Beyond the knitting instructions: How do you customize a dishcloth knitting pattern?

I’m a fan of hand knit dishcloths. Every time I use one, I’m amazed at how long they last.  And how much better they are at scrubbing than manufactured dishcloths.

Although they can be fancy with embossed-looking images, they don’t have to be. They can be as simple as garter stitch. I just finished knitting one in about three hours.

I used a pattern that’s been around for years. It’s called Grandma’s or Grandmother’s Favorite Dishcloth.

Its name suits. It’s a quick and easy knit. All you need to know is how to: cast on, knit, yarn over, decrease, and cast off.  That’s it.

It can be customized if you get tired of the basic pattern, as explained later in this post.

Grandma’s Favorite Dishcloth

Materials: Approximately 1 ounce of cotton worsted weight yarn and 1 pair of knitting needles in appropriate size.

So what’s an appropriate needle size? Whatever size you want to make the knitting as tight or as loose as you want. I knit loosely, and usually use size 5 or 6 needles. Many knitters use size 8.

Instructions:

Row 1: Cast on 4 stitches.

Row 2: Knit 2 stitches, yarn over, knit to end of row.  Turn.

Repeat Row 2 until you have 44 stitches on your needle.

Next Row (Decrease Row): Knit 1 stitch, knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 2 together, knit to end of row. Turn.

Repeat this row until you have 4 stitches left. Cast off.  Break yarn, and pull it through last stitch to knot. Weave in yarn ends.

Knitter’s Tip: If the dishcloth doesn’t look quite square, try gently pulling it into shape. It’s not unusual for the first and second halves to look different when the dishcloth first comes off the needles.

So what are some easy variations?

• Crocheting a Hanging Loop
  You can add a look by not breaking yarn when you get to the last stitch. Using a crochet hook, chain 8, attaching the chain to the last stitch or corner or next to the last stitch. Break yarn and weave in ends as above.
• Adding a Slipped Stitch Edging
  You can make a lovely slipped stitch edging by slipping the first stitch of each row as if to purl.  My video gives you the slipped stitch edging knitting instructions.
• Knitting in Reverse Garter Stitch
  If you want practice purling or just like to purl more than knit, you can knit the entire dishcloth in reverse garter stitch instead of garter stitch.

  To knit Grandma’s Favorite Dishcloth, the basic instructions become:
  Row 1: Cast on 4 stitches.
  Row 2: Purl 2 stitches, yarn over, purl to end of row.  Turn.
  Repeat Row 2 until you have 44 stitches on your needle.
  Next Row (Decrease Row): Purl 1 stitch, purl 2 together, yarn over, purl 2 together, purl to end of row. Turn.
  Repeat this row until you have 4 stitches left. Cast off.  Break yarn, and pull it through last stitch to knot. Weave in yarn ends.
  This post gives you more detailed reverse garter knitting instructions.

• Changing the size
  Want a larger or smaller dishcloth? Then increase to 46 or 42—or whatever sizes you want—before decreasing.
  You can even make square dishtowel by enlarging the pattern. You may however need more than one ball of yarn.
  Knitters tip: Hand knit dishtowels seem to absorb water better than store-bought ones.
• Using your imagination to customize—
  If you want to knit in colors, you can knit stripes. You may either find you have a lot of ends to weave in, or if you carry the yarn from row to row you may want to crochet a border of single crochet or knit an I-cord border to cover the yarn loops.
  If you change colors after either 2 or 4 rows the yarn carried will be short lengths. You can also make wider stripes of more rows, breaking the yarn between stripes.

So now you have the basic instructions and five easy variations.

Another variation of the garter stitch is my Garter Ripple Kitchen Set, based on an easy lace stitch called Feather and Fan.

It’s a great way to brighten up your kitchen or to practice lace knitting on a small project:

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Knitting instructions: How do you easily add colors to garter stitch?

Like many knitters, when I first learned to knit, I started with a garter stitch scarf. By the time I finished, I’d learned cast on, knit stitch, and casting (or binding) off.  As I recall it was a long scarf, so I had lots of practice on my knit stitches.

The scarf was made of a single color. I didn’t try anything fancy. Was just happy to be using two wooden needles, size 11, instead of the spool knitting I’d done previously. At the time I thought spool knitting boring, and for children. It seemed as though there were only a limited number of things like placemats or hot pads to make with it. And after all, I was in elementary school, so knitting with two needles was very grown-up!

Since then I’ve learned a few things about knitting garter stitch with color. And like most knitters I have definite preferences as to what I like!

So what patterns arise when you use simple techniques to add color to your garter stitch?

• Stripes, or
• A mosaic, or even
• A pattern you won’t know until you finish your knitting.

When making stripes I tend to be an orderly kind of knitter. My preference is usually to change colors on the same side, which ends up being the right side most often. Carrying one color only across, and then changing colors on the same side. This gives you sharp stripes. This picture shows colors alternated every 2 rows:

And the other side, usually the wrong side is more blended:

If changing colors on both sides of the article, you’ll get a blend of the two.

There is another technique called mosaic knitting. Here, you change the colors at the beginning of a row like stripes, slip some stitches, and still carry only one color across at a time. It gives some lovely color patterns, on both sides:

Here’s a nice online description of knitting instructions for mosaic garter stitch.

I must admit, however, that one of my favorite ways to add color to garter stitch is easier than either of these.

Use a variegated yarn! Especially if you like the randomness, and being surprised at the outcome which may look like stripes or Intarsia, or even something else.

If you like garter stitch, and want to try a small project, why not a kitchen set? Here’s the link on how you can get knitting instructions for my Ripple Garter Stitch Kitchen Set.

Kool-Aid and Food Coloring Adventures

I used Kool Aid and food coloring for a nontoxic dye, and am happy with the results:

When are knitting instructions like a puzzle?

It’s with some amusement I made my first Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ).

Most knitting patterns let you see the garment as it’s being made. Sometimes, as in the case of knitting a hat on circular needles, socks from the toe up, or even a sweater in flat pieces you can try on the garments as you work, customizing as needed. Even when knitting a sweater in flat pieces, you can still check your measurements as you go.

The BSJ though is different.

It’s more of a puzzle than most knitted garments. And it uses one of my favorite stitches, garter stitch. Here you can read garter stitch knitting instructions.

Here are my results of following the pattern:

It hardly looks like a jacket in progress. I stand awe of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s genius. Both in creating the BSJ, and in writing its knitting instructions.

As I followed her simple yet complete instructions, I kept checking to be sure I was right. You see, the original knitting instructions are, well, brief. They’re not given line by line. Which can be a bit disconcerting if you’re used to more complete instructions. By the way, line by line knitting instructions for the BSJ are available through a new printing of the pattern by Schoolhouse Press.

You may find, like me, the easiest way to keep the stitches straight is to simply count the symmetrical stitches on each end. As you can see, the folded jacket worked:

After knitting this far, it was apparent I’d run out of purple before I could finish the jacket. So, I ripped out most of the last stripe and redid it. As sometimes occurs, I also modified the pattern. Instead of buttons, I opted for no buttons or buttonholes. My buttons just didn’t look right.

Currently, I’m considering a zipper down the front. Of course, I’m reserving the right to go frogging, and redo the last few rows with buttons. Should I find the perfect ones, of course!

And while, yes I can be precise with instructions, I also enjoy the opportunities for exercising creativity in less precise instructions. How about you?

Check out more fiber artists and their projects at Fiber Arts Friday.

How can knitting dishcloths be challenging?

When you’re bored with knitting the same old pattern, maybe it’s time to try something more challenging …

Like Garterlac!

This is my first attempt:

Yes, it’s a work in progress. If you like the challenge of entrelac, but find the stockinette (stocking) version too flat or like both the front and back to look woven, you might like garterlac. Like garter stitch, it’s a nice thickness for dishes.  And dishcloths make a nice practical square to try out a new pattern.

It’s not hard to envision using garterlac for a scarf, an afghan, or a pillow top.

If garterlac is more challenging than you want to attempt your first time out, you might consider this dishcloth:

It’s a smaller version of the baby blanket in Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Workshop. I started with 14 stitches. It has a woven seam, which may not suit everyone for a dishcloth.  Still, it’s a good way to try out the pattern, without making an entire blanket.

Still too complex? Well, you could try the Mitered Scrubby, substituting one strand of yarn and casting on 40 stitches, or the number for the size you want.

Most knitters are familiar with the Diagonal Dishcloth Pattern, also often known as Grandma’s Dishcloth, or some variation of that name. It’s actually garter stitch worked on the bias. And very good practice for garter stitch, increases and decreases.

My version is knit on size 7 needles or size for gauge you like.

Cast on 3 stitches
Row 1: Knit 1, yarn over, knit 1, yarn over, knit 1
Row 2: Knit 5
Row 3: Knit 1, yarn over, knit 3, yarn over, knit 1
Row 4: Knit 7

Continue in garter stitch, to increase one stitch each odd row just after first and before last stitch. Knit all stitches in even rows.
When side edges measure desired size (35 stitches on row in the one I knitted) begin decrease rows:

SKP = Slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit 1 stitch, pass slip stitch over knit stitch

Odd Rows: Knit 1, SKP, Knit to last 3 stitches, knit 2 together, knit 1
Even Rows: Knit all stitches

Bind off when row has 3 stitches.  Finish off, leaving an end long enough to weave in. Weave in ends.

Tip: You can vary where the increases and decreases are placed, such as knit 3 yarn over, knit to last 3 stitches, yarn over, knit last three stitches. Similarly, the decreases would be placed after the first 3 knit stitches and before the last 3. This keeps the edges consistent.

And of course, there’s always easy garter stitch.

The cotton worsted weight yarn is Sugar ‘n Cream Bronze Blue Culinary Colors-3 oz.

What’s the remedy for “boring” knit dishcloths?

Ever have one of those days?

You know, you search for a clean dishcloth. Only to discover …

Most of them are worn, many beyond repair. Amazing how they all seem to go simultaneously. And no, I don’t think it’s a conspiracy.

More likely, I wait until I need more than one, and then make a bunch at a time.

Dishcloths are interesting. They can be as plain or fancy as you like. Since I’ve recently been working with garter stitch, I thought I’d see how many variations of garter stitch I could make.

This is one of my favorite patterns. I start with how ever many stitches I want, using the size needles I feel like, and basically knit a square … unless I feel like making an oblong.

Then I bind off.

The diagonal knit dishcloth is a favorite with many folks. I see it listed often as “Grandma’s Dishcloth Pattern” or “Old-Fashioned Dishcloth Pattern.” That’s not to say Grandma is always old-fashioned of course.

Waffle Stitch is probably not technically garter stitch. It does use only knit stitches with no purling, so I’m including it. I like the thickness, and it makes a nice scrubbing dishcloth.

Mitered dishcloth is fun. Mostly because I like to start with the long end, and decrease as I go. It’s lovely to work fewer and fewer stitches as the square grows. Sure makes the project seem to be going faster, anyway. The pattern is here, just use one strand of yarn and adjust the number of stitches to make the size you want.

Rippled dishcloth is a stitch I modified. From the ripple afghan stitch, I changed it to a garter stitch ripple. Hey, it’s allowed! After all, it is only knitting!

After eight different patterns, I decided I have enough dishcloths for awhile. And, I still have some yarn left over. At least until I decide to knit some more.

I used my size seven Denise Knitting Needles from Alpaca Direct. I still smile whenever I use them because I enjoy them … like that they’re made in Virginia … and Alpaca Direct’s free shipping for orders over $50 always makes me smile.

The cotton worsted weight yarn is Sugar ‘n Cream Yarn Twists-Rose Twists and Sugar ‘n Cream Bronze Blue Culinary Colors-3 oz.

The ripple dishcloth is part of my Garter Ripple Kitchen Set, and available here.

Who wants a free knitting pattern that organizes and recycles?

Looking at my collection of darning needles, I realized I needed more organization.

Each needle is blunt. The good news is blunt needles are harder to poke yourself with. The bad news is, they don’t poke through the fabric on my pin cushion. <Sigh …>

Darning needles — and most sewing needles — come in cardboard and plastic packages.  To use the needles, the plastic usually needs to be ripped from the cardboard. While the plastic can be used as a tray, it’s a short-term not a long-term solution.

As I was considering what to do with my needles, I suddenly remembered one of my mother’s pin cushions.

It’s made from a discarded aerosol can top, and a crocheted oblong that’s rolled into the top. Darning needles easily go into the crocheted stitches. Should be easy enough to substitute a knit oblong for the crocheted. But then, I realized I don’t have any empty tops lying around. Probably because I rarely buy aerosol cans any more.

But I do have several measuring cups from laundry detergent.

Its sides aren’t square. I like the clear plastic that will show more of the knitting.

So, it was off to my basket of yarn scraps, and my knitting needles. I decided to make as much of a customized roll as I can. I love the idea of using bright colors. Hopefully they will make the pin cushion be more visible on my cluttered work surface.

My knitting gauge is 7 stitches in 2 inches, with size 7 needles and worsted weight wool. Actually the wool is hand spun doubles.

I cast on 8 stitches, and started garter stitch with a slipped stitch garter edging. The edging instructions are in the video on this web site. I made a slipped stitch along one edge, and changed colors as I ran out of yarn or as it suited me. The slipped stitch edge is the top.  All color changes were made along  the bottom edge.

I knit 10 inches of garter stitch. I bound off 3 stitches on the edge opposite the slipped stitch. Then continued garter stitch with the slipped stitch edging on 5 stitches for another 6-1/4 inches. Followed by binding off the remaining stitches.

I fit the roll into the container as I worked. I didn’t weave in any ends, just tucked them into the roll.

And, voila!

And another view:

I scrunched the roll into the plastic cup. The knitted roll very nicely fit inside it.

With a single project I’ve organized my darning needles, and recycled (reused) an otherwise non-recyclable.

Storage Tip:I like to store all my needles with yarn or thread attached. When one drops, they’re so-o-o much easier to find!

You can download a free pdf of this pattern here.

Now that my darning needles are organized, it’s time to tackle the clutter on my workspace …

Check out the fiber artists at Alpaca Farm Girl’s Fiber Arts Friday.

Free knit bag pattern

Earlier this year, I knit a bag.

It’s made of hand spun wool, which I dyed with Kool-Aid.  Two packages of black cherry, and one of orange. The original color was grayish brown. Or was it brownish gray?

The bag is knit on circular needles, because I decided to minimize the number of seams.  It has one seam at the bottom.  And even that one I closed without sewing.

How?

Well, more on that later.

The pattern is actually fairly simple. I used a combination of garter stitch and stockinette stitch. Stockinette because, well it’s easy on circular needles.  You just knit every stitch.  And garter, because I wanted a flat not rolled top and a thicker bottom.

The bag ends when it does because, well I was tired of knitting garter stitch on circular needles. Hey, I thought it’s as good an excuse as any!

Garter stitch makes a nice sturdy bottom, don’t you agree?

When I made the bag, I wasn’t sure if I’d use it for a purse or a bag.  I decided to line it because, well pens and knitting needles tend to poke through the knitted fabric.  And after I finished it, I decided I like it for my knitting.

So, now I have a knitted knitting bag.

The instructions, including how I closed the bottom and my suggestions for places you could customize it are all in the pattern.

The pattern is free. You can get it by as my thank you for signing up for a subscription to this blog, The Knitting Yarn. The sign-up box is in the upper right sidebar.

Just look for this e-Book:

Here’s another view:

Or two …

Reverse garter stitch

Reverse garter stitch looks like garter stitch.

Instead of knitting every stitch, every stitch is purled.

So, when do you use reverse garter stitch?

When you’re:

• Making a garter stitch border, and need to start it with a purl row …
• Practicing your purl stitches, or …
• Teaching someone how to make reverse garter stitch.

Honestly, I rarely use it.

For me, the knitting stitch is more natural.  I can do it almost without thinking about it.  Purling, however, takes more concentration.  And after a few rows of reverse garter, I long to throw in a few knitted stitches.

Which is why, if you look closely, you’ll see how small the actual sample of reverse garter I knit for this post really is …

Only 10 stitches wide, and 10 ribs high (not including the cast on and bind off).  And yes, I knit the first row and cast off with knit stitches.  I can cast off with purl stitches, and didn’t feel a need to practice those.

For the cast on method I used knitting the first row is much faster (and easier).  So that’s what I did.

Just like garter stitch, reverse garter lies flat, and is thicker than stockinette.  Its uses are the same as garter stitch. Assuming of course you  have the patience — and the inclination — to purl multiple rows.  A scarf would make one a purling expert quickly, and possibly tire of it quickly, too.

And yes, I’m one of those knitters who goes out of her way to avoid reverse garter stitch.  If I can, I’ll substitute garter stitch, or alter the pattern.  Patterns like gauges, are after all, only a suggestion—

Garter stitch: basic knitting patterns

What’s the first knitting stitch most of us learn?

Plain knitting, also known as the garter stitch!

On two needles, garter stitch is all knitting.  Every stitch. So, once you’ve cast on, it’s only one stitch to learn or practice. Of course, if you knit in the round, it’s one round (or row) of knitting alternating with a round of purling.

There is a symmetry to garter stitch not found in stockinette.  10 stitches is the same length as 10 ridges, or 20 rows.  I think that is so cool, but then I’ve always loved math!

And garter stitch knit on 2 needles lies flat.  The edges don’t curl. So, it makes a nice edging, or strap.  As an edging, garter stitch is often used to flatten a pattern that otherwise would curl. I like it as a strap for a purse or bag.

Knitting tip: When knitting a strap, you can cast on the stitches lengthwise and knit.  Yes you have long rows, but it often seems easier and faster than knitting many short rows.

Its ridges give garter stitch a texture — and a thickness — not found in stockinette stitch.

Beginners often start making scarves in garter stitch.  Making a long scarf can be excellent practice in the stitches.  Hopefully not to the point of getting bored of garter stitch, though.

In cotton, it also makes great dishcloths, and dish towels.  I like the ridges for scrubbing dishes — or absorbing the water when drying them!

And it can make washcloths, towels,  sweaters, and more…  My sister likes to make watch caps with it instead of ribbing.

I looked for the origin of the term garter stitch.  And couldn’t find it.  I suspect it was used in garters — bands that used to be used frequently to hold up socks and stockings. If you know its origin, please share in the comments!

Meanwhile, I’m going to keep knitting…