Aunt May Dishcloth

Every day I have thought I would get this pattern posted, and every day life pulls in the opposite direction.  It has been a month since I said I would share the pattern 'soon'...

In that month there has been lots of weeding, planting, hen keeping, biking, walking, and outdoor living going on as we enjoy one of the nicest Springs in many years.

And it's that time of year that some dish cloth knitting is about all the craftiness I manage to squeeze in.

This pattern is simply ribbing and garter stitch with a 12 row repeat and a crocheted border {if desired}.

If you make any, please let me know what you think,

especially if you find any mistakes :)

Aunt May Dishcloth

from homespun living

My great Aunt May lived in a farmhouse in the country. A favorite memory from my visits is of the old-fashioned hand-operated water pump perched next to her kitchen sink, which she was still using in the 1960’s to get water from the well every day. This dishcloth is named in memory of her.



Yarn: Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in desired colors

Needles: Size 7 US {4.5mm}; crochet hook size H {5.0mm}

edited 3.21.12  I have corrected a major error in how I wrote this pattern, many thanks to those who have brought it to my attention.  Please let me know if you have any problems with these instructions...I promise that from now on, I will ask for someone to test knit a pattern before publishing...thanks much,  Deb
edited 6.9.10  Finished cloth measures about 8 inches square.

Notes: Pattern calls for slipping the first stitch and purling the last stitch of every
row ~ this makes for a very neat selvedge edge, which I learned thanks to
an Elizabeth Zimmerman book. I slipped the first stitch purlwise, holding the working
yarn to the back.

Tip: By casting on and binding off with a needle a couple sizes larger, it will be
much easier to insert your crochet needle into those stitches for the crocheted edging.

Begin: CO 37 stitches

Row 1: Slip 1, {K1, P1} x 2, * K7, P1, K1, P1 – repeat from * 2 more times, end with K1, P1.

Row 2: Slip 1, * {P1, K1} x 2, P1, K5 – repeat from * 2 more times, end with {P1, K1} x 2, P2.

Row 3: Slip 1, {K1, P1} x 2, * K7, P1, K1, P1 – repeat from * 2 more  times, end with K1, P1.

Row 4: Slip 1, * {P1, K1} x 2, P1, K5 – repeat from * 2 more times, end with {P1, K1} x 2, P2.

Row 5: Slip 1, {K1, P1} x 2, * K7, P1, K1, P1 – repeat from * 2 more times, end with K1, P1.

Row 6: Slip 1, * {P1, K1} x 2, P1, K5 – repeat from * 2 more times, end with {P1, K1} x 2, P2.

Row 7 : Slip 1, * K5, {P1, K1} x 2, P1 – repeat from * 2 more times, end with K5, P1.

Row 8: Slip 1, K6, * P1, K1, P1, K7 – repeat from * 1 more time, end with P1, K1, P1, K6, P1.

Row 9: Slip 1, * K5, {P1, K1} x 2, P1 – repeat from * 2 more times, end with K5, P1.

Row 10: Slip 1, K6, * P1, K1, P1, K7 – repeat from * 1 more time, end with P1, K1, P1, K6, P1.

Row 11: Slip 1, * K5, {P1, K1} x 2, P1 – repeat from * 2 more times, end with K5, P1.

Row 12: Slip 1, K6, * P1, K1, P1, K7 – repeat from * 1 more time, end with P1, K1, P1, K6, P1.

Work these 12 rows a total of 4 times. Bind off on last row, in pattern.

For optional crocheted edging:

Using crochet hook size H {5 mm}, join yarn to dishcloth and work 25 single crochet stitches along each side of dishcloth—this includes 2 single crochet stitches in each corner. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Credit:  Ribbing and garter stitch pattern is from The Complete Book of Knitting by Barbara Abbey; Viking Press, c. 1971.