Bring a touch of timeless charm to your home with the Heirloom Rooster Pillow! This cozy pillow cover is knit in the round using simple stockinette stitch, then embellished with a beautifully detailed rooster using the duplicate stitch technique.

Whether you’re new to duplicate stitch or already love adding colorwork after the knitting is complete, this project is a relaxing and rewarding make that creates a striking heirloom-quality piece for your home.

The pillow cover is designed to fit a 12 × 12 in (30 × 30 cm) pillow insert and is intentionally knit slightly taller and narrower to create a snug, polished fit once seamed around the insert.

Pattern Notes

• Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

• Construction: Knit in the round from the bottom up in stockinette stitch. After blocking, the rooster motif is added using duplicate stitch. The pillow insert is then placed inside, and the remaining opening is closed with mattress stitch.

• Finished Measurements: Approximately 11 × 13 in (28 × 33 cm) when laid flat before seaming.

• Gauge: 22 stitches × 26 rounds = 4 × 4 in (10 × 10 cm) in stockinette stitch worked in the round after blocking.

• Yarn: Approximately 300 yards (275 m) of worsted-weight yarn in 13 colors. Sample shown in Malabrigo Rios.

• Needles: US 8 (5 mm) 24 in (60 cm) circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.

• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, and a 12 × 12 in (30 × 30 cm) pillow insert - link for the insert included in the pattern.

Helpful video tutorials for duplicate stitch, wet blocking, steam blocking, and mattress stitch are included throughout the pattern, making this project approachable even if you’re trying one of these techniques for the first time.