The Knitting Fiend

This washcloth knit up quickly!

I’m calling this a washcloth rather than a dishcloth because I used Symphonia cotton which is thinner than the Lion Dishcloth Cotton I used for dishcloths. The thinner yarn makes it daintier and nicer when washing delicate skin.

The stitch pattern is Italian Chain Ribbing, which doesn’t curl and looks nice on both sides. Ordinarily, the stitch pattern requires casting on a multiple of 6 stitches plus 2 stitches. (Example: 6 stitches * 5 repeats + 2 stitches = 32 stitches). To give the cloth a firm edge, I added 2 selvedge stitches on each side, which I knit in garter stitch. In my pattern directions, I’ll place the selvedge stitches inside [] brackets to distinguish them from the stitches knit in Italian Chain Ribbing.

There’s one unusual procedure you’ll need to do when working this stitch pattern: first, you need to yarn over twice in a row when working row 5; when working row 6, you must purl into the back of the second yarn over. It’s not difficult, but if you can’t figure it out, visit yesterday’s knitting technique article.

Here’s the basic pattern. The width and amount of yarn used will vary depending on you gauge and yarn choice. Mine is approximately 8″ wide, knit in on US size 3 needles.

• Cast on 36 stitches loosely.
• Rows 1-3: Purl all stitches.
• Row 4: [P2]; k2, * p4, k2; repeat from *. [P2]. (This is a wrong side row.)
• Row 5: [P2]; p2, * k2 tog, yo twice, ssk, p2; repeat from *. [P2]
• Row 6: [P2]; k2, * p1, purl in front of 1st yo, purl into back of 2nd yo, p1, k2; repeat from *. [P2]
• Row 7: [P2]; p2, * yo, ssk, k2 tog, yo, p2; repeat from *. [P2]
• Repeat rows 4-7 until dishcloth is as wide as it is long. If you yarn is likely to shrink, make it a bit longer. (I test this by folding so one side is parallel to the cast on edge. Of course, you need to spread the fabric out, so the selvedge and the edge are smooth and flat.
• Purl all stitches in the next three rows. Bind off.

Hey, notice my bind off is too loose? I used to bind off too tightly; clearly, I’ve overcompensated here. I guess I should rip it and bind off again

Nah!