Slip stitch patterns are terrific for washcloths because they add some depth to the fabric, and give you terrific visual punch while ensuring that you still only have to knit the pattern stitch with one color at a time. Try all three of these slip stitch patterns – you can get all three washcloths out of two skeins of yarn!
This pattern originally appeared in Bath Knits: 30 Projects Made to Pamper by Mary Beth Temple, published in 2017 by Stackpole Books. Excerpted with permission. Look for this book online or at your local booksellers.
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Recommended yarn is Lily Sugar n’ Cream (Yarnspirations affiliate links)
Finished Size: 8” square
Materials: 215 yards worsted weight 100% cotton yarn (CYCA 4, Medium) in two colors makes all three washcloths
Knitting needles size 6/4.0mm or size needed to obtain a firm fabric
Tapestry needle
Optional: 1 large bobbin
Gauge: Not critical for this pattern but washcloths do best with a firm fabric because cotton loosens up when it becomes wet.
Abbreviations:
k – knit
p- purl
sl – slip
wyif – with yarn in front
wyib – with yarn in back
rep – repeat
Notes:
Slip all stitches purlwise.
When slipping stitches, working yarn is always carried on the wrong side of the work.
Use a bobbin or second ball of yarn for the second garter stitch border to cut down on the height of the floats seen on the wrong side of the work when changing colors.
Washcloth One – Honeycomb:
With A, cast on 33.
Knit 6 rows for garter stitch border.
Row 1 (WS): K3, p27, k3.
Row 2 (RS): With A, k3, with B, k4, sl 1, (k5, sl 1) 3 times, k4, with A, k3.
Row 3: With A, k3, with B, p4, sl 1, (p5, sl 1) 3 times, p4, with A, k3.
Rows 4 – 5: Rep Rows 2 – 3.
Row 6: With A, k across including slipped sts.
Row 7: With A, k3, p27, k3.
Row 8: With A, k3, with B, k1, sl 1, (k5, sl 1) 4 times, k1, with A, k3.
Row 9: With A, k3, with B, p1, sl 1, (p5, sl 1) 4 times, p1, with A, k3.
Rows 10 – 11: Rep Rows 8 – 9.
Rows 12 – 13: Rep Rows 6 – 7.
Rep Rows 2 – 13 twice, then Rows 2 – 7 once more.
With A, knit 6 rows for garter stitch border.
Bind off knitwise. Weave in ends.
Washcloth Two – Textured Dots
With A, cast on 33.
Knit 6 rows for garter stitch border.
Row 1 (WS): K3, p27, k3.
Row 2 (RS): With A, k3, with B, k1, (sl 1 wyib, k1) 13 times, with A, k3.
Row 1 (WS): With A, k3, p29, k3.
Row 3: With A, k3, with B, k1, (sl 1 wyif, k1) 13 times, with A, k3.
Row 4: With A, k across including slipped stitches.
Row 5: With A, k3, p27, k3.
Row 6: With A, k across.
Row 7: Rep Row 5.
Rep Rows 2 – 7 six times, then Rows 2 – 5 once more.
With A, knit 6 rows for garter stitch border.
Bind off. Weave in ends.
Washcloth Three – Medallions
With A, cast on 35 sts.
Knit 6 rows for garter stitch border.
Row 2 (RS): With A, k3, with B, k1, (sl 3 wyib, with B, k3) 4 times, sl 3 wyib, with B k1, with A
k3.
Row 3: With A k3, with B, p2, (sl 1 wyif, with B, p5) 4 times, sl 1 wyif, with B, p2, with A, k3.
Row 4: With A k3, with B k29, with A, k3.
Row 5: With A, k3, with B, k4, (p3, k3) 3 times, p3, k4, with A, k3.
Row 6: With A, k3, sl 1 wyib, (k3, sl 3 wyib) 4 times, k3, sl 1 wyib, k3.
Row 7: With A, k3, p5, (sl 1 wyif, p5) 4 times, k3.
Row 8: With A, knit across.
Row 9: With A, k4, (p3, k3) 4 times, p3, k4.
Rep Rows 2 – 9 four times more, then Rows 2- 8 once, then Row 4 once.
With A, k 6 rows for garter stitch border.
Bind off. Weave in ends.