Page's Soft Cotton Knit Dishtowels

There's something so beautiful about a soft, well-used vintage dishtowel.  I often find myself marveling at all of their wonderful neutral shades.  Some are a warm cream, others have honey tones and some stone grey.  I especially love their red details and stripes which range from bright tomato red to rich red wine.  My vintage towels were the inspiration for these Soft Cotton Knit Dishtowels which make drying the dishes feel like a luxurious treat.   Enjoy --Page

Materials

I used one neutral color for each towel.  1 skein of any neutral below is more than enough for one dishtowel (2 skeins will make 3 towels).  One skein of each red below is enough for approximately 5 dishtowels if you are only doing stripe details with them. 

• 1 skein Blue Sky Organic Cotton #81 Sand 
• 1 skein Blue Sky Organic Cotton #80 Bone
• 1 skein Blue Sky Dyed Cotton #614 Drift
• 1 skein Blue Sky Dyed Cotton #629 Ladybug
• 1 skein Blue Sky Dyed Cotton #619 Tomato
• Skacel Addi Turbo 24-inch US 9 circular needle
• Tapestry needle

Gauge

• 3.5 stitches per inch

Finished Measurements

• Approximately 9-inches x 16-inches

The Patterns

The three dishcloths pictured above are Multi-Stripe Dishcloth (left), Twin-Stripe Dishcloth (center bottom) and Edge-Stripe Dishcloth (top right).

Multi-stripe Dishcloth

Cast on 56 stitches in one of the neutrals (I used Organic Cotton #81, Sand).

Knit 18 rows in garter stitch (or 9 ridges, as shown above). Do not break yarn.

Pick up one of the reds and knit one row (I started with #629, Ladybug), do not break yarn.

Pick up the second red and knit one row (I used #619, Tomato), do not break yarn.

Pick up the neutral yarn (still attached) and knit one row.

Keep knitting one row each of the reds and the neutral until you achieve the desired width of striping (mine is approximately 3 1/4-inches wide).

Cut ends of both red yarns and continue to knit in garter stitch with the neutral for 18 rows (9 ridges). 

Bind off on the same side that you cast on.

Sew in ends and block.

Twin Stripe Dishcloth

Cast on 56 stitches with one of the neutrals (I used #614, Drift).

Knit 20 rows in garter stitch (10 ridges), do not break yarn.

*Pick up one of the reds (I used #619, Tomato) knit 2 rows, do not break yarn.

Pick up neutral, knit 2 rows, do not break yarn.

Knit 2 rows red, break yarn.**

Continue knitting all rows with the neutral for 12 rows (6 ridges).

Pick up red and repeat from * to **.

Continue knitting all rows with the neutral for 20 rows (10 ridges).

Bind off. 

Sew in ends and block.

Edge-Stripe Dishtowel

With red (I used #629, Ladybug), cast on 56 stitches

Knit 2 rows, break yarn.

Pick up neutral (I used #80, Bone) and knit approximately 8-inches, ending with a RS row, break yarn.

Pick up red, knit 2 rows.

Bind off with red yarn.

Sew in ends and block.