Answering a Couple of Knitting Questions

In the recent post about my visit to the quilt and yarn shop while at the conference, my sister asked what colors of yarn I purchased. I decided to take a picture of them all so she could see what I brought home.

They're stacked up in my bedroom window right by the corner chair where I knit. The colors on the left (navy and red, green and purple, and black and yellow) are the ones I recently purchased in Wake Forest at Quilts Like Crazy.

The lighter hues stacked next to those were brought home from a yarn shop in Roanoke back in August. They include one lone pink (I was supposed to buy a match for that one!), medium purple and green, aqua and white, and another green and lighter purple. The skeins lying on the sill not balled are darker pink and yet another variety of green. This will definitely be one uniquely colored afghan! I probably should knit what I already have into squares before I buy any more yarn, don't you think?

I'll be knitting the mitered square afghan found in the Mason Dixon Knitting Book using Cotton Classic Tahki - Stacy Charles yarn. It seems relatively simple enough, and I plan to start the first of the year and post each square as it's finished--there are 80! Below right - I took a picture of the page in the book that shows the sample mitered square afghan they knitted for the book. (Also partially shown in the picture is a Fun Fur purple scarf I'm working on.)

Another question...my friend Dorothy wanted to know what type of yarn I used for my dishcloths and a link to the patterns I use. Well, I've used Sugar and Cream brand by Lily and also Peaches and Cream. They're both 4-ply worsted 100% cotton yarns and cost $1.49 unless you find a great sale at Hobby Lobby for 99 cents each. However, when I was buying the Tahki - Stacy Charles yarn in the top photo for the afghan, the sales lady said that the Cotton Classics brand was great for knitting dishcloths. Since that yarn runs $5 or more a skein, I've stuck with the Sugar/Peaches and Cream for all my dishcloths so far.

For the references, I've gone back through the Crafts index and dug out the various patterns I've used and posted them on the Continuation page so they'll be in one place. Hope that helps!

~Deb

# 1.  Anne Dishcloth Pattern (When I made this pattern, I referred to it as MeAnnedering Triangles after the designer.)

Knit with 1 ball (2.5oz) Lily Sugar N Creme on size 7 (US) needles. Gauge isn’t critical, you’re welcome to use whatever needles you enjoy for cloths. With the above yarn and needles, the dishcloth is 8′’ square.

Note: The border I have here is different than in the photo, from a second cloth I am knitting. Seed stitch differentiates a bit better from the garter stitch areas of the pattern and looks a bit nicer - you’re welcome to use whatever border you’d like, just substitute it for the first and last 3 stitches on each row, and the first 3 and last 3 rows of the cloth.

Cast on 41 Stitches.

Row 1-3: (K1,P1) across to end of row.
Row 4: K1,P1,K1, K to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 5: K1,P1,K1, P to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 6: K1,P1,K1, *(K4,P1) Repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 7: K1,P1,K1, P to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 8: K1,P1,K1, *(K3,P2) Repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 9: K1,P1,K1, P to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 10: K1,P1,K1, *(K2,P3) Repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 11: K1,P1,K1, P to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 12: K1,P1,K1, *(K1,P4) Repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 13: K1,P1,K1, P to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 14: K1,P1,K1, K to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 15: K1,P1,K1, *(P4,K1) Repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 16: K1,P1,K1, K to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 17: K1,P1,K1, *(P3,K2) Repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 18: K1,P1,K1, K to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 19: K1,P1,K1, *(P2,K3) Repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 20: K1,P1,K1, K to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 21: K1,P1,K1, *(P1,K4) Repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 22: K1,P1,K1, K to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1
Row 23: K1,P1,K1, P to last 3 stitches, K1,P1,K1

Repeat rows 6-23 Two Times More
Repeat rows 6-14 Once More
Last 3 Rows: (K1,P1) across to end of row
Bind off.

# 2. Anne's Guy Dishcloth in Pink (This one I did in red and named it Red Sunset at Midnight)

Knit in Sugar N Creme on Size 7 (US) Needles.

Finished dimensions: 8′’ by 8′’

Cast on 41 stitches.

Rows 1-3: (K1,P1) to end of row
Row 4: (K1,P1,K1); K to last 3 stitches; (K1,P1,K1)
Row 5: (K1,P1,K1); P to last 3 stitches; (K1,P1,K1)
Row 6: (K1,P1,K1); *(K1,P3,K1) Repeat from * to last 3 stitches; (K1,P1,K1)
Row 7: (K1,P1,K1); P to last 3 stitches; (K1,P1,K1)
Rows 8-11: Repeat Rows 6 and 7 Twice More
Row 12: (K1,P1,K1); K to last 3 stitches; (K1,P1,K1)
Row 13: (K1,P1,K1); *(P1,K3,P1) Repeat from * to last 3 stitches; (K1,P1,K1)
Row 14: (K1,P1,K1); K to last 3 stitches; (K1,P1,K1)
Row 15-18: Repeat Rows 13 and 14 Twice More
Row 19: (K1,P1,K1); P to last 3 stitches; (K1,P1,K1)

Repeat Rows 6-19 Three More times

Last 4 Rows:

(K1,P1,K1); K to last 3 stitches; (K1,P1,K1)
(K1,P1) to end of row for 3 rows.
Bind Off.

#3. Chinese Waves, by Maggie's Rags

(here's mine in yellow)

This pattern makes a nubbly dishcloth, thicker and more stable than plain garter stitch.  Chinese Waves is one of my favorite pattern stitches.  I use it for edgings and for textured stripes interspersed with stockinette.  I like it so much, it's actually pictured in the left border throughout my web site. 

Chinese Waves is based on garter stitch, so there's no purling and it doesn't curl up.  Use any worsted weight 100% cotton yarn, such as  Sugar 'n Cream and #7 needles. 

Cast on 45 stitches (Any odd number of stitches will do.) 

Row 1: Knit across (this is the right side) 
Row 2: *K1, Slip 1*  repeat between * across, ending K1. 
Row 3: Knit across 
Row 4: K2, *Slip 1, K1*  repeat between * across, ending K1. 

Keep working in pattern until piece is square, finishing with a wrong side row.  Bind off in knitting on the right side. 

I usually slip the slipped stitches as if to purl.  But you can also slip as if to knit, which twists the stitch when you knit it on the next row, making a slightly tighter fabric.  I like both ways equally well. 

The yarn carried across the back of all the slipped stitches makes little curves across the dishcloth, which look like rows of little waves, hence the name "Chinese Waves."

#4. Homespun Living - the dishcloths on this site are beautiful. I've recently finished the waffle knit one with the stripe. Here's the pattern below.

Waffle Knit Dishcloth from Homespun Living:

Materials: 1 ball Lion cotton yarn; additional yarn for colored stripe, if desired. Size 6 needles. Directions:

Cast on 38 stitches. Knit 3 rows for border.

Row 1:  (right side): Knit

Row 2: K 3, purl to last 3 stitches, k 3.

Row 3: K 3, (P 2, k1) 10 times, p 2, k 3.

Row 4: K 3, (K 2, p1) 10 times, k 5.

Repeat these 4 rows, 6 times. If a colored center stripe is desired, change yarn now and work rows 1 - 4, 2 times in desired color. Change back to main color and work the 4 row pattern, 6 times.

Knit last 4 rows. Bind off and weave in ends.

#5. Ripple Washcloth

Knitting Pattern ~ Ripple Washcloth

by Shelly Hazard

Hand-knit cotton washcloths are much softer than regular facecloths. Using unmercerized cotton makes care simple, just put them in the washer and dryer with your towels.

Materials:

• 1 skein 100% unmercerized cotton yarn (recommended: Sugar 'n Cream made by Lily)
• pair of knitting needles, size 7

Directions:

Cast on 48 stitches.

Knit three rows.

Row 4: *P4, K5, P3*
Row 5: *K2, P2, K3, P2, K3*
Row 6: *P2, K2, P5, K2, P1*
Row 7: *P2, K7, P3*

Repeat rows 4-7 for ten rows then knit three rows. Bind off and weave in the yarn ends.

NOTE: anything found between * should be repeated across the row. For example, *K1,P1* means K1,P1 across the whole row of stitches

If anyone has a tried and true dishcloth pattern that you really like, leave a link to it in the comments. Thanks!

Comments

[Caitlin Park]

Thanks for sharing the knitting patterns!
I have enjoyed trying my hand at something other than scarfs! :) I also really enjoy reading your writings on here, I have been a reader for a while. ;) Hope that you all are doing well, and have a very merry Christmas!

[Dorothy]

Thanks so much for answering the questions! I'm going to have to print this up and have Sarah show me how to get started after the first of the year. I really want to learn. :-)

[Dorothy]

Hi Deb! Guess what?! Although I'm still very sick, Sarah and I are going to sit together and start the knitting lessons! I'm going to try the ripple washcloth as Sarah said the instructions looked simple enough for me. :-) I'll keep you posted!