Ballband Dishcloth for Housewarming Basket of Linens

Let's start working on dish towels, hand towels, face cloths, etc. to bundle together as a housewarming gift to women and children who've survived domestic abuse and are making a fresh start.

There are lots of great patterns out there for dishcloths, and I hope you'll add to this post by sharing your favorites in the comment section.

Wingate introduced me to this one (thanks, W!) and it's rapidly become one of my favorites. It's a great introduction to two (or three) color knitting, and SO SIMPLE. You'll amaze yourself - and your friends - with this pattern, which is called "Ballband Dishcloth." It sounds far more complicated than it actually is. Trust me. You'll even be able to memorize this pattern once you understand what you're doing!

NOTE: This pattern requires you to do something called "slip" a stitch - which (for right-handed knitters and with apologies to any lefties) merely means that you transfer a stitch from the left needle to the right without working it.

So, to "slip purlwise" as instructed in this pattern means that you insert the tip of right needle into the stitch as if you are going to purl it (i.e. from back to front) and then lift the stitch off the left needle and onto the right. That's it!

The other skills you need for this also couldn't be easier: "yf" ("yarn forward") means bringing the working yarn between the needles and to the front of the work (toward you); similarly "yb" means "yarn back" and involves moving the working yarn to the back (away from you). In this pattern, moving the working yarn back and forth in this way creates a woven look to the slipped stitches. You'll see. It's fabulous.

Okay, here we go:

Use two colors of cotton yarn (Lion Brand Kitchen cotton, Lily Sugar'n Cream, and Bernat Handicrafter cotton all work beautifully - and you can find them almost anywhere, including Fred Meyer!) and #7 needles.

With first color (A), loosely CO 45 stitches.

Row 1: Using A, knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Join second color (B). K4, slip one stitch purlwise, *k5, slip 1 stitch purlwise; repeat from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 4: K4, bring yarn forward between needles (yf), slip 1 purlwise, bring yarn back to the backside of work (yb), *k5, yf, slip 1 purlwise, yb; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 5: P4, yb, slip 1 purlwise, yf, *p5, yb, slip 1 purlwise, yf; rep from * to last 4 sts, p4.
Row 6: (same as Row 4) K4, yf, slip 1 purlwise, yb, *k5, yf, slip 1 purlwise, yb; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 7: Pick up color A and knit across.
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: Using B, k1, slip 1 purlwise, *k5, slip 1 purlwise; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 10: K1, yf, slip 1 purlwise, yb, *k5, yf, slip 1 purlwise, yb, rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 11: P1, yb, slip 1 purlwise, yf, *p5, yb, slip 1 purlwise, yf; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 12: (same as Row 10) K1, yf, slip 1 purlwise, yb, *k5, yf, slip 1 purlwise, yb: rep from * to last st, k1.

Repeat these 12 rows 5 times for a dishcloth, more times if you want a dishtowel. I'm even going to try mattress stitching several dish towel size pieces together to make a throw rug.

Also, I've seen this pattern done with three colors as well. Gorgeous. You'll actually want to wash your dishes once you've made one of these. :-)

Have fun. And be sure to jump in by posting your own patterns for dish cloths, dish towels, hand towels, etc. Our goal is to shower these women and their kids with homemade linens!

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Stevie