice it — not always consciously, but in the way a room feels when it contains things that were made by hand.
Knitting a basketweave pillow is also a genuinely good project for building your skills. If you are newer to knitting, it gives you meaningful practice with knit and purl stitches in a context where small imperfections are absorbed by the texture. If you are a more experienced knitter, it is a satisfying, low-stakes project that produces something beautiful and useful without demanding your full concentration at all times.
Final Thoughts
The basketweave pillow is one of those projects that delivers far more than it asks of you. The pattern is simple, the materials are easy to find, the construction is straightforward, and the result looks and feels genuinely luxurious. It is the kind of project you will be glad you started and even gladder to finish — and then, with any luck, you will immediately cast on another one.
Start with a yarn you love in a color that makes you happy. Work through the first pattern repeat until the rhythm feels familiar. Watch the basketweave texture emerge row by row and trust the process. Before long you will be binding off a panel that looks every bit as beautiful as the image in your head — maybe even better, because you made it yourself.
That is what knitting does at its best. It turns raw materials and time into something warm, textured, and entirely yours.
