I’ve been pretty obsessed with the musical Hamilton for a little over a year now, and I’ve long wanted to knit something to honor that obsession.
A sweater with the star? Maybe someday.
Even better: a washcloth with the star. A Hamilcloth, if you will. (Though my daughter prefers the name Wash-ilton for the double pun with Washington/Hamilton and it being a washcloth. She’s her mother’s child for sure.)
Whatever you call it, this is a perfect project for Hamilfans, and you could easily alter the chart to be a normal star if you’d rather not make a Hamilton-inspired washcloth. Just please don’t tell me about it if you do!
I will admit this isn’t a stitch pattern, per se, but it is a fun way to try color knitting if you haven’t done it before. Or just to knit a Hamilton washcloth because why not?
Materials
- one skein each of Lion Brand Kitchen cotton yarn in Citrus and Licorice (you’ll use about 75 yards total for a washcloth the same size as mine)
- one pair size 7 US/4.5mm knitting needles
- Hamilcloth chart
Gauge
Gauge isn’t critical but I got about 4 stitches and 5 rows per inch/2.5 cm in Stockinette Stitch (non-colorwork portion).
Size
Finished washcloth measures 10 inches/25 cm square.
How to Knit a Hamilcloth
Cast on 43 with yellow/background color.
Knit 4 rows.
K4, P35, K4.
Keeping the first and last 4 stitches in Garter Stitch, work the center 35 stitches in Stockinette from the chart.
When the chart is complete, work one more row of Stockinette all in yellow.
Knit 4 rows.
Bind off. Weave in ends.
Working the Chart
Ideally this project is worked with the colorwork method known as intarsia, where you use a separate ball of yarn for each section of color. I did that for the star because the black portions are so big, but for the little guy at the top I worked stranded knitting, with one ball of yarn for each color. It makes him stand out a little more.
Add this project to your Ravelry queue.
A Sort-of Fundraiser
Because Lin-Manuel Miranda and his family are from Puerto Rico, which has been devastated by Hurricane Maria, I wanted to do something with this washcloth to help raise funds for hurricane relief.
Of course, because I value intellectual property, I didn’t want to sell the pattern, even if I was donating the proceeds, so instead I’m just going to ask if you enjoy this pattern and have a little to spare that you make a donation to Puerto Rico hurricane relief. You can do so in lots of ways, but one is to go through the Hispanic Federation; just choose Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief as your gift designation. Thank you for any support you can provide!
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