Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Loop Stitch Washcloth Knitting Pattern

by

Hello, again, and welcome to this month’s installment of the Knitted Kitchen Blog Hop!Knit a dishcloth in loop stitch with the Knitted Kitchen Blog Hop.

This week I’m bringing you a fun technique that makes a super scrubby (and stash busting) dishcloth or washcloth, but it’s a stitch pattern you might also want to use on other projects for a bit of funky texture.

Loop Stitch here is worked on a base of Garter Stitch, with the loops worked every fourth row. The only tricky part is figuring out how to make the loops; I made a little video I hope will help!

Materials

about 100 yards medium-weight cotton yarn (I used the Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Aqua that I had left over from the Cartridge Rib Dishcloth I made back in February)

one pair size 7 US/4.5 mm knitting needles

Gauge

Gauge is not critical — and really hard to measure — with this project, but I got about 4.5 stitches and 5 rows per inch/2.5 cm in Loop Stitch.

Size

This is a very stretchy washcloth; I was going for an 8-inch square but when relaxed it is closer to 9 inches/23 cm square.

How to Knit the Loop Stitch WashclothKnit a dishcloth in loop stitch with the Knitted Kitchen Blog Hop.

Cast on 40 stitches.

Knit 3 rows.

Knit 1, make loop stitch in each stitch to last stitch, knit 1.

Repeat these 4 rows until desired length; end with 3 knit rows.

Bind off.

Making the Loop StitchKnit a dishcloth in loop stitch with the Knitted Kitchen Blog Hop.

The video should help you understand how to make the Loop Stitch, but if you need it in words:

  1. Put the right-hand needle through the stitch as if to knit.
  2. Make a loop on the back of the work with the working yarn. I like to loop it around my index finger and measure down the width of my middle finger. Hold the loop in place with your other hand slip your fingers out of the loop.
  3. Grab the working yarn, keeping the loop secure, and take the yarn over the needle and continue to form the knit stitch by bringing the right-hand needle under the loop.
  4. Place the loop that’s now on the right-hand needle onto the left-hand needle and knit it together with the original stitch.

It sounds harder and looks more awkward than it is. Once you’ve done it for a row or two you will get into the rhythm, I promise.

Add this project to your Ravelry queue.

More Knitted Kitchen

Check out my other patterns from the series: Ridged Ribbon Eyelet | Cartridge Rib Dishcloth | Two-Color Moss Stitch Dishcloth | Vine Lace Dishcloth

You can find the full list of blog hop patterns as they become available on the main blog hop page, or join us on Facebook.

Save

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Add a Little Lace to Your Knitting Patterns

If you’re new to lace knitting or just aren’t sure how to incorporate the technique into garments, check out these tops and sweaters that use lace as a decorative element.

The easiest lace out there is eyelets, and you can practice them plenty with this eyelet covered sweater from Knitcro Addict. It uses light/DK weight yarn and is worked in four pieces knit flat. It’s intended to be a little cropped and a little oversized, and includes sizes XS to XXL in the pattern.

If you’re in parts of the world where it’s getting colder as you read this, the Nora sweater from Bummbul might be a good choice. This is actually a great one for learning lace because it’s worked in super bulky yarn, which makes it easier to see what you’re doing and makes the lace super graphic. This one just comes in one size, with a 42 inch (106) cm bust, but that could fit a variety of people depending on how much ease you like.

Minimi Knit Design has a cute allover lace cardigan worked in one piece from the bottom up. It’s worked in lace weight mohair held double, which maybe isn’t the best for those new to lace (because it can be hard to rip out) but it sure is pretty. Sizes range to fit from 30 to 66 inches/76 to 168 cm bust measurements.

If you’d rather not have lace all over your sweater, you can knit the Lumi sweater from Originally Lovely, which has a chevron lace pattern on the yoke and is otherwise worked in reverse stockinette stitch. (It’s worked inside out so you don’t have to purl every stitch.) The pattern has 9 sizes from XS to 5XL and uses worsted weight yarn.

Or try the super romantic sookie blouse from Trust the mojo (available on Ravelry). This sweet top is started working flat from the bottom up and has a V-neck and I-cord edgings. The sleeves are worked separately in the round, and the pieces are all joined together to work in one piece to finish off the top. It comes in eight sizes and is available in English and French.

You can also pair lacy sleeves with an otherwise plain top, like on the Starflower Wrap from Annelise Driscoll Gingrow. This intermediate pattern makes a wrap sweater with generous lacy sleeves and a double wrap belt. The pattern has nine sizes, from XS to 5XL, and is available for free from Hobbi.