I know, I know. There has been two free patterns in one week. I bet you miss the pointless sass and rambling snark of my usual posts. So do I. They are easier and quicker to write! But the timing on this could not be helped. Valentines Day is coming up quick and I love Mom. Mom loves pretty, purely decorative washcloths. So…

 

… I thought I’d share the pattern and you could make some for your Mom (or grandma, or great aunt, or elderly neighbor). You don’t have to, but I bet she would really like it. She would like anything that meant you remembered her on Valentines Day and a pretty, pink, purely decorative washcloth might be right up her alley. I know my mom will like hers. They will be featured prominently in her beautiful kitchen and no one will ever be allowed to,  you know, wash anything with them.

(If you want to make some and keep them alllllllll for yourself, I support that completely. I’m all about selfish knitting. And selfish crocheting. And selfish spinning.)

The washcloth is made with a simplified heart cable in the center and twisted stitches, aka mock cables on the sides. By complete coincidence, last Sunday’s Stitch post was on how to make twisted stitches, aka mock cables. How convenient is that?

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 I Heart You Three Times

There are two sizes shown here

Size A

• 5.25 inches x 5.75 inches (13 cm x 15 cm)
• 20g of sport weight cotton (I used Cascade Ultra Pima)
• Size 3 needles

Size B

• 6.5 inches x 7 inches (16.5 cm x 18 cm)
• 25g of worsted weight cotton ( I used Cascade Pima Tencel)
• Size 5 needles

Stitch Abbreviations

• k – knit
• p – purl
• LT – make a left leaning twist over next two stitches. Knit into the back loop of the second stitch but leave on the needle. Then knit into the front of the first stitch. Then slide both stitches off the left needle together.
• RT- make a right leaning twist over the next two stitches. Knit into front loop of the second stitch but leave on the needle. Then knit into the front loop of the first stitch. Then slide both stitches off the left needle.

You can find videos demonstrating these two stitches here. 

• 2/1 LPC – slip two stitches to a cable needle and hold them to the front. Purl 1. Knit 2 from cable needle.
• 2/1 RPC – slip one stitch to a cable needle and hold to the back. Knit 2. Purl 1 from cable needle.
• 2/2 LPC – slip two stitches to a cable needle and hold them to the front. Purl 2. Knit 2 from cable needle.
• 2/2 RPC – slip two stitches to a cable needle and hold to the back. Knit 2. Purl 2 from cable needle.

 The Pattern…

Cast on 39 stitches

 

Knit 5 rows

(While I was working the five knit rows, I set stitch markers as follows: k4, set marker, k6, set marker, k19, set marker, k6, set marker, k4. It made things easier for me later when I was working the repeat sections.)

Begin repeat section

Row 1: k4, p2, k2, p2, k2, p7, k1, p7, k2, p2, k2, p2, k4

Row 2: k6, p2, k2, p2, k6, p3, k6, p2, k2, p2, k6

Row 3: k4, p2, LT, p2, 2/1 LPC, p5, k3, p5, 2/1 RPC, p2, RT, p2, k4

Row 4: k6, p2, k3, p2, k4, p2, k1, p2, k4, p2, k3, p2, k6

Row 5: k4, p2, k2, p3, 2/2 LPC, 2/2 RPC, p1, 2/2LPC, 2/2 RPC, p3, k2, p2, k4

Row 6: k6, p2, k5, p4, k5, p4, k5, p2, k6

Row 7: k4, p2, LT, p5, 2/2 RPC, p5, 2/2 LPC, p5, RT, p2, k4

Row 8: k6, p2, k5, p2, k9, p2, k5, p2, k6

Row 9: k4, p2, k2, p3, 2/2 RPC, p9, 2/2 LPC, p3, k2, p2, k4

Row 10: k6, p2, k3, p2, k13, p2, k3, p2, k6

Row 11: k4, p2, LT, p2, 2/1 RPC, p13, 2/1 LPC, p2, RT, p2, k4

Row 12: k6, p2, k2, p2, k15, p2, k2, p2, k6

 Work Rows 1 – 12 three times. Then work Rows 1 – 6. (Total of 42 rows to make the three repeating hearts.)

Knit 5 rows

Bind Off.

A Chart…

Here is a chart for you chart-lovers. For you non-chart-lovers, charts are fun. Also they make you look sexy, they contain hidden chocolate chip cookies, and can boost your earning potential tenfold. Well, no. Not really. But they can make it easier to knit things. Give it a try! I have a how-to-read-charts series that you might find helpful.  

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I hope you enjoy making the washcloth and I know whoever you give yours to will feel all the love you put into it. If you are looking for a way to take this pattern with you, check out the handy “Print & PDF” button down there on the left. And check out our other free patterns. You might find something else you like.