The Knitting Fiend

I thought it was unbelievable when I made my first lace dishcloth. Now for the all new, spectacular “Dewdrop Inn Dishcloth!”

Let’s just pretend it’s a realy big swatch, m’kay? The weather’s turned nice and I’ve been diverted to cleaning up the garden, so small projects are in for now.

This dishcloth is about 7″ across. The stitch pattern is called “Dewdrop”; I found it in from Barbara Walker’s Treasury of Knitting Patterns”. I added two purl stitches on either side of the pattern to form a firm border.

Looking at this, I bet you think it’s “lace”; evidently, it’s not “officially” lace. (Don’t ask me the official definition. I don’t know. I just read it’s not lace in Barbara Walker’s book.)

More importantly, for some mysterious reason, I found this pattern is easier to work than the dishcloth pattern I posted earlier. I also think it’s sort of prettier.

Although it’s easy to work, I strongly advise hanging a marker on right side of the work to keep track of even and odd rows. You’ll notice row 1 establishes a pattern, if you exclude the 2 edges stitches I added, 2 & 3 could be written as “knit stitches as they present themselves”. The same goes for rows 5, 6 & 7. It will be easier to remember to work the dramatically different rows 4 & 8 if you hang a marker so it faces you when you are on a right side facing row. Otherwise, you’ll constantly find yourself asking “Is this row 2 or 3, when you turn after row 2.” If you use the marker, you won’t need to count to double check.

Here’s how to make the dishcloth swatch. (Note, I put the original Dewdrop pattern inside () brackets. The two extra border stitches on each side are outside the () brackets. Adding these gives a firmer edge.)

• Cast on 35 stitches.
• Knit 3 rows all purl garter stitch always slipping first stitch.
• After turning, and before knitting row 1, pin a safety pin on the back face to mark the right side rows.
• Row 1 & 3: (Wrong side rows.) Slip 1, p1, ( k2, * p3, k3; repeat from *, end p3, k2) p2.
• Row 2: Slip 1, p1, ( p2, * k3, p3; repeat from *, end k3, p2 ) p2.
• Row 4: Slip 1, p1, ( k2, * yo, sl 1- k2tog -psso, yo, k3; repeat from * end yo, sl 1- k2 tog -psso, yo, k2) p2.
• Row 5 & 7: Slip 1, p1, (p2, * k3, p3; repeat from *, end k3, p2) p2.
• Row 6: Slip 1, p1, (k2, * p3, k3; repeat from *, end p3, k2) p2.
• Row 8: Slip 1, p1, (k2 tog, *yo, k3, yo, sl 1-k2 tog-psso; repeat from *, end yo, k3, yo, ssk) p2.
• Repeat rows 1-8 until dish cloth is slightly longer than it is wide. (They tend to shrink more in length than width.)
• Knit 2 rows all purl garter stitch; bind off in purl.
• Weave in ends, tidy. Throw in washing machine, use hot water, tumble dry to shrink. Give to mother-in-law.

Anyway, it’s prettier and easier. I don’t think I need to pretend. It is a big swatch. I’m seriously am thinking of knitting a cardigan using this!

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Sunday, April 17, 2005. Edited to provide a link to a calculator to help you find the number of stitches for any size dishcloth Barbara Walkers pattern required a multiple of 6 plus 1 stitch; because I add 2 border stitched on each side, my dishcloth pattern requires a multiple of 6 plus 5 stitches.