Mosaic Knitting - "Here Be Dragons"

These mosaic-patterned towels, worked in dk-weight cotton or linen are sturdy and practical with great drape and texture.

The Dragon motif is designed to be displayed when folded over a towel bar. The side edges of the towel can be folded to the middle in back, centering the Dragon’s crest in the lower front half of the towel.

Signature towels or mirrored pairs in dark and light colors can be coordinated with the four included options.

The pattern is an engaging project for experienced knitters and is suitable for advanced beginners who are familiar with mosaic-knitting techniques. Written instructions and tutorial links for the cast-on, beginning rows, suggested side edgings, and bind-off are provided, followed by charts for the decorative upper and lower edgings and the left- and right-facing Dragon motifs in both dark-on-light and light-on-dark options. 


The Dragon’s scales can be challenging to knit. Stitch markers in your knitting, and a highlighter to mark completed rows, are recommended to help you to keep your place. Taking a minute to check your work as you complete each pair of rows is good practice.

Gauge is not critical for this project, so use the most comfortable needle size for your choice of yarn. Choose colors for a strong contrast between image and background. For absorbency and good stitch definition, I recommend cotton, linen or blended fibers.

The pictured sample was knitted on U.S. size 6 (4.0 mm) needles in “Midnight Blue” Paintbox 100% Cotton DK (size 3, light) and “Sorbet” Wendy Supreme 100% Luxury Cotton DK (size 3, light). With these needles and yarns, at a gauge of 26 stitches and 48 rows in 4 inches, your finished towels will measure about 11” wide X 17 “ long. 

Four options are available: Left-facing Dragon in Dark or Light, and Right-facing Dragon in Dark or Light

You will need 150 yards each of a dark and light color dk-weight cotton or linen yarn for each towel.

I like the “double-chain cast-on” to give a firm edge that is matched perfectly by a “double-chain bind-off.” Two methods for the “double-chain cast-on” are explained in these tutorials:

Double-Chain Cast-on with a Crochet Hook, 
tutorial by Luise O’Neill:

            https://impeccableknits.wordpress.com/tutorials-tips-tricks/double-chain-cast-on/

“Chinese Waitress” Double-Chain Cast-on with Knitting Needles, 
tutorial by Liat Gat:

            https://knitfreedom.com/online-class-chapter/chinese-waitress-cast-on/

  I like the “double-chain bind-off” as a perfect match for the “double-chain cast-on.”

Double-Chain Bind-off, 
tutorial by Ann Kingstone:

            https://annkingstone.com/obsessive-cast-off/

This “Here Be Dragons Mosaic Towels” pattern is available for immediate download in my Ravelry store. The pattern includes suggested yarns and needles, finished size estimates, recommendations and helpful links for cast-on, edging, and bind-off, written instructions for project set-up, and full and expanded charts for four options: Left-facing Dragon in Dark or Light and Right-facing Dragon in Dark or Light.

PLEASE NOTE: Row counts are not provided with this pattern.

You may use the pattern to knit for yourself, for charity, or for sale (please credit Janet Bailey Designs for the pattern). 

You may not sell the pattern or give it away. Thank you for supporting my designs!

I hope you enjoy knitting and using your “Dragons”!