The Prairie Sunset Cowboy Boot Pillow: A Free Knitting Pattern for a Textured, Southwestern Throw Pillow

Bring the Wild West Home: The Prairie Sunset Cowboy Boot Pillow

Add a touch of rustic charm and southwestern flair to your living space with this unique, textured cowboy boot pillow. Featuring a stunning gradient of sunset-inspired colors—from sage green to burnt orange and deep teal—this free knitting pattern is perfect for intermediate beginners looking to try their hand at intarsia colorwork. The dense stockinette fabric and garter stitch border create a cozy, handcrafted feel that will look beautiful on any sofa, bed, or reading nook. Best of all, the pattern is worked flat in two identical panels, making it easy to manage and seam together.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. All yarn is worsted weight (Aran), and the total yardage is approximately 350g.

• Yarn: Worsted weight (Aran) yarn in 4 colors:
  • MC (Desert Sand) – 200g
  • CC1 (Sage Green) – 50g
  • CC2 (Burnt Orange) – 50g
  • CC3 (Deep Teal) – 50g
• Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) knitting needles (straight or circular for flat knitting)
• Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, pillow form (16" x 16")
• Gauge: 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Note: The pillow is worked flat in two identical panels (front and back) and seamed together. The boot motif is created using intarsia colorwork. Read all instructions before beginning.

Panel (Make 2)

Setup: With MC, cast on 72 stitches.

Border (all panels)

Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 6 rows. This creates a sturdy, non-curling edge.

Body (Row 7 onwards)

Row 7 (RS): K6 (border), place marker, k60 (stockinette), place marker, k6 (border).

Row 8 (WS): K6, p60, k6.

Repeat Rows 7-8 for 10 rows (total 16 rows from cast on). This establishes the stockinette body with garter stitch borders.

Begin Boot Motif (Row 17)

Row 17 (RS): K6, k10 MC, k2 CC1, k8 MC, k2 CC2, k8 MC, k2 CC3, k10 MC, k6.

Row 18 (WS): K6, p10 MC, p2 CC3, p8 MC, p2 CC2, p8 MC, p2 CC1, p10 MC, k6.

Tip: Use separate small balls of yarn for each color section. At color changes, twist the yarns together (bring the new color over the old color) to prevent holes and keep the fabric tight.

Shaping the Boot

Continue working the boot shape by increasing the colored sections gradually over the next 40 rows. Use the following chart as a guide. Each number represents the stitch count for that color in that row, reading left to right (MC, CC1, MC, CC2, MC, CC3, MC).

• Row 19 (RS): K6, k9 MC, k4 CC1, k6 MC, k4 CC2, k6 MC, k4 CC3, k9 MC, k6.
• Row 20 (WS): K6, p9 MC, p4 CC3, p6 MC, p4 CC2, p6 MC, p4 CC1, p9 MC, k6.
• Row 21 (RS): K6, k8 MC, k6 CC1, k4 MC, k6 CC2, k4 MC, k6 CC3, k8 MC, k6.
• Row 22 (WS): K6, p8 MC, p6 CC3, p4 MC, p6 CC2, p4 MC, p6 CC1, p8 MC, k6.
• Row 23 (RS): K6, k7 MC, k8 CC1, k2 MC, k8 CC2, k2 MC, k8 CC3, k7 MC, k6.
• Row 24 (WS): K6, p7 MC, p8 CC3, p2 MC, p8 CC2, p2 MC, p8 CC1, p7 MC, k6.
• Row 25 (RS): K6, k6 MC, k10 CC1, k0 MC, k10 CC2, k0 MC, k10 CC3, k6 MC, k6. (The MC sections between the colors disappear at the widest point.)
• Row 26 (WS): K6, p6 MC, p10 CC3, p0 MC, p10 CC2, p0 MC, p10 CC1, p6 MC, k6.

Continue increasing: For the next 14 rows (Rows 27-40), maintain the colored sections at 10 stitches each (CC1, CC2, CC3) and keep the MC sections at 6 stitches on each side. This forms the widest part of the boot shaft.

Decrease symmetrically: Starting from Row 41, reverse the increase pattern. Decrease the colored sections by 2 stitches every 4 rows (e.g., Row 41: k6, k7 MC, k8 CC1, k2 MC, k8 CC2, k2 MC, k8 CC3, k7 MC, k6). Continue until the colored sections are back to 2 stitches each (approximately Row 56).

After Completing the Boot Motif (approximately Row 56)

Continue in stockinette with MC only for another 20 rows. This creates the top portion of the pillow above the boot.

Top Border

Knit 6 rows of garter stitch (knit every row).

Bind Off

Bind off all stitches loosely (use a larger needle if needed to avoid a tight edge).

Finishing

1. Weave in ends: Using a tapestry needle, weave in all yarn tails neatly on the wrong side. Trim excess.
2. Block both panels: Wet block or steam block each panel to the same size (16" x 16"). Pin to measurements and allow to dry completely. This ensures the pillow lies flat and the seams align.
3. Seam the panels: Place the two panels together with right sides facing out (or in, depending on your desired seam finish—right sides out gives a visible seam, right sides in hides it). Using mattress stitch and MC yarn, seam three sides together, leaving one side open.
4. Insert pillow form: Gently insert the 16" x 16" pillow form through the open side.
5. Seam the fourth side: Close the remaining side using mattress stitch, ensuring the pillow form is snug but not stretched.
6. Optional fringe: For extra southwestern flair, add a simple fringe to the bottom edge using MC yarn. Cut 6-inch strands, fold in half, and attach with a crochet hook or tapestry needle along the bottom garter stitch border.

Your Prairie Sunset Cowboy Boot Pillow is now complete! Enjoy the cozy, handcrafted charm it brings to your home.