Nr. 250 – 20 – 11. Christmas Stick 89 stitches

Nr. 250 – 20 – 11. Christmas Stick 89 Stitches Dishcloth

What Is Being Made

This is a knitted dishcloth designed by Lotte Vilstrup Nielsen featuring a festive Christmas stick motif. The finished piece measures 28 x 35 cm (approximately 11 x 14 inches), making it a practical kitchen textile suitable for everyday use. The design incorporates 89 cast-on stitches and creates a decorative pattern through strategic placement of knit and purl stitches that form the Christmas stick image across the cloth surface.

Craft and Techniques

This project is created using the knitting craft, making it ideal for knitters of all experience levels. The pattern has been tested and rated as beginner difficulty, meaning it requires only fundamental knitting skills and does not demand advanced techniques or complex stitch manipulations. The design teaches essential foundational methods that every knitter should master.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques Used

The Christmas Stick dishcloth employs a limited but effective stitch vocabulary:

• Knit stitch (k) – The primary stitch used throughout the pattern to create texture and structure
• Purl stitch (p) – Used strategically to create contrast and define the Christmas stick motif against the knitted background
• Slip stitch – The first stitch of every row is slipped purl wise with yarn held at the back of the work, creating a neat, finished edge

The pattern begins with a ribbed border using alternating knit and purl stitches (k1, p1 repeat) for the first four rows, establishing a structured edge. From row 5 onward, the designer uses targeted purl stitches placed strategically among predominantly knit rows to create the Christmas stick design. This technique—known as stockinette stitch with purl accents—allows the purl bumps to stand out visually against the smoother knit stitch background, forming the decorative motif.

Materials

Yarn: The dishcloth requires 100% cotton yarn in a 4-ply weight, with a total yardage of 186 yards (170 meters). One ball of 50 grams is sufficient to complete the project. Cotton is an excellent choice for dishcloths as it is absorbent, durable, and easy to care for. The yarn color is flexible—any color may be selected based on personal preference or kitchen décor.

Needles: The pattern calls for 30 cm (12-inch) knitting needles in size 3.25 mm (U.S. size 3). These needles are appropriately sized for 4-ply yarn and will produce the correct gauge and fabric density needed for a functional dishcloth.

Pattern Structure and Progression

The pattern is organized in a clear, step-by-step format. After casting on 89 stitches, knitters work the first four rows in a ribbed knit-purl pattern to create a finished border. From row 5 onward, the Christmas stick motif emerges through a combination of purl rows (where the entire row is purled) and mixed rows (where knit and purl stitches are strategically placed to outline and fill the design). This straightforward approach makes the pattern accessible to beginners while producing a visually interesting finished textile.