Knitting

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Knit a Heart-Shaped Washcloth

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how to knit a heart-shaped washclothI wanted to do a little pattern for Valentine’s Day, but I really don’t love making holiday themed things that you feel like you can’t or shouldn’t use the rest of the year.

A washcloth, though, can be used all the time, and it’s a sweet reminder for someone you love or for yourself, to give yourself a little love as you go through your daily routine.

This is a really quick and easy project, worked in Garter Stitch, with a little increasing, a little straight knitting and a little decreasing.

I happen to have a lot of red yarn, so I made mine red, but you can make your heart shaped washcloth whatever color you like.

What You’ll Need

Gauge is not important for this project, but I got about 5 stitches per inch/2.5 cm in Garter Stitch.

Finished cloth is about 7 inches (almost 18 cm) across at widest point and about 5.5 inches (about 14 cm) tall.

How to Knit a Heart Shaped Washcloth

Cast on 3 stitches.

Knit 1 row.

Knit in the front and back, knit 1, knit in the front and back. 5 stitches.

Knit 1 row.

Knit in the front and back of the first stitch, knit to last stitch, knit in front and back of last stitch.

Knit 1 row.

Repeat these 2 rows until you have 31 stitches.

Knit 10 rows straight. how to knit a heart-shaped washcloth

SSK, knit 13, k2tog.

Turn and work just these stitches. Knit across.

SSK, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog.

Repeat these 2 rows until 2 stitches remain. Bind off.

Join yarn to remaining 16 stitches and work in the same manner, with decreases at each end of every other row, until 3 stitches remain.

SSK, Knit 1.

Bind off.

Weave in ends.

Add this project to your Ravelry queue.

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Have you read?

Book Review: Knitovation Stitch Dictionary

There’s always room for more stitch dictionaries on your shelf, but Andrea Rangel’s Knitovation Stitch Dictionary is unlike those stitch pattern books you might already own. That’s because this one is full of colorwork stitch patterns rather than textured stitches, lace or cables, so the designs are ripe for adding to hats, sweaters and other projects with a stockinette stitch background. 

The book starts with a quick introduction to knitting colorwork that’s also unlike what you’ve probably seen before, because it’s less about the colors themselves and more about the kinds of fibers you choose, how the yarn is prepared and the gauge you’re working at and how those things all change the look of a design. 

Most of the book is filled with motif designs and swatches. The motifs were designed and named by Andrea’s husband Sean, who is an artist and brings a bit of whimsy to the designs. 

You’ll find some classic looking leaves and flowers, mosaics and waves, but also rubber ducks, penguins, puzzle pieces, cherries and cows, snails and teapots, eyeballs and chess pieces, to name a few. Many of the designs also have funny names, like a fish named toilet bound, or cats in suits called corporate fat cat.

Of course you can use the designs in any way you want on any project you like, but there are also three patterns in the book — for a hat, a sweater and a pair of fingerless gloves — plus discussion of how the motifs were added, adjusting patterns for a different size or gauge, and adding your own motifs. 

If you like adding a bit of colorwork to otherwise plain projects that other people have designed, or you’re ready to start making your own designs with fun motifs, this book is a great place to start. The fun and funny motifs are sure to inspire you to want to pick up your needles and add a little more color to your projects. 

About the book: 160 pages, hardcover, 150+ motifs and three knitting patterns. Published 2023 by Interweave, suggested retail $28.