Smooth Knit vs Two Way Tricot: Dakimakura Fabric Guide

Published by Dakimakura Store · Published October 18, 2026

Smooth Knit and Two Way Tricot can appear in the same dakimakura material menu, but they are separate choices. Both are described by the store as smooth, soft options. The useful distinction is how their stretch is described: Smooth Knit has one-direction stretch, while Two Way Tricot is described as elastic in two directions.

That difference can help you choose a cover, especially if you already know what you like about an existing pillow. It does not make the more elastic option a solution to every fit problem. This guide explains the two labels, shows how they appear on real cover listings, and gives you a way to compare them without confusing fabric, artwork and pillow filling.

The short comparison: surface, stretch and selection

The store guide to the five cover materials provides the broader context. Use its descriptions to narrow your preference, then read the menu on the exact design you want. A general material guide explains the choices; the individual listing establishes which choices you can order.

What one-direction and two-direction stretch mean for the buyer

Think of the stretch descriptions as information about the textile, rather than a different sizing system. Smooth Knit is not described as responding equally in both directions. Two Way Tricot gives you an option explicitly described around two-direction flexibility. Neither label supplies a numerical stretch limit or permission to choose a smaller cover.

For example, if your insert is listed as 160 × 50 cm, compare covers in that same dimension pair. Choosing a 150 × 50 cm tricot cover because it sounds stretchier leaves a ten-centimeter length mismatch. Choosing the correct size in Smooth Knit gives you a more sensible starting point than expecting elasticity to correct the wrong selection.

When fitting either cover, distribute the insert evenly and align the ends before working toward the opening. If one area feels tight while another remains empty, reassess the alignment. The amount of resistance you feel while pulling is not a useful home test for identifying the material or proving that the size is correct.

Also keep the outer fabric separate from the pillow filling in your comparison. Changing the cover selection does not change the insert model you already own. If your main concern is a pillow that feels lumpy or overly full, investigate the insert as well instead of assuming a different cover material will resolve it.

Use your previous cover as a reference, if you have one

A familiar cover can give you a more useful starting point than a ranking of fabric names. Check the material recorded in its order details. Then describe what you would keep or change: the surface against your hand, the way the cover settles around the insert, or the amount you want to spend on another design.

If your current Smooth Knit cover already gives you the feel you enjoy, repeating that choice is reasonable. If you are deliberately looking for the two-direction elasticity described by the store, Two Way Tricot is the relevant alternative to inspect. Make the change for that specific preference, rather than treating a higher menu price as proof of universal comfort.

For a first cover, start with a clear priority. “I want a silky surface at the lower configured price of these two options” and “I want to try the two-direction stretch option” are both useful reasons. You do not need to predict a personal preference with certainty before making a considered selection.

Read two actual material menus

The Osamu Dazai cover identified as 201036 currently lists both Smooth Knit and Two Way Tricot. It also offers Peach Skin, Natural Velvet and Upgraded Two Way Tricot. The last of those is a separate selection: choose the standard Two Way Tricot label if that is the material you intend to compare here.

The Dazai and Atsushi cover, MGF-612060 provides another real example with the same five material names. Its design pairs Dazai in a tan coat with Atsushi in a white shirt and dark trousers. Choosing that illustration is an artwork decision; selecting Smooth Knit or Two Way Tricot is a separate step.

Both reviewed listings currently include 100 × 34, 120 × 40, 150 × 50, 160 × 50 and 180 × 60 cm sizes. Record the full pair you need before switching the material selector. The presence of those choices on these pages does not establish the size range of every other design in the catalog.

Compare the additional cost while holding the rest constant

At the time of this review, each of these two product menus lists a material addition of 13.99 for Smooth Knit and 19.99 for Two Way Tricot, in the page’s displayed currency. The difference between those material additions is 6.00. These are option additions, not complete cover prices.

To use that information properly, select your size first and leave the other choices unchanged. Then compare the resulting cover total with Smooth Knit selected and with Two Way Tricot selected. Any size addition belongs in both totals. Optional accessories belong in the comparison only if you actually intend to buy them.

Repeat the check on another listing instead of carrying these amounts across the whole store. Menus and prices can change. The product total and cart entry at the time you order are the figures to review, including any checkout charges that apply to your order.

Judge the artwork and the fabric with different evidence

A preview is useful for checking the character, clothing, background and arrangement of the two sides. It cannot let you feel Smooth Knit or demonstrate how the selected tricot moves. Comparing two unrelated pictures is therefore a poor way to decide which material has the surface you prefer.

Read the written fabric information alongside the image. If print detail is your main concern, ask about the exact design and material rather than assuming one preview represents a measured comparison between fabrics. Keep your question specific enough to answer: name the product code and the two menu labels.

Plan gentle care for whichever option you select

Use the dakimakura washing and care instructions together with the instructions supplied for your cover. The store guide describes removing the insert, using mild bleach-free detergent, avoiding wringing, and air drying away from direct sunlight. Machine washing is conditional on the product label allowing it.

Two-direction stretch is not a reason to twist the wet cover, and a silky description is not a promise that rough handling will leave the surface unchanged. Give either material a clean place to dry fully, and keep the selected fabric name with your order record so the next care check starts from the correct information.

Frequently asked questions

Are Smooth Knit and Two Way Tricot the same material?

No. They are separate options in the reviewed menus. The store describes Smooth Knit with one-direction stretch and Two Way Tricot with two-direction elasticity.

Can Two Way Tricot fit a larger insert because it stretches?

Choose matching listed dimensions. The stretch description is not a published allowance for an oversized insert, and it does not replace checking both length and width.

Is Upgraded Two Way Tricot included in this comparison?

No. It has its own menu entry and price. Check that you have selected standard Two Way Tricot when comparing the two options discussed here.

Which should I choose for my first dakimakura?

Start with your surface preference and configured budget. Smooth Knit offers the store-described silky feel; Two Way Tricot is the choice to investigate when two-direction elasticity matters to you. Confirm the size and care requirements for either.

Browse the anime dakimakura cover collection with those two preferences in mind. Find artwork you enjoy, choose matching dimensions, then make the material selection deliberately. Save the exact label with your order so your experience with this cover can guide the next one.