Valhalla Columns Knitted Pillow [FREE Knitting Pattern]

There is something deeply satisfying about a pillow that looks like it belongs in a great hall. The Valhalla Columns Knitted Pillow is exactly that kind of project — bold, architectural, and deceptively straightforward to knit. Whether you are a seasoned knitter who wants a quick weekend project or someone just past the beginner stage looking for their first real texture pattern, this design delivers on every front. The tall, vertical columns of raised stitches create a striking visual effect that photographs beautifully and feels even better in your hands. Best of all, you can make it entirely for free using this pattern.

Let’s talk about what makes this pillow special before we dive into the actual instructions.

What Is the Valhalla Columns Pattern?

The name comes from the dramatic vertical ribbing that runs the full height of the pillow. These raised columns of knit stitches set against a background of purl stitches create a three-dimensional texture that catches the light from multiple angles. The effect is almost sculptural, reminiscent of carved stone columns or the wooden pillars you might imagine supporting the roof of a Viking longhouse. Hence the name — Valhalla, the great hall of Norse mythology.

From a technical standpoint, this pillow uses a simple combination of knit and purl stitches worked in a repeating pattern. There is no cable needle required, no complex colorwork, and no shaping to worry about. The magic comes entirely from the interplay of positive and negative space in the stitch pattern itself. This makes it an excellent project for learning how to read texture charts, understanding how knit and purl stitches interact, and building the kind of confidence that comes from finishing a project that looks impressive but was not actually that difficult.

Materials You Will Need

Before you cast on, gather everything you need so you are not hunting for supplies mid-project.

Yarn: Approximately 200–250 yards of bulky weight yarn (weight category 5 or 6). For the pillow shown here, a wool or wool-blend yarn in a medium to deep tone works beautifully because it shows the texture. Cream, warm gray, navy, forest green, and deep burgundy are all excellent choices. Avoid highly textured or fuzzy yarns like mohair for your first attempt — they obscure the stitch pattern. A smooth, plied yarn gives the cleanest definition to those columns.

Needles: US size 10 (6mm) straight or circular needles. If your gauge tends to run tight, go up to US 10.5 (6.5mm). If you knit loosely, try US 9 (5.5mm).

Notions: A yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming, two stitch markers (optional but helpful), scissors, and a 16×16 inch pillow insert or a pillow insert of your chosen size.

Gauge: Approximately 14 stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches (10cm) in the column pattern after blocking. Always swatch! Gauge matters more for a pillow than you might think because you need the finished panels to be large enough to cover the insert without stretching or gapping.

Sizing Information

This pattern is written for a standard 16×16 inch pillow insert, which is one of the most common sizes and widely available at craft stores and online. If you want to make a larger or smaller pillow, the pattern repeats on a multiple of 8 stitches plus 2 for the selvedge edges. You can adjust up or down in increments of 8 stitches to change the width, and simply work more or fewer rows to adjust the height.

For a 20×20 inch pillow, add roughly 14 stitches to your cast-on and work additional rows until the panel measures 20 inches. Your yarn requirements will increase accordingly — plan on around 350–400 yards for the larger size.

Understanding the Stitch Pattern

The Valhalla Columns pattern is based on an 8-stitch repeat. Each repeat consists of 4 knit stitches followed by 4 purl stitches when viewed from the right side. On the wrong side, you simply work each stitch as it appears — knit the knits and purl the purls. This is called working in pattern or working in established ribbing, and once you understand this principle, you will find that the pattern almost knits itself.

The visual effect comes from the way knit stitches pop forward on the fabric and purl stitches recede. The 4-stitch columns of raised knit stitches against the 4-stitch valleys of recessed purl stitches create that dimensional, columnar look. Unlike standard 2×2 ribbing, the wider columns here have a more architectural, less elastic feel, which is exactly what you want for a sturdy home décor pillow.

The Free Knitting Pattern

Abbreviations

CO — cast on
k — knit
p — purl
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
st(s) — stitch(es)
rep — repeat
pm — place marker
sm — slip marker
BO — bind off

Cast On and Setup

Using your chosen needles and yarn, CO 58 stitches using the long-tail cast on method. The long-tail cast on gives a neat, sturdy edge that works well for pillow panels.

If you want to use stitch markers to keep track of your pattern repeats, place a marker after the first stitch and before the last stitch. The first and last stitches are your selvedge stitches — knit these on every row regardless of the pattern to create a tidy edge that will be easier to seam later.

Row 1 (RS): Establish the Pattern

Knit 1 (selvedge stitch), k4, p4, repeat from to across until 1 stitch remains, k1 (selvedge stitch).

You should have one selvedge stitch at each end and 7 complete 8-stitch pattern repeats across the middle (56 stitches in pattern).

Row 2 (WS): Work in Pattern

Knit 1 (selvedge), p4, k4, repeat from to across until 1 stitch remains, k1 (selvedge).

On wrong side rows, the stitches appear reversed from what they look like on the right side. You are knitting the stitches that were purled on the previous row and purling the stitches that were knitted. This maintains the column structure.

Rows 3 onward

Continue working Row 1 on all right side rows and Row 2 on all wrong side rows until the panel measures exactly 16 inches from the cast-on edge, ending after a wrong side row.

Bind off loosely in pattern on the next right side row: knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as you bind off. A loose bind-off is important here — binding off too tightly can pull the edge in and make seaming difficult.

Make Two Panels

You need two identical panels. Make a second panel exactly the same way as the first. Both panels should measure approximately 16×16 inches after a light block.

Blocking

Blocking transforms a good knit into a great one. Wet blocking is recommended for this pattern. Soak each panel in cool water with a drop of wool wash for about 20 minutes until fully saturated. Gently squeeze out the water (do not wring), then roll each panel in a clean towel to remove the excess. Lay flat on a blocking mat or folded towels, pin to the correct dimensions, and allow to dry completely. For bulky yarn this typically takes 12–24 hours.

Blocking relaxes the stitches, opens up the texture, and makes the columns look sharper and more defined. It also makes the panels easier to seam because the edges are flatter and more cooperative.

Seaming the Pillow

Place the two panels with right sides facing each other. Using a yarn needle and a length of matching yarn, seam three sides together using the mattress stitch or whipstitch. Mattress stitch gives the most invisible seam on knitted fabric and is worth the extra time if you want a polished finish.

Turn the cover right side out. Insert your 16×16 pillow form. Seam the fourth side closed.

If you would like to be able to remove the insert for washing, you can substitute the fourth seamed edge with a simple button closure. Cast on an extra inch or so of overlap when making one of your panels, work a few buttonholes evenly spaced across the edge, and sew corresponding buttons to the other panel.

Weave in all ends securely and give the finished pillow a gentle press with a damp cloth to make the seams lie flat.

Tips for Getting Great Results

Choose your yarn thoughtfully. The texture in this pattern lives or dies by yarn choice. A smooth, round-plied yarn in a solid color will give you the crispest, most defined columns. Tweedy or heathered yarns can work beautifully too — they add visual depth — but avoid anything so textured that it hides the stitch pattern. Some wonderful options are Cascade 220, Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick for extra speed, Malabrigo Chunky for luxurious softness, or even a good quality acrylic like Caron Simply Soft if you want an easy-care option.

Swatch seriously. Knitters are notorious for skipping swatches and then being disappointed when a project comes out the wrong size. For a pillow, an inch of difference in gauge means your cover will either be too small to get the insert in, or too floppy and saggy once it is in. Knit a 6-inch square in the column pattern, block it the same way you will block the finished panels, measure it, and adjust your needle size accordingly.

Count your stitches regularly. The column pattern is very forgiving of minor errors because both rows look nearly the same. However, if you accidentally knit where you should purl or vice versa, the column breaks and you will notice it immediately when you look at the right side. Develop the habit of glancing at your work from the right side every few rows to make sure the columns are lining up correctly.

Use a lifeline at the midpoint. Thread a contrasting piece of waste yarn through your live stitches when the panel is about 8 inches long. If you make an error in the second half, you have a fallback point without needing to rip all the way back to the beginning.

Work the selvedge stitches consistently. Knitting the first and last stitch of every row — regardless of whether the pattern calls for a knit or purl at that position — creates a neat chain edge along the sides of the panel. This edge is both easier to seam and more attractive if any part of it peeks out.

Variations and Customizations

One of the best things about this pattern is how easy it is to make your own. Here are a few directions you might take it.

The Wide Column Version: Instead of an 8-stitch repeat with 4-and-4, try a 12-stitch repeat with 6-and-6. The columns become broader and even more dramatic, almost like wide planks of wood. This version works especially well in a warm cream or natural undyed wool.

The Alternating Columns Version: For a more complex look without adding technical difficulty, offset the column pattern on the second panel. Start the second panel with purl stitches where the first panel has knit stitches. When you place these panels together (right sides out), the columns of one panel will sit in the valleys of the other, creating an interesting shadow-play effect even though the seamed side faces down.

Color blocking: Use two different colors of yarn — one for each panel — for a pillow that has a different look depending on which side faces out. This works particularly well with complementary neutrals like charcoal and cream, or warm and cool tones of the same color family.

Adding a border: Work a simple garter stitch border by knitting the first and last 4 stitches of every row (rather than just 1 selvedge stitch on each end). This creates a flat garter border that frames the column texture and can also help the panels lie flatter before seaming.

Going bigger: Scale this up to a lumbar pillow (12×20 inches or 14×24 inches) by adjusting your stitch count to the appropriate width and working until the panel reaches the correct length. Lumbar pillows make excellent accent pieces for sofas and beds.

Why This Pattern Is Perfect for Intermediate Knitters

If you can knit and purl, you can make this pillow. That is not an exaggeration or a marketing line — it is genuinely true. The entire pattern is knit stitches and purl stitches, worked in a consistent, easy-to-remember repeat. After the first few inches, your hands will know the pattern by feel and you will not need to consult the instructions anymore.

At the same time, this pillow teaches you something. It teaches you how texture emerges from the simplest combination of two basic stitches. It teaches you to read your knitting and recognize what each stitch should look like when you approach it. It teaches you that blocking is not optional — it is part of the process. And it teaches you to seam, which is one of the most useful and transferable skills in all of knitting.

There is a real pleasure in finishing a project that looks like it required complicated technique when actually you just trusted the simple math of knit and purl. That pleasure is part of why knitters keep coming back to textured stitch patterns.

Caring for Your Valhalla Columns Pillow

How you care for the finished pillow depends on your yarn choice. Wool and wool blends generally benefit from hand washing in cool water with a gentle soap, followed by the same block-and-dry process used during finishing. Most acrylic and acrylic blend yarns are machine washable on a gentle cycle, but always check the yarn label first.

Remove the pillow insert before washing the cover. Washing the cover without the insert allows it to get fully clean and prevents the insert from bunching or distorting inside.

Over time, pilling may occur on high-wear surfaces. A fabric shaver (also called a pill remover) quickly restores the surface texture and makes an older knitted pillow look nearly new. Many knitters find this kind of maintenance satisfying rather than tedious — it is a small act of care for something you made with your own hands.

Store the pillow away from direct sunlight to preserve the yarn’s color. Wool in particular can fade with prolonged sun exposure. This is a pillow meant for a great hall, not left out in the sun like a mortal object.

Final Thoughts

The Valhalla Columns Knitted Pillow is one of those patterns that delivers more than it promises. You pick it up thinking you are making a simple knit-purl project, and you end up with something that genuinely stops people in their tracks. The bold, vertical columns have a timeless quality that works in modern, Scandinavian, rustic, and traditional interiors alike. They look hand-crafted in the best sense of the word — not rough or amateur, but intentional and artisanal.

Make one for your own sofa. Make two and pair them. Make three in different colors and stack them in a basket. Give one as a housewarming gift wrapped in tissue with a handwritten note. This pattern scales effortlessly to any quantity and is fast enough that a single pillow panel can be completed in a few evenings of comfortable knitting.

Download this free pattern, gather your materials, and cast on. Valhalla awaits.