Beginner Knitting Pattern – Leprechaun Lockdown Knit Pillow Cover

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Finally caught that leprechaun? Lock him up! If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to refresh your room, pillow covers are the perfect solution! They’re a space-saving way to instantly change the vibe of your space without needing to store bulky pillows. This beginner-friendly knitting pattern is a great way to kick off spring and add a little St. Patrick’s Day magic to your home. It’s playful, bright, and full of life!

One of the reasons I’m OBSESSED with knitting pillow covers is how simple they are to make. With a toddler on the move, I need a pattern that’s easy to follow, without too much stitch counting or complicated changes. This knitting pattern is ideal whether you’re an experienced knitter looking for a relaxed project you can do with your eyes closed, or a beginner eager to practice and improve your skills.

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Beginner Knitting Pattern

Leprechaun Lockdown Knit Pillow Cover – The Yarn

Before you begin knitting, you’ll need to gather your supplies. The first thing you’ll need for this beginner-friendly knitting pattern is yarn. For this project, I used two different types/brands of yarn. If you want to create the pillow cover in the same colors as shown, you’ll need one skein of RED HEART Super Saver Economy Yarn in Spring Green, one skein of Caron Simply Soft Yarn in Black, and two skeins of Caron Simply Soft Yarn in White. Both of these yarns are easy to care for, which is a must for me since I have two young kids and everything in my home needs to be machine washable. These pillow covers have been tossed in the washing machine with other household items and have come out perfectly clean—and even softer than before!

Beginner Knitting Pattern

Leprechaun Lockdown Knit Pillow Cover – The Needles

Next, you’ll need the right tools for knitting. For this pillow cover pattern, I used my favorite knitting needles, the ChiaoGoo Red Lace Knitting Needles in US Size 5. I’ve tried many types of needles—plastic, bamboo, and cheap mystery metal ones—but these ChiaoGoo needles are by far my top choice. If you’re just starting out and building your knitting supply collection, I highly recommend the ChiaoGoo Twist Stainless Steel Interchangeable Set. While they are a bit on the pricier side, they’re truly the only set of needles you’ll ever need.

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Beginner Knitting Pattern

Additional Supplies

There are a few other items that can make knitting this pillow cover pattern a bit easier. First, you might want to grab some stitch markers. For this project, I used 2 stitch markers. Placing them every few stitches helps break up the count into smaller, more manageable groups. You might also want a row counter. A fun choice that is gaining popularity in the knitting and crocheting community right now is the Counting Numbers Chart Pop It, which is a fun and effective tool. While this pattern doesn’t have many different rows, it’s pretty easy to count visually, however, having a row counter can be helpful just in case, especially if you’re new to knitting. I used one at first, but eventually stopped once I got into the rhythm of the pattern. Finally, you’ll need a tapestry needle or a small crochet hook to sew up the sides of the pillow cover.

There are a few other tools I like to use when I knit, though they’re not necessary. I like to use a yarn bowl to keep my yarn organized and prevent it from getting tangled, and a yarn winder to create neat, center-pull yarn cakes.

Thank You!

I hope you enjoy working on this easy knitting pattern as much as I have! If you make this pillow cover, I’d love to see your finished project—please tag me in a photo on Instagram (@amandahknitanddesign). Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the pattern or anything in this post. I’d love to chat! And don’t forget to sign up for my monthly newsletter and blog post updates so you never miss a new project. Happy knitting!

Your Leprechaun Lockdown Knit Pillow Cover Shopping List

• Leprechaun Lockdown Knit Pillow Cover – Pattern By Amanda Heake – AmandaHKnitandDesign
• RED HEART Super Saver Economy Yarn, Spring Green (1)
• Caron Simply Soft Yarn in Black (1)
• Caron Simply Soft Yarn in White (2)
• ChiaoGoo Red Lace Knitting Needle US Size 5
• Stitch Makers
• Counter or Counting Numbers Chart Pop It
• Tapestry Needle or Small Crochet Hook

Optional Tools of the Trade

• ChiaoGoo Twist Stainless Steel Interchangeable Set (this set comes with spacers)
• Yarn Bowl
• Yarn Winder – NOT my favorite winder, but my old one is no longer available! (this set comes with spacers and counters)