The Cotton Tails Pillow is a charming knit pattern featuring three adorable bunnies with fluffy pom-pom tails. Designed using intarsia knitting techniques, it includes a digital chart for the bunnies design to make tracking your progress simple and enjoyable. With step-by-step picture aids and helpful tips, this is a fun and rewarding project for any knitter!
Can you believe that it is Easter time?
Sprintime has really snuck up on me, but in a good way. I love Spring.
For each season/holiday, I always love adding handmade holiday home decor pieces around my house, so that’s how this Easter knit pillow was born!
This 20″x12″ pillow makes it easy to display in your house on your couch, a chair, bed, etc. It adds a bit of Easter holiday decor, without it being overbeaing.
It is a sophisticated Easter decor piece without it screaming Easter, so if you forget to put it away for a few weeks (I neeeevvvver do that . . . ), it still won’t look out of place.
It also is such a cute piece to gift to those you love! A housewarming gift, a gift for the kids you love, or to bring to the office. The possibilities are endless!
DESCRIPTION
The Cotton Tails Pillow is a knit pillow that uses a pillow form for a more professional look.
Two separate panels are made and then the 3 seams are sewn using Mattress Stitch, and then the pillow insert is inserted before the last seam is done.
My favorite part of the pillow is definitely the 3 pom poms, though!
I used a Pom Pom Maker to make the pom poms for this pillow, and I think it’s worth it to get a Pom Pom Maker. It helps make the pom poms really full, which I think really make the pillow extra cute.
The Clover Pom Pom Maker is my favorite brand for this. Very easy to use, plus it comes with two sizes.
I used the larger pom pom maker (2.5″) for the pom poms on the Cotton Tails Pillow.
I made the sample pillow in the color “Beryl” and “Ecru“, but there are so many beautiful colors in the Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch colorway!
I think the Cotton Tails Pillow would look beautiful in the color “Turquoise Heather” as the main color of the pillow.
And how cute would it be if the pom poms were a different color?
Or even if you did the pom poms and the “inside” ear part as the same color that differs from the main body color of the bunnies?
I think “Deco Rose” would be so cute for this! A perfect Spring color.
And did you know that I have a sister CROCHET pattern of the Cotton Tails Pillow? It is called the Easter Tails Pillow.
The Easter Tails Pillow is also a free pattern on my blog, and you can check it out HERE.
YARN + NEEDLES
The Cotton Tails Pillow is made using Basic Stitch Yarn, and I used 8-5.00mm circular knitting needles.
I used the colorway “Beryl” and “Ecru” because I wanted it to match the crochet yarn colors I chose when I made the crochet version a few years ago, but there are so many colors that would be adorable to use for this Bunny Pillow!
Lion Brand Basic Stitch yarn is machine washable and dryable, and is is 100% acrylic.
There are 185 yards in a 3.5 oz skein.
For this project, I used 1.25 balls (230 yards) of Beryl and 3/4 ball of Ecru.
Basic Stitch is such a good staple of a yarn, that I think 3 skeins for a knit pillow is pretty good, especially for the quality of Basic Stitch.
But one of the best things about Basic Stitch besides the quality is that there are so many yarn colors to choose from!
There are 48 colors in Basic Stitch, so you can really get creative with what colors to use.
And if you want to keep in the loop of sales that Lion Brand Yarn is running, sign up for my newsletter because I’ll keep you in the loop for when the sale is good.
DIFFICULTY
The Cotton Tails Pillow uses Intarsia knitting techniques, but you could always do Duplicate Stitch if you do not enjoy intarsia knitting.
Because this is a colorwork knitting pattern, it is rated as a Level 3 – intermediate pattern.
If you know how to change colors when knitting, you’ll be able to do this pattern, though!
I have helpful picture aids in the pattern to show my tips for changing colors when doing intarsia knitting, so check those out if you need a bit of a refresher.
And remember, when doing intarsia knitting, you use bobbins of color, so I began my project with creating little bobbins of color.
Stockinette Stitch is used throughout the pattern to allow the colorwork to shine.
A Horizontal Mattress Seam is used to sew the panels together on the top/bottom. If you wanted to lessen the seaming, you could knit the Back Panel and continue onto the Front Panel without binding off.
If you decide to do this, I would subtract 2 rows from the Back since you will not have a CO/BO edge.
Some people find it easier to look at the written instructions for intarsia knitting, while others prefer a chart.
I find it easier (and faster!) to follow a chart, but I’ve included both.
If you do not know how to track your progress digitally, you can view the video below.
So go ahead and cozy up with a blanket while watching the explanation.
Need ideas of what blanket to cozy up with? Here are some blanket ideas to make! And most of them are free patterns on my blog.
So let’s begin!
MATERIALS
- 2 balls of Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch, “Beryl” (202-174AA), weight 4, 100% acrylic, 3.5 oz/100 g, 185 yds/170 m (A)
- 1 ball of Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch, “Ecru” (202-098C), weight 4, 100% acrylic, 3.5 oz/100 g, 185 yds/170 m (B)
- US 8/5.0mm circular knitting needles (24”)
- 20”x12” pillow insert
- 2.5” Pom-Pom Maker (optional)
- Clips (optional)
- Stitch Markers
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle
- Digital Chart
SKILL LEVEL
Level 3 – Intermediate
GAUGE
16 sts = 4″
23 rows = 4″
SIZES
Finished size of each panel is 19.5″ x 11.5″
You want the pillow cover to be a bit smaller than the 20″ x 12″ pillow insert, or you’ll have a saggy pillow cover.
TERMINOLOGY
- A – color A
- B – color B
- bet – between
- BO – bind off
- CO – cast on
- k – knit
- p – purl
- rem – remaining
- rep – repeat
- RS – right side
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- WS – wrong side
- The right-hand side of the chart has odd numbers (RS) and the left side has even numbers (WS). Knit the odd rows and purl the even rows.
- Every block of the chart represents 1 st.
- The pattern is written for intarsia knitting. Create bobbins of color for the 3 bunny sections.
- When changing colors, twist the old color over the new color to prevent holes.
you can get the Lion Brand Yarn kit HERE, which includes all of the yarn to make the blanket as well as the digital download of the pattern!
PATTERN
Front
Using the Long Tail Cast On and color A, CO 78 sts
Row 1 (RS): k across (78 sts)
Row 2: p across
Rows 3-6: rep Rows 1-2
Row 7: A6, B2, A4, B5, A4, B2, A6, B2, A5, B4, A5, B2, A7, B2, A3, B7, A3, B2, A7
When adding a new color, 1 st before new color, pick up new color bet needles.
Knit last st before color change like normal; this traps tail on WS.
Rest the old color around on top of new color; this secures yarn so there’s no gap.
Knit with new color as normal.
Row 8: A5, B5, A1, B9, A1, B5, A4, B4, A2, B8, A2, B4, A3, B5, A1, B9, A1, B5, A4
Row 9: A4, B21, A2, B22, A2, B23, A4
Row 10: A4, B23, A2, B22, A2, B21, A4
Row 11: A4, B21, A2, B22, A2, B23, A4
Row 12: A4, B23, A2, B22, A2, B21, A4
Row 13: A5, B19, A4, B20, A4, B21, A5
Row 14: A6, B19, A5, B20, A4, B19, A5
Row 15: A6, B17, A6, B18, A6, B19, A6
Row 16: A7, B17, A8, B16, A8, B15, A7
Row 17: A7, B15, A8, B16, A8, B17, A7
Row 18: A7, B17, A8, B16, A8, B15, A7
Row 19: A7, B15, A8, B16, A8, B17, A7
Row 20: A8, B15, A9, B16, A8, B15, A7
Row 21: A7, B15, A9, B14, A10, B15, A8
Row 22: A8, B15, A10, B14, A9, B15, A7
Row 23: A8, B13, A10, B14, A10, B15, A8
Row 24: A8, B15, A10, B14, A10, B13, A8
Row 25: A8, B13, A11, B12, A12, B13, A9
Row 26: A9, B13, A12, B12, A12, B11, A9
Row 27: A9, B11, A13, B10, A14, B11, A10
Row 28: A10, B11, A14, B10, A13, B11, A9
Row 29: A8, B13, A11, B12, A12, B13, A9
Row 30: A8, B15, A10, B14, A9, B15, A7
Row 31: A7, B15, A9, B14, A10, B15, A8
Row 32: A8, B15, A9, B16, A8, B15, A7
Row 33: A7, B15, A8, B16, A9, B15, A8
Row 34: A8, B15, A10, B14, A9, B15, A7
Row 35: A7, B15, A9, B14, A10, B15, A8
Row 36: A9, B13, A11, B14, A10, B13, A8
Row 37: A9, B11, A12, B12, A12, B13, A9
Row 38: A10, B11, A13, B12, A12, B11, A9
Row 39: A9, B11, A12, B12, A13, B11, A10
Row 40: A10, B11, A14, B10, A13, B11, A9
Row 41: A9, B11, A13, B10, A14, B11, A10
Row 42: A10, B11, A14, B10, A13, B11, A9
Row 43: A10, B9, A15, B8, A16, B9, A11
Row 44: A7, B1, A3, B9, A3, B1, A13, B6, A16, B9, A3, B1, A6
Row 45: A6, B2, A2, B9, A14, B10, A11, B2, A2, B9, A3, B2, A6
Row 46: A6, B3, A1, B11, A1, B3, A10, B10, A13, B11, A1, B3, A5
Row 47: A5, B3, A1, B11, A12, B12, A9, B3, A1, B11, A1, B3, A6
Row 48: A6, B19, A9, B12, A11, B6, A1, B9, A5
Row 49: A5, B9, A1, B6, A11, B5, A2, B5, A9, B9, A1, B9, A6
Row 50: A6, B8, A3, B8, A9, B5, A2, B5, A11, B6, A2, B8, A5
Row 51: A5, B8, A2, B6, A11, B5, A2, B5, A9, B8, A3, B8, A6
Row 52: A7, B7, A3, B7, A10, B5, A2, B5, A11, B6, A2, B7, A6
Row 53: A6, B6, A4, B5, A11, B5, A2, B5, A10, B7, A3, B7, A7
Row 54: A8, B5, A5, B5, A11, B5, A2, B5, A11, B5, A4, B5, A7
Row 55: A8, B3, A5, B5, A11, B4, A4, B4, A12, B3, A7, B3, A9
Row 56: A10, B2, A7, B2, A13, B4, A4, B4, A11, B5, A5, B2, A9
Row 57: A17, B4, A11, B4, A4, B4, A34
Row 58: A34, B4, A4, B4, A12, B3, A17
Row 59: A17, B3, A12, B3, A6, B3, A34
Row 60: A34, B3, A6, B3, A12, B3, A17
Row 61: A18, B2, A13, B2, A6, B2, A35
Row 62: A35, B1, A8, B1, A13, B2, A18
Rows 63-64: A78 across
BO all sts. Weave in ends.
Back
Using the Long Tail Cast On and color A, CO 78 sts
Row 1: k across (78 sts)
Row 2: p across
Rows 3-64: rep Rows 1-2
BO all sts. Weave in ends.
Pom-Pom Tails
Step 1: Using Pom-Pom Maker or cardboard template, wrap yarn until it’s fully covered with a few layers of yarn.
Step 2: Insert scissors under the wrapped yarn and cut all strands.
Step 3: Using an 8-10” piece of yarn, tie the cut yarn strands together carefully.
Step 4: Carefully pull away the template or open the pom-pom maker.
Step 5: Fluff up the yarn and trim any uneven strands to form a sphere leaving 2 long strands to tie onto pillow.
Step 6: Sew pom-pom onto bunny. Tie a knot on the WS to secure.
Rep for all three bunnies. Weave in ends.
Finishing
Step 1: With RS facing up and using color A, Mattress Stitch both sides and Horizontal Mattress Seam top.
Step 2: Insert pillow form.
Step 3: Horizontal Mattress Seam bottom closed. You may want to use optional clips to pin Front and Back together to ensure they match up. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Insert needle under two legs of top stitich on one panel.
Pull needle through stitch.
Insert needle under two legs of top stitch on other panel.
And that’s how you make the Cotton Tails PIllow!
Make sure that when you post to social media or another platform, please refer back to me as the designer. If you are on Instagram, tag @CozyNooksDesigns for a chance to be featured!
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Cozy Nooks Designs
Rachel Alford from Cozy Nooks Designs was on the PBS TV show Knit and Crochet Now! season 13. She also designs for Lion Brand Yarn, has been in several crochet/knit magazines, and freelances by filming videos for Annie’s online episodes. Be sure to check out her YouTube Channel for tips, tricks, & tutorials!
