Various

The Rotterdam Skyline Knitting Pattern

by Frans Blok · Published 14. April 2017 · Updated 15. October 2022

3Develop, the reliable source for all your knitting patterns … I have the feeling that a lot of my blog posts start with “… is not 3Develop’s core business, but …”. This is one of those posts again.

Graphical representation of the Rotterdam skyline, with the most important buildings, bridges and other landmarks, printed on a green t-shirt — Skyline Rotterdam – the marathon version

Graphic skyline

It is yet another spin-off of my Rotterdam skyline project. I made this graphic portrayal of the city’s skyline a few years ago for a contest. Which I lost ingloriously but since then the picture, in different versions, has started to live a life of its own. It hangs on walls, it adorns birth announcement cards and on April 9 this year over a hundred runners had it on their shirt during the annual Rotterdam marathon.

And then I was asked by a friend: can I get that skyline of yours also as a knitting pattern? Her love for the old craft has been revived by, who else, Donald Trump. Or, well, by the pussy hats that have become the symbol of the protests against the guy.

The brief

A knitting pattern, well of course that’s possible. Nevertheless, the brief gave me some headaches. The knitting pattern has in fact an amazingly low resolution: 200 x 80 loops. Also the number of colors is limited: black, white, light gray, dark gray and Rotterdam green, much more does not seem to be feasible for even an experienced knitter. With such restrictions it is not easy to keep the various buildings and bridges recognizable. But I think I succeeded.

Knitting pattern 200 x 80 loops in five colors of the Rotterdam skyline with the city's most important buildings and bridges — The Rotterdam Skyline knitting pattern

For free

I make this knitting pattern available for free to anyone who fancies this knitting challenge. Click here for a printable version of the pattern. Photos of skyline sweaters made with it are appreciated and will be, with permission of course, published on this page.