.png)
A fun free pattern for you to begin your exploration of bias knitting, the instructions are below.
There are a lot of opportunities to increase and decrease while keeping the rest of the knit simple, giving an excellent practice piece for beginners.
You will be working in garter stitch, so only knitting throughout. You will be using knit 2 together for the right slanted decreases and a ssk, knitting 2 stitches together through the back of the needle for the left slanted decreases. To complement these decreases you will be knitting into both the front and back of a stitch to increase the stitch count.
What You Will Need
20g dk weight yarn
5mm needles
lockable stitch marker (to show the right side of your work)
wool needle to weave in the loose ends
scissors
Gauge
22 rows x 32 sts unblocked in a 4"/10cm square
Abbreviations
k knit
k2tog knit 2 stitches together, dec 1
k3 tog knit 3 stitches together, dec 2
ssk knit 2 sts together through the back of the needle, dec 1
kfb knit into the front and back of the same stitch, inc 1
kfbf knit into the front, the back and the front again of the same stitch, inc 2
st(s) stitch(es)
dec decrease
inc increase
rep repeat
rs right side
Instructions
Create a slipknot as your first stitch.
Row 1 (rs): kfbf
Row 2: k all
Row 3: kfb, k to last st, kfb
Row 4: k all
Repeat row 3 & 4 until you have reached the width you want for your wash cloth.
Pro Tip: Clip a stitch marker to the rs of the pattern, this is the side where you increase.
My sample is an 11" / 28cm square which is 59 stitches on the needle at the widest point.
Now to decrease
Row 1: ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog
Row 2 (and all even rows): k all
Rep Row 1 & 2 until 3 sts remain on needle.
Final row: k3 tog
Cut off yarn and pull through the final stitch, weave in the ends and you are done.
Making a matching set of washcloths is an excellent use of your leftover yarns. You can perfectly co-ordinate with your bathroom, guest room or restroom colour scheme.
Wash Cloths are also a great last minute gift, if you are running out of time or ideas.
