Thursday, April 14, 2016

MK Cotton Washcloths & Cast On Rag

These gems are easy to make and you're friends will love you if you make them a dozen for Christmas.  Tie a bow around them and give them to everyone.

Machine:  Standard Gauge, I used Brother 970
Material:  100% cotton, I've found people like the natural color or white so they can bleach them if necessary.   Use 1 strand 8/2 cotton or 2 strands 16/2 (available from weaving shops). I usually buy 2 cones rather than try to wind off this thin stuff.  It just makes life easier.



WASHCLOTH DIRECTIONS:

These are knitted using the tuck buttons as well as the slip buttons at the beginning and end of the cloth to create a pattern.
You don't have to change the pattern row count as  you push in the different buttons.
Machine tension loose, I used 8 on my Brother 970 carriage and a medium antenna tension

Pattern:   xoxoxo
              oxoxox  (x is tuck (or black), o is plain (or white)

Hang cast on rag on its bound off edge directly on 80 needles.  Place weighted bar in the hem.  NOTE:  You don't have to use a cast on rag but I just find it easy.   

If you used a cast on rag, knit across with ravel cord then crochet cast on or e-wrap cast on with your washcloth cotton.  (If these are for me I e-wrap cast on, if I make them to sell or give as a gift I do crochet cast on so that the cast on and bind off look the same).

Set up machine for 1x1 tuck stitch shown above
Turn on KC button and knit across.  Every other needle should be selected.
Push in both tuck buttons and continue knitting for 17 rows (total 18 rows counting 1st row)
About this time I add claw weights to each edge to make sure the edge stitches knit off properly.
Push in slip buttons and continue knitting for 10 rows
Push in tuck buttons and continue knitting for 162 more rows (total 172 rows)
Push in slip buttons and continue knitting for 10 rows (Total  182 rows)
Push in tuck buttons and knit for 17 rows, ending on left.  (total 199 rows) 

Turn off KC button and knit 1 row to the right.   Latch tool bind off.  
Washcloths will be loosely knit but shrink when washed.  
Wash and dry your washcloths and  steam them if you wish fold them and they're ready to give to friends.

4 comments:

ItMakesYouSmile said...

Thanks for the pattern, Roz. I haven't done this with slip, interested to try it that way.

Also, cast off?

--Tanya

Roz said...

Oh, I forgot about binding off actually. Here's what it should say (I just fixed it, glad you caught it).
Push in tuck buttons and knit for 17 rows, ending on left. (total 199 rows)

Turn off KC button and knit 1 row to the right. Latch tool bind off.
Washcloths will be loosely knit but shrink when washed.
Wash and dry your washcloths and steam them if you wish fold them and they're ready to give to friends.

Anonymous said...

Hi Roz,

After years of seeing everyone knitting washcloths I give up and want to try them.
Have lots of UKI cotton in 10/2,5/2, and 3/2.
Only my Brother bulkies are set up. Do you think any of these would work>
Appreciate any advice or thoughts.

Thanks,
Judy

Roz said...

Make a loose swatch using the tuck stitch pattern and make it big enough that you can toss it in the washer and dryer. I steam iron mine to flatten them. Then decide, is it too loose or too tight. Mine are really very loose when they comes off the KM and just right after machine washing and drying.