Finished size: 16" square or larger, depending on size of pillow form used.

Materials:

• Worsted weight yarn, approximately 4 oz. each of two strongly contrasting colors, designated Colors A & B (or "black" & "white", respectively) for the purposes of mosaic knitting;

• US size 8 or 9 (5-5.5 mm) needles, or size you normally use with worsted weight yarn;

• 16" or larger pillow form.

Pattern Stitches:

• Simulated Basketweave Mosaic -- chart given on previous page.

• Basket Stitch -- from Vogue Dictionary of Stitches by Anne Matthews.

        Multiple of 6 sts.
        Rows 1 & 3: *K2, p4; rep from * to end of row.
        Rows 2 & 4: *K4, p2; rep from * to end of row.
        Rows 5 & 7: P3, *k2, p4; rep from * to last 3 sts, k2, p1.
        Rows 6 & 8: K1, *k4, p2; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.
  

• Basket Pattern 1 -- from Vogue Dictionary of Stitches by Anne Matthews.

        Multiple of 20 sts.
        Row 1: *P2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k10; rep from * to end of row.
        Row 2 and all foll alt rows (WS): K the k sts and p the p sts.
        Row 3: *P2, k2, p2, k2, p12; rep from * to end of row.
        Row 5: as Row 1.
        Row 7: as Row 3.
        Row 9: as Row 1.
        Row 11: *K10, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2; rep from * to end of row.
        Row 13: *P12, k2, p2, k2, p2; rep from * to end of row.
        Row 15: as Row 11.
        Row 17: as Row 13.
        Row 19: as Row 11.
  

Instructions:

NOTE: Do not stretch pieces when measuring.

Side 1: With Color B ("white"), cast on 25 sts and knit one or two rows using Simulated Basketweave pattern stitch, work a garter stitch mosaic strip 15" in length, ending with a wrong-side row. Drop and cut current yarn. Pick up other yarn, knit one row, and then bind off in knit.

With Color A, pick up 1 st in EOR along one long side of strip. You will need a multiple of 10 sts plus 2 extra sts (to be used as selvedge sts.) Adjust your stitch count as you pick up sts or in the first row worked.

NOTE: If you have an odd multiple of 10 sts, you will not end each row "even", but instead will end with a half-pattern. An even multiple will end with a full pattern. Either is OK.

Knit one row (wrong side) and then on right side, start Basket Pattern 1. Work in this pattern until entire piece (including mosaic strip) measures approximately 14.75", ending with a wrong-side row. Purl one row and then bind off. The entire piece should now measure approximately 15" square.

Side 2: With Color A ("black"), cast on 25 stitches and knit one or two rows. Using the Simulated Basketweave pattern stitch, knit a second strip, also in garter stitch but with the color positions reversed. Work until strip is approximately 15" long.

Measure width of mosaic strip. Subtract value from 15 and divide by 2. Round to the nearest 1/2 inch. This is the number of inches of the Basket Stitch pattern stitch that you will knit on either side of the mosaic strip.

With Color B, pick up 1 st in EOR along one long edge of the mosaic strip. You will need a multiple of 6 sts plus 2 selvedge sts. Adjust your stitch count as you pick up sts or on the first row worked.

Knit one row (wrong side.) On right side, start knitting the Basket Stitch and work for the number of inches determined above, ending with a wrong-side row. Purl one row and then bind off.

Repeat Basket Stitch section on the other long side of the mosaic strip. The entire piece should measure approximately 15" square.

Finishing: Hide all ends on the wrong sides. Hold the two squares together with wrong sides facing each other. Pin three edges. Secures together by working an edging around the edges; either crochet a row of sc or knit a 3-st I-cord around the pinned edges, making sure to catch both sides up as you work. Do not cut yarn. Place pillow form inside pillow; there is sufficient stretch in the stitches used to allow the pillow cover to fit over the form. Pin remaining side closed and continue crocheted or I-cord edging. Cut yarn when fourth edge is done and hide remaining ends.

An equally attractive pillow can be made by swapping the colors used for the Basket Stitch and Basket Pattern 1 pattern sections. Try using Color B for the Basket Pattern 1 section of Side 1 and using Color A for the Basket Stitch section of Side 2.