This was a very easy project with awesome results. It’s the kind of thing you can finish in one afternoon, and makes a good gift item. I used a simple feather & fan stitch, but you could use any other difficult lace stitch you want to practice before jumping into a giant shawl or sweater.

For the yarn, I chose Noro Kureyon, the yarn everyone loves to hate. I chose the brightest colorway available and bought 2 skeins. Noro regularly discontinues colors, so make sure you buy enough- 2 skeins should do it unless you’re planning to use small needles. I also chose the Wool Peddler’s handpicked recycled silk, again making a special note to pick the brightest colors possible.

Pro-tip: the finished piece should come out to be 14″X28″, but buy your pillow insert AFTER you knit in case it’s a little bigger or smaller.

Gauge: 3 sts per inch. On smaller needles, knit a swatch and calculate cast on stitches, allowing for room for lace stitches to stretch (i.e. cast on about 10-20 LESS.)

Using size 10 needles, cast on 90 stitches with yarn A- Kureyon.
Feather & Fan Stitch:
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: *YO, YO, YO, K2tog, K2tog, K2tog, YO, YO, YO*, repeat *-* to end.
Row 4: Knit.

Repeat 2X, then switch to yarn B- recycled silk. Continue pattern, switching yarns every 8 rows. Repeat until piece measures 14″, then loosely bind off. Sew two edges of the rectangle together to form a square, leaving one side open to insert pillow. Insert pillow and stitch third side. You’re done!

Optional: sew a fabric lining for the pillow to avoid the white pillow showing through.