Free Love Pillow Bobble Stitch Practice Knitting Pattern

Learning a new knitting technique feels much easier when you can practise it in a project that is small, useful and enjoyable to make. This free Love Pillow knitting pattern was designed to help you become comfortable with the Bobble Stitch before moving on to a larger bobble-stitch blanket.

Worked flat in one piece, the cushion cover combines simple Knit and Purl Stitches with raised bobbles that form the word LOVE. There are no colour changes or Intarsia to manage, so you can give your full attention to making, shaping and positioning each bobble.

The finished cover is designed to fit a 12 x 20 inch cushion inner, making it a lovely addition to your home or a thoughtful handmade gift for someone special.

Why Make the Love Pillow?

This is an ideal practice project for an advanced beginner who can already Knit and Purl and is ready to learn a decorative textured stitch.

• Practise making consistent bobbles.
• Learn how bobbles are positioned to create lettering.
• Build confidence reading written rows and a knitting chart.
• Work a complete project without the added challenge of colour changes.
• Use your new skills to prepare for a larger bobble-stitch blanket.

Download the Free Printable Love Pillow Pattern

The complete pattern is available to follow online below. If you would prefer a printer-friendly copy with the full knitting chart and step-by-step Bobble Stitch photographs, download the free PDF pattern from the Love Pillow listing.

Download information: Complete checkout to receive the free PDF by email. If your order total is £0.00, no payment details are required - only your name and the email address where you would like the pattern sent.

Love Pillow Materials

• Aran/Worsted weight yarn - approximately 210g used. The original sample used two 170g balls of Caron Simply Soft in Strawberry #0015.
• 5mm knitting needles (US 8 / UK 6).
• 12 x 20 inch cushion inner (30 x 50cm).
• Tapestry or yarn needle.
• Scissors.
• Stitch markers are optional.

Gauge and Finished Size

Gauge:
18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 x 4 inches (10 x 10cm).

Change needle size if needed to achieve the correct gauge.

Finished size:
Approximately 20 x 12 inches (50 x 30cm), designed to fit a 12 x 20 inch cushion inner.

Abbreviations

• k - Knit
• p - Purl
• mb - Make Bobble
• sts - Stitches
• RS - Right side
• WS - Wrong side
• () - Repeat the instructions inside the brackets the number of times stated

Helpful Pattern Notes

• The cushion cover is knitted flat in one piece.
• Every row contains 93 stitches.
• The front features the bobble-stitch LOVE design and the back is worked in Stockinette Stitch.
• The Seed Stitch sections form the decorative borders.
• Use a plain, solid-colour yarn for the clearest bobble definition.
• The cover can be sewn closed or finished with poppers on the final side seam so the cushion inner can be removed for washing.

Bobble Stitch Help

If this is your first time making bobbles, watch the Bobble Stitch tutorial before beginning. It is also useful to keep the tutorial open while you work the first bobble row.

Free Love Pillow Knitting Pattern

Cast on 93 sts.

Rows 1 to 6 - k1, (p1, k1) 46 times. (Seed Stitch)

Row 7 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times. (RS)

Row 9 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times.

Row 11 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k4, (mb, k3) 17 times, mb, k4, (p1, k1) 4 times. (18 bobbles)

Rows 13, 15 and 17 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times.

Row 19 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k4, mb, k67, mb, k4, (p1, k1) 4 times. (2 bobbles)

Rows 21, 23 and 25 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times.

Row 27 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k4, mb, k14, (mb, k1) 2 times, (mb, k8) 2 times, (mb, k1) 2 times, mb, k4, (mb, k1) 4 times, mb, k13, mb, k4, (p1, k1) 4 times. (14 bobbles)

Row 29 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times.

Row 31 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k24, mb, k6, mb, k1, mb, k6, mb, k5, mb, k11, mb, k18, (p1, k1) 4 times. (6 bobbles)

Row 33 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times.

Row 35 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k4, mb, k13, (mb, k1) 3 times, mb, k5, mb, k3, (mb, k5) 2 times, mb, k11, mb, k13, mb, k4, (p1, k1) 4 times. (11 bobbles)

Row 37 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times.

Row 39 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k18, mb, k5, mb, k4, mb, k5, mb, k4, mb, k5, mb, k11, mb, k18, (p1, k1) 4 times. (7 bobbles)

Row 41 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times.

Row 43 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k4, mb, k14, (mb, k1) 2 times, mb, k4, mb, k7, mb, k4, (mb, k1) 2 times, mb, k12, mb, k13, mb, k4, (p1, k1) 4 times. (11 bobbles)

Row 45 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times.

Row 47 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k58, mb, k18, (p1, k1) 4 times. (1 bobble)

Row 49 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times.

Row 51 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k4, mb, k53, mb, k13, mb, k4, (p1, k1) 4 times. (3 bobbles)

Rows 53, 55 and 57 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times.

Row 59 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k4, mb, k67, mb, k4, (p1, k1) 4 times. (2 bobbles)

Rows 61, 63 and 65 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times.

Row 67 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k4, (mb, k3) 17 times, mb, k4, (p1, k1) 4 times. (18 bobbles)

Rows 69 and 71 - (k1, p1) 4 times, k to last 8 sts, (p1, k1) 4 times.

Rows 72 to 82 - k1, (p1, k1) 46 times. (Seed Stitch)

Rows 148 to 153 - k1, (p1, k1) 46 times. (Seed Stitch)

Cast off, leaving a long yarn tail to sew the side seam.

Making Up the Love Pillow

1. Lay the knitted piece out with the wrong side facing you.
2. Fold the top of the work over the bottom so the LOVE section is facing you, then pin the edges together.
3. Use the long yarn tail to sew the first side seam.
4. Sew the long bottom seam.
5. Place the cushion inner inside the cover.
6. Sew the final side seam closed.

Removable-cover option: If you would like to remove the cushion inner for washing, add poppers to the final side seam instead of sewing it permanently closed.

What to Make After the Love Pillow

Once your bobbles feel neat and consistent, you are ready to use the technique in a larger project. Explore the Bobble Stitch blanket collection for designs featuring textured words, pictures and decorative motifs.

Take your time, enjoy watching the LOVE design appear and be proud of every new bobble you make.

Let's make something beautiful together.

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This free knitting pattern is for personal use. You may sell finished items made from the pattern when Peach Unicorn Designs is credited as the designer. The written pattern, chart and photographs may not be copied, republished, translated, sold or redistributed.