Nr. 49 Peacock 65 stitches

Nr. 49 Peacock 65 Stitches Dishcloth by Lotte Vilstrup Nielsen

What is Being Made

Nr. 49 Peacock is a beginner-friendly knitted dishcloth designed by Lotte Vilstrup Nielsen. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a finished cloth measuring 25 x 23 cm (approximately 10 x 9 inches), making it a practical and decorative kitchen textile. The design features a peacock motif created through strategic color patterning and stitch placement across 65 cast-on stitches.

Techniques and Skills Required

This pattern is classified as a beginner-level project, making it suitable for knitters who are just starting their craft journey. The techniques required are fundamental to knitting and include:

• Cast on: The foundation technique used to create the initial 65 stitches on the needles
• Knit stitch: The basic right knitting stitch that forms the primary fabric structure
• Purl stitch: The reverse of the knit stitch, used to create texture and contrast
• Slipping stitches: A technique where the first stitch of every row is slipped purl wise with yarn held at the back of work, creating a neat finished edge

The pattern employs a combination of knit and purl stitches in alternating rows to build the fabric. The peacock design emerges through careful placement of purl stitches against a knit background, creating visual interest and dimension without requiring advanced colorwork techniques.

Stitches Used

The Nr. 49 Peacock pattern utilizes only two fundamental stitches:

• Knit (k): Represented by the abbreviation "k" in the pattern, this stitch creates the smooth, V-shaped texture characteristic of knitted fabric
• Purl (p): Represented by the abbreviation "p" in the pattern, this stitch creates the bumpy, reverse texture and is used strategically to form the peacock design elements

The pattern begins with four rows of alternating knit and purl stitches (k1, p1, k1, p1) across each row to create a decorative border. From row 5 onward, the pattern transitions into the main design section where purl stitches are strategically placed to create the peacock motif against a predominantly knit background.

Materials

Yarn: The pattern calls for 100% cotton yarn in a 4-ply weight. You will need 186 yards (170 meters) of yarn, which equals 1 ball weighing 50 grams. Cotton yarn 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 used, allowing for personal preference and creative expression.

Needles: A 30 cm (12-inch) knitting needle in size 3.25 mm (U.S. size 3) is required. This needle size is appropriate for 4-ply yarn and will produce the correct gauge for the finished measurements specified in the pattern.