Nr. 245 – 20 – 6. Christmas Church 89 stitches

Nr. 245 – 20 – 6. Christmas Church 89 Stitches Dishcloth

What is Being Made

This is a Christmas-themed dishcloth designed by Lotte Vilstrup Nielsen. The finished piece measures 28 x 35 cm and features a decorative church motif created through strategic knit and purl stitches. The design uses 89 stitches as the foundation cast-on, making it a medium-sized dishcloth suitable for kitchen use or as a festive decorative textile.

Craft and Primary Techniques

This project is a knitting design classified at beginner difficulty level. The pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques that make it accessible to those new to the craft while still producing a visually interesting finished piece. The construction method relies on combining basic knit and purl stitches to create texture and a pictorial design element.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes two primary stitches throughout:

• Knit stitch (k) – creates the characteristic V-shaped texture and forms the main fabric structure
• Purl stitch (p) – the reverse of the knit stitch, used to create contrast and define the church motif through strategic placement

The opening rows establish a ribbed edge pattern using alternating knit and purl stitches (k1, p1 repeat), which creates a neat, finished border. This ribbing technique adds elasticity and a professional appearance to the dishcloth edges. The main body transitions into stockinette stitch sections interspersed with purl rows and the decorative church design created through careful knit and purl placement.

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: The pattern calls for 100% cotton yarn in a 4-ply weight. A single 50 g ball containing 186 yards (170 meters) of yarn provides sufficient yardage to complete the entire dishcloth. Cotton is an ideal fiber choice for dishcloths due to its absorbency, durability, and easy-care properties. The yarn weight and fiber content ensure the finished cloth will be functional and long-lasting.

Needles: The pattern requires 30 cm (30-inch) knitting needles in size 3.25 mm (U.S. size 3). These straight needles accommodate the 89-stitch cast-on comfortably while remaining manageable for knitters of all experience levels.

Pattern Construction Details

The pattern begins with a cast-on of 89 stitches, establishing the width of the dishcloth. The first four rows create the ribbed border using the alternating knit-purl pattern. A key technique employed throughout is slipping the first stitch of every row purl-wise with yarn at back of work, which creates a neat, chain-like selvage edge that enhances the finished appearance.

After the ribbed opening, the pattern transitions into alternating stockinette sections (knit rows followed by purl rows) that form the background. The church motif emerges through a carefully planned arrangement of knit and purl stitches in specific rows, with the design featuring 20-stitch knit sections positioned strategically across the fabric width. This technique of using knit and purl contrast to create pictorial designs is known as texture knitting or slip-stitch colorwork without color.

Skill Requirements

Classified as a beginner-level project, this dishcloth requires only basic knitting competencies: the ability to cast on stitches, execute knit and purl stitches consistently, and bind off the finished piece. The pattern's straightforward stitch vocabulary and clear row-by-row instructions make it an excellent choice for knitters developing fundamental skills while creating a practical, finished item. The test knitter listed is Irene Hornbech, confirming the pattern has been verified for accuracy and achievability at the beginner level.