This washcloth pattern was made out of necessity – I am teaching beginner knitting, knew that a diagonal washcloth would be part of the curriculum, and then when I went to find one that would work, I could not.
So, my first published pattern on Ravelry (because it’s there, too) is just something that people have been making for ages, centuries perhaps, because I wanted to make sure that it was written down and readily available.
Ravelry page and free download is here.
Video tutorial coming soon to my YouTube channel.
The pattern is written below for easy access:
Simple Diagonal Washcloth By Working Yarns
This diagonal washcloth is knit flat in Garter Stitch and uses simple increase and decrease stitches, great for building skills in knitting. This pattern makes a 6 inch washcloth, but the size is adjustable – you could even just keep going until you have a blanket…
A note about materials – you want to avoid multi-colored yarn if you are a beginner making this, because that will make it harder to see your stitches and read your knitting. You don’t need to add any unnecessary grief to the process of learning to knit! Enjoy your project and choose something with a smooth texture and a solid color! Also, do not choose Loops & Threads cotton if you love yourself at all – it is a pain to work with. I use Dishie (linked in the materials list) and while it is $5 per ball, that ball will make you three or four of these washcloths, so that’s not bad. Yes, you will need to pay for shipping if you don’t hit the free shipping minimum, but you will also spend money traveling too-and-from a Michael’s and then again when you go back to get something else, instead. Please just do yourself a favor and leave that stuff on the shelf.
Materials:
- US 7 / 4.5mm needles
- Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn (I used Dishie)
- Darning needle
- Two stitch markers (optional)
Abbreviations:
K – Knit stitch
K1fb – Knit one front and back – knit the front leg of the stitch, but don’t remove it, then knit in the back leg of the same stitch, then remove it from your left needle; you now have two new stitches from one stitch.
K2tog – Knit two together – knit two stitches together by inserting your needle through the front leg of the next two stitches, left to right, and then knitting as if it’s one; you now have one stitch on your right needle from the two on your left.
Pattern Instructions:
Cast-on three (3) stitches, using the long-tail cast-on or preferred cast-on method.
Increase Section:
Row 1 Knit (k) across all three stitches on your needle.
Row 2 K until the last two stitches on your needles, k1fb, k1 (1 stitch increase)
Cont. Continue to knit each row as in Row 2, increasing by 1 stitch in every row, until you’ve reached 40 stitches, or until your square sides reach the desired length.
Decrease Section:
Dec. Row Knit until the last 3 stitches on your needle, k2tog, k1 (1 stitch decreased)
Cont. Continue each row as above, down 1 St per row, until only 3 stitches remain.
Cast-of With 3 stitches remaining, cast off all stitches. Weave in ends.
I hope you enjoy making this washcloth, either for yourself or for someone you care about!
Leave a Reply