Knit Dishcloth and Blanket

Carol Duvall Show : Episode CDS-1415 -- More Projects » By Carol Duvall
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Today’s project started some time ago when I received a letter from Patty Cerruti from Grandview, Mo., along with a package containing 10 wonderful knitted dishcloth and the directions for making them! I was thrilled. None of the young women around the studio even knew what I was talking about when I mentioned dishcloths, because they all use sponges. I tried to change their ways.

The handmade cloths I made some years ago were crocheted. The ones Patty sent were knitted. Same idea. Same yarn. And since knitting is so popular again, this is a good place to start. The project is small, inexpensive and easy, and when you are finished you have something useful. Because you don’t wear it, nobody will see any imperfections! Following are the directions that Patty sent. I followed them exactly although I did use a smaller needle size (size 8) for a slightly firmer knit. Strictly personal.

Materials:

size 10 knitting needles
ball of Sugar ‘n' Spice cotton yarn

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Figure A
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Figure B
Steps:

1. Cast on 4 sts.

2. Knit across.

3. Knit 2 sts, YO, knit to end of row. Repeat this row until there are 43 sts. on the needle. You will have a triangle shaped piece with eyelet openings along both sides (figure A).

4. To decrease: Knit 1 st., knit 2 sts. together, YO , knit 2 sts. together (figure B). Knit to end of row.

5. Repeat this row until you have 4 st. remaining. Knit across.

6. Cast off. There’s your dishcloth!

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But that’s not the end of the story. Many months later when making an appearance in a craft store in Southland, Tex., I met Marilyn Chapman, who was the knitting teacher there. She told me about an easy blanket that she made using...would you believe...the same pattern! The difference was that she used soft yarn and made it much larger...100 or more sts. instead of 43. Marilyn called it a car blanket for bringing the baby home from the hospital. I think we called these receiving blankets. In any case, they are warm and cuddly and perfect for newborns. Place the baby on the blanket, fold the bottom up, fold the sides to the middle, and bring the top down to protect the baby’s head.

And there’s more. Both of these ideas have been around for many, many years, but would you believe when looking through a new and very beautiful book called Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas, I found the same patterns! Another case of "what goes around, comes around." Enjoy.

Also in this Episode
Carol Duvall Show : Episode CDS-1415
•Clay and Wire Pendants
•Whimsical Steel Works
•Knit Dishcloth and Blanket