Still on the needles: Pillow Talk

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It looks like a triangle shawl, and I am almost tempted to use it just like that, but it is meant to be a cushion cover. Here is my idea: a square cushion cover worked in biased garter stitch. It is shaped like a pocket: with three seamless sides and only one side that is open in order to insert the cushion before seaming. How to achieve it? It is actually quite easy. Here is the recipe:

Pillow Talk pattern

First half

The first half is worked flat. It starts with 3 stitches and 2 more stitches are added in every row, until the desired size is achieved.

Cast on 3 stitches.
Row 1: kfb, PM, k1, kfb [5 st]
Even rows: kfb, k to marker, SM, kfb, k to end [+2 st]
Odd rows: kfb, k to marker, SM, sl, kfb, k to end [+2 st]

Work until the largest side of the triangle is twice the side of the cushion. End in an odd row, but, instead of knitting the last stitch of the last row, join in the round by knitting together the last and first stitches. This stitch is the first st of the first round (see odd rounds below), PM before it. [-1st]

Second half

The second half is worked in the round. Here we decrease 2 stitches in every round.

Odd rounds: p to 2 st before marker, p2tog, SM, twice [-2 st]
Even rounds: sl, k2tog, k to marker, SM, twice [-2 st]

Work until there are 4 st on the needles. Bind off in garter stitch pattern: k2tog or p2tog, RM, twice, then p2tog or k2tog.

Alternative

If you prefer to do all the increases and decreases on the knit side, instead of the above, do:
Odd rounds: purl straight
Even rounds: sl, k2tog, k to 2 st before marker, ssk, SM, twice [-4 st]

Abbreviations

st: stitch, stitches
PM: place marker
SM: slip marker
RM: remove marker
k: knit
p: purl
k1: knit 1 st
sl: slip 1 st purlwise, with yarn in back
kfb: knit front and back, 1st increase
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together, 1st decrease
p2tog: purl 2 stitches together, 1st decrease
ssk: slip 1 st knitwise twice then knit both slipped stitches through the back loop, 1st decrease

Note:

The first half can be used as a recipe for a standard triangle shawl.

My project

This is one of those patterns that is independent of gauge and hence can be worked in any yarn and with any needle size you prefer. However, if you want to repeat my own project, here is the stuff I used:
Needles
5.5 mm
Yarn
Noro Shinryoku
Colourways
4 and 5
I used the two colourways and alternated them by knitting 2 rows or rounds in each colour.

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