A Pattern: Dancing Stripes Washcloth

Dancing Stripes Washcloth

Materials: Less than one ounce Main Color (MC) and less than one-half ounce Contrast Color (CC)

cotton worsted (Peaches 'n Creme here)

Needle size #7.

This slip-stitch pattern didn't photograph well, but it is a very textured honeycomb type of stitch (see detail below). This is a good way to use up a small ball of leftover cotton. I used a very small amount of the blue, and just knit the pattern until I ran out. If you have enough, it looks good to stripe the borders as well, knitting two rows in each color. This is a good way to use up small amounts and still not have many loose ends when you finish, as the yarn is never cut. However, it is a challenging pattern and it is not recommended that you put down the work until each eight-row sequence is complete.

Directions:

CO 35 for small cloth, 41 for large cloth

Note: All stitches are slipped as if to purl. All right side rows are slipped with the yarn to the back and all wrong side rows are slipped with the yarn in front.

Border: K across for four rows.

Pattern rows:

1--MC, K9, *sl 2 as if to P, keeping yarn to back, k4* repeat across, end with sl2, K2, K4 (border)

2--MC, K4 (border) , holding yarn in front, sl 1, P1, *sl 2 (holding yarn in front), P 1, K 2, P 1* repeat, ending K1, K4.

3--CC, K4, K2 *yarn in back sl 2, skip 1 st, K the next stitch but do not drop from needle, K the skipped st and drop both, skip 1 st, K in back loop of next st but do not drop, K skipped st and drop both, repeat from * ending K1, K4

4--CC, holding yarn in front, sl 1 as if to P, P to last five stitches, K1, K4.

5--MC, K4, K2, *yarn in back sl 2, K 4, repeat from * ending sl2, K5, K4.

6--MC, yarn in front, sl1, *P1, K2, P1, sl 2, repeat from* ending K1, P1, K4.

7--CC, K4, K1, *skip 1 st, K the next st but do not drop, K skipped st and drop both, skip 1 st, K in back loop of next st, K skipped st and drop both, sl 2 (yarn in back), repeat from * ending K2, K4.

8--CC, repeat row 4.

For small cloth, repeat these eight rows six times; for large cloth repeat seven times.

Border: MC, K across for five rows, bind off.

This is a complicated pattern. I hope I've transcribed it correctly. Just remember that four stitches on each end must be K for the border, with the pattern in between. Colors are changed every two rows.