I did a lot of knitting over the weekend, while I was socializing. I’ll just flash the latest ballband cloth. It was made from scrap yarns, with black cotton contrast. It’s BBC #4, if you’re keeping score at home.
However, most of the weekend, I was knitting in the round, cranking out my bolster pillow.
Pattern: Bolster Your Spirits Pillow is a very simple little pattern. You’ll note that one end is open… I still need to figure out how to finish it off so I can remove the pillow form to launder it. I did just pull the yarn through after the last row and draw it shut (like a hat), and then I sewed that bit shut, from the wrong side.
Isn’t it a pretty little puckered end?
Yarn: Plymouth’s Kudo might be one of the best-kept secrets in the industry, and here I am, ratting them out. It’s a cotton, rayon, silk blend, it’s self-striping, so what’s not to love!? Well… yes… it will require very special care when it needs to be washed, and that’s why I want to make the one end easy enough to open back up so I can slip the form out and hand-wash the “cover.”
Needles: US #7 Knitpick Options. This is supposedly an Aran weight yarn, but danged if I see it. I knew I was going to use a pillow form, and I knew I didn’t want any of the white showing through, so since I tend to knit a little loosely, I dropped down a needle size. I got precisely the fabric I wanted.
Verdict: I love it, and can’t wait to finish off the other end and put it on the bed. I might have to do another of these for the ugly outdated bolster in the guest room too, if I can find the yarn again, in a colorway that will work for that room…
Now, I’m having fits of castonitis. I’ve cast on a hat, an entrelac scarf because I NEEDED to try out the Plymouth Boku that has been in my stash for ages now. I’ve also wound the yarn for another shawl, but I’m using the needles I want to use for that project on the above mentioned hat, so…
I have a couple of cloths I want to knit that aren’t ballband cloths too. Anyone else have castonitis?
Chan Knits 
Oh, I’m so wanting to cast on a bunch of stuff. And rip out some old stuff and get it moving again. Instead I knit stupidly along on socks.
That bolster pillow is fabulous. I’ve never seen that yarn anywhere. Love it! g
Love that yarn. You don’t think it’s Aran weight. Do you think it’s lighter or heavier?
I still can’t seem to cast anything on even though the projects are piling up. I hate sitting around without my hands being busy so I need to start something soon.
Very cool. And yes on the castonitis, got it right now. Two more days, two more projects to do: headcount of 17, if I get all the doctors, nurses, and the respiratory therapist in there. This color! No, that yarn! Scarf! No, fingerless mitts! GO!!
I believe equivalent diseases in sewing would be pinitis and cutitis. I will permit myself to pin and cut more than one item, but only if it comes out of the same piece of fabric. Otherwise, I’d have zzillions of projects going and never ending!
I absolutely love the bolster pillow. The color changes remind me of sand sculptures that kids do. I love it!!!
As for castonitis… I want to have it, but I am trying to restrain myself, as I already have one pair of monkey socks on the needles, as well as a sweater ornament, and I am about to cast on using my possum sock for another pair of monkey socks. But oh, how I want to cast on for so many things right now!!! Must be strong…
How pretty! From the photo I thought it was Noro. I’ll have to look for this yarn.
the bolster is so cool, I would have never thought of making one before now its all I can think about!!!!
I’m SO wanting to cast on several items, but I won’t allow myself until I finish my “beach top”!
Love that cloth! Looks great with the black tying it all together.
And your pillow turned out great!
I’ve got about a million things that I want to cast on for… maybe I’ll have a little more time in the coming weeks. Too bad I can’t knit while I drive to your house! SNOL
I still sooo love that bolster! Hope you find a happy ‘ending’ for it soon.
WOW! You’re on a roll with those BB cloths. Love the pillow. Looks like it’s puckered for a kiss. Sissy will love the pillow……lol
The color of that end of the pillow and the puckering….oh my. ROTFL!!! I’m awful, aren’t I? Love it, though. Reminds me of those neck bone pillows.
LOVE the ballband. 🙂
cool yarn! I thought for sure it was Noro!
Love, love, love that pillow!!!!!!!!! Does the pattern call for just sewing it up completely? I’m thinking either a pretty button (or two) or a nice ribbon to tie end shut so you can remove the insert. LOVE how the other end came out puckered though!
Wow! That’s one colourful bolster! I love it!
Cute pillow!
Wow! I swear that was Noro!! Colors similar to last springs’ Taiyo colorways.
Let us know if you figured out a clever way to close it! 🙂