Nr. 164 Moomin Troll 65 stitches

Nr. 164 Moomin Troll 65 Stitches Knitted Dishcloth

What is Being Made

This is a knitted dishcloth featuring a Moomin Troll design, created by designer Lotte Vilstrup Nielsen. The finished piece measures 25 x 23 cm (approximately 10 x 9 inches), making it a practical kitchen textile suitable for everyday use. The design incorporates 65 cast-on stitches and uses contrast knitting and purling techniques to create the character motif within the fabric.

Techniques and Stitches Used

This pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques that create visual interest through strategic stitch placement:

• Cast on: The pattern begins with casting on 65 stitches using a standard method to establish the foundation row
• Knit stitch (k): The primary stitch used throughout the pattern to create smooth, V-shaped fabric
• Purl stitch (p): Used in combination with knit stitches to create texture and define the Moomin character design
• Slip stitch: The first stitch of every row is slipped purlwise with yarn at back of work, a technique that creates a neat, finished edge
• Ribbed edging: The pattern uses a (k1, p1) alternating rib pattern for the first four rows and borders, providing structure and elasticity
• Stockinette stitch sections: Alternating rows of knit and purl stitches create the main fabric body where the design develops
• Intarsia or stranded colorwork: The pattern uses varying knit and purl placements (such as "k47, p3, k7") to create the Moomin Troll motif through texture and contrast

Materials Required

This dishcloth is designed to be created with 100% cotton yarn, a practical choice for kitchen textiles due to its durability and absorbency. The pattern requires 186 yards (170 meters) of yarn in a single 50-gram ball, allowing for an economical project. The yarn weight is 4-ply, a medium-weight yarn that works well for creating defined stitch definition in the design.

Knitting needles required are 30 cm (30-inch) straight needles in size 3.25 mm (U.S. size 3), which pairs appropriately with the 4-ply yarn weight to create fabric with good stitch definition for displaying the character design.

Difficulty Level and Skill Requirements

Despite being attributed as an advanced pattern in the collection, this design is noted as beginner-friendly in execution. The pattern requires only basic knitting competencies: the ability to cast on stitches, execute knit and purl stitches consistently, and slip stitches for edge finishing. The repetitive nature of the stitch pattern—with extended rows of single knit or purl stitches alternating with patterned rows—makes this an accessible project for those new to knitting who wish to create a recognizable character design.

Pattern Structure

The pattern follows a logical progression: initial ribbed edging rows establish the piece, followed by alternating knit and purl rows that form the main fabric body. The Moomin Troll character emerges through strategic placement of purl stitches against a knit background (or vice versa), creating a textured, pictorial effect. This approach to colorless design—using stitch type rather than yarn color to create the image—is an efficient method for single-color dishcloths.