Simple Pleasures – Knitted Dish Cloths

I was born 100 years too late. I am a sucker for things that are simple and hand made. I love using things that I make. I love washing dishes by hand.

So, I love knitted dish cloths. 100 years ago, little girls were taught to knit. They couldn’t waste yarn, and they wouldn’t wear a scarf that wasn’t perfect, so they made dish cloths. Even experienced knitters would try new patterns on a dish cloth first, before using the more expensive yarn to make a large project.

I just make them, because I don’t need a pattern. I don’t even look down at my knitting half of the time, I just knit. I make them when I’m waiting in doctors offices, riding in the car, and watching tv. If I’m nervous, I knit a dish cloth, the feel of the cotton is especially relaxing to me.

The pattern for these is so easy:

Cast on 3,

 row 1 and all odd rows: knit across

even rows:   k1, yo, k to last stitch, yo, k1

Do this until you get 41 stitches on the needle.

Then, on the next even row, and all the even rows after that: K1, SSK, YO, SSK, knit across to last 5 stitches, K2tog, YO, K2tog, K1.

When you get down to the last 9 stitches, you have to do these rows for the even rows:

K1, SSK, YO, slip one K2tog PSSO, YO, K2tog, K1

K1, slip 1 K2tog PSSO, YO, K2tog, K1

K1, slip 1 K2tog PSSO, K1

Knit one more row, and bind off.