irishlace.net

Blink Washcloth

Blink washcloth.  Just blink.

Blink. Just blink. If you don't, you might get soap in your eyes, and that would be enough to make anyone start weeping, angel.

Materials

Worsted weight cotton (sample was made with Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton (colour 39018)), about 60 yds

Needles that give you a gauge of 5 st/in. This is if you want to make a standard 9" cloth. If not, use needles that give you a fabric you like with the yarn you use. (The sample was made using US4/3.5mm.)

Yarn needle for weaving in ends

Optional: "Rock" of African Black Soap from Eclectic Lady

Please note:

  • The graph includes all rows.
  • The pattern is worked on the right side only. Wrong side rows are purled with a seed stitch border.
  • Pay close attention to rows 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, and 34. The pattern runs into the seed stitch border. Not difficult to handle as long as you know to keep an eye out for it.
  • The graph starts on the wrong side. (I use a long-tail cast-on.)
  • Click the graph image to see a larger view.
  • The pattern calls for three types of double-decreases, but two of them (k3tog and sssk) are used only once. All of the rest of the double decreases are centered: slip 2 together, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over. If you have never tried that decrease, this will be good practice.

    If you detest that decrease, the only ones that are really unavoidable are the ones between the hands. The others can be reworked as sssk on one side and k3tog on the other. (Knitter's choice!)

    Actually, you could avoid the centered double decrease entirely if you added a stitch and did the area between the hands as k2tog,ssk. If you do that, you may want to switch the border to garter, just to make life easier.

Instructions

In pictures

blink chart, click for larger view

blink chart key

In words

Abbreviations:
k: knit
p: purl
yo: yarn over
k2tog: knit two stitches together
ssk: slip-slip-knit: slip first stitch knitwise, slip second stitch knitwise, knit together through the back
k3tog: knit three stitches together
sssk: slip-slip-slip-knit: slip first stitch knitwise, slip second stitch knitwise, slip third stitch knitwise, knit together through the back
cdd: centered double decrease: slip two stitches together knitwise, knit one, pass two slipped stitches over

Instructions:
Cast on 45 stitches
Rows 1-7: *k, p, repeat from * across to last stitch, k
Row 8: k, p, k, p, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, k23, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, p, k, p, k
Row 9 (and all odd rows to row 55): k, p, k, p, k, p35, k, p, k, p, k
Row 10: k, p, k, p, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k25, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, p, k, p, k
Row 12: k, p, k, p, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k21, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, p, k, p, k
Row 14: k, p, k, p, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, k19, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, p, k, p, k
Row 16: k, p, k, p, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, k15, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, p, k, p, k
Row 18: k, p, k, p, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k17, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, p, k, p, k
Row 20: k, p, k, p, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, k15, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, p, k, p, k
Row 22: k, p, k, p, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k17, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, p, k, p, k
Row 24: k, p, k, p, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, k15, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, p, k, p, k
Row 26: k, p, k, p, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k17, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, p, k, p, k
Row 28: k, p, k, p, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, k15, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, p, k, p, k
Row 30: k, p, k, p, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog twice, yo, k15, yo, ssk twice, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, p, k, p, k
Row 32: k, p, k, p, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, yo, k, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k, yo, ssk, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, p, k, p, k
Row 34: k, p, k, p, ssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, k2tog, yo, k, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, cdd, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k, yo, ssk, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k2tog, p, k, p, k
Row 36: k, p, k, p, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, yo, k3tog, yo, k, k2tog, yo, k6, yo, cdd, yo, k6, yo, ssk, k, yo, sssk, yo, k, yo, cdd, yo, k, p, k, p, k
Row 38: k, p, k, p, k2, ssk, yo, k, k2tog, yo, k, k2tog, yo, k, yo, k2tog, k4, yo, cdd, yo, k4, ssk, yo, k, yo, ssk, k, yo, ssk, k, yo, k2tog, k2, p, k, p, k
Row 40: k, p, k, p, k, yo, ssk, k, k2tog, yo, k2, ssk, yo, k, yo, k2tog, k4, yo, cdd, yo, k4, ssk, yo, k, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, ssk, k, k2tog, yo, k, p, k, p, k
Row 42: k, p, k, p, k2, yo, cdd, yo, k3, ssk, yo, k, yo, k2tog, k4, yo, cdd, yo, k4, ssk, yo, k, yo, k2tog, k3, yo, cdd, yo, k2, p, k, p, k
Row 44: k, p, k, p, k8, ssk, yo, k, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, cdd, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, k, yo, k2tog, k8, p, k, p, k
Row 46: k, p, k, p, k11, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, cdd, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, k11, p, k, p, k
Row 48: k, p, k, p, k11, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, cdd, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, k11, p, k, p, k
Row 50: k, p, k, p, k11, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k3, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, k11, p, k, p, k
Row 52: k, p, k, p, k11, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k3, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, k11, p, k, p, k
Row 54: k, p, k, p, k13, yo, k2tog, k7, ssk, yo, k13, p, k, p, k
Row 56: k, p, k, p, k37, p, k, p, k
Rows 57-63: *k, p, repeat from * across to last stitch, k
Bind off. Block as desired. (It's lace. It'll look better when it's blocked. Really.)


For a variation on a theme, here is a version that includes forearms, and omits all double decreases.

Blink washcloth, single decrease variation

Materials

Worsted weight cotton (sample was made with Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton in white, about 60 yds

Needles that give you a gauge of 5 st/in. This is if you want to make a standard 9" cloth. If not, use needles that give you a fabric you like with the yarn you use. (The sample was made using US4/3.5mm.)

Yarn needle for weaving in ends

Please note:

  • The graph includes right side rows only, without the border. The written instructions include all lines.
  • The pattern is worked on the right side only. Wrong side rows are purled with a garter border.

Instructions

In pictures

In words

Abbreviations:
k: knit
p: purl
yo: yarn over
k2tog: knit two stitches together
ssk: slip-slip-knit: slip first stitch knitwise, slip second stitch knitwise, knit together through the back

Instructions:
Cast on 46 stitches
Row 1 (RS): k46
Row 2 (WS): k46
Row 3 (RS): k46
Row 4 (WS): k46
Row 5 (RS): k46
Row 6 (WS): k46
Row 7 (RS): k5, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k4, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, k4, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k5
Row 8 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 9 (RS): k5, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k4, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, k4, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k5
Row 10 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 11 (RS): k5, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k2, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, k2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k5
Row 12 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 13 (RS): k5, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k5
Row 14 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 15 (RS): k5, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk twice, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog twice, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k5
Row 16 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 17 (RS): k5, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k5
Row 18 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 19 (RS): k5, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk twice, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog twice, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k5
Row 20 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 21 (RS): k5, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k5
Row 22 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 23 (RS): k5, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk twice, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog twice, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k5
Row 24 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 25 (RS): k5, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k5
Row 26 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 27 (RS): k5, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk twice, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog twice, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k5
Row 28 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 29 (RS): k5, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k5
Row 30 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 31 (RS): k5, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k5
Row 32 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 33 (RS): k5, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k5
Row 34 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 35 (RS): k5, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k6, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k6, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k5
Row 36 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 37 (RS): k5, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, ssk, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k5
Row 38 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 39 (RS): k5, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k5
Row 40 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 41 (RS): k5, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k3, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k4, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k4, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k3, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k5
Row 42 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 43 (RS): k12, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k12
Row 44 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 45 (RS): k15, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, k15
Row 46 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 47 (RS): k15, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, k15
Row 48 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 49 (RS): k15, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k4, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, k15
Row 50 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 51 (RS): k15, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k4, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, k15
Row 52 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 53 (RS): k17, yo, k2tog, k8, ssk, yo, k17
Row 54 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 55 (RS): k46
Row 56 (WS): k5, p36, k5
Row 57 (RS): k46
Row 58 (WS): k46
Row 59 (RS): k46
Row 60 (WS): k46
Row 61 (RS): k46
Row 62 (WS): k46

Bind off. Block as desired. (It's lace. It'll look better when it's blocked. Really.)

Notes about double decreases added 20100522

Instructions for single-decrease version with forearms added 20101210