Around the House - Part 2: In Knitting

Somehow through all of the moving around my kitchen has acquired a multitude of dish towels, but not many dish cloths.  A few bar rags have strangely survived the years, but most of the dishcloths that I have made have been ruthlessly destroyed.  Not in the way that you might think.  One of our two cats is a bit more neurotic that your average feline.  When he is stressed out, he eats holes in knit goods.  This includes yarn, sweaters, t-shirts, towels, underwear, basically anything that is less dense than denim.  It's annoying, but does create a great deal of problem solving.

The basic problem with dish cloths that I have made is that while they are drying out between uses, they sit by the sink or off of the faucet.  This means that any bored and enterprising young cat looking to explore could easily find them.  This dish towels are fairly safe.  When they are waiting for their next use, they are hung by the stove or off of a handle.  There seems to be something to that method in the long run.  Over time the towels survive while the cloths do not.

For the last couple of years our household has been using those small sponges with scrubbers attached.  They have the advantage of having no appeal to the cats, but I find them mildly annoying to use on a regular basis.  So I decided to make some dish cloths that could do the washing and scrubbing that I want them to, and that could be hung to keep them away from pets.

What came about is one pattern that can make two different types of dish cloth.  The difference is what choice is made when knitting the off side.  The one that is knit on the wrong side comes out being rougher and a good scrubber.  The cloth that is pearled on the wrong side is smoother, looks prettier, and is good for wiping.

If you would like a PDF of this pattern and have a Ravelry account, a copy can be found here.

If you would prefer a PDF from Etsy, it can be found here.

Feel free to change the thread, gauge, or size to fit your needs.  Add an edging, or leave it as is.  Use the charts as reference for other patterns.  Just please do not try to sell this pattern as your own.

If you have any problems that you think that I might be able to help you with, email me at GridMammalCrafts@gmail.com .

Happy washing.

Scrubber & Wiper Dish Cloths

Materials:

·         Size 7, 4.5 mm Knitting Needles

·         Lion Cotton, 236 yds/215 m, Color: 147 Purple, 100% Pure Cotton, Worsted Weight

·         7/8” Button

·         Darning Needle

·         Sewing Needle and Thread (Optional)

Gauge:

·         18 stitches x 24 rows = 4” x 4” in Stockinette Stitch

Finished Size:

·         11” wide x 16.5” long

Notes:

·         Both dish cloths use the same basic pattern. 

-          For the Scrubber Dish Cloth, knit all odd rows. 

-          For the Wiper Dish Cloth, pearl all odd rows.

·         Stitch counts are written in (blue italics).

·         If you would prefer to knit a dish cloth without a hanging strap, simply cast off the nine stitches after row 92.

Key:

Instructions:

Bottom

Cast on 9 stitches

Row 1 (ws): -    (Scrubber) Knit all odd rows.

-          (Wiper) Pearl all odd rows.

Row 2 (rs): k1, yo, k1, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k1, yo, k1 (11 sts)

Row 4 (rs): k1, yo, k1, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k1, yo, k1 (13 sts)

Row 6 (rs): k1, yo, k1, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k1, yo, k1 (15 sts)

Row 8 (rs): k1, yo, k2, lli, ssk, k5, k2tog, rli, k2, yo, k1 (17 sts)

Row 10 (rs): k1, yo, k4, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k4, yo, k1 (19 sts)

Row 12 (rs): k1, yo, k6, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k6, yo, k1 (21 sts)

Row 14 (rs): k1, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, inc3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, k1 (23 sts)

Row 16 (rs): k1, yo, k2, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k2, yo, k1 (25 sts)

Row 18 (rs): k1, yo, k4, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k4, yo, k1 (27 sts)

Row 20 (rs): k1, yo, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, yo, k1 (29 sts)

Row 22 (rs): k1, yo, k5, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k5, yo, k1 (31 sts)

Row 24 (rs): k1, yo, k2, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2, yo, k1 (33 sts)

Row 26 (rs): k1, yo, k3, k2tog, inc3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, inc3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k3, yo, k1 (35 sts)

Row 28 (rs): k1, yo, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, yo, k1 (37 sts)

Row 30 (rs): k1, yo, k3, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k3, yo, k1 (39 sts)

Row 32 (rs): k1, yo, k1, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k1, yo, k1 (41 sts)

Row 34 (rs): k1, yo, k1, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k1, yo, k1 (43 sts)

Row 36 (rs): k1, yo, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, yo, k1 (45 sts)

Row 38 (rs): k1, yo, k2, lli, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, inc3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, inc3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, inc3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, rli, k2, yo, k1 (47 sts)

Row 40 (rs): k1, yo, k4, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k4, yo, k1 (49 sts)

Row 42 (rs): k1, yo, k6, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k6, yo, k1 (51 sts)

Row 44 (rs): k1, yo, k7, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k7, yo, k1 (53 sts)

Row 46 (rs): k1, yo, k2, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k2, yo, k1 (55 sts)

Top

Row 48 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, yo, k1 (53 sts)

Row 50 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k4, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, inc3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, inc3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, inc3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k4, k2tog, yo, k1 (51 sts)

Row 52 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k4, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, k4, k2tog, yo, k1 (49 sts)

Row 54 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k4, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, yo, k1 (47 sts)

Row 56 (rs): k1, yo, ssk x 2, k1, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k1, k2tog x 2, yo, k1 (45 sts)

Row 58 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k6, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, k6, k2tog, yo, k1 (43 sts)

Row 60 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k6, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, k6, k2tog, yo, k1 (41 sts)

Row 62 (rs): k1, yo, ssk x 2, k3, k2tog, inc3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, inc3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k3, k2tog x 2, yo, k1 (39 sts)

Row 64 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, k3, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k3, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1 (37 sts)

Row 66 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k8, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, k8, k2tog, yo, k1 (35 sts)

Row 68 (rs): k1, yo, ssk x 2, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k5, k2tog x 2, yo, k1 (33 sts)

Row 70 (rs): k1, yo, ssk x 2, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog x 2, yo, k1 (31 sts)

Row 72 (rs): k1, yo, ssk x 2, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog x 2, yo, k1 (29 sts)

Row 74 (rs): k1, yo, ssk x 2, k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, inc3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog x 2, yo, k1 (27 sts)

Row 76 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k2, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, k2, k2tog, yo, k1 (25 sts)

Row 78 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, yo, k1 (23 sts)

Row 80 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k4, ssk, k5, k2tog, k4, k2tog, yo, k1 (21 sts)

Row 82 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k4, ssk, k3, k2tog, k4, k2tog, yo, k1 (19 sts)

Row 84 (rs): k1, yo, ssk, k4, ssk, k1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, yo, k1 (17 sts)

Row 86 (rs): k1, yo, ssk x 2, k1, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k1, k2tog x 2, yo, k1 (15 sts)

Row 88 (rs): k2, ssk, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k2tog, k2 (13 sts)

Row 90 (rs): ssk, k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk, k2tog (11 sts)

Row 92 (rs): k1, ssk, k5, k2tog, k1 (9 sts)

·      If you are making the Scrubber Dish Cloth, continue right on to the next page.

·      

         If you are making the Wiper Dish Cloth, pearl one more row. So, you will pearl Row 93 as normal, and pearl Row 93b.

                        Row 93: p9

                        Row 93b: p9

-          This will mean that the remainder of the rows on the Wiper Cloth will have the right side on the opposite side of the dish cloth.  This is so the right side will be facing out when you turn the arm over and button it.

·         

             If you do not want your dish cloth to have a hanging arm, bind off the nine stitches on Row 93

Arm

  

Scrubber Arm Chart

   

    

 Wiper Arm Chart

Row 94 (rs): k1, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k1

Row 96 (rs): k2, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2

Row 98 (rs): k2, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k2

Row 100 (rs): k1, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k1

Row 102 (rs): k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk

Row 104 (rs): rli, ssk, k5, k2tog, lli

Row 106 (rs): k1, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k1

Row 108 (rs): k2, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2

Row 110 (rs): k2, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k2

Row 112 (rs): k1, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k1

Row 114 (rs): k2tog, lli, k5, rli, ssk

Row 116 (rs): rli, ssk, k5, k2tog, lli

Row 118 (rs): k1, rli, ssk, k3, k2tog, lli, k1

Row 120 (rs): k2, rli, ssk, k1, k2tog, lli, k2

Row 122 (rs): k2, k2tog, inc3, ssk, k2

Row 124 (rs): k1, k2tog, lli, k3, rli, ssk, k1

Row 126 (rs): k2tog, lli, k1, bind3, rli, ssk (6 sts)

Row 127 (ws): (k3 or p3), bw loop co3, (k3 or p3) (9 sts)

Row 128 (rs): ssk, k5, k2tog       (7 sts)

Row 130 (rs): ssk, k3, k2tog       (5 sts)

Row 132 (rs): ssk, k1, k2tog       (3 sts)

Row 133 (ws): Bind off stitches

Finishing:

Break yarn and weave in ends.

Sew button onto the right side of the dish cloth.

Stay Tuned

Next month will have some Halloween decor.