One Crafty Mama: Mardi Gras Dishcloth

One Crafty Mama: Mardi Gras Dishcloth: Every year at work we throw a big Fat Tuesday party with tons of bad-for-you-foods and an all day buffet.  With Fat Tuesday rapidly approach...

M&M KAL from LSSK

I have mentioned before joining the LSSK group on Yahoo! and this was a mystery cloth we did last week. It was designed by a list member. This is my first time working with cotton yarn and my tension leaves a lot to be desired. Even knowing what the pattern is, it's really hard to tell. Part is my wonky tension and part is the color, I think. But it was fun to do. The only thing I'd change is the garter stitch edge on each side. Since garter stitch works up at a different tension than stockinette stitch (which is basically what the rest of the cloth is), you tend to wind up with a sort of hourglass effect. I've pretty much switched to using seed stitch as my edging because it works up at the same tension as stockinette and is usually as effective as a garter stitch edge.

As you can see, I still have to work in the ends so it's not completely done yet. (I hate doing in ends and I let that sit until I absolutely have to get it done.)


This time Horus was protecting the poor wash cloth from the nasty camera. I think that shade of blue suits him, don't you?

Washcloth #4 Pattern

I still don't know what acceptable, traditional 'pattern speak' is so you'll have to bear with me and ask questions if I give an instruction that is incomprehensible. I'm going to just put up the instructions for the pattern.

K# - knit specified number of stitches
P# - purl specified number of stitches
R - Randmacshe (first / last stitch)

NOTE: The pattern is worked over 6 + 2 stitches. This means the pattern covers 6 stitches plus one beginning stitch and one ending stitch. In German, the first and last stitches are called Randmaschen and that is how I always think of them. The Randmaschen are never part of the pattern.

Row 1: R, * K6 *, R

Row 2: R, * P2, K4 *, R

Row 3: Repeat Row 1

Row 4: Repeat Row 2

Row 5: Repeat Row 1

Row 6: R, * K3, P2, K1 *, R

Row 7: Repeat Row 1

Row 8: Repeat Row 6

This completes the 8 rows that make up one iteration of the pattern. The asterisks (*) in the pattern rows indicate the 6 stitches of the pattern.

To make the washcloth, cast on as many multiples of 6 as you'd like plus 2 extra stitches. I worked two rows of knit stitches across before I began the pattern. Work the eight rows of the pattern for as long as you'd like the washcloth to be. End the pattern on Row 4. To finish, knit two rows of stitches across. Bind off on the next row.

My washcloth was 44 stitches wide and 64 rows long.

(Photo)

Washcloth #4

The fourth washcloth is done. It will go to my brother and his family. My cat Mouse is helping model the washcloth.



I didn't do any fancy finishing on it. Just knit it up and worked in the loose ends. I think this and the first are my favorites.

(Pattern)

Washcloth #3 Pattern

I still don't know what acceptable, traditional 'pattern speak' is so you'll have to bear with me and ask questions if I give an instruction that is incomprehensible. I'm going to just put up the instructions for the pattern.

K# - knit specified number of stitches
P# - purl specified number of stitches
R - Randmacshe (first / last stitch)

NOTE: The pattern is worked over 10 + 1 + 2 stitches. This means the pattern covers 10 stitches plus one ending stitch to finish a multiple iteration row plus one beginning stitch and one ending stitch. In German, the first and last stitches are called Randmaschen and that is how I always think of them. The Randmaschen are never part of the pattern.

Row 1: R, * P1, K9 *, P1, R

Row 2: R, * K2, P7, K1 *, K1, R

Row 3: R, * P3, K5, P2 *, P1, R

Row 4: R, * K4, P3, K3 *, K1, R

Row 5: R, * P5, K1, P4 *, P1, R

Row 6: Repeat Row 4

Row 7: Repeat Row 3

Row 8: Repeat Row 2

This completes the 8 rows that make up one iteration of the pattern. The asterisks (*) in the pattern rows indicate the 10 stitches of the pattern.

To make the washcloth, cast on as many multiples of 10 as you'd like plus 3 extra stitches. I worked two rows of knit stitches across before I began the pattern. Work the eight rows of the pattern for as long as you'd like the washcloth to be. End the pattern on Row 8. To finish, knit two rows of stitches across. Bind off on the next row.

My washcloth was 43 stitches wide and 60 rows long.

(Photo)

Washcloth #3

The third washcloth is done. It will go to my brother and his family. My cat Mouse is helping model the washcloth.



I didn't do any fancy finishing on it. Just knit it up and worked in the loose ends. I'm not as pleased with this one as I was the first or even the second.

(Pattern)

With a little help from my friends

I wiped down the coffee table so I could lay out my various projects for update snaps, and Heru and Mouse decided the clean table was the perfect place for them to wrestle. I'd already laid down the latest two washcloths to photograph when they started.



I finally gave up and moved the washcloths so they could play for a bit. I took several snaps of them going at it before Heru got bored and moved off. Mouse refused to leave so I finally gave in and let her model the washcloths.

Washcloth # 2 pattern

I still don't know what acceptable, traditional 'pattern speak' is so you'll have to bear with me and ask questions if I give an instruction that is incomprehensible. I'm going to just put up the instructions for the pattern.

K# - knit specified number of stitches
P# - purl specified number of stitches
R – Randmacshe (first / last stitch)

NOTE: The pattern is worked over 3 + 1 + 2 stitches. This means the pattern covers 3 stitches plus one ending stitch to finish a multiple iteration row plus one beginning stitch and one ending stitch. In German, the first and last stitches are called Randmaschen and that is how I always think of them. The Randmaschen are never part of the pattern.

Row 1: R, * P1 K2 *, P1, R

Row 2: R, * K1, P2 *, K1, R

Row 3: Repeat Row 1

Row 4: R, * K3 *, K1, R

This completes the 4 rows that make up one iteration of the pattern. The asterisks (*) in the pattern rows indicate the 3 stitches of the pattern.

To make the washcloth, cast on as many multiples of 3 as you'd like plus 3 extra stitches. I worked three rows of knit stitches across before I began the pattern. Work the four rows of the pattern for as long as you'd like the washcloth to be. End the pattern on Row 4. To finish, knit two rows of stitches across. Bind off on the next row.

My washcloth was 42 stitches wide and 53 rows long.

(Photo)

Washcloth # 2

The second washcloth is done. I think it will go to my brother and his family as well. There are four of them and I think they should have four washcloths.



I didn't do any fancy finishing on it. Just knit it up and worked in the loose ends. I'm not as pleased with this one as I was the first. And the nifty thing about my picture taking - and the yarn which does not show up patterns well - is that you can't really tell what the pattern looks like. Oh, well.

(Pattern)

Washcloth # 1 pattern

I still don't know what acceptable, traditional 'pattern speak' is so you'll have to bear with me and ask questions if I give an instruction that is incomprehensible. I'm going to just put up the instructions for the pattern.

K# - knit specified number of stitches
P# - purl specified number of stitches
R – Randmacshe (first / last stitch)

NOTE: The pattern is worked over 5 + 1 + 2 stitches. This means the pattern covers 5 stitches plus one ending stitch to finish a multiple iteration row plus one beginning stitch and one ending stitch. In German, the first and last stitches are called Randmaschen and that is how I always think of them. The Randmaschen are never part of the pattern.

Row 1: R, * K5 *, K1, R

Row 2: Repeat Row 1

Row 3: Repeat Row 1

Row 4: R, * K1, P4 *, K1, R

Row 5: Repeat Row 1

Row 6: Repeat Row 4

Row 7: Repeat Row 1

Row 8: Repeat Row 4

This completes the 8 rows that make up one iteration of the pattern. The asterisks (*) in the pattern rows indicate the 5 stitches of the pattern.

To make the washcloth, cast on as many multiples of 5 as you'd like plus 3 extra stitches. Work the eight rows of the pattern for as long as you'd like the washcloth to be. End the pattern on Row 8. To finish, repeat Row 1 twice. Bind off on the next row.

My washcloth was 43 stitches wide and 58 rows long.

(Photo)

Washcloth # 1

The first washcloth is done. I think I will gift my brother and his family with it. They live on a farm now and I suspect that washcloths and dishcloths will come in handy.



I didn't do any fancy finishing on it. Just knit it up and worked in the loose ends.

(Pattern)