Grandma Knitty Home
Knitty: little purls of wisdom
what's the editor up to lately?feature articlesKnitty's generous selection of patternsKnittyspinŽarchive of previous issuesMeet other Knitty readers and chat in our coffeeshop!sign up for the free Knitty newsletterLooking for an ad fromone of our advertisers? Click here!Our tiny, perfect online shopping mallGet yourself a little Knitty treat!read the behind-the-scenes news at Knitty
 


Find exactly what you're looking for

The answer to your question about Knitty is probably here!

Take home something Knitty today

Advertise with Knitty

Get your cool stuff reviewed in Knitty

Full information about how  to get published in Knitty

Read exactly what FREE PATTERNS really means...respect our designers and authors rights [and thank you]

Knitty is produced in a pro-rabbit environment

© Knitty 2002-2006. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. This means you.

 


<click for more!
 

Yarn Love

My aunt Doreen gave me a gift of monogrammed towels when I first went away to college. Sure, they were hot pink and girly, but somehow they made me feel a bit more grown up.

This project is a tribute to the aunt Doreens of the world, and an updated twist on the old classic. It's the perfect gift for the young freshman in your life, or to knit up for yourself during Biology 101.

Here are seven washcloths, one for each day of the week. Instead of initials, you have the opportunity to remind the freshmen of college priorities -- use the "STUDY" cloths six days a week. Keep "PARTY" for the weekend.

This is a great way to get your feet wet knitting texture patterns like lace without investing a huge amount of time or money, dealing with scary tiny needles or miles of thread-like yarn. Since they are all knit in inexpensive worsted-weight cotton, they're a perfect project for a freshman budget, and machine washable to boot.

The patterns start easy and get increasingly more difficult, just like the New York Times crossword puzzle. I knit these with a combination of different cotton yarns I had on hand but please feel free to substitute your favorite cottons in any color you favor. Some stitch patterns are variations from 2 sources: 200 knitted blocks by Jan Eaton (Seeded Diamonds, Lace Chevrons), The Knitter's Bible by Claire Compton (Basketweave, Bramble, Mini Horseshoe Lace, Lace Mesh).

photos: Star Athena

SIZE
One size
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Approx 9 inches square

 
MATERIALS

Lily Sugar 'n Cream [100% cotton; 120 yd/109 m per 70g skein]
Colors used: Sunshine, Hot Pink, Hot Green, Cornflower, Red, Rose Pink, Hot Orange, Yellow

Elmore-Pisgah Peaches and Creme [100% cotton; 122 yd/112 m per 70.9g skein]; Colors Used: Yellow, Light Blue, Baby Green

NOTE: These are the colors I had on hand. You do not need this many skeins to complete the project. Each skein is more than enough yarn for one washcloth and duplicate stitching. If you buy the "New Super Size" of Sugar 'n Cream, each skein will be enough for two washcloths and duplicate stitching.

1 set US #7/4.5mm straight needles
Tapestry needle
1 US G/6 / 4mm crochet hook

 
GAUGE

20 sts/26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
NOTE: Gauge is not crucial for this project.

 
PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]

Instructions for duplicate stitch can be found here.

Insructions for working a crochet chain can be found here.

DIRECTIONS

Basketweave Cloth [Mellow]
CO 37 sts.
K 2 rows.
Row 1 [RS]: K all sts.
Rows 2, 4 [WS]: K9, [p3, k5] to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 3 [RS]: K4, [p5, k3] to last st, k1.
Row 5 [RS]: K all sts
Rows 6, 8 [WS]: K5, [p3, k5] to end.
Row 7 [RS]: K4, p1, [k3, p5] to last 8 sts, k3, p1, k4.
Work Rows 1-8 once more.

Work Rows 1-5.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.
Work 13 rows in stockinette st, beginning with a RS row and keeping 4 sts at each edge in garter st.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.
Work Rows 1-8 twice.

Work Rows 1-5.

K 2 rows. BO all sts and break yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail; slip last st to crochet hook. Ch 7 and draw yarn through last st. Pull tight.

Plaid Cloth [Mellow]
CO 36 sts.
K 2 rows.
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7 [RS]: K3, [(k1, p1) 3 times, k6] twice, (k1, p1) 3 times, k3.

Rows 2, 4, 6, 8 [WS]: K3, [(p1, k1) 3 times, p6] twice, (p1, k1) 3 times, k3.

Rows 9, 11 [RS]: K9, [(k1, p1) 3 times, k6] twice, k3.

Rows 10, 12 [WS]: K3, [p6, (p1, k1) 3 times] twice, p6, k3.

Repeat Rows 1-7.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.
Work 13 rows in stockinette st, beginning with a RS row and keeping 3 sts at each edge in garter st.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.
Work Rows 1-12.

Work Rows 1-8 once more.

K 2 rows. BO all sts and break yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail; slip last st to crochet hook. Ch 7 and draw yarn through last st. Pull tight.

Seeded Diamonds Cloth [Mellow]

CO 37 sts.
K 2 rows.
Row 1 [RS]: K all sts.

Rows 2, 8 [WS]: K3, [p7, k1] to last 2 sts, k2.

Rows 3, 7 [RS]: K6, [p1, k7] to last 7 sts, p1, k6.

Rows 4, 6 [WS]: K3, [p2, k1, p1, k1, p2, k1] to last 2 sts, k2.

Row 5 [RS]: K4, [(p1, k1) 3 times, k2] to last st, k1.

Work Rows 1-8 once more.

K 2 rows.

Work 13 rows in stockinette st, beginning with a RS row and keeping 3 sts at each edge in garter st.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.

Work Rows 1-8 twice.

K 4 rows. BO all sts and break yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail; slip last st to crochet hook. Ch 7 and draw yarn through last st. Pull tight.

Lace Mesh Cloth [Tangy]
CO 36 sts.
K 2 rows.

Row 1 [RS]: K5, [yo, sl 1, k2, pass slipped st over last 2 sts] to last 4 sts, k4.

Rows 2, 4 [WS]: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.

Row 3 [RS]: K4, [sl 1, k2, pass slipped st over last 2 sts, yo] to last 5 sts, k5.

Work Rows 1-4 three times more.

Work Row 1.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.

Work 13 rows in stockinette st, beginning with a RS and keeping 3 sts at each edge in garter st.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.
Work Rows 1-4 four times.

Work Row 1.
K 2 rows. BO all sts and break yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail; slip last st to crochet hook. Ch 7 and draw yarn through last st. Pull tight.

Bramble Cloth [Tangy]
CO 36 sts.
K 2 rows.
Rows 1, 3 [RS]: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.

Row 2 [WS]: K4, [(k1, p1, k1) in next st, p3tog] to last 4 sts, k4.

Row 4 [WS]: K4, [p3tog, (k1, p1, k1) in next st] to last 4 sts, k4.

Work Rows 1-4 three times more.

Work Row 1.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.

Work 13 rows in stockinette st, beginning with a RS row and keeping 3 sts at each edge in garter st.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.

Work Rows 1-4 four times.

Work Row 1.

K 2 rows. BO all sts and break yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail; slip last st to crochet hook. Ch 7 and draw yarn through last st. Pull tight.

Lace Chevrons Cloth [Tangy]
CO 36 sts.
K 1 row.
Rows 1, 3 [RS]: K all sts.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8 [WS]: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2.

Row 5 [RS]: K5, [k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl 1, k1, psso, k2] to last 3 sts, k3.

Row 7 [RS]: K4, [k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl 1, k1, psso] to last 4 sts, k4.

Work Rows 5-8 twice more.

Work Rows 1-3.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.
Work 13 rows in stockinette st, beginning with a RS row and keeping 2 sts at each edge in garter st.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.

Work Rows 1-8.

Work Rows 5-8 twice.

Work Rows 1-3.

K 1 row. BO all sts and break yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail; slip last st to crochet hook. Ch 7 and draw yarn through last st. Pull tight.

Mini Horseshoe Lace Cloth [Tangy]

CO 37 sts.
K 1 row.
Rows 1, 3 [RS]: K all sts

Rows 2, 4, 6, 8 [WS]: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.

Row 5 [RS]: K7, [yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k1] to last 6 sts, k6.

Row 7 [RS]: K7, [k1, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2] to last 6 sts, k6.

Work Rows 5-8 twice more.

K 2 rows.

Work 13 rows in stockinette st, beginning with a RS row and keeping 3 sts at each edge in garter st.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.

Work Rows 3-8 once.

Work Rows 5-8 twice.

Work Rows 1-3.

K 1 row. BO all sts and break yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail; slip last st to crochet hook. Ch 7 and draw yarn through last st. Pull tight.

FINISHING

Form a loop with the crochet chain at the end of the BO row and weave in the end securely.

Working from chart and using duplicate stitch technique, embroider STUDY in contrasting color on center panels of 6 cloths, and PARTY on center panel of seventh cloth.

Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Star Athena is a musician, writer and artist currently living in Los Angeles. Her adventures in knitting and spinning can be found in her blog, Keep on Knitting in the Free World.