Nr. 593 – Reindeer guest towel

Nr. 593 – Reindeer Guest Towel

What Is Being Made

This is a knitted guest towel featuring a reindeer design, created by designer Lotte Vilstrup Nielsen. The finished towel measures 33 x 49 centimeters, making it an ideal size for a decorative kitchen or bathroom guest towel. The pattern combines stockinette stitch sections with a charted reindeer motif, creating a festive textile suitable for holiday decoration or as a thoughtful handmade gift.

Craft and Techniques

This project is a knitting pattern designed for beginners. The towel is worked flat on straight needles using fundamental knitting techniques that require only basic skills to complete successfully. The pattern incorporates essential foundational methods including casting on, basic stitch work, and reading a knitting chart to execute the reindeer design.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs two primary stitches throughout the design:

• Knit stitch (ret) – Used to create smooth, textured sections and form the primary fabric structure
• Purl stitch (vrang) – Incorporated to create contrast and definition, particularly in the decorative reindeer motif and border sections

The combination of knit and purl stitches creates a reversible textured surface. The pattern begins with a ribbed border using alternating knit and purl stitches (1x1 ribbing), which provides elasticity and a finished edge. The main body transitions into larger blocks of stockinette stitch before introducing the charted reindeer design through strategic placement of purl stitches against a knit background.

Materials

This guest towel requires minimal yardage, making it an economical project. The yarn specified is 100% cotton from Hobbi garn, a natural fiber choice that makes the finished towel highly absorbent and practical for its intended use. The pattern calls for 2 skeins of 50g each, totaling 170 meters of 4-ply weight yarn. Four-ply yarn provides a balanced weight suitable for creating a fabric with good drape and structure without excessive bulk.

Knitting needles in size 3 are used throughout the project, paired with the 4-ply cotton yarn to achieve the appropriate gauge and fabric density for this guest towel design.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner project, this pattern is accessible to knitters who have mastered fundamental skills including casting on, knit stitches, purl stitches, and basic chart reading. The straightforward construction and small finished size make it an excellent choice for newer knitters seeking to practice essential techniques while creating a functional, decorative item.